2011 Toyota Avalon Owners Manual - Page 185

2-1. Driving procedures n Shift ranges and their functions l Automatically selecting gears between 1 and 6 according to vehicle speed and driving condition. (However the gear is limited according to selected shift range.) l You can choose from 6 levels of engine braking force. l A lower shift range will provide greater engine braking force than a higher shift range, and the engine speed will also increase. 2 n S mode l When the shift range is 5 or lower, holding the shift lever toward "+" sets the shift range to 6. l To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically selects a higher shift range before engine speed becomes too high. l To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automatically selects a higher shift range when the fluid temperature is high. n Down shifting restrictions warning buzzer (in the S mode) To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even when the shift lever is operated. (The warning buzzer will sound twice.) n When driving with the cruise control system Engine braking will not occur in the S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or 4. (→P. 182) n If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P →P. 491 When driving 159 AVALON_U (OM41428U)