driving mode Lexus IS250 2009 Owner's Guide

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2-1. Driving procedures
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)
CAUTION
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not press the accelera-
tor while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting 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, push and
hold the “ENGINE START STOP” switch for more than 3 seconds.
However, do not touch the “ENGINE START STOP” switch while driving except in
an emergency. If the engine stops while the vehicle is being driven, this could lead to
an unexpected accident.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the “ENGINE START STOP” switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION
ON mode for long periods without the engine running.
■When starting the engine
●Do not race a cold engine.
●If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the engine
checked immediately.

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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)
Automatic transmission

Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
■Shifting the shift lever
While the “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION
ON mode, depress the brake pedal and move the shift lever.
■ Shift position uses
*: To improve fuel consumption and reduce noises, set the shift lever in the D
position for normal driving.
Shift positionFunction
PParking the vehicle or starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*
SS mode driving (
P. 1 3 4 )

: If equipped

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2-1. Driving procedures
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)
Selecting shift ranges in the D position
To drive using temporary shift range selection, operate the “-” shift paddle
switch. The shift range can then be selected by operating the “-” and “+”
shift paddle switches. Changing the shift range allows restriction of the
upper limit of the gears to be used , preventing unnecessary upshifting
and enabling the level of engine braking force to be selected.
Higher shift range
Lower shift range
The selected shift range, from 1 to
6, will be displayed in the meter
cluster.
To return to normal D position
driving, the “+” shift paddle switch
must be held down for a period of
time.
■ Selecting a driving mode
The following patterns can be selected to suit current driving and
operating conditions.
Power mode
For powerful acceleration
and driving in mountainous
regions.
Normal mode
Snow mode
For accelerating and driving
on slippery road surfaces,
such as on snow.
Press “SNOW” to return to nor-
mal mode.

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2-1. Driving procedures
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)
Changing shift ranges in S modeTo enter S mode, shift the shift lever to the S position. The shift range can
then be selected by operating the “-” and “+” shift paddle switches or the
shift lever. Changing the shift range a llows restriction of the upper limit of
the gears to be used, preventing unnecessary upshifting and enabling the
level of engine braking force to be selected.
Higher shift range
Lower shift range
The selected shift range, from 1 to
6, will be displayed in the meter
cluster.
The initial shift range in S mode is automatically set to 5 or 4 according to
vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set to 3 or 2 if the
AI-SHIFT has operated while the sh ift lever was in the D position.
(P. 1 3 6 )
■ Shift ranges and their functions
P. 1 3 3

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)
■When the “-” shift paddle switch is operated in the D position
When the “-” shift paddle switch is operated in the D position, a shift range will be
automatically selected. The highest gear of the first shift range will be one gear
lower than the gear in use during normal D position driving.
■Automatic deactivated 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
●When range 6 is selected and the accelerator pedal is depressed
●If the accelerator pedal is depressed for more than a certain period of time
■Gear position display when driving
The current gear is displayed on the multi-information display. (

P. 1 5 4 )
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever or shift paddle switch is operated. (The warning buzzer will
sound twice.)
■When driving with the cruise control system or dynamic radar cruise control sys-
tem
Engine braking will not occur during shift range selection in the D position or S
mode, even when downshifting to range 5 or 4. (

P. 166, 170)
■Snow mode automatic deactivation
Snow mode is automatically deactivated if the “ENGINE START STOP” switch is
turned off after driving in snow mode.
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P

P. 4 1 5

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2-1. Driving procedures
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Snow modeThe snow mode is used for accel-
erating and driving on slippery
road surfaces, such as on snow.
Push the switch once more to
return to normal mode.
■Maximum downshifting speed
Adhere to the downshifting speeds in the following table in order to prevent over-
revving the engine. mph (km/h)
Shift positionMaximum speed
133 (54)
256 (90)
383 (134)
4108 (172)

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)
Turn signal lever
■Turn signals can be operated when
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■If the indicators flash faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the turn signal lights has not burned out.
Right turn
Left turn
Move and hold the lever part-
way to signal a lane change
The right hand signal will flash
until you release the lever.
Move and hold the lever part-
way to signal a lane change
The left hand signal will flash
until you release the lever.

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2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)■
Changing the indicator setting
The satellite switch can be used to change the set speed at which the
yellow speed or tacho indicator ring comes on.
The setting can be made only when the “ENGINE START STOP”
switch is in IGNITION ON mode and the vehicle is stopped.
Push

or  to select the speed or tacho indicator set mode. ( ) Turn the
speed or tacho indicator to “OFF” and then “ON” by pushing the “ON/
OFF” button. ( )
After one second, the mode enters
the indicator setting mode.
The speedometer or tachometer
needle moves to the previously set
speed.
STEP1

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2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)
Multi-information display
The multi-information display presents the driver with a variety of driving-
related data, including the current outside air temperature.
●Trip information ( →P. 1 5 2 )
Displays driving range, fuel con-
sumption and other cruising
related information.
●Satellite switch mode display
(→P. 2 6 0 )
This switch is used to configure
various function settings.
●Intuitive parking assist dis-
play (if equipped) (→ P. 1 8 0 )
Automatically displayed when
using intuitive parking assist.
●Dynamic radar cruise con-
trol display (if equipped)
(→P. 1 7 0 )
Automatically displayed when
using dynamic radar cruise con-
trol.
●Warning messages
(→P. 392)
Automatically displayed when a
malfunction occurs in one of the
vehicle’s systems.

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2-2. Instrument cluster
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0808)■
Gear position display
(vehicles with an automatic transmission only)
Indicates the current gear, and the range of gears
that is available when the shift lever is in the D or S
position. the gear range is shown by the number of
dots ( ) and the current gear is shown as a number.
The transmission automatically selects the gears
within the driver selected gear range.
In the illustration to the left, a range of 6 available gears
(1 through 6) has been selected by the driver. (The shift
lever is in the D or S position with 6 ranges enabled) It is
possible for the transmission to automatically select
between all 6 of the gears. In this case, the transmission
has selected third gear.
■System check display
After switching the “ENGINE START ST OP” switch to IGNITION ON mode,
“CHECK” is displayed while system operation is checked. When the system check
is complete, “COMPLETED” is displayed before returning to the normal screen.
■Outside temperature display
In the following situations, the correct outside temperature may not be displayed, or
the display may take longer than normal to change.
●When stopped, or driving at low speeds (less than 12 mph [20 km/h])
●When the outside temperature has changed suddenly (at the entrance/exit of a
garage, tunnel, etc.)