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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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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 219 of 724
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 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 246 of 724
2464-5. Using the driving support systems
To change the set speed, operate the lever until the desired set speed is obtained.
Increases the speed
Decreases the speed
Fine adjustment: Momentarily move
the lever in the desired direction.
Large adjustment: Hold the lever in the
desired direction.
The set speed will be increased or decreased as follows:
Fine adjustment: By approximately 1 mph (1. 6 km/h) each time the lever is operated.
Large adjustment: The set speed can be increased or decreased continually until the
lever is released.
Pulling the lever toward you cancels
the constant speed control.
The speed setting is also canceled when
the brake pedal is depressed.
Pushing the lever up resumes the
constant speed control.
However, resuming is available when
the vehicle speed is more than approxi-
mately 25 mph (40 km/h).
Adjusting the set speed
1
2
Canceling and resuming the constant speed control
1
2
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2504-5. Using the driving support systems
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 decelerate 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 while adjusting for chan ges in the speed of
the vehicle ahead in order to maintain the ve hicle-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
1
2
3
4
Page 254 of 724

2544-5. Using the driving support systems
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 possibility 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
1
2
Approach warning (vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode)