Page 429 of 668
STARTING AND DRIVING
408
(d) Backing up
1Brake pedal2ªRº (Reverse) position
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the
selector lever to the ªRº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle is moving.
When the shift lever is shifted into ªRº position, the outside rear
view mirrors automatically down to help backing up. For
details, see page 232. Vehicles with rear view monitor system Ð
When the selector lever is shifted into ªRº position with the
ignition switch in the ªONº position, rear view monitor system
will activate. For instructions, see ªRear view monitor systemº
on page 415.
Page 430 of 668
STARTING AND DRIVING
409
(e) Parking
1Brake pedal
2Parking brake lever
3ªPº (Park) position
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Apply the parking brake fully.
3. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the
selector lever to the ªPº position.
CAUTION
While the vehicle is moving, never attempt to move the
selector lever into ªPº under any circumstances.
Serious mechanical damage and loss of vehicle control
may result.
(f) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up and down between
the fourth and overdrive gears when climbing a gentle slope,
shift the selector lever to the ª4º position. Be sure to shift the
selector lever to the ªDº position after climbing the slope.
Page 431 of 668
STARTING AND DRIVING
410
When towing a trailer, in order to maintain efficient engine
braking and electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped
with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from
creeping.
NOTICE
Always use the brake pedal or parking brake to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Do not attempt to hold the vehicle using the accelerator pedal, as this can causethe transmission to overheat.
Page 432 of 668

STARTING AND DRIVING
411
(g) If you cannot shift the selector lever
If you cannot shift the selector lever even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock override button. For
instructions, see ªIf you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector leverº on page 524.
(h) Driving in second start mode
In the second start mode, the transmission system shifts up
from second gear. Use this mode when starting your vehicle
in sand, mud, ice or snow.
To set the second start mode, push the ª2nd STRTº switch. In
the second start mode, the ª2nd STRTº indicator light comes
on. To cancel the second start mode, push the ª2nd STRTº
switch once again.
FOUR±WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM
(a) Four±wheel drive control
Use the four±wheel drive control lever and center
differential lock switch to select the following transfer and
center differential modes.
The ªHº and ªLº position of the four±wheel drive control leve\
r
provides either lock or unlock mode of the center differential
depending on the center differential lock switch position.
Use the center differential lock system if your wheels get stuck
in a ditch, or when you are driving on a slippery or bumpy
surface. When the center differential is locked, the vehicle
stability control system is automatically turned off and the
center dif ferential lock and ªVSC OFFº indicator lights come on
because the function that controls engine performance
interferes with the process of freeing your wheels.
Page 441 of 668

STARTING AND DRIVING
420
Setting operation
Each function is described below.
1Setting at a desired speed.
The transmission must be in ªDº or ª4º before you set the cruis\
e
control speed.
Bring the vehicle to the desired speed, press the control lever
downward in the ª± SETº direction and release it. This sets the
vehicle at that speed. Now you may take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. If you need acceleration Ð for example,
when passing Ð depress the accelerator pedal enough for the
vehicle to exceed the set speed. When you release the
accelerator pedal, the vehicle will return to the speed set prior
to the acceleration.
2Cancelling the preset speed
You can cancel the preset speed by either of the following:
a. Pulling the control lever in the ªCANCELº direction.
b. Depressing the brake pedal.
c. Pushing the ªON±OFFº button.
If the vehicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the
preset speed will be automatically cancelled.
If the vehicle speed drops 16 km/h (10 mph) below the preset
speed, the preset speed will also automatically be cancelled.
If the preset speed automatically cancels out for other than
these reasons, have your vehicle checked by your Lexus
dealer at the earliest opportunity.
3Resetting to a faster speed
Press the control lever upward in the ª+ RESº direction and
hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed is attained.
While the lever is held upward, the vehicle will gradually gain
speed.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can be
increased 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever upward in the ª+ RESº direction quickly.
However, a quicker way to reset is to accelerate the vehicle and
then press the control lever downward in the ª± SETº direction.
Page 442 of 668

STARTING AND DRIVING
421
4Resetting to a slower speed
Press the control lever downward in the ª± SETº direction and
hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed is attained.
While the lever is held downward, the vehicle speed will
gradually decrease.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can be
lowered 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever downward in the ª± SETº direction quickly.
However, a quicker way to reset is to depress the brake pedal
and then press the control lever downward in the ª± SETº
direction.
Even if you downshift the transmission from the ªDº position to
ª4º position with the cruise control on, engine braking will not
be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. To
decrease the vehicle speed, reset to a slower speed with the
cruise control lever or depress the brake pedal. If you use the
brake pedal, cruise control is cancelled.
5Resuming the preset speed
If the preset speed is cancelled by pulling the control lever or
by depressing the brake pedal, pushing the lever up in the ª+
RESº direction will restore the speed set prior to cancellation.
Cruise control failure warning
If the ªCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster flashes
when using the cruise control, push the ºON±OFFº button to
turn the system off and then push it again to turn it on.
If any of the following conditions then occurs, there is some
trouble in the cruise control system.
The indicator light does not come on.
The indicator light flashes again.
The indicator light goes out after it comes on.
If this is the case, contact your Lexus dealer and have your
Lexus inspected.
Page 452 of 668

STARTING AND DRIVING
431
Slip indicator light
Leave the system on during the ordinary driving so that it
can operate when needed.
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few
seconds when the engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This means that the active traction control
system is in the self±check mode, but does not indicate a
malfunction.
When the active traction control system is operating, the
following conditions occur:
The system controls the spinning of the 4 wheels. At this
time, the slip indicator light blinks.
You may feel vibration or noise in your vehicle, caused by
operation of the brakes. This indicates the system is
functioning properly. The slip indicator light comes on for a few seconds when the
ignition key is turned to ªONº. If the indicator light does not
come on when the ignition is turned on, contact your Lexus
dealer.
The brake actuator temperature increase during continuous
operation of the following systems.
Active traction control system
Vehicle stability control system
Downhill assist control system
Hill±start assist control
If the brake actuator temperature becomes too high while any
of the systems is operating, a buzzer will start to sound
intermittently to indicate that the active traction control system
can no longer operate. In this case, immediately stop your
vehicle at a safe place.
If the system continues to operate, the buzzer sound changes
from intermittent to continuous. (The continuous buzzer
sounds for about 3 seconds.) At the time, the slip indicator light
will come on and the active traction control system temporarily
stops operating in order to protect the brake actuator.
(Although the active traction control system does not operate,
there is no problem to continue your driving.) The system will
be automatically restored after a short time and the slip
indicator light goes out.
Page 453 of 668

STARTING AND DRIVING
432
ªVSC TRACº warning light
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in the
following.
Active traction control system
Vehicle stability control system
Downhill assist control system
Hill±start assist control
When the system is normal and the ignition key is turned to
ªONº, the warning light will come on and will go off after a few
seconds. It is not a malfunction that the warning light may stay
on for 60 seconds after the ignition key is turned to the ªONº
position. Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly may turn on the light.
It is normal if it goes out after a few seconds.
If the ªVSC TRACº warning light and slip indicator light comes
on while driving, the active traction control system does not
work. However, as normal braking operates when being
applied, there is no problem to continue your driving.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer:
The warning light does not come on after the ignition key is
turned to ªONº.
The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to ªONº.
The warning light comes on while driving.