1474-1. Before driving
4
Driving
NOTICE
In the event that you drive on a flooded
road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure
to have your Lexus dealer check the fol-
lowing:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil
and fluid used for the engine, transmis-
sion, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the bearings
and suspension joints (where possi-
ble), and the function of all joints, bear-
ings, etc.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift
the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle
may accelerate sudden ly if the accelera-
tor pedal is accidentally depressed.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions,
cargo capacity and load:
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the
luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if
loaded in the luggage compartment:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals
from being depressed properly, may
block the driver’s vision, or may result in
items hitting the driver or passengers,
possibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment whenever possi-
ble.
●Do not stack cargo and luggage in the
luggage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
●When you fold down the rear seats,
long items should not be placed
directly behind the front seats.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the lug-
gage compartment. It is not designed
for passengers. They should ride in
their seats with thei r seat belts prop-
erly fastened.
1484-1. Before driving
Cargo capacity depends on the total
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity) (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
(1) Locate the statement “The com-
bined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX
lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from XXX
kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 - 750
(5 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
WARNING
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on
the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
• In front of the Center Display
●Secure all items in the occupant com-
partment.
■When using a roof luggage carrier
Observe the following precautions:
●Place the cargo so that its weight is dis-
tributed evenly between the front and
rear axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never
exceed the vehicle overall length or
width. ( P.390)
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is
securely fastened on the roof luggage
carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage
carrier will make the center of gravity
of the vehicle higher. Avoid high
speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns,
sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of con-
trol or vehicle rollover due to failure to
operate this vehicle correctly and
result in death or serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough
roads, or at high speeds, stop the vehi-
cle now and then during the trip to
make sure the cargo remains in its
place.
●Do not exceed 176.3 lb. (80 kg) cargo
weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo (vehicles with
moon roof)
Be careful not to scratch the surface of
the moon roof.
Capacity and distribution
1534-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
●To prevent the steering lock motor from
overheating, operation of the motor may
be suspended if the engine is turned on
and off repeatedly in a short period of
time. In this case, refrain from running the
engine. After about 10 seconds, the
steering lock motor will resume function-
ing.
■Electronic key battery
P.341
■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 imme-
diately 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.
■Customization
If the smart access sy stem with push-button
start has been deactivated in a customized
setting, refer to P.380.1Stop the vehicle completely.
2
Set the parking brake ( P.160),
and shift the shift lever to P
( P.155).
3
Press the engine switch.
4
Release the brake pedal and check
that “ACCESSORY” or “IGNI-
TION ON” is not shown on the
meter.
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 result-
ing 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 com-
plete stop. The steering lock function will
activate and this may lead to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■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 immedi-
ately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction
with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operat-
ing somewhat differently than usual, such
as the switch sticking slightly, there may
be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus
dealer immediately.
Stopping the engine
1554-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
If the engine is stopped with the shift
lever in a position other than P, the
engine switch will not be turned off but
instead be turned to ACC. Perform the
following procedure to turn the switch
off:
1
Check that the parking brake is set.
2
Shift the shift lever to P.
3
Check that “Turn Power Off” is dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play and then press the engine
switch shortly and firmly once.
4
Check that “Turn Power Off” on the
multi-information display is off.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for normal
driving.
*2: Selecting gear steps using the M posi-tion achieves suitable engine braking
forces by operating the shift lever or
paddle shift switch es (if equipped).
■Reverse warning buzzer
When shifting into R, a buzzer will sound to
inform the driver that the shift lever is in R.
■To protect the transmission
If the automatic transmission fluid tempera-
ture is high, “Transmission Oil Temp. High
Stop in a safe place and See owner’s man-
ual” will be displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display and the vehicle will go into
transmission protection mode automati-
cally. Have the vehicle inspected by your
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in ACC
or ON for long periods of time without
the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display while the engine is not run-
ning, 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
ACC. If the vehicle is left in ACC, bat-
tery discharge may occur.
When stopping the engine with
the shift lever in a position other
than P
Continuously variable trans-
mission
Select the shift position depending
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral (Condition in which
the power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
M
10-speed sport sequential
shiftmatic mode driving
*2
( P.158)
1564-2. Driving procedures
Lexus dealer.
■Continuously variable transmission fail-
safe control
The system detects ma lfunctioning parts
targeted (all of the so lenoids that perform
the shifting function) by the On-Board
Diagnostics, and performs fail-safe mecha-
nisms, such as restrict ing the shifting func-
tion or transmission ratio control. In this
event, the malfunction indicator lamp turns
on.
