Scion FR-S. Instruction - part 9

134

2-1. Driving procedures

NOTICE

■

Avoiding damage to vehicle parts

●

Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for
an extended period of time. 
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.

●

When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.

●

On vehicles with an automatic transmission, do not race the engine for
more than 5 seconds in any position except the N or P position when the
brake is applied or when chocks are used in the wheels. This may cause
the transmission fluid to overheat.

■

If you get a flat tire while driving

A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.

●

It may be difficult to control your vehicle.

●

The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.

●

The vehicle will lean abnormally.

Information on what to do in case of a flat tire (

P. 318)

■

When encountering flooded roads

Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle:

●

Engine stalling

●

Short in electrical components

●

Engine damage caused by water immersion

In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be
sure to have your Scion dealer check the following:

●

Brake function

●

Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, trans-
mission, differential, etc.

●

Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints
(where possible) and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

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2-1. Driving procedures

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Engine (ignition) switch

■

Starting the engine

Vehicles with an automatic transmission

Check that the parking brake is set.

Check that the shift lever is set in P.

Firmly depress the brake pedal.

Turn the engine switch to the “START” position to start the
engine.

Vehicles with a instruction transmission

Check that the parking brake is set.

Check that the shift lever is set in N.

Firmly depress the clutch pedal.

Turn the engine switch to the “START” position to start the
engine.

■

Changing the engine switch positions

“LOCK”

The steering wheel is locked
and the key can be removed.
(Vehicles with an automatic
transmission: The key can be
removed only when the shift
lever is in P.)

“ACC”

Some electrical components
such as the power outlet can
be used.

“ON”

All electrical components can
be used.

“START”

For starting the engine.

STEP 

1 

STEP 

2 

STEP 

3 

STEP 

4 

STEP 

1 

STEP 

2 

STEP 

3 

STEP 

4 

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2-1. Driving procedures

■

Turning the key from “ACC” to “LOCK”

Shift the shift lever to N (instruction transmission) or P (automatic
transmission). (

P. 138, 145)

■

If the engine does not start

The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (

P. 59)

Contact your Scion dealer.

■

When the steering lock cannot be released

■

Key reminder function

A buzzer sounds if the driver’s door is opened while the engine switch is in
the “LOCK” or “ACC” position to remind you to remove the key.

■

Immediately after reconnecting the battery terminals due to replacing
the battery and so forth

The engine may not start. If this occurs, turn the engine switch to the “ON”
position, and start the engine after waiting at least 10 seconds. Idling may be
unstable immediately after the engine starts, however, this is not a malfunc-
tion.

STEP 

1 

Push in the key and turn to the “LOCK”
position.

STEP 

2 

When starting the engine, the engine
switch may seem stuck in the “LOCK”
position. To free it, turn the key while turn-
ing the steering wheel slightly left and
right.

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CAUTION

■

When starting the engine

Always start the engine while sitting in the driver's seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances. 
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.

■

Caution when driving

Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position while driving. If, in an
emergency, you must turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, turn the
engine switch only to the “ACC” position to stop the engine. An accident may
result if the engine is stopped while driving. (

P. 341)

NOTICE

■

To prevent battery discharge

Do not leave the engine switch in the “ACC” or “ON” position for long periods
of time without the engine running.

■

When starting the engine

●

Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds at a time. This may
overheat the starter and wiring system. 
If the engine does not start, turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position
and try to start the engine again after waiting for 10 seconds or more.

●

Do not race a cold engine.

●

If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehi-
cle checked by your Scion dealer immediately.

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2-1. Driving procedures

Automatic transmission



Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.

■

Shifting the shift lever

While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, move the
shift lever with the brake pedal depressed.

When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped.



: If equipped

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■

Shift position uses

*

: Shifting to the D position allows the system to select a gear suitable for

the driving conditions. Setting the shift lever to the D position is recom-
mended for normal driving.

Shift position

Meter display

Function

P

Parking the vehicle/starting the 

engine

R

Reversing

N

Neutral

D

Normal D position driving

*

(gears between “1” and “6” are 

automatically selected)

(paddle shift switches acti-

vated)

Temporary instruction mode driv-

ing (

P. 143)

M

Instruction mode driving (

P. 141)

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2-1. Driving procedures

■

Selecting a driving mode

By pressing the driving pattern selector switch the following
modes can be selected to suit driving and usage conditions:

Normal mode

Sport mode 

The “SPORT” indicator comes on.

Use sport mode for sporty driving or when driving in mountainous
regions with lots of curves.

Snow mode

The “SNOW” indicator comes on.

Use snow mode for accelerating and driving on slippery road surfaces
such as snow.

To cancel sport mode or snow mode, press the same side of the
switch again.

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Instruction mode driving

To enter instruction mode, shift the shift lever to the M position. 

While the upshift/downshift indicator light is illuminated, gears can be
selected by operating the shift lever or paddle shift switches, allowing
you to drive in the gear of your choosing. 

Even if upshifting operations are performed, if vehicle speed is too low for
the requested gear, the gear will not change.

