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2114-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Operation of the engine switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the engine switch mode may not change
or the engine may not start.
●If attempting to restart the engine immediately after turning the engine switch off, the
engine may not start in some cases. After turning the engine switch off, please wait a
few seconds before restarting the engine.
■If the smart access system wi th push-button start has been deactivated by a customized
setting
→ P. 622
WARNING
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the accelerator
pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resu lting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lock or open the doors until
the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activation of the steering lock in this cir-
cumstance may lead to an accident, re sulting in death or serious injury.
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
If you want to stop the engine in an emergency while driving the vehicle, press and hold
the engine switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly 3 times or more in succes-
sion. ( →P. 555)
However, do not touch the engi ne switch while driving except in an emergency. Turning
the engine off while driving will not cause lo ss of steering or braking control, but the
power assist to these systems will be lost. Th is will make it more difficult to steer and
brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
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2174-2. 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 fo r 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 temperat ure is high, “Transmission Fluid High Tem-
perature” will be displayed on the multi-info rmation display and the vehicle will go into
transmission protection mode automatically. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus
dealer.
■Downshifting restriction warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshif ting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circum stances, downshifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever or paddle shif t switch is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■Snow mode automatic deactivation
Snow mode is automatically deactivated if the engine switch is turn ed 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 crui se 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. 245, 249)
●6-speed models: While driving in the D position, downshifting to 5 or 4.
(→ P. 245, 249)
●When switching the driving mode to sport mode while driving in D position.
(→ P. 294)
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent ac cidental 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.
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2194-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this could result in the vehicle
skidding to the side or spinning.
■To prevent an accident wh en releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override butto n, make sure to set the parking brake and
depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed 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 a ccident resulting in death or serious injury.
Page 221 of 724
2214-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
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 the vehicle
→ P. 192
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
→P. 575
■Usage in winter time
→P. 332
Parking brake
Operating instructions
RC350/RC300/RC200tRC F
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.
U.S.A. CanadaU.S.A. Canada
Page 230 of 724
2304-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Temporarily lowering sensor sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.
Turn the engine switch off while the following conditions are met.
• The headlight switch is in or .
• The headlight switch lever is in high beam position.
• Automatic High Beam switch is on.
Turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode.
Within 5 seconds after , repeat pulling th e headlight switch lever to the original
position then pushing it to the high beam po sition quickly 9 times, then leave the lever
in high beam position.
Automatic High Beam (head lights) may turn on even the vehicle is stopped.
WARNING
■Limitations of the Automatic High Beam
Do not rely on the Automatic High Beam. Al ways drive safely, taking care to observe
your surroundings and turning high beam on or off manually if necessary.
1
2
32
Page 240 of 724

2404-3. Operating the lights and wipers
WARNING
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in AUTO mode
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the wind-
shield is subject to vibration in AUTO mode. Take care that your fingers or anything
else do not become caught in the windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the washer fl uid until the windshield becomes warm. The
fluid may freeze on the windshield and cause lo w visibility. This may lead to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be cau sed if the lever is pulled toward you and
held continually.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact your Lexus dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
Page 241 of 724

241
4
Driving
4-4. Refueling
●Close both side doors and windows, and turn the engine switch off.
●Confirm the type of fuel.
■Fuel types
→P. 658
■Fuel tank opening for unleaded gasoline
To help prevent incorrect fueling, your vehi cle has a fuel tank opening that only accom-
modates the specia l nozzle on unleaded fuel pumps.
Opening the fuel tank cap
Perform the following steps to open the fuel tank cap:
Before refueling the vehicle
WARNING
■When refueling the vehicle
Observe the following precautions while refueling the vehicle. Failure to do so may
result in death or serious injury.
●After exiting the vehicle and before opening the fuel door, touch an unpainted metal
surface to discharge any static electricity. It is important to discharge static electricity
before refueling because sparks resulting fr om static electricity can cause fuel vapors
to ignite while refueling.
●Always hold the grips on the fuel tank cap and turn it slowly to remove it.
A whooshing sound may be heard when the fu el tank cap is loosened. Wait until the
sound cannot be heard before fully removing the cap. In hot weather, pressurized fuel
may spray out the filler neck and cause injury.
●Do not allow anyone that has not discharged static electricity from their body to come
close to an open fuel tank.
●Do not inhale vaporized fuel.
Fuel contains substances th at are harmful if inhaled.
●Do not smoke while refueling the vehicle.
Doing so may cause the fuel to ignite and cause a fire.
●Do not return to the vehicle or touch any pe rson or object that is statically charged.
This may cause static electricity to build up, resulting in a possible ignition hazard.
■When refueling
Observe the following precautions to prevent fuel overflowing from the fuel tank:
●Securely insert the fuel nozzle into the fuel filler neck.
●Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off.
●Do not top off the fuel tank.
Page 244 of 724

2444-4. Refueling
After refueling, turn the fuel tank cap
until you hear a click. Once the cap
is released, it will turn slightly in the
opposite direction.
Close the fuel filler door, and press
the center of the rear edge of the
fuel filler door until you hear a click.
When you lock the doors, the fuel filler
door will also lock.
■When closing the fuel filler door
Do not lock the doors before closing the fuel filler door, as the fuel filler door cannot be
closed if the doors are locked. If the doors are locked and the fuel filler door cannot be
closed, unlock the doors and then close the fuel filler door.
■Fuel filler door lock condition
The fuel filler door may not be locked even when the vehicle’ s doors are locked in the fol-
lowing situations:
●When operating the door lock button inside the vehicle
●When the automatic door lock ing system is operated (→P. 677)
Closing the fuel tank cap
1
2
WARNING
■When replacing the fuel tank cap
Do not use anything but a genuine Lexus fuel tank cap designed for your vehicle. Doing
so may cause a fire or other incident whic h may result in death or serious injury.