2018 Lexus GS300 Owner's Manuals

GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)
2074-2. 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 other than D
■To protect automatic transmission
When the temperature of the transmission fluid becomes high, protection control is per-
formed temporarily. When “Transmission Fl uid Temp High See Owner’s Manual” is dis-
played on the multi-information display, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifti ng 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 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.
●6-speed models: While driving in the D position, downshifting to 5 or 4.
(→ P. 258, 270)
8-speed models: While driving in the D posi tion, downshifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4.
( → P. 258, 270)
●When switching the driving mode to sport mode while driving in D position. ( →P. 273)
■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. ( →P. 441)
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.
■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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GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brak
e 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:
Press the parking brake switch to chec k that the parking brake is set. (→P. 211)
Parking brake indicator will come on.
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 th e shift 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 switch or shifting the shift lever to the M
position cancels this 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.
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GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)
2094-2. 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 depres s instead of the brake pedal when the shift
lock override button is pressed and the shif t lever is shifted out of P, the vehicle may
suddenly start, possibly leading to an acci dent resulting in death or serious injury.

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GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
Turn signal lever
The lever will return to its original position immediately after operation.
Right turn
Lane change to the right (move the
lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
Lane change to the left (move the
lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
Left turn
■If the turn signals do not stop flashing af ter turning left or right, or if you want
to stop them flashing
Operate the lever in the opposite direct ion to either position or . If you
move the lever to either position or , the selected turn signals will flash.
■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 rear turn signal lights has not burned out.
■If the turn signals stop flashing befo re a lane change has been performed
Operate the lever again.
Operating instructions
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GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Parking brake
Sets the parking brake
The parking brake indicator light will
come on. (
→P. 212)
Press and hold the parking brake switch
if an emergency occurs and it is neces-
sary to operate the parking brake while
driving.
Releases the parking brake
Operate the parking brake switch while
depressing the brake pedal. Make sure
that the parking brake indicator light
goes off.
The parking brake is set or released auto matically according to shift lever opera-
tion.
Turns automatic mode on/off
●When the shift lever is moved out of
P, the parking brake will be released.
●When the shift lever is moved into P,
the parking brake will be set.
Operate the shift lever with the brake
pedal depressed.
A selections can be made as desired from the following modes.
Manual mode
U.S.A. Canada
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2
Automatic mode

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GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■Parking brake operation
●When the engine switch is not in IGNITION ON mode, the parking brake cannot be
released using the parking brake switch.
●When the engine switch is not in IGNITION ON mode, automatic mode (automatic
brake setting and releasing) is not available.
●If the parking brake is operated repeatedly over a short period of time, the system may
restrict operation to prevent overheating. If
this happens, refrain from operating the
parking brake. Normal operation will return after about 1 minute.
●In situations such as when parking on a steep slope*, the maximum amount of braking
force can be used by pressing the parking brake switch with the parking brake already
set.
*: Use wheel chocks when parking on a steep slope.
■Parking brake operation sound
When the parking brake operates, a motor so und (whirring sound) may be heard. This
does not indicate a malfunction.
■Parking brake indicator light
●Depending on the engine switch mode, the parking brake indicator light will come on
and stay on as described below:
IGNITION ON mode: Comes on unt il the parking brake is released.
Not in IGNITION ON mode: Stays on for approximately 15 seconds.
●When the engine switch is turned off with the parking brake set, the parking brake indi-
cator light will stay on for about 15 seconds. This does not in dicate a malfunction.
■When there is a malfunction in the system
Warning lights and/or warning message will turn on or flash. ( →P. 436, 442)
Depending on the condition, the park ing brake indicator light may flash.
■Parking the vehicle
→P. 182
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
→P. 445
■Usage in winter time
→P. 297
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
Before you leave the vehicle, set the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P and make
sure that the vehicle does not move.
■When the system malfunctions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and check the warning messages.
■When the parking brake cannot be released due to a malfunction
Use the parking brake release tool to manually release the parking brake. (→P. 499)
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.

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GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
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Driving
Brake Hold
Turns the brake hold system on
The brake hold standby indicator
(green) comes on. Wh
ile the system is
holding the brake, the brake hold oper-
ated indicator (yellow) comes on.
■Brake hold system operating conditions
The brake hold system cannot be turn ed on in the following conditions:
●The driver’s door is not closed.
●The driver is not wearing the seat belt.
●“EPB Activation Stopped Incompletely” or “Electronic Parking Brake Malfunction Visit
Your Dealer” is displayed on the multi-information display.
If any of the conditions above are detected when the brake hold system is enabled, the
system will turn off and the brake hold standby in dicator light will go off. In addition, if any
of the conditions are detected while the sy stem is holding the brake, a warning buzzer
will sound and a message will be shown on th e multi-information display. The parking
brake will then be set automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a pe riod of about 3 minutes after the system has
started holding the brake, the parking brake will be set automatically. In this case, a
warning buzzer sounds and a message is shown on the multi-information display.
●To turn the system off while the system is holding the brake, firmly depress the brake
pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep incline.
In this situation, it may be necessary for the driver to apply the brakes. A warning
buzzer will sound and the mult i-information display will inform the driver of this situa-
tion. ( →P. 441)
The brake hold system keeps the brake a pplied when the shift lever is in D, M
or N with the system on and the brake pedal has been depressed to stop the
vehicle. The system releases the brake when the accelerator pedal is
depressed with the shif t lever in D or M to allow smooth start off.

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GS350_300_GS F_OM_OM30G34U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■When the parking brake is set automatically
while the system is holding the brakes
The parking brake will not be released automatically. Perform one of the following proce-
dures to release the parking brake and conf irm that the parking brake indicator light
turns off. (→ P. 211)
●With the brake pedal depressed, operate the parking brake switch.
●Fasten your seat belt, check th at the shift lever is in either D or R and slowly depress the
accelerator pedal.
■Warning message and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution. ( →P. 441)
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep incline
When using the brake hold system on a steep incline exercise caution. The brake hold
function may not hold the vehicle in such a situation.
■When stopped on a slippery road
The system cannot stop the vehicle when the gripping ability of the tires has been
exceeded. Do not use the system when stopped on a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not designed for use when parking the vehicle for a long
period of time. Turning the engine switch of f while the system is holding the brake may
release the brake, which would cause the vehicle to move. When operating the engine
switch, depress the brake pedal, set the pa rking brake and shift the shift lever to P.