engine LEXUS NX300 2020 Repair Manual

1514-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and
brake pedals at the same time during
driving, as this may restrain the engine
output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or
depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in
either direction and hold it there for an
extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power
steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the road,
drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the
vehicle, etc.
●Make sure to idle the engine immedi-
ately after high-speed driving or hill
climbing. Stop the engine only after
the turbocharger has cooled down.
Failure to do so may cause damage to
the turbocharger.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged ti re may cause the fol-
lowing situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the
brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehi-
cle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat
tire ( P.387)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded
after heavy rain, etc. Doing so may cause
the following serious damage to the vehi-
cle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water
immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded
road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure
to have your Lexus dealer check the fol-
lowing:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil
and fluid used for the engine, transmis-
sion, transfer (AWD vehicles), rear dif-
ferential (AWD vehicles), etc.
●Lubricant condition for the propeller
shaft (AWD models), bearings and
suspension joints (where possible),
and the function of all joints, bearings,
etc.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift
the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle
may accelerate suddenly if the accelera-
tor pedal is accidentally depressed.

1564-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
Coupler
Trailer ball
■Before towing
Check that the following conditions are
met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are prop-
erly inflated. ( P.413)
●Trailer tires are inflated according to the
trailer manufacturer’s recommendation.
●All trailer lights work as required by law.
●All lights work each time you connect
them.
●The trailer ball is set at the proper height
for the coupler on the trailer.
●The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and
check for improper tongue weight, over-
loading, worn suspension, or other possi-
ble causes.
●The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●The rear view mirrors conform to all
applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, install
rear view mirrors appropriate for towing
purposes.
■AVS (Adaptive Variable Suspension
System) (if equipped)
The suspension can be switched for
improvement in driveability. ( P.261)
■Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any
new power train components (such as an
engine, transmission, differential or wheel
bearing), Lexus recommends that you do
not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been
driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over
500 miles (800 km), you can start towing.
However, for the next 500 miles (800 km),
drive the vehicle at a speed of less than 50
mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and
avoid full throttle acceleration.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will
require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. (See “Warranty
and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual
Supplement” or “Scheduled Mainte-
nance”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately 600
miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing
vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer,
causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer
straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by
turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing th e accelerator pedal
immediately but very gradually to reduce
speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply
vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the
steering or brakes, your vehicle and trailer
should stabilize.
●After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropri-
ate, if possible.
A
B

1624-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
prolonged turning. Have someone
guide you when reversing to reduce
the risk of an accident.
 As stopping distance is increased
when towing a trailer, vehicle-to
vehicle distance should be
increased. For each 10 mph (16
km/h) of speed, allow at least one
vehicle and trailer length.
 Avoid sudden braking as you may
skid, resulting in the trailer jackknif-
ing and a loss of vehicle control. This
is especially true on wet or slippery
surfaces.
 Avoid jerky starts or sudden accel-
eration.
 Avoid jerky steering and sharp
turns, and slow down before making
turn.
 Note that when making a turn, the
trailer wheels will be closer than the
vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Compensate by making a
wider than normal turning radius.
 Slow down before making a turn, in
cross winds, on wet or slippery sur-
faces, etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can desta-
bilize the trailer.
 Take care when passing other vehi-
cles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer,
and be sure you have plenty of room
before changing lanes.
 To maintain engine braking effi-
ciency and charging system perfor-
mance when using engine braking, do not put the transmission in D. If in
the M mode, the transmission shift
range position must be in 4 or lower.
(
P.168)
 Instability happens more frequently
when descending steep or long
downhill grades. Before descend-
ing, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts while
descending steep or long downhill
grades.
 Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or applying the brakes too
frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
 Due to the added load of the trailer,
your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
85°F [30°C]) when driving up a
long or steep grade. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates overheating, immediately turn
off the air conditioning (if in use),
pull your vehicle off the road and
stop in a safe spot. ( P.403)
 Always place wheel blocks under
both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s
wheels when parking. Put the trans-
mission in P and apply the parking
brake. Avoid parking on a slope, but
if unavoidable, do so only after per-
forming the following:
1 Apply the brakes and keep them
applied.
2 Have someone place wheel blocks
under both the vehicle’s and trailer’s
wheels.

1634-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
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Driving
3When the wheel blocks are in
place, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
4 Shift into P and apply the parking
brake.
5 Turn off the engine.
 When restarting after parking on a
slope:
1 With the transmission in P, start the
engine. Be sure to keep the brake
pedal depressed.
2 Shift into a forward gear. If revers-
ing, shift into R.
3 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, release the parking brake.
(P.173)
4 Release the brake pedal, and slowly
pull or back away from the wheel
blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
5 Have someone retrieve the blocks.Trailer towing (vehicles with-
out towing package)
Lexus does not recommend towing
a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus
also does not recommend the
installation of a tow hitch or the use
of a tow hitch carrier for a wheel-
chair, scooter, bicycle, etc. Your
vehicle is not desi gned for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch
mounted carriers.

