2018 LEXUS RCF power steering

196 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 driving on slippery road surfaces ●
Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce your
ability to control the vehicle. ●
Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes in engine speed
could cause the vehicle to skid. ●
After driving through a puddle , lightly depress the brake pe dal to make sure that the
brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from func-
tioning properly. If the brakes on only on e side are wet and not functioning properly,
steering control may be affected. ■
When shifting the shift lever ●
Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll
forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake and steering perfor-
mance, resulting in an accide nt or damage to the vehicle.●
Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.●
Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.●
Do not shift the shift lever to a driving posi tion while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.●
Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the engine from
the transmission. Engine braking is not available when N is selected.●
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed. Shifting the
shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of
the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury. ■
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limi t indicators) (RC350/
RC300)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
Front brakes on F SPORT models (RC3 50 [2WD]/RC300 [2WD] only): Moderate
levels of brake pad and disc wear allow enhanced front braking power. As a result, the
discs may wear more quickly than convention al brake discs. Therefore, when replacing
the brake pads, Lexus recommends that you al so have the thickness of the discs mea-
sured.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those
of the brake discs are exceeded.

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.

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.

3014-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)
RC350/RC300 (vehicles without Adapti ve Variable Suspension System)
Normal mode
Provides an optimal balance of fuel ec onomy, quietness, and dynamic perfor-
mance. Suitable for city driving. Press the switch to change the driving mode to normal mode when Eco drive mode or
sport mode is selected.
Eco drive mode
Helps the driver accelerate in an eco-fr iendly manner and improve fuel econ-
omy through moderate throttle charact eristics and by controlling the opera-
tion of the air conditioning system (heating/cooling). When not in Eco drive mode, if the driving mode select switch is tu rned to the left, the
Eco drive mode indicator will come on.
Sport mode
Controls the transmission and engine to provide quick, powerful acceleration.
This mode also changes the steering feel, making it suitable for when agile
driving response is desired, such as wh en driving on roads with many curves.When not in sport mode, if the driving mode select switch is turned to the right, the
“SPORT” indicator will comes on.Driving mode select switch The driving modes can be selected to suit driving condition.
1
2
3

3034-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)Eco drive mode
Helps the driver accelerate in an eco-fr iendly manner and improve fuel econ-
omy through moderate throttle charact eristics and by controlling the opera-
tion of the air conditioning system (heating/cooling). When not in Eco drive mode, if the driving mode select switch is tu rned to the left, the
Eco drive mode indicator will come on.
Sport mode
•SPORT S mode
Controls the transmission and engine to provide quick, powerful accelera-
tion. This mode is suitable for when agile driving response is desired, such
as when driving on roads with many curves. When not in SPORT S mode, if the driving mode select switch is turned to the
right, the “SPORT S” indicator will come on.
•SPORT S+ mode
Helps to ensure steering performanc e and driving stability by simultane-
ously controlling the steeri ng and suspension in addition to the transmis-
sion and engine. Suitable for sportier driving. When in SPORT S mode, if the driving mode select switch is turned to the right,
the “SPORT S+” indicator will come on. Function Setting
Powertrain Normal
Power
Eco
Chassis Normal
Sport
Air conditioning system Normal
Eco2
3

3054-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)Eco drive mode
Helps the driver accelerate in an eco-fr iendly manner and improve fuel econ-
omy through moderate throttle charact eristics and by controlling the opera-
tion of the air conditioning system (heating/cooling). When not in Eco drive mode, if the driving mode select switch is tu rned to the left, the
Eco drive mode indicator will come on.
Sport mode
•SPORT S mode
Controls the transmission and engine to provide quick, powerful accelera-
tion. Also, gear shift timing is controlle d to suit sporty driving, making this
mode is suitable for when agile drivin g response is desired, such as when
driving on roads with many curves. When not in SPORT S mode, if the driving mode select switch is turned to the
right, the “SPORT S” indicator will come on.
•SPORT S+ mode
Provides earlier downshift timing than SPORT S mode in order to maintain
a high engine speed and provides faster gear changes. This mode also
changes the steering feel, suspension control and VDIM control, making it
suitable for powerful sporty driving. When in SPORT S mode, if the driving mode select switch is turned to the right,
the “SPORT S+” indicator will come on. Function Setting
Powertrain Normal
Power
Eco
Chassis Normal
Sport
Air conditioning system Normal
Eco2
3

312 4-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350_RC300 AWD_RC3 00_RC F_U(OM24748U)◆ ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the br akes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while drivin g on a slippery road surface
◆ Brake assist
Generates an increased level of br aking force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a panic stop situation
◆ VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to contro l skidding when swerving suddenly or turning on
slippery road surfaces
◆ Enhanced VSC (Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control)
Provides cooperative control of the ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS.
Helps to maintain directional stability when swerving on slippery road sur-
faces by controlling steering performance.
◆ TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pr event the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads
◆ Hill-start assist control
Helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when starti ng on an incline
◆ VGRS (Variable Gear Ratio Steering) (if equipped)
Adjusts the front wheel turning angle in accordance with the vehicle speed
and steering wheel movement
◆ DRS (Dynamic Rear Steering) (if equipped)
Contributes to the turning characteristi cs and responsiveness of the vehicle
by adjusting the rear wheel angle of the vehicle in accordance with steering
wheel movement.Driving assist systems To help enhance driving safety and perf ormance, the following systems oper-
ate automatically in response to variou s driving situations. Be aware, however,
that these systems are supplementary and should not be relied upon too heav-
ily when operating the vehicle.