LEXUS LS500 2018 Owners Manual

1614-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving 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.■
Electronic key battery
→ P.403■
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.436. 1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, set the parking brake.
( → P.170)
3 Shift the shift position to P.
( → P.166) Check that the shift position indicator
shows P. ( → P.165)
4 Press the engine switch. The engine will stop, and the meter display
will be extinguished (the shift position indi-
cator will be extinguished a few seconds
after the meter display).
5 Release the brake pedal and check
that “ACCESSORY” or “IGNI-
TION ON” is not shown on the
meter.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

162 4-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) ■
Automatic P position selection function
→ P.166
Modes can be changed by pressing
the engine switch with the brake pedal
released. (The mode changes each
time the switch is pressed.) 1 Off The emergency flashers can be used.
2 ACCESSORY mode Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
meter.
3 IGNITION ON mode All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the
meter.
■
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 position in
P, the engine switch will automatically turn
off. However, this function cannot entirely
prevent the battery discharge. Do not leave
the vehicle with the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode
for long periods of time when the engine is
not running.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.410)
However, do not touch the engine
switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the engine off while
driving will not cause loss of steering
or braking control, however, power
assist to the steering will be lost. This
will make it more difficult to steer
smoothly, 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.●
When restarting the engine after an
emergency shutdown, press the
engine switch.
Changing engine switch modes

1634-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving ■
When the shift control system malfunc-
tions
When attempting to turn the engine switch
off while there is a malfunction in the shift
control system, the engine switch mode
may change to ACCESSORY mode. In this
case, ACCESSORY mode may be turned
off by applying the parking brake and press-
ing the engine switch again. If there is a mal-
function in the system, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
*1
: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce
noise, set the shift position in D for nor-
mal driving. You can choose gear range
suitable for your driving situation by
operating the paddle shift switches. *2
: Any gear range can be fixed when driv-
ing in M mode.
■
For the shift positions ●
When the engine switch is off or in
ACCESSORY mode, the shift position
cannot be changed.
●
When the engine swit ch is in IGNITION
ON mode, the shift position can only be
changed to N.
●
When the engine is running, the shift
position can be changed from P to D, N
or R.
●
The shift position can only be changed to
M directly from D.
In addition, if an attempt is made to change NOTICE■
To prevent battery discharge●
Do not leave the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode for long period s of time without
the engine running.●
If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the meter, the
engine switch is not off.
Exit the vehicle after turning the
engine switch off. Automatic transmission Select the shift position depending
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions Shift posi-
tion Objective or function
P Parking the vehicle/starting
the engine
R Reversing
N Neutral
(Condition in which the
power is not transmitted)
D
Normal driving *1
M
M mode driving *2
( → P.168)

164 4-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) the shift position by moving the shift lever or
by pressing the P position switch in any of
the following situations, the buzzer will
sound and the shifting operation will be dis-
abled or the shift position will automatically
change to N. When this happens, select an
appropriate shift position. ●
Situations where the shifting operation
will be disabled:
• When an attempt is made to change the
shift position from P to another position
by moving the shift lever without depress-
ing the brake pedal.
• When an attempt is made to change the
shift position from P or N to M by moving
the shift lever.
• When the P position switch is pressed
while the vehicle is running. *1
●
Situations where the shift position will
automatically change to N:
• When an attempt is made to select the R
position by moving the shift lever when
the vehicle is moving forward. *2
• When an attempt is made to select the D
position by moving the shift lever when
the vehicle is moving in reverse. *3
• When the shift position is changed from
R to M●
If N is selected while driving at a certain
speed, even if the shift lever is not held in
the N position, the shift position changes
to N. In this situation, the buzzer sounds
and a confirmation message is displayed
on the multi-information display to inform
the driver that the shift position has
changed to N. *1
: Shift position may be changed to P
when driving at extremely low speeds. *2
: Shift position may be changed to R
when driving at low speeds. *3
: Shift position may be changed to D
when driving at low speeds.
■
Reverse warning buzzer
When shifting into R, a buzzer will sound to
inform the driver that the shift position is in
R.
■
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 with full-speed range activated
Even when performing the following
actions with the intent of enabling engine
braking, engine braking will not be acti-
vated because dynamic radar cruise con-
trol with full-speed range will not be
canceled. ●
While driving in the D position, down-
shifting to 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 or 4. ●
When switching the driving mode to
sport mode while driving in the D position
( → P.289)■
Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
→ P.151 ■
AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatica lly selects the suit-
able gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when
the shift position is in D. (Shifting the shift
position to the M position cancels the func-
tion.) ■
If a message about a shift operation is
shown
To prevent the shift position from being
selected incorrectly or the vehicle from
moving unexpectedly, the shift position may
be changed automatically or operating the
shift lever may be requ ired. In this case,
change the shift position following the mes-
sages on the multi-information display.
■
After recharging/reconnecting the bat-
tery
→ P.384
■
Customization
Some functions can be customized.
( → P.468)