■When driving with dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range activated
Even when switching the driving mode to
Sport mode while driving in D position
( P.243) with the intent of enabling engine
braking, engine braking will not activate
because radar cruise control with full-
speed range will not be canceled.
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
P.143
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable
gear step according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the
driving mode is set to Normal mode with
the shift lever in the D position. (Shifting the
shift lever to the M position cancels the
function.)
■G AI-SHIFT
G AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suit-
able gear step according to driver’s input
and driving conditions. G AI-SHIFT oper-
ates automatically when the shift lever is in
the D position and Sport mode is selected
for the driving mode. (Selecting normal
mode or shifting the shift lever to the M
position cancels the function.)
While the engine switch is in
ON and the brake pedal depressed*,
shift the shift lever while pushing the
shift release button on the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever while push-
ing the shift release button on the shift
knob.
Shift the shift lever normally.
When shifting the shift lever between P
and D, make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped and the brake pedal is
depressed.
*: For the vehicle be able to be shifted from P, the brake pedal must be depressed
before the shift releas e button is pushed.
If the shift release button is pushed first,
the shift lock will not be released.
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent
accidental operation of the shift lever in
starting.
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Be careful-of downshifting and sudden
acceleration, as this could result in the
vehicle skidding to the side or spinning.
Shifting the shift lever
1574-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
The shift lever can be shifted from P only
when the engine switch is in ON, the brake
pedal is depressed and the shift release but-
ton is pushed.
■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 even
though the brake pedal is depressed and
the shift release button is pushed, there may
be a problem with the shift lock system.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus
dealer immediately.
The following steps may be used as an
emergency measure to ensure that the shift
lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1
Press the parking brake switch to check
that the parking brake is set. ( P.160)
2
Turn the engine switch off.
3
Depress the brake pedal.
4
Pry the cover up with a flathead screw-
driver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover the
tip of the screwd river with a rag.
5
Press the shift lock override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while the but-
ton is pressed.
P.243
To drive using temporary gear step
selection, operate the “-” or “+” paddle
shift switch when driving with the shift
lever in D.
Changing the gear step allows restric-
tion of the highest gear, preventing
unnecessary upshifting and enabling
the level of engine braking force to be
selected.
1
Upshifting
2
Downshifting
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when releas-
ing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override
button, make sure to set the parking
brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pe dal is accidentally
depressed instead of the brake pedal
when the shift lock override button is
pressed and the shift lever is shifted out
of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, pos-
sibly leading to an accident which may
result in death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving mode
Selecting gear steps in the D
position (vehicles with paddle
shift switches)
1594-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
●When the vehicle is stopped, the trans-
mission is set at M1.
■Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving perfor-
mance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances,
downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever or paddle shift switch (if
equipped) is operated. (A buzzer will sound
twice.)
■If the “M” indicator does not come on or
the “D” indicator is displayed even after
shifting the shift lever to M
This may indicate a malfunction in the auto-
matic transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
(In this situation, the transmission will oper-
ate in the same manner as when the shift
lever is in D.)
The turn signal lever can be used to
show the following intentions of the
driver.
1 Right turn
2 Lane change to the right (move the
lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
3Lane change to the left (move the
lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
4Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when
The engine switch is in ON.
■If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear
turn signal lights has not burned out.
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions
1614-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
ing brake
• Operate the parking brake switch while depressing the brake pedal.
• Using the parking brake automatic release function, the parking brake can
be released by depressing the accelera-
tor pedal. When using this function,
slowly depress the accelerator pedal.
Make sure that the pa rking brake indicator
light turn off.
■Turning the automatic mode on
While the vehicle is stopped, press and
hold the parking brake switch until a
message is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display
When the automatic mode is turned
on, the parking brake operates as fol-
lows.
When the shift lever is shifted from
P, the parking brake will be released,
and the parking brake indicator light
will turn off.
When the shift lever is shifted to P,
the parking brake will be set, and the
parking brake indicator light will
turn on.
Operate the shift lever with the vehicle
stopped and the brake pedal
depressed.
■Turning the automatic mode off
While the vehicle is stopped, pull and
hold the parking brake switch until a
message is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display
■Parking brake operation
●When the engine switch is not in ON, the
parking brake cannot be released using
the parking brake switch.
●When the engine switch is not in ON,
automatic mode (automatic brake setting
and releasing) is not available.
■Parking brake automatic release func-
tion
●When the shift lever is shifted from P, the
parking brake will be released in auto-
matic mode.
●When all of the follo wing conditions are
met in manual mode, the parking brake
can be released by depressing the accel-
erator pedal.
• The driver’s door is closed
• The driver is wearing the seat belt
• The shift lever is in D, M or R
■If “Parking Brake Temporarily Unavail-
able” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display
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.