1999 Lexus LS400 transmission

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281
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system
to minimize the possibility of incorrect operation.
This means you can only shift out of ºPº position
when the brake pedal is depressed with the ignition
switch in ºONº position. ( )

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The shift position is displayed on the instrument
cluster.
P: Parking, engine starting and key removal position
R: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
D: Normal driving position (Shifting into overdrive
possible)
4: Position for engine braking (Shifting into
overdrive not possible)
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ºDº to º4º, engine braking will not
be applied because the cruise control is not
cancelled. For the operation to decrease the
vehicle speed, see page 300.
3, 2: Position for more powerful engine braking
L: Position for maximum engine braking Correct use of the automatic transmission is
explained in the following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the º3º, º2º and ºLº positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever

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284
(a) Normal driving
31L007a

1ºPº (Park) position 2ºNº (Neutral) position
1. Start the engine as instructed in ºHow to start the
engineº on page 280.
The transmission must be in ºPº or ºNº. The engine will
not start in any drive position even if the ignition key is
turned to ºSTARTº.

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286

1Power position 2Normal position
3Snow position
2. Set the driving pattern selector switch to the
ºNormalº position.
Your transmission has a driving pattern selector switch
which allows you to select ºPowerº, ºNormalº or ºSnowº\
mode to suit your driving condition. For ordinary driving,
Lexus recommends that you use the ºNormalº position
to improve fuel economy.
3. For more powerful acceleration and sporty
driving, use the ºPowerº position.
In the ºPowerº position, the ºECT PWRº light in the
instrument cluster is on and the transmission is shifted
up at higher vehicle speeds and shifted down more
responsively than in the ºNormalº position.
For ºSnowº mode, see ºElectronic Throttle Control
Systemº on page 295.

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31l055±2

1ºDº (Drive) position 2Brake pedal
4. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift
the selector lever to ºDº.
Always use the ºDº position to improve fuel economy
and quiet driving. Only in this position, shifting into the
overdrive gear is possible. However, while the engine
coolant temperature is low, the transmission will not shift
into the overdrive gear even in the ºDº position. (See º(b)
Using engine brakingº and º(f) Good driving practiceº for
exceptions.)
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.

STARTING AND DRIVING
2885. Release the parking brake and brake pedal.
Depress the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth
starting.
In normal cruising, the vehicle will start in the first gear
and automatically shift up to the most suitable gear. On
inclines, declines or winding roads, etc., the vehicle
shifts up and down automatically according to the
running conditions to obtain the suitable driving power
and engine braking.
In º4º position, the automatic transmission system will
select the most suitable gear for the running conditions
such as hill climbing, hard towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, depress
the accelerator pedal to the full throttle position. This
provides more acceleration by automatically
downshifting the transmission to the next lower gear or
beyond, depending on the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a
long hill, see º(b) Using engine brakingº.
(b) Using engine braking

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31L010a
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below:
1Shift into the º4º position. The transmission will
downshift to the fourth gear and engine braking will
be obtained.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ºDº to º4º, engine braking will not be
applied because the cruise control is not cancelled.
If you need to decrease the vehicle speed, see
page 300.
2 Shift into the º3º position. The transmission will
downshift to the third gear when the vehicle speed
is or becomes lower than 154 km/h (96 mph) and
more powerful engine braking will be obtained.
3Shift into the º2º position. The transmission will
downshift to the second gear when the vehicle
speed is or becomes lower than 104 km/h (65 mph)
and more powerful engine braking than that of º3º
position will be obtained.
4Shift into the ºLº position. The transmission will
downshift to the first gear when the vehicle speed
is or becomes lower than 18 km/h (11 mph) and
maximum engine braking will be applied.

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CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.
(c) Using the º3º, º2º and ºLº positions
The º3º, º2º and ºLº positions are used for strong engine\
braking as described previously.
With the selector lever in º3º, º2º or ºLº, you can start the
vehicle in motion as with the lever in ºDº.
With the selector lever in º3º or º2º, the vehicle will star\
t
in the first gear and automatically shift to the third or
second gear.
With the selector lever in ºLº, the transmission is
engaged in the first gear.NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the engine. Watch the tachometer to keep engine rpm from going intothe red zone. The approximate maximumallowable speed for each position is givenbelow for your reference:
º3º 160 km/h (99 mph) . . .
º2º 104 km/h (65 mph) . . .
ºLº 68 km/h (42 mph) . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for
a long time in the º3º, º2º or ºLº position. Thismay cause severe automatic transmission
damage from overheating. To prevent suchdamage, º4º position should be used in hillclimbing or hard towing.