Page 157 of 307

AUDIO
144(b) Presetting a station
SV22029
1. Tune in the desired station.
2. Push
one of the station selector buttons ( 1±6 ) and hold
it until a beep is heard. This sets the station to the button
and the button number ( 1±6 ) appears on the display.
Each button can store one AM station and two FM stations. To
change the preset station to a different one, follow the same
procedure.
The preset station memory is cancelled when the power
source is interrupted by battery disconnection or a blown fuse. (c) Selecting a station
Your Lexus has an electronic tuning radio (ETR). Tune in the
desired station using one of the following methods.
SV22009
Preset
tuning: Push the button ( 1±6 ) for the station you want.
The button number ( 1±6 ) and station frequency appear on the
display.
Manual tuning: Turn the ºAUDIO CONTROLº knob clockwise
to step up the frequency. Turn the knob counterclockwise to
step down the frequency. (See page 143.)
Seek tuning: Push the ºSEEKº button. The radio will begin
seeking up or down for a station of the nearest frequency and
will stop on reception. Each time you push the button, the
stations will be searched out one after another.
Page 180 of 307

STARTING AND DRIVING
167
IGNITION SWITCH WITH STEERINGLOCK
SS31002
ºSTARTº ± Starter motor on. The key will return to the
ºONº position when released.
For starting tips, see page 168.
ºONº ± Engine on and all accessories on.
This is the normal driving position.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ºONº position if the engine
is not running. The battery will discharge and theelectronic ignition system could be damaged.
ºACCº ± Accessories such as the radio operate, but the
engine is off. If you leave the key in the ºACCº or ºLOCKº position and open
the driver's door, a buzzer will remind you to remove the key.*
NOTE: *The volume or interval of beep sound can be
changed. Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
SS31003
ºLOCKº ± Engine is off and the steering wheel is locked.
The ignition key can be removed only at this position.
To turn the key from ºACCº to the ºLOCKº position you must put\
the transmission selector lever in the ºPº position and you must
push in the key.
Once you remove the key, the engine immobiliser system is
automatically set. See ºEngine immobiliser systemº on page
10.
When starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the
ºLOCKº position. To free it, first be sure the key is pushed all
the way in, and then rock the steering wheel slightly while
turning the key gently.
If, in an emergency, you must turn the engine off while the
vehicle is moving, turn the key only to ºACCº.
Page 182 of 307
STARTING AND DRIVING
169
If the weather is below freezing, let the engine warm up for a
few minutes before driving. Do not leave the vehicle while the
engine is warming up.
If the engine stalls ...
Simply restart it , using the correct procedure given in normal
starting.
If the engine will not start
See ºIf your vehicle will not startº on page 200.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time. This
may overheat the starter and wiring systems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to start or stallsfrequently, have the engine checked immediately.
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. ( )
SV31020
Page 183 of 307
STARTING AND DRIVING
170
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)
M: Position for manual shifting up or downshifting
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ºDº to ºMº, engine braking will not be
enabled because the cruise control is not cancelled. For
the operation to decrease the vehicle speed, see page
182.
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) Driving in M mode
(c) Using engine braking
(d) Using the º3º, º2º and ºLº positions
(e) Backing up
(f) Parking
(g) Good driving practice
(h) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
(i) If you cannot shift the selector lever
(j) If the ºECT PWRº indicator light flashes
Page 184 of 307

STARTING AND DRIVING
171
(a) Normal driving
SV31021
1ºPº (Park) position 2ºNº (Neutral) position
1. Start the engine as instructed in ºHow to start the
engineº on page 168.
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.
SS31019
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 179.
Page 187 of 307

STARTING AND DRIVING
1743: Third range
The most suitable gear is selected automatically
between first and third gears according to the vehicle
speed or the running condition.
Slight engine braking will be obtained on a downhill
road.
Smooth running with less shifting will be obtained on an
uphill.
2: Second range First or second gear will be selected automatically
according to the vehicle speed or the running condition.
This range is used in the case that the engine braking is
necessary.
The gear position being used is shown on the instrument
cluster.
Each time you push the switch located on the front of the
steering wheel, the transmission downshifts (from º5º) to º4º\
,
º3º and then º2º.
When you push the switch located on the back of the steering
wheel, the transmission upshifts to º3º, º4º and then º5º\
.
For the precautions on each position, see the description on
the next page. Warning tone sounds twice in any of the following cases:
You attempt to downshift the transmission when it is not
possible to downshift due to the high vehicle speed.
You attempt to downshift from º2º position.
You attempt to upshift from º5º position.
If the ºMº indicator flashes, there is a problem somewhere
in the system. In this case, it should be noted that you
cannot downshift or upshift the transmission using the
switches on the steering wheel. Consult with your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible. The transmission works
exactly in the same way as when you put the selector lever
in the ºDº position.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.
Page 188 of 307

STARTING AND DRIVING
175
(c) Using engine braking
SV31023
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below:
1Shift into the ºMº position, and you push the transmission
down shift switch. The transmission will downshift to
fourth gear and engine braking will be obtained. This is
effective only when you are driving in the ºDº position or
in fifth gear (ºMº position).
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ºDº to ºMº, engine braking will not be
enabled because the cruise control is not cancelled. If
you need to decrease the vehicle speed, see page 182.
2 Shift into the º3º position. The transmission will downshift
to third gear when the vehicle speed is or becomes lower
than the speed listed below and stronger engine braking
will be obtained.
3 Shift into the º2º position. The transmission will downshift
to second gear when the vehicle speed is or becomes
lower than the speed listed below and stronger engine
braking than that of º3º position will be obtained.
4 Shift into the ºLº position. The transmission will downshift
to first gear when the vehicle speed is or becomes lower
than the speed listed below and maximum engine braking
will be enabled.
º4º 168 km/h (104 mph)
º3º 122 km/h ( 76 mph)
º2º 82 km/h ( 51 mph)
ºLº 17 km/h ( 11 mph)
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.
Page 191 of 307

STARTING AND DRIVING
178
(h) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
CAUTION
If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,
then you may attempt to rock the vehicle free by moving
it forward and backward. Do not attempt this procedure
if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle.
During the rocking operation the vehicle may suddenly
move forward or backward as it becomes un±stuck,
causing injury or damage to nearby people or objects.
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the following precautions to prevent damage to the transmission and
other parts.
Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting the selector lever or before the transmission iscompletely shifted to forward or reverse gear.
Do not race the engine and avoid spinning thewheels.
If your vehicle remains stuck after rocking the vehicleseveral times, consider other ways such as towing.
(i) If you cannot shift the selector
If you cannot shift the selector lever even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock override button. For
instructions, see ºIf you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector leverº on page 218.
(j) If the ºECT PWRº indicator light flashes
If the ºECT PWRº indicator light flashes, contact your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible. There may be trouble in the
transmission system.