184
GS350_200t_GS F_OM_OM30E86U_(U)4-1. Before driving
■Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of brake system
needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Lexus dealer perform the bedding down
operation.
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration
laws and confirm the availability of the cor-
rect fuel. ( →P. 5 4 1 )
■Brake pads and discs (F SPORT models of GS350/GS200t, and GS F)
The brake pads and discs are designed for use under high load conditions. Therefore,
brake noise may be generated depending on the vehicle speed, braking force and vehi-
cle environment (temperature, humidity, etc.).
■Idling time before engine stop (GS200t)
To prevent damage to the turbocharger, allow the engine to idle immediately after high-
speed driving or hill climbing.
Driving conditionIdling time
Normal city drivingNot necessary
High-speed driving (Constant speed of approx.
62 mph [100 km/h])Approximately 1 minute
Steep hill driving or continuous driving at 62 mph
(100 km/h) or more (race track driving etc.)Approximately 2 minute
186
GS350_200t_GS F_OM_OM30E86U_(U)4-1. Before driving
WA R N I N G
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce your
ability to control the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes in engine speed
could cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make sure that the
brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from func-
tioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not functioning properly,
steering control may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll
forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake and steering perfor-
mance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a driving position while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the engine from
the transmission. Engine braking is not available when N is selected.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed. Shifting the
shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of
the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators) (GS350/
GS200t)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
Front brakes of F SPORT models: Moderate levels of brake pad and disc wear allow
enhanced front braking power. As a result, the discs may wear more quickly than con-
ventional brake discs. Therefore, when replacing the brake pads, Lexus recommends
that you also have the thickness of the discs measured.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those
of the brake discs are exceeded.
GS350_200t_GS F_OM_OM30E86U_(U)
2034-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Sport mode/Eco drive mode
→P. 2 9 3
■Snow mode
Snow mode can be selected to suit the conditions when driving on slippery
road surfaces, such as on snow.
Press the switch.
Press the switch again to return to
normal mode.
*1:Except F SPORT models of GS350/
GS200t, and GS F
*2:F SPORT models of GS350/GS200t
Selecting the driving mode
*1
*2
GS350_200t_GS F_OM_OM30E86U_(U)
2074-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Automatic deactivation of shift range selection in the D position
Shift range selection in the D position will be deactivated in the following situations:
●When the vehicle comes to a stop
●If the accelerator pedal is depressed for more than a certain period of time
●When the shift lever is shifted to other than D
■To protect automatic transmission
When the temperature of the transmission fluid becomes high, protection control is per-
formed temporarily. When “Transmission Fluid Temp High See Owner’s Manual” is dis-
played on the multi-information display, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circumstances, downsh ifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever or paddle shift switch is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■Snow mode automatic deactivation
Snow mode is automatically deactivated if the engine switch is turned off after driving in
snow mode.
■When driving with cruise control, dynamic radar cruise control or dynamic radar
cruise control with full-speed range activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
engine braking will not activate because cruise control, dynamic radar cruise control or
dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range will not be canceled.
●6-speed models: While driving in the D position, downshifting to 5 or 4.
( → P. 266, 278, 290)
8-speed models: While driving in the D position, downshifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4.
( → P. 266, 278, 290)
●When switching the driving mode to sport mode while driving in D position. ( →P. 2 9 3 )
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)
●When the following unusual operation is performed, the engine output may be
restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D
includes M) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on
the multi-information display. ( →P. 4 5 9 )
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
→P. 5 1 7
■AI-SHIFT
●The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitab le gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when th e shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift
lever to the M position cancels the function.)
●8-speed models: G AI-SHIFT automatically se lects a suitable gear for sporty driving
according to driver’s input and driving conditions. G AI-SHIFT operates automatically
when the shift lever is in D and sport mode is selected for the driving mode. (Selecting
normal mode with the driving mode select sw itch or shifting the shift lever to the M
position cancels this function.)
214
GS350_200t_GS F_OM_OM30E86U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
ASC (Active Sound Control) (GS F)
The ASC system can be operated
when the driving mode select switch is
in sport mode. (
→P. 2 9 6 )
SPORT S mode: Sounds are output
from the rear.
SPORT S+ mode: Sounds are output
from the front and rear.
Press the ASC switch.
The indicator on switch will turn off.
Press the switch again to turn the system
back on.
Even if the indicator is illuminated, when
the driving mode select switch is in Nor-
mal or Eco drive mode, ASC does not
operate.
■Automatic reactivation of ASC system
Even after the ASC system has been turned off, turning the engine off and then on again
will automatically reactivate the ASC system.
The ASC system directs certain sounds fr om the front and rear of the cabin to
the vehicle interior, and harmonizes thes e sounds with the actual sound of the
engine and exhaust in order to allow the driver to feel acceleration and the
state of the engine more strongly.
Disabling the ASC system