automatic transmission LEXUS SC300 1999 User Guide

STARTING AND DRIVING
217
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION(SC400)
Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system to
minimize the possibility of incorrect operation. This
means you can only shift out of ºPº position when the
brake pedal is depressed with the ignition switch in ºONº
position. ()

STARTING AND DRIVING
218

The shift position is displayed on the instrument cluster.
P: Parking, engine starting and key removal position
R: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
D: Normal driving position (Shifting into overdrive
possible)
4: Position for engine braking (Shifting into overdrive
not possible)
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. For
the operation to decrease the vehicle speed, see page
245.
3, 2: Position for more powerful engine braking
L: Position for maximum engine braking Correct use of the automatic transmission is explained in
the following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the º3º, º2º and ºLº positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever

STARTING AND DRIVING
2225. 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.
In º4º 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
224
(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 sta\
rt the
vehicle in motion as with the lever in ºDº.
With the selector lever in º3º or º2º, the vehicle will start 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 into the red
zone. The approximate maximum allowable speed for
each position is given below for your reference:
º3º 153 km/h (96 mph) . . . .
º2º 100 km/h (63 mph) . . . .
ºLº 65 km/h (41 mph) . . . .
 Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long
time in the º3º, º2º or ºLº position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission damage from
overheating. To prevent such damage, º4º position
should be used in hill climbing or hard towing.
(d) Backing up

STARTING AND DRIVING
228
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the following
precautions to prevent damage to the transmission and
other parts.
Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting the
selector lever or before the transmission is completely
shifted to forward or reverse gear.
 Do not race the engine and avoid spinning the wheels.
 If your vehicle remains stuck after rocking the vehicle
several times, consider other ways such 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 306.

STARTING AND DRIVING
229
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION(SC300)
Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system to
minimize the possibility of incorrect operation. This
means you can only shift out of ºPº position when the
brake pedal is depressed with the ignition switch in ºONº
position. ()

STARTING AND DRIVING
230

The shift position is displayed on the instrument cluster.
P: Parking, engine starting and key removal position
R: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
D: Normal driving position (Shifting into overdrive
possible)
3: Position for engine braking (Shifting into overdrive
not possible)
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ºDº to º3º, engine braking will not be
applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For
the operation to decrease the vehicle speed, see page
245.
2: Position for more powerful engine braking
L: Position for maximum engine braking Correct use of the automatic transmission is explained in
the following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the º2º and ºLº positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever

STARTING AND DRIVING
2345. 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.
In º3º 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
236
(c) Using the º2º and ºLº positions
The º2º and ºLº positions are used for strong engine braking
as described previously.
With the selector lever in º2º or ºLº, you can start the vehicle\
in motion as with the lever in ºDº.
With the selector lever in º2º, the vehicle will start in the first
gear and automatically shift to the 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 into the red
zone. The approximate maximum allowable speed for
each position is given below for your reference:
º2º 107 km/h (67 mph) . . . .
ºLº 56 km/h (35 mph) . . . .
 Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long
time in the º2º or ºLº position. This may cause severe
automatic transmission damage from overheating. To
prevent such damage, º3º position should be used in
hill climbing or hard towing.

STARTING AND DRIVING
240
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the following
precautions to prevent damage to the transmission and
other parts.
Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting the
selector lever or before the transmission is completely
shifted to forward or reverse gear.
 Do not race the engine and avoid spinning the wheels.
 If your vehicle remains stuck after rocking the vehicle
several times, consider other ways such 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 306.