1654-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving
Shift lever Operate the shift lever gently and securely
in the direction of the arrow on the shift
position indicator.
To shift to N, slide the shift lever in the
direction of the arrow and hold it.
Release the shift lever after each shifting
operation to allow it to return to its regular
position ( ).
Shifting to M is only possible when the shift
position is in D.
When shifting from P to N, D or R, from N,
D, M or R to P, from D or M to R, or from R
to D, ensure that the brake pedal is being
depressed and the vehicle is stationary.
Shift position indicator Meter display:
The current shift position is highlighted.
When any shift position other than D or M
is selected, the arrow toward M and the M
position indicator are displayed in gray.
Shift lever display:WARNING■
When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Do not accelerate or shift the shift posi-
tion suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may
cause the vehicle to spin or skid, resulting
in an accident.
NOTICE■
Situations where sh ift control system
malfunctions are possible
If any of the following situations occurs,
shift control system malfunctions are
possible.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe
place on level ground, apply the parking
brake, and then contact your Lexus
dealer. ●
When the warning message indicating
the shift control syst em appears on the
multi-information display.●
The display indicates that no shift posi-
tion is selected for more than a few
seconds. Shifting the shift lever
A
B

166 4-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) The current shift position is illuminated.
When selecting the shift position, make
sure that the shift position has been
changed to the desired position by check-
ing the shift position indicator provided on
the instrument cluster.
P position switch
■
When shifting the shift position to P
Fully stop the vehicle and set the park-
ing brake, and then press the P position
switch. When the shift position is changed to P, the
switch illuminates.
Check that the shift position indicator
shows P. ■
Shifting the shift position from P to
other positions
 While depressing the brake pedal
firmly, operate the shift lever. If the
shift lever is operated without
depressing the brake pedal, the
buzzer will sound and the shifting
operation will be disabled.
 When selecting the shift position,
make sure that the shift position has
been changed to the desired posi-
tion by checking the shift position
indicator provided on the instru-
ment cluster.
 The shift position cannot be
changed from P to M directly. ■
Automatic P position selection function
In the following situations, the shift position
is automatically changed to P. ●
When pressing the engine switch with the
vehicle stopped while th e engine switch is
in IGNITION ON mode and the shift
position is in a position other than P (after
the shift position has changed to P, the
engine switch will turn off) *
●
When the vehicle is stopped after the
engine has been stopped in an emer-
gency while driving ●
When voltage of the battery drops while
the shift position is in a position other than
P *
: When the engine switch is pressed while
driving at extremely slow speeds, such
as immediately before stopping the vehi-
cle, the shift position may automatically
change to P. Make su re that the vehicle
is completely stopped before pressing
the engine switch.
■
If the shift position cannot be shifted
from P
There is a possibility th at the battery is dis-WARNING■
For the shift lever●
Do not remove the sh ift lever knob or
use anything but a genuine Lexus shift
lever knob. Also, do not hang anything
on the shift lever.
Doing so could prevent the shift lever
from returning to position, causing
unexpected accidents to occur when
the vehicle is in motion.●
In order to prevent the shift position
from accidentally being changed, do
not touch the shift lever when not using
them.
P position switch C

