1996 Lexus GS 300 Owners Manual - Page 132

STARTING AND DRIVING Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system to minimize the possibility of incorrect operation. This means you can only shift out of "P" position when the brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition switch in "ON" position and the lock release button pressed in). Correct use of the automatic transmission is explained in the following parts. (a) Normal driving (b) Using engine braking (c) Using the "S" and "L" positions (d) Backing up (e) Parking (f) Good driving practice (g) If you cannot shift the selector lever out of "P" position 1. Start the engine as instructed in "How to start the engine" on page 115. The transmission must be in "P" or "N". The engine will not start in "R", "S", "L" or "D" position even if the ignition key is turned to "START". (a) Normal driving 2. Set the driving pattern selector switch to the NORMAL position. Your transmission has a driving pattern selector switch which allows you to select either "NORM" or "PWR" to suit your driving condition. For ordinary driving, Lexus recommends that you use the NORMAL position to improve fuel economy. 3. For more powerful acceleration and sporty driving, use the POWER position. In the POWER position, the "ECT PWR" 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 position. 118