Upshift indicator

Downshift indicator

Upshifting (+)

Downshifting (-)

Each time the shift lever or pad-
dle shift switches are operated,
the gear changes up or down
one gear and the selected gear,
“1” through “6”, will be set.

The selected gear, from “1” to “6”,
and “M” will be displayed on the
shift position and shift range indi-
cator.

When in instruction mode, the gear will not change unless the shift lever
or paddle shift switches are operated.

However, even when in instruction mode, the gears will be automatically
changed in the following situations:

● When vehicle speed drops (downshift only).
● When engine oil temperature is high and engine speed rises close

to the red zone.

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2-1. Driving procedures

■

When moving the shift lever out of P

If the shift lever is pushed sideways before the brake pedal is depressed,
shift lever operation may not be possible. Depress the brake pedal before
shifting the shift lever out of P.

■

Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer

If downshifting operations are performed at a vehicle speed by which down-
shifting is not possible (when downshifting will cause the engine speed to
enter the red zone), a buzzer will sound to warn the driver that downshifting
cannot be performed.

■

When driving with cruise control activated

Downshifting can be performed even when using cruise control. After down-
shifting, the set speed continues. (

P. 141, 143)

■

Sport mode

●

In sport mode, lower gears are used and gears change at a higher
engine speed.

●

If sport mode is changed to while the shift lever is in the M position, the
“SPORT” indicator will come on but sport mode controls will not be car-
ried out. Shift the shift lever to the D position.

●

Sport mode cannot be changed to when driving with cruise control acti-
vated.

■

Snow mode

To prevent slipping, 1

st

 gear cannot be selected when in snow mode.

■

Sport mode and snow mode automatic deactivation

In the following situations, the driving mode is automatically deactivated:

●

When the engine is turned off after driving in sport mode or snow mode.

●

When cruise control is activated while driving in sport mode.

■

If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P

P. 330

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■

Automatic gear selection when the vehicle is stopped

When the vehicle is idling at high rpm in order to warm up, and the vehicle is
on a slippery road, the transmission may automatically shift to 2

nd

 gear for

stopping and starting off.

■

Temporary instruction mode driving

Temporary instruction mode driving will be deactivated and normal D position
driving will be returned to in the following situations:

●

When driving for longer than the set time (the set time differs according
to driving conditions).

●

When the vehicle comes to a stop.

●

When the accelerator pedal is continually depressed for longer than the
set time.

●

When the accelerator pedal is fully, or near-fully, depressed.

Temporary instruction mode driving can be
changed to by operating the paddle shift
switches while the shift lever is in the D
position.

When this occurs, the selected gear and
“D” are displayed on the shift position and
shift range indicator.

(When engine speed rises close to the
red zone, upshifting will be automatically
performed.)

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2-1. Driving procedures

■

AI-SHIFT

The AI-SHIFT automatically shifts the gear to the suitable position according
to the driver performance and driving conditions. 
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D posi-
tion. (Operating the paddle shift switches or shifting the shift lever to the M
position cancels the function.)

CAUTION

■

When driving on slippery road surfaces

Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this could result in
the vehicle skidding to the side or spinning.

■

To prevent incorrect operation

Do not attach items such as accessories to the paddle shift switches. 
Doing so may unintentionally move the paddle shift switches.

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Instruction Transmission





: If equipped

■

Shifting the shift lever

Fully depress the clutch pedal before operating the shift lever, and
then release it slowly.

■

Shifting the shift lever to R

Shift the shift lever to R while
lifting up the ring section.

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2-1. Driving procedures

Shift position indicator

The selected shift position will be
displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display.

The selected shift position will not
appear in the following situations:

• When the shift lever is in N.
• When the vehicle speed is 6

mph (10 km/h) or less (except
when the shift lever is in R)

• When the clutch pedal is

depressed.

The default setting of the indicator
is off. The indicator can be turned
on/off. (

P. 153)

Shift-up indicator

To help enable fuel-efficient driv-
ing, the shift-up indicator flashes
3 times to indicate upshift timing.

The default setting of the indicator
is off. The indicator can be turned
on/off. (

P. 153)

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NOTICE

■

To prevent damage to the transmission

●

Do not lift up the ring section except when shifting the lever to R.

●

Shift the shift lever to R only when the vehicle is stationary and the clutch
pedal is fully depressed.

●

Do not shift the shift lever without
depressing the clutch pedal.

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2-1. Driving procedures

Turn signal lever

■

Turn signals can be operated when

The engine switch is in the “ON” position.

■

If the indicators flash faster than usual

Check that a light bulb in the turn signal lights has not burned out.

The turn signal lever can be used to show the following intentions of

the driver: 

Right turn

Left turn

Lane change to the right
(push and hold the lever
partway)

The right hand signals will
flash until you release the
lever.

Lane change to the left
(push and hold the lever
partway)

The left hand signals will flash
until you release the lever.

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Parking brake

■

Usage in winter time

P. 187

NOTICE

■

Before driving

Fully release the parking brake. 
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake
wear.

To set the parking brake, fully pull the parking brake lever while
depressing the brake pedal.

To release the parking brake, slightly raise the lever and lower it
completely while pressing the button.

U.S.A.

Canada