2018 LEXUS RCF engine

198 4-1. Before driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
When the vehicle is parked ●
Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, sp ray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle
when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cau se the plastic lenses and plastic mate-
rial of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the
vehicle, and may also cause a short circui t in the vehicle’s electrical components.●
Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a place such as
the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the
seat is adjusted, causing a fire. ●
Do not attach adhesive discs to the windsh ield or windows. Do not place containers
such as air fresheners on th e instrument panel or dashbo ard. Adhesive discs or con-
tainers may act as lenses, ca using a fire in the vehicle.●
Do not leave a door or window open if th e curved glass is coated with a metallized
film such as a silver-colored one. Reflecte d sunlight may cause the glass to act as a
lens, causing a fire. ●
Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the engine and lock the
vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattend ed while the engine is running.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift leve r in P but the parking brake is not set, the
vehicle may start to move, possibly leading to an accident. ●
Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the engine is running or immediately after turn-
ing the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns. ■
When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift lever or
depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire due to engine over-
heating. Additionally, if the ve hicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases
may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.

1994-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
When braking ●
When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side of
the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may not
securely hold the vehicle. ●
If the brake booster device does not operate, do not follow other vehicles closely and
avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, bu t the brake pedal should be depressed more
firmly than usual. Also, the braking distan ce will increase. Have your brakes fixed
immediately. ●
Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted brakes. ●
The brake system consists of 2 individual hy draulic systems; if one of the systems fails,
the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed more
firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed imme-
diately. ■
If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessive ly when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline components or propel the vehi-
cle forward or backward, causing an accident.

200 4-1. Before driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)NOTICE ■
When driving the vehicle ●
Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time while driving, as
this may restrain the engine output.●
Do not use the accelerator pedal or depre ss the accelerator and brake pedals at the
same time to hold the vehicle on a hill. ■
When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift the sh ift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause
the vehicle to move or the vehicle may acce lerate suddenly if th e accelerator pedal is
accidentally depressed. ■
Avoiding damage to vehicle parts ●
Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for an
extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor. ●
When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damaging
the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc. ●
RC300: Make sure to idle the engine immediately after high-load driving. Stop the
engine only after the turb ocharger has cooled down.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the turbocharger. ■
If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations . Hold the steering wheel
firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle. ●
It may be difficult to control your vehicle. ●
The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations. ●
The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire (  P. 489, 502)■
When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded af ter heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause the
following serious damage to the vehicle: ●
Engine stalling ●
Short in electrical components ●
Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to have
your Lexus dealer check the following: ●
Brake function ●
Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, transmission,
transfer (AWD models), differential, etc. ●
Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints (where
possible), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

207
4
Driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U) 4-2. Driving procedures
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal. and a message will be displayed on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, th e engine cannot be started.
Press the engine switch shortly and
firmly. When operating the engine switch, one
short, firm press is enough.
It is not necessary to press and hold the
switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for
up to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal
until the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any
engine switch mode.
Stop the vehicle.
Set the parking brake (  P. 222), and shift the shift lever to P.
Press the engine switch.
Release the brake pedal and check that the display on the meters is off.Engine (ignition) switch Performing the following operations wh en carrying the electronic key on your
person starts the engine or changes engine switch modes.
Starting the engine 1
2
3
4
Stopping the engine 1
2
3
4

208 4-2. Driving procedures
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)Modes can be changed by pressing the en gine switch with brake pedal released.
(The mode changes each time the switch is pressed.) 
RC350/RC300
Off
* The emergency flashers can be used.
ACCESSORY mode Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
meters.
IGNITION ON mode All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on
the meters.
* : If the shift le ver is in a position other than
P when turning off the engine, the
engine switch will be turned to ACCES-
SORY mode, not to off.Changing engine switch modes 1
2
3

2094-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)
RC F
Off
* The emergency flashers can be used.
The analog speedometer and the
tachometer will not be illuminated.
However, if the welcome illumination is
operating, the analog speedometer will
illuminate.
(Welcome illumination:  P. 101)
ACCESSORY mode Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
The analog speedometer is illuminated.
IGNITION ON mode All electrical components can be used.
The analog speedometer and the
tachometer will be illuminated.
* : If the shift le ver is in a position other than
P when turning off the engine, the
engine switch will be turned to ACCES-
SORY mode, not to off.
If the engine is stopped with the shift le ver in a position other than P, the engine
switch will not be turned off but inst ead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. Per-
form the following procedure to turn the switch off:
Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” is disp layed on the multi-information display
and then press the engine switch once.
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on th e multi-information display is off.1
2
3
When stopping the engine with the shift lever in a position other than P1
2
3
4

210 4-2. Driving procedures
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)■
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. 143 ■
Conditions affe cting operation
 P. 158 ■
Notes for the entry function
 P. 159 ■
If the engine does not start ●
Check that the shift lever is se curely set in P. The engine ma y 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 “Access System with Elec. Key Malf unction See Owner’s Manual” is displayed
on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctio ning. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately. ■
If the electronic key battery is depleted
 P. 427“Steering Wheel Lock Press Engine Switch
while Turning Wheel” w ill 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.

2114-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)■
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 access system wi th push-button start has been deactivated by a customized
setting
 P. 518
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, re sulting in death or serious injury.■
Stopping the engine in an emergency
If you want to stop the engine in an emergency 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. 443)
However, do not touch the engi ne switch while driv ing except in an emergency. Turning
the engine off while driving will not cause lo ss 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.