2020 LEXUS RC300 parking brake

1204-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Do not leave a door or window open if
the curved glass is coated with a met-
allized film such as a silver-colored
one. Reflected 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 unattended
while the engine is running.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift
lever in P but the parking brake is not
set, the vehicle may start to move, pos-
sibly leading to an accident.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while
the engine is running or immediately
after turning 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
overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is
parked in a poorly ventilated area,
exhaust gases may collect and enter the
vehicle, leading to death or a serious
health hazard.
■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 vehi-
cle.
●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, but
the brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual. Also, the brak-
ing distance 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 individ-
ual hydraulic systems; if one of the sys-
tems fails, the other w ill 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 immediately.
■If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively when
any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehi-
cle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may
damage the driveline components or
propel the vehicle forward or backward,
causing an accident.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and
brake pedals at th e same time while
driving, as this may restrain the engine
output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or
depress 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 shift lever to P. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle
may accelerate suddenly if the accelera-
tor 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.

1254-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
4-2.Driving procedures
1Check that the parking brake is set.
2 Check that the shift lever is in P.
3 Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the engine cannot be
started.
4 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.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (
P.56)
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●Check that the shift leve r is securely set in
P. The engine may not start if the shift
lever is displaced out of P. “To Start Vehi-
cle. Put Shift Lever into P” will be dis-
played on the multi-information display.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P.82
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.94
■Notes for the entry function
 P.95
■Steering lock function
●After turning the engine switch off and
opening and closing the doors, the steer-
ing wheel will be lock ed due to the steer-
ing lock function. Operating the engine
switch again automatically cancels the
steering lock.
●When the steering lock cannot be
released, “Steering Wheel Lock Press
Engine Switch while Turning Wheel” will
be displayed on the multi-information dis-
play.
Check that the shift lever is in P. Press the
engine switch while turning the steering
wheel left and right.
●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 operating
the engine switch. After about 10 sec-
onds, the steering lock motor will resume
functioning.
Engine (ignition) switch
Performing the following opera-
tions when carryin g the electronic
key on your person starts the
engine or changes engine switch
modes.
Starting the engine

1264-2. Driving procedures
■When “Access System with Elec. Key
Malfunction See Owner’s Manual” is
displayed on the multi-information dis-
play
The system may be malfunctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
■Electronic key battery
 P.267
■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.306.
1Stop the vehicle.
2
Set the parking brake ( P.135),
and shift the shift lever to P.
3
Press the engine switch.
4
Release the brake pedal and check
that the display on the meters is off.
■Automatic engine shut off feature
●The vehicle is equipped with a feature
that automatically shuts off the engine
when the shift lever is in P with the engine
running for an extended period.
●The engine will automatically shut off
after approximately 1 hour if it has been
left running while the shift lever is in P.
●The timer for the automatic engine shut
off feature will reset if the brake pedal is
depressed or if the shift lever is in a posi-
tion other than P.
●After the vehicle is parked, if the door is
locked with the door lock switch
( P.88) from the inside or the mechani-
cal key ( P.306) from the outside, the
automatic engine shut off feature will be
disabled. The timer for the automatic
engine shut off feature will be re-enabled
if the driver’s door is opened.
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. Activation of the steering lock
in this circumstance may lead to an acci-
dent, 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

1274-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Locking the door from outside with the
engine running
1
With the driver’s door open, pull the
driver’s door handle and insert the
mechanical key.
2
Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise.
3
Pull out the mechanical key and close
the door.
Modes can be changed by pressing
the engine switch with brake pedal
released. (The mode changes each
time the switch is pressed.)
WARNING
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
If you want to stop the engine in an emer-
gency while driving the vehicle, press
and hold the engine switch for more than
2 seconds, or press it briefly 3 times or
more in succession. ( P.276)
However, do not touch the engine switch
while driving except in an emergency.
Turning the engine off while driving will
not cause loss of steering or braking con-
trol, but the power assist to these systems
will be lost. This 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.
■When parking
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and
odorless. Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may cause exhaust gases
to enter the vehicle and may lead to an
accident caused by light-headedness, or
may lead to death or a serious health
hazard.
●If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated
area or a closed area, such as a
garage, stop the engine.
●Do not leave the vehicle with the
engine running for a long time. If such
a situation cannot be avoided, park the
vehicle in an open space and ensure
that exhaust fumes do not enter the
vehicle interior.
●Do not leave the engine running in an
area with snow build-up, or where it is
snowing. If snowbanks build up around
the vehicle while the engine is running,
exhaust gases may collect and enter
the vehicle.
Changing engine switch modes

