SECTION 3 – 1
341
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Three−way catalytic converters342
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Engine exhaust caution 343
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Before starting the engine 344
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Ignition switch 345
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Parking brake 347
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How to start the engine 348
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Automatic transmission 349
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Four−wheel drive system 356
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Rear view monitor system 358
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Cruise control 362
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Rear height control air suspension 366
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Electronic modulated suspension 371
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Active traction control system 372
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Vehicle stability control system 375
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Downhill assist control system 377
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Hill −start assist control 380
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Brake system 383
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Tire pressure warning system 387
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Brake pad wear limit indicators 394
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Limited −slip differential 395
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STARTING AND DRIVING
365
5Resetting to a slower speed
Push the control lever downward in the “ − SET” 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 pushing the control
lever downward in the “ − SET” direction quickly.
However, a quicker way to reset is to depress the brake pedal
and then push the control lever downward in the “ − SET”
direction.
Even if you downshift the transmission from the “D” position to
“4” 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.Cruise control failure warning
If the “CRUISE” indicator light flashes when using the cruise
control, press the “ON− OFF” button to turn the system off and
then press 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.
STARTING AND DRIVING
371
(f) Parking and stopping tips
If you immediately stop the engine to park the vehicle after
off−road driving, the vehicle height is lowered slightly as the
vehicle becomes cool. When parking, make sure there is
nothing that will be in contact with the underbody of the vehicle.
When you start the engine, the vehicle returns to the previous
height.
If you park the vehicle for a long time, the vehicle height may
be gradually lowered. When parking for a long time, make sure
there is nothing that will be in contact with the underbody of the
vehicle. When you start the engine, the vehicle returns to the
previous height.
If you stop the engine, the vehicle height may change in
accordance with the change in the temperature. When you
start the engine, the vehicle returns to the previous height.
(g) Rear height control failure warning
If there is a problem somewhere in the rear height control air
suspension, the “N” mode is automatically selected. If this
occurs, the height control “OFF” indicator light blinks and the
vehicle height control cannot be activated until the malfunction
is corrected. If this is the case, bring your vehicle to your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible and have it checked.
ELECTRONIC MODULATED SUSPENSION
This electronic modulated suspension adjusts the
damping effect on the shock absorbers with the control
switch. Select one of the 4 modes which is suited to the
driving conditions with the control switch to provide good
riding comfort and stability.
1For driving on a bumpy road
2For ordinary driving such as in the city traffic
3For moderate high speed driving
4For sporty type driving such as on winding mountain
roads and high speed driving
5Soft
6Firm
STARTING AND DRIVING
374
“VSC TRAC” 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
“ON”, 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 “ON”
position. Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly may turn on the light.
It is normal if it goes out after a few seconds.
If the “VSC TRAC” 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 “ON”.
The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to “ON”.
The warning light comes on while driving.
STARTING AND DRIVING
376If the brake pedal is depressed while the vehicle stability
control system is active, the brake pedal will become hard at
an earlier position than usual. However, the brakes will
respond to the pedal force if depressed further.
The slip indicator light comes on for a few seconds when the
ignition key is turned to “ON”. If the indicator light does not
come on when the ignition is turned on, contact your Lexus
dealer.
Pushing the center differential lock switch automatically
turns
the vehicle stability control system off. At this time,
the “VSC OFF” indicator comes on with the center
differential lock indicator light.
“VSC OFF” indicator light comes on for a few seconds when
the ignition key is turned to “ON”. It will come on again when
you push the center differential lock switch to turn off the
system. In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer:
The indicator light does not come on when the ignition key
is turned “ON”.
The indicator light remains on after the ignition is turned on.
The indicator light comes on when the system is on while
driving.
NOTICE
Make sure that the center dif ferential lock indicator light
goes off before normal driving.
“VSC TRAC” warning light
This light warns that when there is a problem somewhere in the
following.
STARTING AND DRIVING
377
Vehicle stability control system
Active traction control system
Downhill assist control system
Hill −start assist control
When the system is normal and the ignition key is turned to
“ON”, 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 “ON”
position.
Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly may turn on the light.
It is normal if they go out after a few seconds.
If the light comes on while driving, the vehicle stability 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 “ON”.
The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to “ON”.
The warning light comes on while driving.
DOWNHILL ASSIST CONTROL
SYSTEM
The downhill assist control system is a system that
assists the deceleration of the engine brake when you
drive down a steep hill. When you are driving down a hill
with the four wheel drive control lever in the “L” position,
push the “DAC” switch to limit the vehicle’s acceleration.
If the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 25 km/h (15 mph) or
less, you can descend at a constant speed.
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on the downhill assist control
system. It may not be able to maintain a low speed over
road surfaces or off road surfaces on which sliding can
easily occur, such as extremely steep slopes or icy or
muddy roads.
STARTING AND DRIVING
379
If you push the “DAC” switch to turn the system off while it is
in operation, the system will stop operating gradually. The
downhill assist control system indicator light will flash to alert
the driver. To continue driving at a low speed, push the “DAC”
switch to turn the system on.
The slip indicator light and downhill assist control system
indicator
light come on for a few seconds when the ignition key
is turned to “ON”. If any of the indicator lights does not come
on when the ignition is turned on, contact your Lexus dealer.
The brake actuator temperature increases 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 downhill assist control system
can no longer operate. In this case, stop your vehicle
immediately 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 this time, the slip indicator light
will come on and the downhill assist control system stops
operating temporarily in order to protect the brake actuator.
(Although the downhill assist control system does not operate,
it is no problem to continue your driving.) The system will be
automatically restored after a short time and the slip indicator
light goes out.
“VSC TRAC” warning light
If there is any abnormality in the system, the “VSC TRAC”
warning light will come on. When the “DAC” switch is
pushed, the downhill assist control system indicator light
also flash.
STARTING AND DRIVING
380If the “VSC TRAC” warning light comes on, there may be an
abnormality in any of the following systems in addition to the
downhill assist control system.
Hill −start assist control
Active traction control system
Vehicle stability control system
When the system is normal and the ignition key is turned to
“ON”, 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 “ON”
position.
Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly may turn on the light.
It is normal if it goes out after a few seconds.
If the “VSC TRAC” warning light and slip indicator light comes
on while driving, the system does not work. However, as
normal braking operates when being applied, it 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 “ON”.
The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to “ON”.
The warning light comes on while driving.
HILL START ASSIST CONTROL
The hill start assist control assists you in starting to move
up a steep or slippery hill. When you start to move up the
hill slope, the system helps to prevent the vehicle from
rolling backward in the interval while you move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal.
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on the hill start assist
control. The vehicle may not be able to start
smoothly on road surfaces or off road surfaces such
as extremely steep slopes or icy roads, on which
sliding can occur very easily.
Do not use the hill start assist control to stop the
vehicle. The hill start assist control is not designed
as a function for stopping the vehicle on a uphill
slope.