1374-2. Driving procedures
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
■If the brake system warning light comes
on
P.293
■Usage in winter time
P.203
Turns the brake hold system on
The brake hold standby indicator (green)
comes on. While the system is holding
the brake, the brake hold operated indica-
tor (yellow) comes on.
■Brake hold system operating conditions
The brake hold system cannot be turned on
in the following conditions:
●The driver’s door is not closed.
●The driver is not wearing the seat belt.
●The parking brake is engaged.
If any of the conditio ns above are detected
when the brake hold system is enabled, the
system will turn off and the brake hold
standby indicator light will go off. In addi-
tion, if any of the co nditions are detected
while the system is holding the brake, a
WARNING
■When parking the vehicle
Do not leave a child in the vehicle alone.
The parking brake may be released unin-
tentionally and there is the danger of the
vehicle moving that may lead to an acci-
dent resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
Before you leave the vehicle, shift the
shift lever to P, set the parking brake and
make sure that the vehicle does not
move.
■When the system malfunctions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
check the warning messages.
■When the parking brake cannot be
released due to a malfunction
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking
performance and increase brake wear.
Have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer immediately if this occurs.
Brake Hold
The brake hold system keeps the
brake applied when the shift lever is
in D, M or N with the system on and
the brake pedal has been
depressed to stop the vehicle. The
system releases the brake when the
accelerator pedal is depressed with
the shift lever in D or M to allow
smooth start off.
Enabling the system
A
B
1384-2. Driving procedures
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
warning buzzer will sound and a message
will be shown on the multi-information dis-
play. The parking brake will then be set
automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a
period of about 3 minutes after the sys-
tem has started holding the brake, the
parking brake will be set automatically. In
this case, a warning buzzer sounds and a
message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display.
●To turn the system off while the system is
holding the brake, firmly depress the
brake pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the
vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep
incline. In this situation, it may be neces-
sary for the driver to apply the brakes. A
warning buzzer will sound and the
multi-information display will inform the
driver of this situat ion. If a warning mes-
sage is shown on the multi-information
display, read the message and follow the
instructions.
■When the parking brake is set automati-
cally while the system is holding the
brakes
Perform any of the follo wing operations to
release the parking brake.
●Depress the accelerator pedal. (The
parking brake will not be released auto-
matically if the seat belt is not fastened.)
●Operate the parking brake switch with
the brake pedal depressed.
Make sure that the parking brake indicator
light goes off. ( P.135)
■When an inspection at your Lexus
dealer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indicator
(green) does not illuminate even when the
brake hold switch is pressed with the brake
hold system operating conditions met, the
system may be malfun ctioning. Have the
vehicle inspected at your Lexus dealer.
■If “Brake Hold Fault Depress Brake to
Deactivate Visit Your Dealer”, “Brake
Hold Malfunction Pr ess Brake to Deac- tivate Visit Your Dealer” or “Brake Hold
Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is dis-
played on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Warning messages and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to
indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution. If a warn-
ing message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow
the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indicator
flashes
P.293
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep incline
When using the brake hold system on a
steep incline, exercise caution. The brake
hold function may not hold the vehicle in
such a situation.
■When stopped on a slippery road
The system cannot stop the vehicle when
the gripping ability of the tires has been
exceeded. Do not use the system when
stopped on a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not designed
for use when parking the vehicle for a
long period of time. Turning the engine
switch off while the system is holding the
brake may release the brake, which
would cause the vehicle to move. When
operating the engine switch, depress the
brake pedal, shift the shift lever to P and
set the parking brake.
1764-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
This mode employs a radar sensor to detect the presence of vehicles up to approx-
imately 328 ft. (100 m) ahead, determines the current vehicle-to-vehicle following
distance, and operates to maintain a suit able following distance from the vehicle
ahead.
Note that vehicle-to-vehicle distance will close in when traveling on downhill slopes.
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead
The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver. The desired vehicle-to-vehicle distance
can also be set by operating the ve hicle-to-vehicle distance switch.
Example of deceleration cruising and follow-up cruising
When a preceding vehicle driving slower than the set speed appears
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of you, the system automatically decelerates
your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the system applies
the brakes (the stop lights will come on at this time). The system will respond to changes in
the speed of the vehicle ahead in order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance set by
the driver. Approach warning warns you when th e system cannot decelerate sufficiently to
prevent your vehicle from clos ing in on the vehicle ahead.
