1998 Lexus ES 300 Owners Manual - Page 141

STARTING AND DRIVING 3 Shift into the "L" position. The transmission will downshift to the first gear when the vehicle speed is lower than 55 km/h (34 mph) and maximum engine braking will be applied. (c) Using the "2" and "L" positions The "2" and "L" positions are used for strong engine braking as described previously. With the selector lever in "2" or "L", you can start the vehicle in motion as with the lever in "D". With the selector lever in "2", the vehicle will start in the first gear and automatically shift to the second gear. With the selector lever in "L", the transmission is engaged in the first gear. CAUTION Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface. The abrupt change in engine speed could cause the vehicle to spin or skid. NOTICE D 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 above for your reference. "2" ...128 km/h (80 mph) "L" ...70 km/h (43 mph) D Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time in the "2" or "L" position. This may cause severe automatic transmission damage from overheating. To prevent such damage, "D" position should be used in hill climbing or hard towing. 141