1674-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving charged. Check the battery in this situation.
( → P.438)
■
Driving mode
→ P.289 ■
Snow mode
Snow mode can be selected to suit the
conditions when dr iving on slippery
road surfaces, such as on snow.
Turn the snow mode switch backward. The snow mode indicator illuminates.
Turn the snow mode switch backward
again to return to normal mode. Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models ■
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 switches to a
range that enables engine braking
force that is suitable to driving condi-
tions. When the “+” paddle shift switch
is operated, the shift range switches to
a range that is one range higher than
the current range.
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.WARNING■
P position switch●
Do not press the P position switch
while the vehicle is moving.
If the P position switch is pressed when
driving at very low speeds (for exam-
ple, directly before stopping the vehi-
cle), the vehicle may stop suddenly
when the shift position switches to P,
which could lead to an accident.●
In order to prevent the shift position
from accidentally being changed, do
not touch the P position switch or shift
lever when not using them.
NOTICE■
Notes regarding shift lever and P
position switch operation
Avoid repeatedly operating the shift
lever and P position switch in quick suc-
cession.
The system protection function may acti-
vate and it will not be temporarily possi-
ble to shift the shift position other than P.
If this happens, plea se wait for a while
before attempting to change the shift
position again.
Selecting the driving mode Selecting shift ranges in the D
position A
B

168 4-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models
1 Upshifting
2 DownshiftingThe selected shift rang e, from D1 to D10,
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 pedal is depressed for
more than a certain period of time
●
When the shift position is shifted to a
position other than D. ●
When pressing and holding the “+” pad-
dle shift switch ■
Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving perfor-
mance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances,
downshifting may not be possible even
when the paddle shift sw itch is operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)
To enter M mode, shift the shift position
to M. Gears can be selected by oper-
ating the paddle shift switches, allowing
you to drive in the gear of your choos-
ing.
Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models
1 Upshifting
2 Downshifting The gear changes once every time the
paddle shift switch is operated.
The selected gear, from M1 to M10, will be
fixed and displayed on the meter.
When in the M position, the gear will
not change unless the paddle shift
switches are operated.
However, even when in the M position,
the gears will be automatically
changed in the following situations:Meter dis-
play Function
D2 - D10 A gear in the range between
D1 and the selected shift
range is automatically cho-
sen depending on vehicle
speed and driving condi-
tions
D1 Setting the shift range at D1A
B
Selecting gears in the M position
A
B

1694-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving  When vehicle speed drops (down-
shift only).
 When it is necessary to protect the
engine or automatic transmission
when the engine coolant tempera-
ture is low, the automatic transmis-
sion fluid temperature is high or low,
or other reasons.
Also, the gear will not shift when the
vehicle speed is low, even if an upshift
operation is performed. ■
Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving perfor-
mance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances,
downshifting may not be possible even
when the paddle shift switch is operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)
1 Right turn
2 Lane change to the right (move the
lever partway and release it) The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
3 Lane change to the left (move the
lever partway and release it) The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
4 Left turn ■
Turn signals can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON
mode.
■
If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear
turn signal lights has not burned out.
■
If the turn signals stop flashing before a
lane change has been performed
Operate the lever again.Turn signal lever
Operating instructions

170 4-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) ■
Customization
Some functions can be customized.
( → P.468)
■
Using the manual mode
The parking brake can be set and
released manually.
U.S.A.
Canada
1 Push the switch to set the parking
brake The parking brake indi cator light will turn
on.
Press and hold the parking brake switch if
an emergency occurs and it is necessary to
operate the parking brake while driving.Parking brake The parking brake can be set or
released automatically or manually.
In automatic mode, the parking
brake can be set or released auto-
matically according to the shift
lever operation. Also, even in auto-
matic mode, the parking brake can
be set or released manually.
Operating instructions
A
B