cruise LEXUS SC300 1999 User Guide

SECTION 3 ± 1
207
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Three±way catalytic converter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
208
Engine exhaust caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
211
Before starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
212
Ignition switch with steering lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
212
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
215
How to start the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
216
Automatic transmission (SC400) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
217
Automatic transmission (SC300) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
229
Electronic throttle control system 241
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
242
Traction control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
246
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .

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
223
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below:
1
Shift 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 245.
2Shift into the º3º position. The transmission will
downshift to the third gear when the vehicle speed is or
becomes lower than 149 km/h (93 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 97 km/h (61 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.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface. The
abrupt change in engine speed could cause the vehicle to spin
or skid.

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
235
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below:
1
Shift into the º3º position. The transmission will
downshift to the third gear and engine braking will be
obtained.
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. If
you need to decrease the vehicle speed, see page 245.
2Shift into the º2º position. The transmission will
downshift to the second gear when the vehicle speed is
or becomes lower than 119 km/h (74 mph) and more
powerful engine braking will be obtained.
3Shift into the ºLº position. The transmission will
downshift to the first gear when the vehicle speed is or
becomes lower than 56 km/h (35 mph) and maximum
engine braking will be applied.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface. The
abrupt change in engine speed could cause the vehicle to spin
or skid.

STARTING AND DRIVING
242In the power mode, 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 normal mode.
To return to the normal mode, push the driving pattern
selector switch lightly on the ºSNOWº side.
Snow mode: For slippery road surfaces such as in snow. In
this mode, the spinning of the rear wheels is controlled
appropriately.
When you push the driving pattern selector switch on the
ºSNOWº side, the snow mode is turned on and the ºECT
SNOWº light in the instrument cluster comes on.
To return to the normal mode, push the driving pattern
selector switch on the ºSNOWº side again.
When you turn the ignition switch off in the snow mode, the
mode automatically changes to the normal mode.
CRUISE CONTROL
The cruise control allows you to cruise the vehicle at a
desired
speed over 40 km/h (25 mph) with your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained although a slight speed
change may occur when driving up or down a gradient, within
the limits of engine performance. On steeper hills, a great
speed change will occur so it is better to drive without the
cruise control.
When the cruise control is on, the driving pattern of the
automatic transmission is fixed in the normal position,
regardless of the position of the selector switch.
CAUTION
 To help maintain maximum control of your vehicle, do not
use the cruise control when driving in heavy or varying
traffic, or on slippery (rainy, icy or snow±covered) or
winding roads.
 Avoid vehicle speed increases when driving downhill. If the
vehicle speed is too fast in relation to the cruise control set
speed, cancel the cruise control then downshift the
transmission to use engine braking to slow down.

STARTING AND DRIVING
243
Turning on the system
To operate the cruise control, push the main switch. This
turns the system on. The indicator light in the instrument
cluster shows that you can now set your desired cruising
speed. Another push on the switch will turn the system
completely off.
When the ignition key is turned off, the main switch is also
automatically turned off. To use the cruise control again, push
the main switch again to turn it on.
CAUTION
To avoid accidental cruise control engagement, keep the main
switch off when not using the cruise control.

STARTING AND DRIVING
244
Setting at a desired speed
The transmission must be in ºDº before you set the cruise
control speed.
Bring the vehicle to the desired speed, press the control lever
downward in the ºSET/COASTº direction and release it.
This sets the vehicle at that speed. Now you may take your
foot off the accelerator pedal. If you need acceleration ± for
example, when passing ± depress the accelerator pedal
enough for the vehicle to exceed the set speed. When you
release the accelerator pedal, the vehicle will return to the
speed set prior to the acceleration.
Cancelling the preset speed
You can cancel the preset speed by any of the following:
a. Pulling the control lever in the ºCANCELº direction.
b. Depressing the brake pedal.

STARTING AND DRIVING
245
If the vehicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the
preset speed will be automatically cancelled.
If the vehicle speed drops 16 km/h (10 mph) below the preset
speed, the preset speed will also automatically be cancelled.
If the preset speed automatically cancels out for other than
these reasons, have your vehicle checked by your Lexus
dealer at the earliest opportunity.
Resetting to a faster speed
Press the control lever upward in the ºRES/ACCº direction
and hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed is
attained. While the lever is held upward, the vehicle will
gradually gain speed.
When
the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can be
increased 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever upward in the ºRES/ACCº direction quickly within 0.6
seconds.
However, a quicker way to reset is to accelerate the vehicle
and then press the control lever downward in the
ºSET/COASTº direction.
Resetting to a slower speed
Press the control lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº
direction and hold it. Release the lever when the desired
speed is attained. While the lever is held downward, the
vehicle speed will gradually decrease. When
the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can be
lowered 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº direction quickly
within 0.6 seconds.
However, a quicker way to reset is to depress the brake pedal
and then press the control lever downward in the
ºSET/COASTº direction.
Even if you downshift the transmission from ºDº to º4º
(SC400) or from ºDº to º3º (SC300) with the cruise control
on, engine braking will not be applied because the cruise
control is not cancelled. To decrease the vehicle speed, reset
to a slower speed with the cruise control lever or depress the
brake pedal. If you use the brake pedal, cruise control is
cancelled.
Resuming the preset speed
If the preset speed is cancelled by pulling the control lever or
by depressing the brake pedal, pushing the lever up in the
ºRES/ACCº direction will restore the speed set prior to
cancellation. However, once the vehicle speed falls below
about 40 km/h (25 mph), the preset speed will not be resumed.
Cruise control failure warning
If the ºCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster
flashes five times and then goes out when using the cruise
control, it means that there is trouble in the cruise control
system. Contact your Lexus dealer.

Engine compartment
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
377
No.FUSEAMPERECIRCUIT
1ENGINE7.5Charging system
2HTR10Air conditioning system, rear
window defogger
3WIPER20Windshield wipers and washer
4ST7.5
Starting system, cruise control
system, multiport fuel injection
system/sequential multiport fuel
injection system, instrument panel
lights
5IGN7.5
Discharge warning light, multiport
fuel injection system/sequential
multiport fuel injection system,
SRS airbag system
6PANEL7.5Instrument panel lights, glovebox
light
7MIR±HTR10Outside rear view mirror defogger
8TURN7.5Turn signal lights
9STOP15Stop lights, cruise control system
cancel device
10CIG15
Cigarette lighter, theft deterrent
system, shift lock system, SRS
airbag system, instrument panel
lights