STARTING AND DRIVING
395
DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE
CONTROL
The vehicles with pre−collision system are equipped with
dynamic radar cruise control.
Dynamic radar cruise control allows you to drive at a
selected cruising speed over about 45 km/h (28 mph) with
your foot off the accelerator pedal, maintaining an
appropriate vehicle−to−vehicle distance.
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on dynamic radar cruise control
in order to avoid serious injury or death, or to prevent
accidents or to control the vehicle’s speed in
emergency situations. Do not use cruise control except
in appropriate road and traffic conditions. Always drive
carefully and attentively. Before using dynamic radar
cruise control, read and understand the following
instructions.
G31009
1
Multi−information display
2
Master warning light
3
“CRUISE” indicator light
4
Distance switch
(for changing vehicle−to−vehicle distance)
5
Cruise control switch
STARTING AND DRIVING
397 (a) Dynamic radar cruise control operations
G31012
The dynamic radar cruise control function operates
automatically and depending on whether a vehicle is
detected ahead may change the speed of your vehicle as
follows:If no vehicle is running ahead of you:
1
Cruising at a fixed speed: If there is no vehicle detected
ahead, your cruising speed is maintained at the preset
speed from about 45 km/h (28 mph) to about 135 km/h (85
mph). The preset speed is displayed in the
multi−information display. For the vehicle speed setting,
see “Setting operation ” on page 402.
If a vehicle is detected ahead of you:
2
Deceleration cruising function: If a slower moving
vehicle is detected ahead of you, your vehicle cruising
speed decreases within the range of about 40 km/h (25
mph) to about 135 km/h (85 mph). The multi−information
display shows the preset speed, the detected vehicle
ahead and selected vehicle−to−vehicle distance. If your
vehicle gets closer to the vehicle ahead because of
insufficient automatic deceleration, then the warning tone
warns you to also manually apply brakes.
3
Follow−up cruising function: After deceleration, your
vehicle cruising speed changes in proportion to the speed
of the vehicle ahead to maintain an appropriate distance
from your vehicle to the vehicle ahead. The
vehicle−to−vehicle distance can be changed. For details,
see “Changing vehicle−to−vehicle distance setting” on
page 406.
4
Acceleration cruising function: If the vehicle ahead
changes lanes, your vehicle cruising speed will be
gradually increased up to the preset speed, and your
vehicle resumes fixed−speed cruising.
STARTING AND DRIVING
398
CAUTION
Under certain conditions where the vehicle in front
slows drastically, or is stopped, the dynamic radar
cruise control will neither warn you nor decelerate. The
driver must depress the brake pedal to slow down,
ensuring collision avoidance or that sufficient
vehicle−to−vehicle distance is maintained.
When vehicle−to−vehicle distance control mode is activated,
you must still be attentive to road and traffic conditions. Should
your vehicle speed decrease below about 40 km/h (25 mph),
the dynamic radar cruise control will shut off, requiring you to
apply the brakes to slow. When a vehicle ahead slows
suddenly, stops or a vehicle cuts in front, the system may slow
your vehicle abruptly, but the automatic braking will cease if the
speed decreases below about 40 km/h (25 mph) requiring the
driver’s manual application of brakes.
CAUTION
Certain conditions make vehicle detection difficult or
impossible.
As this system operates by detecting primarily the
reflected wave from the rear end of the vehicle ahead,
the distance cannot be accurately detected in the
following cases, resulting in improper
vehicle−to−vehicle distance.
♦The rear section of the vehicle ahead is extremely
small such as an unloaded trailer.
♦The vehicle ahead or other vehicles around you
are flinging up water or snow.
♦Heavy luggage which is loaded in your trunk or on
top of your rear seats is raising up the nose of your
vehicle.
The millimeter wave radar sensor automatically
detects dirt if it is sticking to the front of the sensor
or cover of your vehicle, and if detected, a message
appears on the multi−information display. However,
if the sensor or cover is covered with a metallic vinyl
bag, icicle, snowflakes, etc., dirt may not be detected,
resulting in improper vehicle−to−vehicle distance.