1284-2. Driving procedures
1Off*
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
meters.
3IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the
meters.
*: If the shift lever 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.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode
for more than 20 minutes or IGNITION
ON mode (with the engine 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 pre-
vent battery discharge. Do not leave the
vehicle with the engine switch in ACCES- SORY or IGNITION ON mode for long
periods of time when the engine is not run-
ning.
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 ACCESSORY
mode. Perform the following proce-
dure to turn the switch off:
1
Check that the parking brake is set.
2
Shift the shift lever to P.
3
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” is
displayed on the multi-information
display and then press the engine
switch once.
4
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on
the multi-information display is off.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode for long periods of time without
the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the meters while
the engine is not running, the engine
switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after
turning the engine switch off.
When stopping the engine with
the shift lever in a position other
than P

1314-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
emergency measure to ensure that the shift
lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1
Set the parking brake.
2
Turn the engine switch to 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.
■Sport mode/Eco drive mode
 P.192
■Snow mode
Snow mode can be se lected to suit the
conditions when driving on slippery
road surfaces, such as snow.
Press the switch.
Press the switch again to return to normal
mode.
■Snow mode automatic deactivation
Snow mode is automatically deactivated if
the engine switch is turned off after driving
in snow mode.
To drive using temporary shift range
selection, operate the “-” or “+” paddle
shift switch.
When the “-” paddle shift switch is
operated, the shift range will be down-
shifted to a range that enables engine
braking force 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.
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 resulting in
death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving mode
Selecting shift ranges in the D
position

1354-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
To set the parking brake, fully depress
the parking brake pedal with your left
foot while depressing the brake pedal
with your right foot.
(Depressing the pedal again releases
the parking brake.)U.S.A.
Canada
■Parking the vehicle
 P.116
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven
with the parking brake engaged. “Release
Parking Brake” is displayed on the
multi-information display.
■Usage in winter time
 P.199
*: If equipped
1Louder
2
Lower
The indicator comes on when the ASC
system is on.
When the dial is turned to the lowest
volume, the ASC system will be turned
off and the indicator will go off.
Parking brake
Operating instructions
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking
performance and increase brake wear.
A
B
ASC (Active Sound Con-
trol)*
The ASC system is an electronic
sound system that generates
engine sound, conveying the
kinetic situations of the vehicle’s
acceleration and deceleration to
the driver through the speakers
inside the instrument panel.
The vehicle’s response to the
driver’s acceleration behavior and
shift operations are also conveyed
in sound.
When sport mode is selected, the
sound conveyed to the driver will be
louder.
Controlling volume

1374-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
4-3.Operating the lights and wipers
Operating the switch turns on
the lights as follows:U.S.A.
Canada
1 The side marker, parking, tail,
license plate, instrument panel
lights, and daytime running lights
( P.137) turn on.
2 The headlights and all lights
listed above (except daytime run-
ning lights) turn on.
3 The headlights, daytime run-
ning lights ( P.137) and all the lights listed above turn on and off
automatically. (When the engine
switch is in IGNITION ON mode.)
4 (U.S.A.) Off / (Canada)
The daytime running lights turn on.
( P.137)■Daytime running light system
●The daytime running lights illuminate
using the same lights as the parking lights
and illuminate brighter than the parking
lights.
●To make your vehicle more visible to
other drivers during daytime driving, the
daytime running lights turn on automati-
cally when all of the following conditions
are met. (The daytime running lights are
not designed for use at night.)
• The engine is running
• The parking brake is released
• The headlight switch is in the (Can-
ada only), or
* position
*: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain on after
they illuminate, even if the parking brake is
set again.
●For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights
can be turned off by operating the switch.
●Compared to turning on the headlights,
the daytime running light system offers
greater durability and consumes less
electricity, so it can help improve fuel
economy.
■Headlight control sensor
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
Headlight switch
The headlights can be operated
manually or automatically.
Operating instructions
A
B