Hi all,

My wife has a 2008 RX350 and we can't locate the overdrive lockout button anywhere. I'm beginning to get the idea that one doesn't even exist. We even called the dealership and spoke with the peeps in the service department, who told us that it should be on the shift ****. There are no buttons at all anywhere on the ****. Then they said to check the cruise control stalk. Nothing there either.

As a side note, I've long felt that her car either needed an OD, or was not shifting into it on the highway. The engine is turning at 3000 r.p.m at 70mph, which seems somewhat unusual. My 1998 4Runner with stock wheels and tires turns 2500 r.p.m. at 80mph. Is the Lexus engine just intended to be a higher revving motor?

Any assistance with either of these two issues would be really appreciated!

Cris

 

I believe the RX300 had one, but RX350 does not AFAIK, the ECU handles it.

There are lots of things that the ECU looks at to decide when to shift and lock-up, speed, coolant temp, ATF temp, brakes (lights) on, or other DTCs in system will prevent it.

Not sure about the speed @rpm in 5th, my RX350 is not at hand.

 

On my RX330 I think it's around 2,300 RPM at 70 but don't quote me.

>> Plz post a pic of where you put your gear shifter- Drive has 2 positions on the RX330 but can't confirm on the RX350.

 

I like to cruise at just under 2000 RPM, which is about 67 MPH on my '09 RX350.
D is the "Overdrive" position, 4 is the position you use want to if you want to stay out of the highest gear (5th).

The shifter, as you know, has the 4-D slot, which is 4th gear in the left position, and 5th gear (OD) in the right position.

I was confused by this when I first got my RX because, intuitively, the highest gear is usually in the furthest position to the left side in automatic transmission. We all grew up with cars that had the N, D, 2, 1 positions on the column. But on the RX, under Neutral, they put 4 to the left side and D (5th) on the right side. I think you've been driving the car in 4th gear.

Long story short: There are two positions in the "4-D" slot of the shifter; you want to be in the D position, which is to the right side.

 

There is no button as some older transmissions have on the end of the shifter......All vehicles whether stick or automatic all have overdrive, such as .70 overdrive as non have a 1 to 1 direct drive high gear ratio. Basically all you need is to put it in 5th gear, it'll also show on the dash as well.

 

Quote:

Long story short: There are two positions in the "4-D" slot of the shifter; you want to be in the D position, which is to the right side.

Thank you so much for this information!! We are now able to drive in 5th gear! I can't believe neither of us had noticed the 4-D printed next to the drive shifter slot.

 

Thanx to the engine being smooth & likes rpm's.......