2017 Lexus ES350 Owner's Manuals

159
ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Automatic transmission
While the engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode, move the shift lever
with the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
*1: Shifting to the D position allows the system
to select a gear suitable for the driving
conditions.
Setting the shift lever to the D positi on is recommended for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the possible gear
ranges, controls engine braking force, and prevents unnecessary upshifting.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( → P. 1 6 0 )

160
ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
When the shift lever is in the S position, the shift lever can be operated as follows:
Upshifting
Downshifting
The selected shift range, from 1 to 6, will
be displayed in the meter.
The initial shift range in S mode is set
automatically to 5 or 4 according to
vehicle speed. But, the initial shift range
may be set to 3 if AI-SHIFT has oper-
ated while the shift lever was in the D
position. ( →P. 1 6 2 )
■Shift ranges and their functions
●Automatically selecting gears between 1 and 6 according to vehicle speed
and driving conditions. But, the gear is limited according to selected shift
range.
●You can choose from 6 levels of engine braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide greate r engine braking force than a higher
shift range, and the engine speed will also increase.
Selecting gears in the S position
1
2

ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)
1614-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■S mode
●When the shift range is 4 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift range
to 6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
●To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range when the fluid temperature is high.
■When driving with cruise control or dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
the engine brake will not operate in the S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or 4.
( → P. 2 0 8 , 2 2 0 )
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performa nce, downshifting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circumstances, downsh ifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to the S position
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when the shift lever
is in the D position.)
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent accidental operation of the shift lever in start-
ing.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only when the engine switch is in IGNITION ON
mode and the brake pedal is being depressed.
■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 S) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on
the multi-information display. If a warnin g message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow the instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.

162
ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brake pedal is being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your foot on the brake pedal, there may be a prob-
lem with the shift lock system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
The following steps may be used as an emergency measure to ensure that the shift lever
can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake. (→ P. 1 6 4 )
Turn the engine switch to off.
Depress the brake pedal.
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver performance and
driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever to S
cancels the function.) Pry the cover up with a flathead screwdriver
or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover the tip
of the screwdriver with a rag.
Press the shift lock override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while the button
is pressed.
WA R N I N G
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause th
e vehicle to spin or skid, resulting in an
accident.
■To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override button, make sure to set the parking brake and
depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depress instead of the brake pedal when the shift
lock override button is pressed and the shift lever is shifted out of P, the vehicle may
suddenly start, possibly leading to an accid ent resulting in death or serious injury.
1
2
3
4
5

163
ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Turn signal lever
Right turn
Lane change to the right (move the
lever partway and then release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
Lane change to the left (move the
lever partway and then release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or re
ar turn signal lights has not burned out.
■If the turn signals stop flashing before a lane change has been performed
Operate the lever again.
■To discontinue flashing of the turn signals during a lane change
Operate the lever in the opposite direction.
■Customization
The number of times the turn signals flash during a lane change can be changed.
(→ P. 5 3 8 )
Operating instructions
1
2
3
4

164
ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
Parking brake
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.)
■Pa rk i n g t h e ve h i c l e
→
P. 1 4 0
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven with the parking brake engaged. “Release
Parking Brake” is displayed on the multi-information display.
■Usage in winter time
→P. 2 6 4
U.S.A. Canada
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake se t will lead to brake components overheat-
ing, which may affect braking performance and increase brake wear.

165
ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
Headlight switch
Turning the end of the lever tu
rns on the lights as follows:
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
Operating instructions
U. S .A . Can ad a
The side marker, parking, day-
time running (→P. 166), tail,
license plate and instrument
panel lights turn on.
The headlights, parking and all
lights listed above (except
daytime running lights) turn
on.
The headlights, daytime run-
ning lights ( →P. 1 6 6 ) a n d a l l
the lights listed above turn on
and off automatically.
(When the engine switch is in
IGNITION ON mode.)
Off
The daytime running lights
turn on. ( →P. 1 6 6 )1
2
3
4
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)

166
ES350_OM_OM33C68U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
With the headlights on, push the
lever away from you to turn on the
high beams.
Pull the lever toward you to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and release
it to flash the high beams once.
You can flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) improves visibility at intersections and on
curves by automatically adjusting the lateral angle of the headlights according to
vehicle speed and the degree of the tire angle that are controlled by steering
input.
Operates at speed of 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
■Deactivating AFS
Select “AFS” on (settings display) of the multi-information display.
(→ P. 8 1 )
Press the meter control switch.
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically whenev er the engine is started and the parking
brake is released. (Illuminate brighter than the parking lights.) Daytime running lights
are not designed for use at night.
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the switch.
●Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system offers greater
durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve fuel economy.
■Headlight control sensor
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) (if equipped)
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything that
blocks the sensor is affixed to the windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient light and may cause the
automatic headlight system to malfunction.
1
2