Continue driving with due care to the vehicle ahead.
If dirt is detected, the dynamic radar cruise control
function is automatically cancelled. Always keep the
sensor and cover clean.
STARTING AND DRIVING
401 (b) Turning the system on
G31011
To operate the dynamic radar cruise control, push the
“ON−OFF” button. This turns the system on. When the
“CRUISE” indicator light in the instrument cluster comes on
and “RADAR READY” appears on the multi−information
display, you can now set your desired cruising speed and
vehicle−to−vehicle distance. Pushing the “ON−OFF” button
again will turn the system completely off and “CRUISE OFF”
will appear on the multi−information display.
When the engine switch is turned off, the system is also
automatically turned off. To use the dynamic radar cruise
control again, push the “ON−OFF” button again to turn it on.
When the engine switch is turned off, all the preset data is
cleared. When you use the dynamic radar cruise control again,
you need to reset the data.The multi−information display will return to the
vehicle−to−vehicle distance screen about 6 seconds after the
vehicle−to−vehicle distance screen has been changed to
another screen.
CAUTION
To avoid accidentally engaging the cruise control, keep
the “ON−OFF” button off when not using the dynamic
radar cruise control.
STARTING AND DRIVING
402(c) Setting operation
G31014
Each function is described below.
1
Setting the desired speed
The transmission must be in “D”, “6” (sixth range), “5” (fifth
range) or “4”(fourth range) before you set the cruise control
speed.After bringing the vehicle to the desired speed, press the
control lever downward in the “– SET” direction and release it.
This sets the vehicle at that speed. At this time, the
multi−information display indicates settings such as the preset
vehicle speed, whether a vehicle is present ahead and
selected vehicle−to−vehicle distance. If there is no vehicle
detected ahead, the dynamic radar cruise control screen does
not display the vehicle ahead. At this time, you may take your
foot off the accelerator pedal. If you need to accelerate − for
example, when passing − depress the accelerator pedal
enough for the vehicle to exceed the preset speed. When you
release the accelerator pedal, the vehicle will return to the
control prior to acceleration.
You cannot set a desired speed if the master warning light
comes on, the warning tone sounds and the multi−information
display indicates a warning message such as “CRUISE NOT
AVAILABLE”, “CLEAN RADAR SENSOR” or “CHECK
CRUISE SYSTEM”. If any of the above messages appears on
the display, see “Vehicle−to−vehicle distance control mode
failure warning” on page 410.
If you turn off the “ON−OFF” button while the warning message
is displayed, the warning message turns off and the
multi−information display switches to another screen. If no
warning message appears on the display, when you turn the
“ON−OFF” button on again, the setting can be made.
You can change the dynamic radar cruise control screen to
another screen even while the warning message is displayed.
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2
Cancelling the preset speed
You can cancel the preset speed by doing any of the following:
a. Pulling the control lever, in the ”CANCEL” direction.
b. Depressing the brake pedal.
c. Pushing the “ON−OFF” button.
If cancelled by a. or b., the multi−information display shows
“RADAR READY” and the dynamic radar cruise control enters
the ready mode.
If cancelled by c., the “CRUISE” indicator light goes off in the
instrument cluster and the multi−information display shows
“CRUISE OFF”. In this case, the preset speed data is cleared,
and you must set the speed from the beginning.
In the following case, the preset speed automatically
cancels out. At this time, the multi−information display
shows “RADAR READY” and the dynamic radar cruise
control enters the ready mode.
The vehicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph). (40
km/h (25 mph) is designated as a cancel speed.)
CAUTION
In this case, the warning tone reminds you that the
dynamic radar cruise control is cancelled and you must
apply the brakes to slow the vehicle.
In the following cases, the warning messages appear and
the preset speed automatically cancels out. When
dynamic radar cruise control is restored, the warning
messages turn off and dynamic radar cruise control
enters “RADAR READY” mode.
a. The slip indicator light blinks and a warning tone sounds.
