2017 LEXUS RX200T Owners Manual

2494-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
■If the electronic key battery is depleted
 P. 638
■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 entry & start system has been deactivated by a customized setting
 P. 710
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, resulting in death or serious injury.
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
If you want to stop the engine in an emer gency 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. 657)
However, do not touch the engine switch while driving except in an emergency. Turning the engine off while driving will not cause loss 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.

2504-2. Driving procedures
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode for long periods of time without the engine running on.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the meters while the engine isnot running, the engine switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the engineswitch off.
●Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If the engine isstopped in another shift lever position, the engine switch will not be turned off butinstead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY
mode, battery discharge may occur.
■When starting the engine
●Do not race a cold engine.
●If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehicle checked by any authorized Lexus dealer or repair er, or another duly qualified and equipped professional immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfun ction with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operating s omewhat differently than usual, such as the switch sticking slightly, th ere may be a malfunction. Contact any authorized Lexus
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualif ied and equipped professional immediately.

2514-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
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 position is recommended for normal driving.
*2: Selecting gears using M mode fixes the gear step, controls engine braking force, and
prevents unnecessary upshifting.
Automatic transmission
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NCondition in which the power is not transmission
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2 ( P. 253)

2524-2. Driving procedures
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
P. 417
To drive using temporary shift range selection, operate the “-” or “+” paddle shift
switch.
When the “-” paddle shift switch is operated, the shift range will be downshifted
to a range that enables engine braking force that is suitable to driving conditions.
When the “+” paddle shift switch is operated, the shift range will be one gear
higher than the gear in use du ring normal D position driving.
Changing the shift range allows restrictio n of the highest gear, preventing unnec-
essary upshifting and enabling the level of engine braking force to be selected.
Upshifting
Downshifting
8-speed models: The selected shift range, from D1 to D8, will be displayedon the meters.
6-speed models: The selected shift range, from D1 to D6, will be displayedon the meters.
■Shift ranges and their functions
A lower shift range will provide greater engi ne braking forces than a higher shift range.
Selecting the driving mode
Selecting shift ranges in the D position
(vehicles with paddle shift switches)
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Meter displayFunction
D2 - D8 (8-speed models)A gear in the range between 1 and the selected gear is auto-matically chosen depending on vehicle speed and drivingconditionsD2 - D6 (6-speed models)
D1Setting the gear at 1

2534-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
To enter M mode, shift the shift lever to M. Gears can then be selected by oper-
ating the shift lever or paddle shift switches (if equipped), 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 (ifequipped) is operated.
8-speed models: The selected gear, from M1 to M8, will be fixed and dis-played on the meters.
6-speed models: The selected gear, from M1 to M6, will be fixed and dis-played on the meters.
When in the M position, the gear will not change unless the shift lever or pad-
dle shift switches (if equipped) are operated.
However, even when in the M position, the gears will be automatically
changed in the following situation:
●When vehicle speed drops (downshift only).
●When the automatic transmission flui d or engine coolant temperature is
low.
●When automatic transmission fluid temperature is high (upshift only).
●When the needle of the tachometer is in the red zone (the range which
exceeds the allowable revs of the engine).
In the following situations, the gear will not shift even if the shift lever or paddle
shift switches (if equipped) are operated.
●The vehicle speed is low (upshift only).
Selecting gears in the M position
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2

2544-2. Driving procedures
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
The Gear Shift Indicator display is a guide to help the driver achieve improved
fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions within limits of engine perfor-
mance.
When not in operation
Shift-up indicator
■Gear Shift Indicator function
●This function automatically operates during M mode.
●By following the Shift-up indicator and shifting up accordingly, it is possible
to achieve improved fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions.
●The Gear Shift Indicator does not have a similar function for downshifting.
●Depending on the driving conditions, the Gear Shift Indicator may not dis-
play the Shift-up indicator while driving in M mode.
Gear Shift Indicator (if equipped)
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2

2554-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
■Automatic deactivation of shift range selection in the D position (vehicles with paddle
shift switches)
Shift range selection in the D position will be deactivated in the following situations:
●The “+” paddle shift switch is held down for a period of time
●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 temperat ure is high, “Transmission Fluid Temp High See Owner’s Manual” will be displayed on the multi-information display and the vehicle
will go into transmission protection mode automatically. Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-sional.
■Downshifting restri ction warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performa nce, downshifting operation may sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, down shifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever or paddle shift switch (if equipp ed) is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■When driving with cruise control or dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range 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 with full-speed range will not be canceled.
●Vehicles with paddle shift switches (8-sp eed models): While driving in D position, downshifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4. ( P. 329, 341)
●Vehicles with paddle shift switches (6-speed models): While driving in D position,
downshifting to 5 or 4. ( P. 329, 341)
●When switching the driving mode to sport mode while driving in D position. (P. 417)
■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
M) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on the multi- information display. If a warning message is shown on the multi-information display, read the message and follow the instructions.
●When the accelerator pedal is depressed too while the vehicle is in reverse.
■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 shifte d from P only when the engine switch is in IGNITION ON
mode and the brake pedal is being depressed.

2564-2. Driving procedures
RX350/RX200t_EE_OM48F32E
■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 any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualifie d and equipped professional immediately. The following steps may be used as an emerge ncy measure to ensure that the shift lever
can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode and check that the parking brake is
set. ( P. 247, 259)
Turn the engine switch to off.
Depress the brake pedal.
■AI-SHIFT
●The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when th e shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever to the M position cancels the function.)
●G AI-SHIFT automatically selects a suitab le gear for sporty driving according to driver’s input and driving cond itions. 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 switch or shifti ng the shift lever to the M position cancels this function.)
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3
Pry the cover up with a flathead screwdriveror 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.
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