2021 LEXUS RCF stop start

1294-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
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.332.
1 Stop the vehicle.
2 Set the parking brake ( P.137),
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.94)
from the inside or the mechanical key
(  P.332) from the outside, the auto-
matic engine shut off feature will be dis-
abled. The timer for the automatic engine
shut off feature will be re-enabled if the
driver’s door is opened.
■Locking the door from outside with the
engine running
1 With the driver’s door open, pull the
driver’s door hand le and insert the
mechanical key.
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

1304-2. Driving procedures
2Turn 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
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 succession.
( P.294)
However, do not touch the engine switch
while driving except in an emergency.
Turning the engine of f 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.
●If the engine switch is operated while
the vehicle is running, a warning mes-
sage will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display and a buzzer sounds.
●To restart the engine after performing
an emergency shutdown, shift the shift
lever to N and then press the engine
switch.
■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

1324-2. Driving procedures
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for normal
driving.
*2: Any gear range can be fixed when driv-ing in M mode.
■To protect the automatic transmission
If the automatic transmission fluid tempera-
ture is high, “Transmission Fluid Temp High
See Owner’s Manual” will be displayed on
the multi-information display and the vehi-
cle will go into transmission protection
mode automatically. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■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 occur
because dynamic radar cruise control will
not be canceled.
●While driving in the D position, down-
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
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 dis-
charge may occur.
Automatic transmission
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
N
Neutral
(Condition in which the
power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2 (  P.135)

1334-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
shifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4. (P.134)
●When switching the driving mode to
sport mode while driving in the D posi-
tion. ( P.192)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
 P.119
■AI-SHIFT
●The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the
suitable gear accordin g to driver perfor-
mance and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates
when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the
shift lever to the M position cancels the
function.)
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.
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent
accidental operation of the shift lever in
starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only
when the engine swit ch 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 brake pedal is
being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your
foot on the brake pedal, 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 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 screwdriver with a rag.
5 Press the shift lock override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while the but-
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden
acceleration, as this could result in the
vehicle skidding to th e side or spinning.
Shifting the shift lever

1344-2. Driving procedures
ton is pressed.
■Driving mode
 P.192
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.
Changing the shift range allows restriction of the highest gear, prevent-
ing unnecessary upshifting and
enabling the level of engine braking
force to be selected.
1
Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift rang e, from D1 to D8,
will be displayed on the meter.
To return to normal D position driving, the
“+” paddle shift switch must be held down
for a period of time.
A lower shift range will provide greater
engine braking forces than a higher shift
range.
■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 pe dal is depressed for
more than a certai n period of time
●When the shift lever is shifted to a posi-
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
Meter dis-
playFunction
D2 - D8
A gear in the range between
1 and the selected gear is
automatically chosen
depending on vehicle speed
and driving conditions
D1Setting the gear at 1

1834-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
●The vehicle speed is greater than approx-
imately 10 mph (16 km/h).
■The BSM function will detect a vehicle
when
The BSM function will detect a vehicle pres-
ent in the detection area in the following sit-
uations:
●A vehicle in an adj acent lane overtakes
your vehicle.
●You overtake a vehicle in an adjacent lane
slowly.
●Another vehicle enters the detection
area when it changes lanes.
■Conditions under which the BSM func-
tion will not detect a vehicle
The BSM function is not designed to detect
the following types of vehicles and/or
objects:
●Small motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians,
etc.*
●Vehicles traveling in the opposite direc-
tion
●Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehicles
and similar stationary objects*
●Following vehicles th at are in the same
lane*
●Vehicles traveling 2 lanes away from your
vehicle*
●Vehicles which are being overtaken rap-
idly by your vehicle*
*
: Depending on the conditions, detection of a vehicle and/or object may occur.
■Conditions under which the BSM func-
tion may not function correctly
●The BSM function may not detect vehi-
cles correctly in the following situations:
• When the sensor is misaligned due to a strong impact to the sensor or its sur-
rounding area
• When mud, snow, ice, a sticker, etc. is covering the sensor or surrounding area
on the rear bumper
• When driving on a road surface that is wet with standing water during bad
weather, such as heavy rain, snow, or fog • When multiple vehicles are approaching
with only a small gap between each vehi-
cle
• When the distance between your vehicle and a following vehicle is short
• When there is a significant difference in
speed between your vehicle and the vehi-
cle that enters the detection area
• When the difference in speed between
your vehicle and another vehicle is
changing
• When a vehicle enters a detection area
traveling at about the same speed as your
vehicle
• As your vehicle starts from a stop, a vehi-
cle remains in the detection area
• When driving up and down consecutive steep inclines, such as hills, dips in the
road, etc.
• When driving on roads with sharp bends, consecutive curves, or uneven surfaces
• When vehicle lanes are wide, or when driving on the edge of a lane, and the
vehicle in an adjacent lane is far away
from your vehicle
• When a bicycle carrier or other acces- sory is installed to the rear of the vehicle
• When there is a significant difference in height between your vehicle and the
vehicle that enters the detection area
• Immediately after the BSM main switch is turned on
●Instances of the BSM function unneces-
sarily detecting a vehicle and/or object
may increase in the following situations:
• When the sensor is misaligned due to a strong impact to the sensor or its sur-
rounding area
• When the distance between your vehicle and a guardrail, wall, etc. that enters the
detection area is short
• When driving up and down consecutive steep inclines, such as hills, dips in the
road, etc.
• When vehicle lanes are narrow, or when driving on the edge of a lane, and a vehi-
cle traveling in a lane other than the adja-
cent lanes enters the detection area
• When driving on roads with sharp bends, consecutive curves, or uneven surfaces
• When the tires are slipping or spinning
• When the distance between your vehicle
and a following vehicle is short
• When a bicycle carrier or other acces-