When the vehicle ahead of you stops, your vehi cle will also stop (vehicle is stopped by sys-
tem control). After the vehicle ahead starts of f, pushing the cruise control lever up or
depressing the accelerator pedal will resume follow-up cruising.
Example of acceleration
When there are no longer any preceding vehicles driving slower than the set
speed
The system accelerates until the set speed is reached. The system then returns to constant
speed cruising.
Driving in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
A
B
C
1794-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
After the vehicle ahead of you starts
off, push the lever up.
Your vehicle will also resume follow-up
cruising if the accelerator pedal is
depressed after the vehicle ahead of
you starts off.1
Pulling the lever toward you can-
cels the speed control.The speed control is also canceled when
the brake pedal is depressed. (When the
vehicle has been stopped by system con-
trol, depressing the brake pedal does not
cancel the setting.)
2Pushing the lever up resumes the
cruise control and returns vehicle
speed to the set speed.
However, when a vehicle ahead is not
detected, cruise control does not resume
when the vehicle speed is approximately
25 mph (40 km/h) or less.
When your vehicle is too close to a
vehicle ahead, and sufficient automatic
deceleration via the cruise control is
not possible, the display will flash and
the buzzer will sound to alert the driver.
An example of this would be if another
driver cuts in front of you while you are
following a vehicle. Depress the brake
pedal to ensure an appropriate vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance.
MediumApproximately 130 ft. (40
m)
ShortApproximately 100 ft. (30
m)
Resuming follow-up cruising
when the vehicle has been
stopped by system control (vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control
mode)
Distance optionsVehicle-to-vehicle dis- tanceCanceling and resuming the
speed control
Approach warning (vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control
mode)
1814-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
mately 30 mph (50 km/h).
However, when a preceding vehicle is
detected, the dynamic radar cruise con-
trol with full-speed range can be set even
if the vehicle speed is below approxi-
mately 30 mph (50 km/h).
■Accelerating after setting the vehicle
speed
The vehicle can accelerate by operating the
accelerator pedal. After accelerating, the
set speed resumes. However, during vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control mode, the
vehicle speed may decrease below the set
speed in order to maintain the distance to
the preceding vehicle.
■When the vehicle stops while follow-up
cruising
●Pushing the lever up while the vehicle
ahead stops will resu me follow-up cruis-
ing if the vehicle ahead starts off within
approximately 3 seconds after the lever
is pushed up.
●If the vehicle ahead starts off within 3 sec-
onds after your vehicle stops, follow-up
cruising will be resumed.
■Automatic cancelation of vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control mode
Vehicle-to-vehicle dist ance control mode is
automatically canceled in the following situ-
ations:
●Actual vehicle speed falls at or below
approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) when
there are no vehicles ahead.
●The preceding vehicle leaves the lane
when your vehicle is following at a vehicle
speed at or below approximately 25 mph
(40 km/h). Otherwise, the sensor can
not properly detect the vehicle. (“Radar
Cruise Control Not Available No Pre-
ceding Vehicles” is displayed on the
multi-information display)
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is
turned off.
●When snow mode is set.
●The sensor cannot detect correctly
because it is covered in some way.
●Pre-collision braking is activated.
●The parking brake is operated.
●The vehicle is stopped by system control
on a steep incline.
●The following are detected when the
vehicle has been stopped by system con-
trol:
• The driver is not wearing a seat belt.
• The driver’s door is opened.
• The vehicle has been stopped for about 3 minutes.
If vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
is automatically canceled for any reasons
other than the above, there may be a mal-
function in the system. Contact your Lexus
dealer.
■Automatic cancelation of constant
speed control mode
Constant speed contro l mode is automati-
cally canceled in the following situations:
●Actual vehicle speed is more than
approximately 10 mph (16 km/h) below
the set vehicle speed.
●Actual vehicle speed falls below approxi-
mately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is
turned off.
●Pre-collision braking is activated.
If constant speed control mode is automati-
cally canceled for any other reason, there
may be a malfunction in the system. Con-
tact your Lexus dealer.
■Brake system operation sound
If the brakes are app lied automatically while
the vehicle is in vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode, a brake system operation
sound may be heard. This does not indicate
a malfunction.
■Warning messages and buzzers for
dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range
Warning messages and buzzers are used to
indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution while driv-
ing. If a warning messa ge is shown on the
1934-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
●Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehicles
and similar stationary objects*
●Following vehicles that 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 heav y 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- sory is installed to the rear of the vehicle
■Operation of the RCTA function
The RCTA function uses radar sensors to detect vehicles approaching from the
right or left at the rear of the vehicle and alerts the driver of the presence of such
vehicles by flashing the outside rear view mirror indicators and sounding a buzzer.