(This occurs when the vehicle is about to skid.)
b. The driving pattern selector switch is set to snow mode.
c. The anti−lock brake system is activated by automatic
braking. (The warning tone sounds.)
d. The sensor does not operate properly because a foreign
matter sticks to the sensor.
e. The wipers are operated at high speed (including high
speed operation with the wiper lever in the “AUTO” position.)
NOTICE
If the preset speed automatically cancels out for other
than the above reasons, do not operate the dynamic
radar cruise control. Although it is no problem to
continue driving, have your vehicle checked by your
Lexus dealer at the earliest opportunity.
STARTING AND DRIVING
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3
Resetting to a faster speed
Press the control lever upward in the ”+ RES” direction and
hold it. The displayed speed will increase in increments of 5
mph (for the U.S.A.) or 5 km/h (for Canada). Release the lever
when the desired speed is attained. The vehicle will gradually
increase to the displayed speed.
Depressing the accelerator pedal and pressing the control
lever downward in the “– SET” direction will not reset to a faster
speed. At this time the set speed falls by 5 mph (for the U.S.A.)
or 5 km/h (for Canada).
CAUTION
When the vehicle−to−vehicle distance control is on (on
follow−up cruising), your cruising speed is regulated in
proportion to the speed of the vehicle ahead, so
increasing the preset vehicle speed using the control
lever does not accelerate the vehicle. However, if the
vehicle ahead leaves the lane, your cruising speed will
increase up to the preset speed because the preset
speed has been set higher using the control lever.
Confirm the setting on the multi−information display.
4
Resetting to a slower speed
Press the control lever downward in the “– SET” direction and
hold it. The displayed speed will decrease in increments of 5
mph (for the U.S.A.) or 5 km/h (for Canada). Release the lever
when the desired speed is attained. The vehicle will gradually
decrease to the displayed speed.
A quicker way to reset the preset speed is to depress the brake
pedal and then press the control lever downward in the “– SET”
direction.
If the control lever is released when the vehicle speed exceeds
the upper limit of the preset speed traveling downhill while you
are pressing the control lever downward, the system will
memorize the upper limit of the preset speed as a preset
speed.
Even if you downshift the transmission from “D” or “6” (sixth
range) to “5” (fifth range), or from “D” or “5” (fifth range) to “4”
(fourth range) in the vehicle−to−vehicle distance control mode,
engine braking will not be enabled because this mode 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.
STARTING AND DRIVING
405
5
Resuming the preset speed
If the preset speed has been cancelled, when you push the
lever up in the “+ RES” direction while “RADAR READY”
shows up on the multi−information display and at a vehicle
speed of about more than 40 km/h (25 mph), the speed set
prior to cancellation will be restored.
During follow−up cruising, if there are no vehicles running
ahead because they have changed lanes, your vehicle will
accelerate gradually up to the preset speed.CAUTION
Deceleration cruising function and approach
warning do not operate when the vehicle ahead is at
a stop or driving very slowly.
While vehicle−to−vehicle distance control is on (on
follow−up cruising), acceleration and deceleration
are automatically performed in proportion to the
speed of the vehicle ahead detected. However, if the
vehicle ahead of you decelerates abruptly or if
another vehicle cuts in ahead of you, your vehicle
may collide with the vehicle ahead unless you
manually depress the brake pedal to slow down your
vehicle. If you need to accelerate because the vehicle
ahead or you changes lanes, then depress the
acceleration pedal.
Depending on the road configuration (curved roads,
left and right continuous curved roads, driving at the
start or end of the curve, narrow driving lanes due to
road construction) or your vehicle condition
(steering wheel maneuvering, position in the lane or
unstable driving because of an accident or
breakdown), vehicles in other lanes or surrounding
objects will be detected, resulting in a control failure
or the activated approach warning. This may also
result in a very close distance between vehicles due
to a failure to detect the vehicle ahead. Maneuvering
the steering wheel in response to a violent lateral
wind will cause similar conditions.