2018 Lexus IS350 engine

1824-2. Driving procedures
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in AC CESSORY or IGNITION ON mode for long
periods of time without the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displa yed on the meters while the engine is
not running, the engine switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the engine
switch off.
●Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If the engine is
stopped in another shift lever position, the engine switch will not be turned off but
instead 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 your Lexus dealer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfun ction with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operating somewhat differen tly than usual, such as the
switch sticking slightly, ther e may be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.

1834-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
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.
Automatic transmission
Shifting the shift lever

1844-2. Driving procedures
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for normal driv-
ing.
*2: Any gear range can be fixed when driving in M mode.
■Sport mode/Eco drive mode
→ P. 288
■Snow mode
Snow mode can be selected to suit th e conditions when driving on slippery
road surfaces, such as snow.
Press the switch.
Press the switch again to return to
normal mode.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
(Condition in which the power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2 ( → P. 186)
Selecting the driving mode

1854-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
To drive using temporary shift range selection, operate the “-” or “+” paddle shift
switch.
When the “-” paddle shift switch is oper ated, the shift range will be downshifted
to a range that enables engine braking forc e 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 during 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: Th e selected shift
range, from D1 to D8, will be displayed
in the meter.
6-speed models: The selected shift
range, from D1 to D6, will be displayed
in the meter.
To return to normal D position driving,
the “+” paddle shift switch must be held
down for a period of time.
■Shift ranges and their functions
A lower shift range will provide greater engine braking forces than a higher shift
range.
Selecting shift ranges in the D position
1
2
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 driving conditions
D2 - D6
(6-speed models)
D11st gear is set

1864-2. Driving procedures
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
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 choice.
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 the automatic transmission fluid or engine coolant temperature is
low.
●When automatic transmission fluid temperature is high.
●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 no t shift even if the shift lever or paddle
shift switches are operated.
●“Slippery Road. Cannot Shift to Lowe r Gear” is displayed on the multi
information display.
●The vehicle speed is low (upshift only).
Selecting gears in the M position
1
2

1874-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
■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
“Transmission Fluid Temp High See Owner’s Manual” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display and a function is adopted that automatically selects a higher shift range when
the fluid temperature is high. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Downshifting restriction 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.
■Gear position display on the multi-information display
When Gear positions is selected for a Drive Information screen on the multi-information
display and the shift lever is in the D or M position, the currently selected gear position
will be displayed on the multi-information disp lay. (The display changes according to the
shift lever position and driving conditions.)
■When driving with dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
engine braking will not activate because dy namic radar cruise control will not be can-
celed.
●8-speed models: While driving in the D posi tion, downshifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4.
( → P. 239)
●6-speed models: While driving in the D position, downshifting to 5 or 4.
(→ P. 239)
●When switching the driving mode to sport mode while driving in D position.
(→ P. 288)
■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. 534)
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.

1884-2. Driving procedures
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
■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.
■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:
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: The G AI-SHIFT is automa tically changed to a suitable gear step
while running in sport mode according to the driving operations and running condi-
tions.
The G AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the drive mode select switch is set to
sport mode with the shift leve r in the D position. (The function will be canceled, if the
drive mode is select switch is set to normal mode or shift lever is put in the M position.)
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

1914-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U(OM53E34U)
■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.
■Customization
The number of times the turn signals flas h during a lane change can be changed.
(Customizable feature →P. 611)