lexus LS400 2000 Engine / LEXUS 2000 LS400 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM50533U)

STARTING AND DRIVING
294

1Power position 2Normal position
3Snow position
2. Set the driving pattern selector switch to the
ºNormalº position.
Your transmission has a driving pattern selector switch
which allows you to select ºPowerº, ºNormalº or ºSnowº\
mode to suit your driving condition. For ordinary driving,
Lexus recommends that you use the ºNormalº position
to improve fuel economy.
3. For more powerful acceleration and sporty
driving, use the ºPowerº position.
In the ºPowerº position, the ºECT PWRº light in the
instrument cluster is on and the transmission is shifted
up at higher vehicle speeds and shifted down more
responsively than in the ºNormalº position.
For ºSnowº mode, see ºElectronic Throttle Control
Systemº on page 303.

STARTING AND DRIVING
295
31l055a

1ºDº (Drive) position 2Brake pedal
4. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift
the selector lever to ºDº.
Always use the ºDº position to improve fuel economy
and quiet driving. Only in this position, shifting into the
overdrive gear is possible. However, while the engine
coolant temperature is low, the transmission will not shift
into the overdrive gear even in the ºDº position. (See º(b)
Using engine brakingº and º(f) Good driving practiceº for
exceptions.)
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.

STARTING AND DRIVING
2965. Release the parking brake and brake pedal.
Depress the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth
starting.
In normal cruising, the vehicle will start in the first gear
and automatically shift up to the most suitable gear. On
inclines, declines or winding roads, etc., the vehicle
shifts up and down automatically according to the
running conditions to obtain the suitable driving power
and engine braking.
When the lever is in the ª4º position, the automatic
transmission system will select the most suitable gear
for the running conditions such as hill climbing, hard
towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, depress
the accelerator pedal to the full throttle position. This
provides more acceleration by automatically
downshifting the transmission to the next lower gear or
beyond, depending on the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a
long hill, see º(b) Using engine brakingº.
(b) Using engine braking

STARTING AND DRIVING
297
31L010b
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below:
1Shift into the º4º position. The transmission will
downshift to the fourth gear and engine braking will
be obtained.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ºDº to º4º, engine braking will not be
applied because the cruise control is not cancelled.
If you need to decrease the vehicle speed, see
page 308.
2 Shift into the º3º position. The transmission will
downshift to the third gear when the vehicle speed
is or becomes lower than 154 km/h (96 mph) and
more powerful engine braking will be obtained.
3Shift into the º2º position. The transmission will
downshift to the second gear when the vehicle
speed is or becomes lower than 104 km/h (65 mph)
and more powerful engine braking than that of º3º
position will be obtained.
4Shift into the ºLº position. The transmission will
downshift to the first gear when the vehicle speed
is or becomes lower than 18 km/h (11 mph) and
maximum engine braking will be applied.

STARTING AND DRIVING
298
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.
(c) Using the º3º, º2º and ºLº positions
The º3º, º2º and ºLº positions are used for strong engine\
braking as described previously.
With the selector lever in º3º, º2º or ºLº, you can start the
vehicle in motion as with the lever in ºDº.
With the selector lever in º3º or º2º, the vehicle will star\
t
in the first gear and automatically shift to the third or
second gear.
With the selector lever in ºLº, the transmission is
engaged in the first gear.NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the engine. Watch the tachometer to keep engine rpm from going intothe red zone. The approximate maximumallowable speed for each position is givenbelow for your reference:
º3º 160 km/h (99 mph) . . .
º2º 104 km/h (65 mph) . . .
ºLº 68 km/h (42 mph) . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for
a long time in the º3º, º2º or ºLº position. Thismay cause severe automatic transmission
damage from overheating. To prevent suchdamage, º4º position should be used in hillclimbing or hard towing.

STARTING AND DRIVING
299
(d) Backing up
31L012a

1ºRº (Reverse) position 2Brake pedal
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift
the selector lever to the ºRº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle ismoving.
When you are backing up, you can adjust the outside
rear view mirror on the passenger's side down quickly.
For details, see page 138.

STARTING AND DRIVING
300
(e) Parking
31L009a

1ºPº (Park) position 2Brake pedal
3Parking brake pedal
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal fully.
3. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift
the selector lever to the ºPº position.
CAUTION
While the vehicle is moving, never attempt to move the
selector lever into ºPº under any circumstances.
Serious mechanical damage and loss of vehicle control
may result.

STARTING AND DRIVING
301
(f) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up and down
between the fourth and overdrive gears when
climbing a gentle slope, shift the selector lever to the
º4º position. Be sure to shift the selector lever to the
ºDº position after climbing the slope.
 When towing a trailer, in order to maintain efficient
engine braking and electrical charging performance,
do not use overdrive. The selector lever must be in
the º4º position.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped
with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from
creeping.
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an upgrade with the accelerator pedal. This can cause thetransmission to overheat. Always use the brakepedal or parking brake.
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck

STARTING AND DRIVING
302
CAUTION
If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,
then you may attempt to rock the vehicle free by moving
it forward and backward. Do not attempt this procedure
if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle.
During the rocking operation the vehicle may suddenly
move forward or backward as it becomes un±stuck,
causing injury or damage to nearby people or objects.
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the following precautions to prevent damage to thetransmission and other parts.
Do not depress the accelerator pedal whileshifting the selector lever or before thetransmission is completely shifted to forwardor reverse gear.
Do not race the engine and avoid spinning thewheels.
If your vehicle remains stuck after rocking thevehicle several times, consider other wayssuch as towing.
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever
If you cannot shift the selector lever even though the
brake pedal is depressed, use the shift lock override
button. For instructions, see ºIf you cannot shift
automatic transmission selector leverº on page 384.

STARTING AND DRIVING
303
ELECTRONIC THROTTLECONTROL SYSTEM
The electronic throttle control system always
maintains appropriate engine output in relation to
the accelerator opening in all driving conditions.
31L008a

1Power position 2Normal position
3Snow position
The electronic throttle control system has 3 modes:
Normal, Power and Snow modes.
Normal mode: For ordinary driving, Lexus
recommends that you use the normal mode to improve
fuel economy.
Power mode: For more powerful acceleration and
sporty driving.