1854-1. Before driving
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Driving
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
■When starting off on an uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. (P. 2 8 7 )
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows may
become fogged-up, and th e road will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, becau se the road surface will be especially slip-
pery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because there may
be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the steering and
brakes from operating properly.
■Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving. This is due
to automatic up-shifting control or down-shi fting implementation to meet driving condi-
tions. It does not indica te sudden acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
●When the accelerator pedal is released
●When the brake pedal is depressed while sport mode is selected
■Restraining the engine output (brake override system)
●When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, the engine
output may be restrained.
●A warning message is displayed on the multi-information display while the system is
operating. (P. 5 6 0 )
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the ve hicle, observing the followin g precautions is recommended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■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 vehi cle registration laws and confirm the availability of the cor-
rect fuel. ( P. 636)
■Brake pads and discs (RC 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.).
1894-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
WA R N I N G
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■If a brake pad wear warning message is displayed (RC F)
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.
Moderate levels of the brake pad and disc wear allow enhanced braking power. As a
result, the discs may wear more quickly than conventional 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.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing
the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the parking brake as neces-
sary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the
vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely
apply the parking brake as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust
system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is nearby.
2094-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
■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 a position other than D
■To protect the automatic transmission
If the automatic transmission fluid temperature is high, “Transmission Fluid High Temper-
ature” will be displayed on the multi-information display and the vehicle will go into trans-
mission protection mode automatically. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Downshifting restriction warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performa nce, downshifting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting 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 or dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
engine braking will not activate because cruise control or dynamic radar cruise control
will not be canceled.
●8-speed models: While driving in the D posi tion, downshifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4.
( P. 235, 239)
●6-speed models: While driving in the D position, downshifting to 5 or 4.
( P. 235, 239)
●When switching the driving mode to sp ort mode while driving in D position.
( P. 2 8 3 )
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
P. 5 9 9
■AI-SHIFT
●The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitab le gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the sh ift 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 co nditions. 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.)
WA R N I N G
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden accele ration, as this could result in the vehicle
skidding to the side or spinning.
2114-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
To set the parking brake, fully depress the parking brake pedal with your left foot
while depressing the brake pedal with your right foot.
(Depressing the pedal again releases the parking brake.)
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
P. 5 5 3
■Usage in winter time
P. 3 2 1
Parking brake
Operating instructions
RC350/RC300/RC200tRC F
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components overheat-
ing, which may affect braking perf ormance and increase brake wear.
U.S.A. CanadaU.S.A. Canada
2374-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
■Cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in D.
●Range 4 or higher of D has been selected by using the paddle shift.
●Vehicle speed is above approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
■Accelerating after setting the vehicle speed
●The vehicle can be accelerated by operating accelerator pedal. After accelerating, the
set speed resumes.
●Even without canceling the cruise control, the set speed can be increased by first accel-
erating the vehicle to the desired speed and then pushing the lever down to set the new
speed.
■Automatic cruise control cancelation
Cruise control is automatically canceled in any of the following situations.
●Actual vehicle speed falls more than approximately 10 mph (16 km/h) below the set
speed.
●Actual vehicle speed is below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is turned off by pressing the VSC OFF switch.
■If the warning message for the cruise contro l is shown on the multi-information display
Press the “ON/OFF” button once to deactivate the system, and then press the button
again to reactivate the system.
If the cruise control speed cannot be set or if the cruise control cancels immediately after
being activated, there may be a malfunction in the cruise control system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
2404-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
This mode employs a radar sensor to detect the presence of vehicles up to
approximately 400 ft. (120 m) ahead, determines the current vehicle-to-vehicle
following distance, and operates to main tain a suitable following distance from
the vehicle ahead.
Note that vehicle-to-vehicle distance will close in when traveling on long downhill
slopes.
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead
The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver. The desired vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance can also be set by operating the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control.
Example of deceleration cruising
When a preceding vehicle driving slower than the set speed appears
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of you, the system automatically deceler-
ates your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the system
applies the brakes (the stop lights will come on at this time). A warning tone warns you
when the system cannot decelera te sufficiently to prevent your vehicle from closing in
on the vehicle ahead.
Example of follow-up cruising
When following a preceding vehicle driving slower than the set speed
The system continues follow-up cruising wh ile adjusting for changes in the speed of
the vehicle ahead in order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance set by the driver.
Example of acceleration
When there are no longer any preceding vehicles driving slower than the set
speed
The system accelerates until the set speed is reached. The system then returns to con-
stant speed cruising.
Driving in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
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2444-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
Pulling the lever toward you cancels
the speed control.
The speed setting is also canceled when
the brake pedal is depressed.
Pushing the lever up resumes the
speed control and returns vehicle
speed to the set speed.
Resuming is available when the vehicle
speed is more than approximately 25
mph (40 km/h).
When your vehicle is too close to a
vehicle ahead, and sufficient automatic
deceleration via the cruise control is
not possible, the display will flash and
the buzzer will sound to alert the driver.
An example of this would be if another
driver cuts in front of you while you are
following a vehicle. Depress the brake
pedal to ensure an appropriate vehicle-
to-vehicle distance.
■Warnings may not occur when
In the following instances, there is a po ssibility that the warnings will not occur:
●When the speed of the preceding vehicle matches or exceeds your vehicle
speed
●When the preceding vehicle is traveling at an extremely slow speed
●Immediately after the cruise control speed was set
●When depressing the accelerator pedal
Canceling and resuming the speed control
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2
Approach warning (vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode)
2464-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350_RC300_RC200t_RC F_U (OM24671U)
■Automatic cancelation of vehicle- to-vehicle distance control mode
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control driving is automatically canceled in the following situ-
ations:
●Actual vehicle speed falls below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is turned off by pressing the VSC OFF switch.
●The sensor cannot detect correctly because it is covered in some way.
●The windshield wipers are operating at high speed (when the wipers are in AUTO
mode or the high speed wiper operation).
●When snow mode is set.
●Pre-collision braking is activated.
If vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is automatically canceled for any other rea-
son, there may be a malfunction in the system. Contact your Lexus dealer.
■Automatic cancelation of constant speed control mode
Constant speed control mode is automatica lly canceled in the following situations:
●Actual vehicle speed is more than approximately 10 mph (16 km/h) below the set vehi-
cle speed.
●Actual vehicle speed falls below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is turned off by pressing the VSC OFF switch.
●Pre-collision braking is activated.
■Radar sensor and grille cover
Always keep the sensor and grille cover clean to ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance control mode operates properly. (Some obstructions, such as snow, ice and plastic
objects, cannot be detected by the obstruction sensor.)
Dynamic radar cruise control is cancel ed if an obstruction is detected.
■Operation guide display
When the dynamic radar cruise control switch is operated, a guidance display is shown
on the meters for a few seconds as to how to operate the dynamic radar cruise control
switch or distance switch. ( P. 110, 122)
■Warning messages and buzzers for dynamic radar cruise control
Warning messages and buzzers are used to indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need fo r caution while driving. (P. 555)
Grille cover
Radar sensor
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