Use the four-wheel drive control switch and center differential lock/unlock switch to select the following transfer and center differential modes.

Four-wheel drive control switch

1.  H4 (high speed position)

Normal driving on all types of roads.

2.  L4 (low speed position)

Driving requiring maximum power and traction such as climbing or descending steep hills, off-road driving, and hard pulling in sand or mud, etc.

The low speed four-wheel drive and VSC OFF indica- tors will come on.

Center differential lock/unlock switch

Lock the center differential when your vehicle’s wheels get stuck in a ditch or when driving on a slippery or bumpy surface.

The center differential lock indi- cator will come on.

Unlock the center differential after the wheels have been freed, or after moving to a flat, non-slippery surface.

To unlock the center differential, push the switch again.

Shifting between H4 and L4

Shifting from H4 to L4

Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal held down.

Shift the shift lever to N.

Push and shift the four-wheel drive control switch to L4.

Maintain this condition until the low speed four-wheel drive indicator light turns on.

Shifting from L4 to H4

Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal held down.

Shift the shift lever to N.

Push and shift the four-wheel drive control switch to H4.

Maintain this condition until the low speed four-wheel drive indicator light turns off.

When the four-wheel drive control switch can be operated

• The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.

• The shift lever is in the N position.

• The vehicle is stopped completely.

The low speed four-wheel drive indicator light

• The indicator light blinks while switching between H4 and L4.

• If the low speed four-wheel drive indicator light continues to blink when you operate the four-wheel drive control switch to the H4 or L4 position, stop the vehicle completely, shift the shift lever securely into N and then operate the switch again.

• If the shift lever is moved before the low speed four-wheel drive indicator turns on/off, the transfer mode may not be shifted completely. The transfer mode dis- engages both the front and rear drive shafts from the powertrain and allows the vehicle to move regardless of the shift position. (At this time, the indicator blinks and the buzzer sounds.) Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the shift lever is in P. You or someone else could be seriously injured. You must complete the shifting of the transfer mode and confirm that the indicator light has turned off (H4) or turned on (L4).

• If the engine coolant temperature is too low, the four-wheel drive control system may not be able to shift. When the engine is warmer operate the switch again.

If the indicator continue to blink even if doing so, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four-wheel drive system.

When the center differential lock/unlock switch can be operated

The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.

The center differential lock indicator light

• The indicator light blinks while locking/unlocking the center differential.

• If the center differential lock indicator light blinks and the buzzer sounds when the center differential is locked, stop the slipping or spinning and push the switch again.

If the indicator continue to blink even if doing so, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four-wheel drive system.

Locking/unlocking the center differential

• When the four-wheel drive control switch is in L4 with the center differential locked, VSC is automatically turned off. (The center differential lock and VSC OFF indicator light will come on.) • If the operation is not completed, the center differential lock indicator blinks. If the indicator light does not turn off when unlocking the center differential, drive straight ahead while accelerating or decelerating, or drive in reverse.

• Avoid turning suddenly while the center differential is locked. If you do turn sud- denly, the difference in turning speeds between the front and rear wheels may have a similar effect to braking, thus making driving difficult.

CAUTION

While driving

Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may cause an accident result- ing in death or serious injury.

• Never move the four-wheel drive control switch if the wheels have lost traction.

• Do not operate the center differential lock/unlock when the vehicle is turning or when its wheels are spinning freely off the ground.

NOTICE

To prevent damage to the center differential

• For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, unlock the center differential.

• Unlock the center differential after the wheels are out of the ditch or off the slip- pery or bumpy surface.