O/D button
RX 300 & 350Z Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,256
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From: Georgia
It is basically like shifting your tranny from 4th to 3rd hear or vice versa. Many (4-speed autos here) transmissions have D-3-2-L. The RX, instead, has D-2-L. If you are towing or want to manually downshift the RX's tranny into third you would take it out of OD (overdrive).
Last edited by LexRX; Sep 3, 2002 at 11:56 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 525
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Originally posted by LexRX
It is basically like shifting your tranny from 4th to 3rd hear or vice versa. Many (4-speed autos here) transmissions have D-3-2-L. The RX, instead, has D-2-L. If you are towing or want to manually downshift the RX's tranny into third you would take it out of OD (overdrive).
It is basically like shifting your tranny from 4th to 3rd hear or vice versa. Many (4-speed autos here) transmissions have D-3-2-L. The RX, instead, has D-2-L. If you are towing or want to manually downshift the RX's tranny into third you would take it out of OD (overdrive).
RX 300 & 350Z Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,256
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Also, when towing, taking the vehicle out of O/D can be a good idea to keep the vehicle from shifting into 4th gear. That way the tranny doesn't continually shift in and out of 4th, especially on hills. This is basically what GM's slightly more sophisticated "Tow Haul" mode does on their trucks.
Also, as a general rule for engine braking, I don't ever manually downshift an automatic. Brakes are cheaper than transmissions..engine braking is fun though!
Also, as a general rule for engine braking, I don't ever manually downshift an automatic. Brakes are cheaper than transmissions..engine braking is fun though!
Driver
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I find it usefull in city driving when you don't really spend any time in 4th gear anyway...it's a good way to lock it out and keep it from unecessarily upshifting...power is also there quicker and I'd say it's probably a little easier on your tranny as well
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 525
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From: Wisconsin
Originally posted by FCobra94
I find it usefull in city driving when you don't really spend any time in 4th gear anyway...it's a good way to lock it out and keep it from unecessarily upshifting...power is also there quicker and I'd say it's probably a little easier on your tranny as well
I find it usefull in city driving when you don't really spend any time in 4th gear anyway...it's a good way to lock it out and keep it from unecessarily upshifting...power is also there quicker and I'd say it's probably a little easier on your tranny as well
LexRx - I don't think it's too much of an issue to manually downshift... The transmission in the RX is rather rugged, and while you're right that replacing breaks is cheaper, I don't really think you're going to do any real harm so long as you use good common sense when manually downshifting... Even beyond that the computer won't let you shift into anything that's really going to cause too much wear on the engine or the tranny - if you're going to fast for 3rd gear/2nd gear/1st gear, it won't let you downshift...
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 525
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From: Wisconsin
Re: ECT mode
Originally posted by cephraim
On a related subject - do people find the ECT (?) mode useful?
On a related subject - do people find the ECT (?) mode useful?
On the '00 RX3 the ECT mode became a bit more "intelligent" if you will... There is still a button to put the vehicle in "SNOW" mode when the conditions require, but the "POWER" mode part of the button is gone... This is because the vehicle's computer senses the type of driving you are doing at a given time and selects the appropriate "normal" or "ect power" mode for you... It is nice because it results in improved mpg when you're not really driving hard and fast, but the compromise is that it takes a second to kick in the ECT power if you really step on the gas to pass someone, etc.
This topic has been covered before, and you might find more about it if you do a search, but this is what I know... Hope that helps -
ck
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RX 300 & 350Z Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,256
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From: Georgia
CK1_RX3, the '00 RX still has both POWER and SNOW modes. Lexus didn't get rid of the seperate POWER mode until '01.
I'll have to agree that they are useful. I found SNOW mode especially useful on Jan 1, 2001. I drove on a freshly snowed roads (less than an inch, but the ground was fully covered). SNOW mode made accelerating from a stop much easier - it basically prevented a whole lot of wheelspin...as did the traction control.
I'll have to agree that they are useful. I found SNOW mode especially useful on Jan 1, 2001. I drove on a freshly snowed roads (less than an inch, but the ground was fully covered). SNOW mode made accelerating from a stop much easier - it basically prevented a whole lot of wheelspin...as did the traction control.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 525
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Originally posted by LexRX
CK1_RX3, the '00 RX still has both POWER and SNOW modes. Lexus didn't get rid of the seperate POWER mode until '01.
I'll have to agree that they are useful. I found SNOW mode especially useful on Jan 1, 2001. I drove on a freshly snowed roads (less than an inch, but the ground was fully covered). SNOW mode made accelerating from a stop much easier - it basically prevented a whole lot of wheelspin...as did the traction control.
CK1_RX3, the '00 RX still has both POWER and SNOW modes. Lexus didn't get rid of the seperate POWER mode until '01.
I'll have to agree that they are useful. I found SNOW mode especially useful on Jan 1, 2001. I drove on a freshly snowed roads (less than an inch, but the ground was fully covered). SNOW mode made accelerating from a stop much easier - it basically prevented a whole lot of wheelspin...as did the traction control.
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