Page 210 of 724

2104-2. Driving procedures
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minutes or IGNITION ON
mode (the engine is not running) for more than an hour with the shift lever in P, the engine
switch will automatically turn off. However, this function cannot entirely prevent battery
discharge. Do not leave the vehicle with the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNI-
TION ON mode for long periods of ti me when the engine is not running.
■Electronic key battery depletion
→P. 139
■Conditions affe cting operation
→ P. 154
■Notes for the entry function
→P. 155
■If the engine does not start
●Check that the shift lever is se curely set in P. The engine may not start if the shift lever is
displaced out of P.
●The engine immobilizer system ma y not have been deactivated. (→P. 79)
Contact your Lexus dealer.
■Steering lock
After turning the engine switch off and opening and closing the doors, the steering wheel
will be locked due to the steering lock func tion. Operating the engine switch again auto-
matically cancels the steering lock.
■When the steering lock cannot be released
■Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, operation of the motor may be sus-
pended if the engine is turned on and off repeat edly in a short period of time. In this case,
refrain from operating the engine switch. After about 10 seconds, the steering lock
motor will resume functioning.
■When “Check Access System with Elec. Key” is displayed on the multi-information dis-
play
The system may be malfunctio ning. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
■If the electronic key battery is depleted
→ P. 538
“Steering Lock active” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
Check that the shift leve
r is in P. Press the
engine switch while turn ing the steering wheel
left and right.
Page 213 of 724
2134-2. Driving procedures
4
DrivingWhile 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.
Automatic transmission
Shifting the shift lever
Page 216 of 724

2164-2. Driving procedures
To enter M mode, shift the shift lever to M. Gears can then be selected by oper-
ating the shift lever or paddle shift switch es, allowing you to drive in the gear of
your choosing.
Upshifting
Downshifting
The gear changes once every time the
shift lever or paddle shift switch is oper-
ated.
8-speed models: Th e selected gear,
from M1 to M8, will be fixed and dis-
played in the meter.
6-speed models: The selected gear,
from M1 to M6, will be fixed and dis-
played in the meter.
When in the M position, the gear will not change unless the shift lever \
or pad-
dle shift switches are operated.
However, even when in the M positi on, the gears will be automatically
changed in the following situation:
●When vehicle speed drops (downshift only).
●When a gear change is necessary to protect the engine or automatic trans-
mission when the engine coolant temperature or automatic transmission
fluid temperature is low, or other reasons.
In the following situations, the gear will no t shift even if the shift lever or paddle
shift switches are operated.
●“1st Gear not available due to slippe ry road surface” is displayed on the
multi-information display.
●The vehicle speed is low (upshift only).
Selecting gears in the M position
1
2
Page 217 of 724

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.
Page 218 of 724

2184-2. 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 vehi cle 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.
Turn the engine switch to off.
Depress the brake pedal.
■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 selects 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.)
1
2
3
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.4
5
Page 224 of 724
2244-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Turning the end of the lever turns on the lights as follows:
Headlight switch
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
Operating instructions
U.S.A. Canada
The side marker, tail, license
plate and instrument panel
lights turn on.
The headlights and all lights
listed above turn on.
The headlights, daytime run-
ning lights (→ P. 225) and all
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. 225)1
2
3
4
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Page 225 of 724

2254-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
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.
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically whenever the engine is started and the parking
brake is released with the he adlight switch off (for Canada ) or in the “AUTO” position.
(Illuminate brighter than the parking lights.) Daytime runnin g lights are not designed for
use at night.
●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.
●Vehicles with LED front turn signal lights: If a turn signal light is in use, the daytime run-
ning light, on the same side, is turned off. For emergency flashers, both are turned off.
■Headlight control sensor
■Automatic light off system
When the light switch is in , or : The headlights and tail lights turn off 30
seconds after the engine switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned off and a
door is opened and all of the doors and trun k are closed. (The lights turn off immediately
if on the key is pr essed twice after both side doors are closed.)
To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode, or turn the
light switch off once and then back to or .
If any of the doors or trunk lid is left open , the lights automatically turn off after 20 min-
utes.
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2
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.
Page 226 of 724
2264-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Automatic headlight leveling system
The level of the headlights is automatically adjusted according to the number of passen-
gers and the loading condition of the vehicle to ensure that the headlights do not inter-
fere with other road users.
■Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the engine switch is turned off or turned to ACCESSORY mode
and the driver’s door is opened while the lights are turned on.
■Customization
Settings (e.g. light sensor se nsitivity) can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P. 673)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than ne cessary when the engine is not running.