1654-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
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Driving
4-2.Driving procedures
1Check that the parking brake is set.
2 Check that the shift lever is in P.
3 Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the engine cannot be
started.
4 Press the engine switch shortly and
firmly.
When operating the engine switch, one
short, firm press is enough.
It is not necessary to press and hold the
switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for up
to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until
the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any engine
switch mode.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not
have been deactivated. ( P.68) Contact your Lexus dealer.
●Check that the shift leve
r is securely set in
P. The engine may not start if the shift
lever is displaced out of P. “To Start Vehi-
cle, Put Shift Lever into P” will be dis-
played on the multi-information display.
●The smart access system with push-but-
ton start may not be operating properly.
(  P.398)
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P.96
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.118
■Note for the entry function
 P.118
■Steering lock function
●After turning the engine switch off and
opening and closing the doors, the steer-
ing wheel will be lock ed due to the steer-
ing lock function. Operating the engine
switch again automatically cancels the
steering lock.
●When the steering lock cannot be
released, “Steering Wheel Lock Press
Engine Switch while Turning Wheel” will
be displayed on the multi-information dis-
play.
Check that the shift lever is in P. Press the
engine switch 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 running the
engine. After about 10 seconds, the
steering lock motor will resume function-
ing.
Engine (ignition) switch
Performing the following opera-
tions when carryin g the electronic
key on your person starts the
engine or changes engine switch
modes.
Starting the engine

1664-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
■If “Smart Access System Malfunction
See Owner’s Manual” is displayed on
the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
■Electronic key battery
 P.356
■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.
■If the smart access system with push-
button start has been deactivated by a
customized setting
 P.427
1Stop the vehicle completely.
2
Set the parking brake ( P.173),
and shift the shift lever to P
( P.168).
3
Press the engine switch.
4
Release the brake pedal and check
that the display on the instrument
cluster is off.
Modes can be changed by pressing
the engine switch with brake pedal
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. The steering lock function will
activate and this may lead to an accident,
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
WARNING
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
If you want to stop th e engine in an emer-
gency 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.366)
However, do not touch the engine switch
while driving except in an emergency.
Turning the engine off 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.
Changing engine switch modes

1674-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
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Driving
released. (The mode changes each
time the switch is pressed.)
1
Off*
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
3IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other than
P when turning off the engine, the
engine switch will be turned to ACCES-
SORY mode, not to off.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode
for more than 20 minutes or IGNITION
ON mode (the engine is not running) for
more than an hour with the shift lever in P,
the engine switch will automatically turn off.
However, this function cannot entirely pre- vent battery discharge. Do not leave the
vehicle with the engine switch in ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode for long
periods of time when the engine is not run-
ning.
■When stopping the engine with the shift
lever in a position other than P
If the engine is stopped with the shift lever in
a position other than P, the engine switch
will not be turned off but instead be turned
to ACCESSORY mode. Perform the fol-
lowing procedure to turn the switch off:
1
Check that the parking brake is set.
2
Shift the shift lever to P.
3
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” is dis-
played on the multi-information display
and then press the engine switch once.
4
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on the
multi-information display is off.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode for long periods of time without
the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display while the engine is not run-
ning, the engine switch is not off. Exit
the vehicle after turning the engine
switch off.
●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
discharge may occur.

1684-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce
noise, shift the shift lever to D for normal
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.
■To protect the automatic transmission
“Transmission Fluid Temp High See
Owner’s Manual” is di splayed on the multi-
information display and a function is
adopted that automatically selects a higher
shift range when the fluid temperature is
high. 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 activate
because dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range will not be canceled.
●While driving in D position, downshifting
to 5 or 4. ( P.170)
●When switching the driving mode to
Sport mode while driving in D position.
( P.258)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
When the following unusual operation is
performed, the engine output may be
restrained.
●When the shift lever is shifted from R to D,
D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D
includes M) with the accelerator pedal
depressed, a warning message appears
on the multi-information display. If a
warning message is shown on the multi-
information display, read the message
and follow the instructions.
●When the accelerator pedal is depressed
too much while the vehicle is in reverse.
■If the “M” indicator do es not come on or
the “D” indicator is displayed even after
shifting the shift lever to M
This may indicate a malfunction in the auto-
matic transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer. (In this situ-
ation, the transmission will operate in the
same)
■AI-SHIFT
●The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the
suitable gear according to driver perfor-
mance and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates
when the driving mode select switch is
set to Normal mode with the shift lever in
the D position. (The function will be can-
celed, if the driving mo de select switch is
set to Sport mode or shift lever is put in
the M position.)
●The G AI-SHIFT is automatically
changed to a suitable gear step while
running in Sport mode according to the
driving operations and running condi-
tions.
The G AI-SHIFT automatically operates
when the driving mode select switch is
set to Sport mode with the shift lever in
the D position. (The function will be can-
celed, if the driving mo de is select switch
is set to Normal mode or shift lever is put
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
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2 ( P.170)

1694-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
in the M position.)
■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 switch 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 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-
ton is pressed
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden
acceleration, as this could result in the
vehicle skidding to the side or spinning.
Shifting the shift lever
While the engine switch is in IGNI-
TION 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
completely stopped.

1704-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
P.258
To drive using temporary shift range
selection, operate the “-” paddle shift
switch while the shift lever in D. Chang-
ing the shift range enables the level of
engine braking force to be selected.
The shift range can then be selected by
operating the “-” and “+” paddle shift
switches.
1
Upshifting
2
Downshifting
The selected shift range, from 1 to 6,
will be displayed on the multi-informa- tion display.
The initial shift range when the “-” paddle
shift switch is operated is automatically set
to 2, 3, 4 or 5 according to the vehicle
speed.
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-
tion other than D
To enter M mode, shift the shift lever to
M. Gears can then be selected by
operating the shift lever or paddle shift
switches, allowing you to drive in the
gear of your choice. The gear can be
selected by operating the shift lever or
the “-” and “+” paddle shift switches.
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 - D6
A gear in the range between 1 and the selected gear is auto- matically chosen depending
on vehicle speed and driving conditions
D11st gear is set
Selecting gears in the M position