1944-5. Using the driving support systems
■Operating launch control
1 Stop the vehicle.
2 Firmly and fully depress the brake
pedal with your left foot.
Continue depressing the brake pedal.
3Shift the shift lever to D.
4 Select SPORT S+ mode.
5 Press the switch.
The “EXPERT” indicator will come on
together with the “TRAC OFF” and VSC
OFF indicators.
6Press the “LAUNCH” switch.
The “LAUNCH” indicator will illuminate.
7Firmly and fully depress the accel-
erator pedal.
The control standby state will be entered
and the engine speed will be automatically
maintained between 1500-2000 rpm.
If the “LAUNCH” indicator turns off,
release the accelerato r pedal and perform
this procedure again from 6.
8 Within 3 seconds of depressing the
accelerator pedal, release the
brake pedal to start off.
The “LAUNCH” indicator will turn off 3
seconds after the accelerator pedal is
depressed.
If the brake pedal is no t released before the
“LAUNCH” indicator turns off, release the
accelerator pedal and perform this proce-
dure again from 6 .
After starting off, when the accelerator
pedal is released, laun ch control will stop
operating.
■Canceling launch control
Perform any of the following:
 Shift the shift lever to any position
other than D.
 Operate the drive mode switch to
select any mode other than SPORT
S+ mode.
 Press the switch.
 Press the “LAUNCH” switch.
■Operation condition
When all of the following conditions are
met, launch control can be enabled:
●The engine and transmission are suffi-
ciently warmed up.
●The engine, transmission, driving support
systems, etc. are not malfunctioning.
■Launch control will not operate prop-
erly when
In the following situations, launch control
may not operate properly:
●When the brake pedal is not firmly
depressed and the rear wheels slip.
Launch control
By controlling the engine torque,
this function restrains tire slippage,
providing optimal acceleration
when starting off. (Do not use this
function on public roads.)
Operating instruction

1994-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the
brakes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while driving on a
slippery road surface
■Brake assist
Generates an increased level of brak-
ing force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a
panic stop situation
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding
when swerving sudden ly or turning on
slippery road surfaces
■Enhanced VSC (Enhanced Vehi-
cle 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 perfor-
mance.
■TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pre-
vent the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerat-
ing on slippery roads
■Hill-start assist control
Helps to reduce the backward move-
ment of the vehicle when starting on an
uphill
■EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce
the amount of effort needed to turn the
steering wheel
■Adaptive Variable Suspension Sys-
tem
By independently controlling the
damping force of th e shock absorbers
for each of the 4 wheels according to
the road and driving conditions, this
system combines riding comfort with
superior vehicle stability, and helps
good vehicle posture.
■VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Inte-
grated Management)
Provides integrated control of the
ABS, brake assist, TRAC, VSC,
hill-start assist control and EPS systems
Helps to maintain vehicle stability when
swerving on slippery road surfaces by
controlling the brakes, engine output
and steering assist.
■When the TRAC/VSC systems are
operating
The slip indicator light will flash while the
TRAC/VSC systems are operating.
Driving assist systems
To keep enhance driving safety and
performance, the following systems
operate automatically in response
to various driving situations. Be
aware, however, that these systems
are supplementary and should not
be relied upon too heavily when
operating the vehicle.
Summary of the driving assist
systems