RCTA function
2004-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
and release the switch.
The “Traction Control Turned Off” will be
shown on the multi-information display.
Press the switch again to turn the sys-
tem back on.
■Turning off both TRAC and VSC sys-
tems
To turn the TRAC and VSC systems off,
press and hold the switch for more
than 3 seconds while the vehicle is stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will come on
and the “Traction Control Turned Off” will
be shown on the mult i-information display.
*
Press the switch again to turn the sys-
tems back on.
*: On vehicles with PCS (Pre-Collision
System), pre-collision brake assist,
pre-collision braking, and steering con-
trol (performed through cooperative
control of PCS and LDH) (if equipped)
will also be disabl ed. The Pre-Collision
System warning light will come on and a
message will be displayed on the
multi-information display. ( P.166)
■When the message is displayed on the
multi-information display showing that
TRAC has been disabled even if the
switch has not been pressed
TRAC is temporary deactivated. If the infor-
mation continues to show, contact your
Lexus dealer.
■Operating conditions of hill-start assist
control
When the following four conditions are met,
the hill-start assist control will operate:
●The shift lever is in a position other than P
or N (when starting off forward/back-
ward on an upward incline).
●The vehicle is stopped.
●The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
●The parking brake is not engaged.
●Engine switch is turned to IGNITION
ON mode
■Automatic system cancelation of
hill-start assist control
The hill-start assist control will turn off in any
of the following situations:
●The shift lever is moved to P or N.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed.
●The parking brake is engaged.
●2 seconds at maximum elapsed after the
brake pedal is released
●Engine switch is turned to off
■VGRS is disabled when
VGRS may stop operat ing in the following
situations.
In this event, the steering wheel may move
from its straight forward position, but it will
return when the system restarts.
●When the steering wheel is operated for
an extended period of time while the
vehicle is stopped or is moving very
slowly
(on vehicles with LDH, DRS is disabled
together with VGRS)
●When the steering wheel has been held
fully to the left or right
The center position of the steering wheel
may change when VGRS is disabled. How-
2014-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
ever, the position will return to normal after
VGRS is reactivated.
■When the battery is disconnected (vehi-
cles with VGRS)
The steering wheel may move from its
straight forward position, but this will be
corrected automatically when driving.
■Sounds and vibrations caused by the
ABS, brake assist, VS C, TRAC, hill-start
assist control and VGRS systems
●A sound may be heard from the engine
compartment when the brake pedal is
depressed repeatedly, when the engine is
started or just after the vehicle begins to
move. This sound does not indicate that a
malfunction has occurred in any of these
systems.
●Any of the following conditions may
occur when the above systems are oper-
ating. None of these indicates that a mal-
function has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard also after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after
the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■EPS, VGRS and DR S operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a
motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■Automatic reactivation of TRAC/VSC
systems
After turning the TRAC and VSC systems
off, the systems w ill be automatically
re-enabled in the following situations:
●When the engine switch is turned off
●If only the TRAC system is turned off, the
TRAC will turn on when vehicle speed
increases
If both the TRAC and VSC systems are
turned off, automatic re-enabling will not
occur when vehicle speed increases.
■Reduced effectiveness of the EPS sys-
tem
The effectiveness of the EPS system is
reduced to prevent the system from over-
heating when there is frequent steering
input over an extended period of time. The
steering wheel may feel heavy as a result.
Should this occur, re frain from excessive
steering input or stop the vehicle and turn
the engine off. The EPS system should
return to normal within 10 minutes.
WARNING
■The ABS does not operate effectively
when
●The limits of tire gripping performance
have been exceeded (such as exces-
sively worn tires on a snow covered
road).
●The vehicle hydroplanes while driving
at high speed on wet or slick roads.
■Stopping distance when the ABS is
operating may exceed that of normal
conditions
The ABS is not designed to shorten the
vehicle’s stopping di stance. Always main-
tain a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you, especially in the following
situations:
●When driving on dirt, gravel or
snow-covered roads
●When driving with tire chains
●When driving over bumps in the road
●When driving over roads with potholes
or uneven surfaces
■TRAC/VSC may not operate effec-
tively when
Directional control and power may not
be achievable while driving on slippery
road surfaces, even if the TRAC/VSC
system is operating. Drive the vehicle
carefully in conditions where stability and
power may be lost.