1997 Lexus ES300 In Case Of An Emergency: In Case Of An Emergency

161
SECTION 4
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
If your engine stalls while driving 162
If your vehicle will not start 162
If your vehicle overheats 165
If you have a flat tire 166
If your vehicle needs to be towed 172
If you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever 177
If you lose your keys or lock yourself out 178

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
162
IF YOUR ENGINE STALLS WHILE
DRIVING
If your engine stalls while driving....
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line.
Move cautiously off the road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try starting the engine again.
If the engine will not start, see ªIf your vehicle won't start.º
CAUTION!
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the
brakes and steering will not work, so steering and
braking will be much harder than usual.
IF YOUR VEHICLE WILL NOT START
(a) Simple checks
Before making these checks, make sure you have followed
the correct starting procedure instructions in ªHow to start
the engineº on page 135 and that you have sufficient fuel.
If the engine is not turning over or is turning over too
slowly ±
1. Check that the battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch on the interior
light.
3. If the light is out, dim or goes out when the starter is
cranked, the battery is discharged. You may try jump
starting. See ª(c) Jump startingº for further instruction.
If the light is O.K., but the engine still will not start, it needs
adjustment or repair. Call a Lexus dealer, Roadside
Assistance or Customer Service Assistance. (See
ªForeword.º)
NOTICE
Do not pull± or push±start the vehicle. It may
damage the vehicle or cause a collision when the
engine starts. Also the three±way catalytic
converter may overheat and become a fire hazard.
If the engine turns over at its normal speed but will not
start ±
1. The engine may be flooded because of repeated
cranking. See ª(b) Starting a flooded engineº for further
instructions.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
163 2. If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or
repair. Call a Lexus dealer, Roadside Assistance or
Customer Service Assistance. (See ªForeword.º)
(b) Starting a flooded engine
If the engine will not start, your engine may be flooded
because of repeated cranking.
If this happens, turn the key to ªSTARTº with the accelerator
pedal held down. Continue this operation for 30 seconds and
then stop cranking. Then try starting the engine with your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the engine does not start after 30 seconds of cranking,
release the key, wait a few minutes and try again.
If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or repair.
Call a Lexus dealer, Roadside Assistance or Customer
Service Assistance. (See ªForeword.º)
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time.
This may overheat the starter and wiring systems.
(c) Jump starting
To avoid serious personal injury and damage to your
vehicle which might result from battery explosion, acid
burns, electrical burns, or damaged electronic
components, these instructions must be followed
precisely.
If you are unsure about how to follow this procedure, we
strongly recommend that you seek help from your Lexus
dealer, Roadside Assistance or Customer Service
Assistance. (See ªForewordº.)
CAUTION!
Batteries contain sulfuric acid which is
poisonous and corrosive. Wear protective safety
glasses when jump starting, and avoid spilling
acid on your skin, clothing, or vehicle.
If you should accidentally get acid on yourself or
in your eyes, remove any contaminated clothing
and flush the affected area with water for at least
15 minutes. Then get immediate medical
attention. If possible, continue to apply water with
a sponge or cloth while en route to the medical
office.
The gas normally produced by a battery will
explode if a flame or spark is brought near. Use
only standardized jumper cables and do not
smoke or light a match while jump starting.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
164
NOTICE
The battery used for boosting must be 12 V. Do not
jump start unless you are sure that the booster battery
is correct.
Discharged battery Booster battery
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE
1. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle,
make sure the vehicles are not touching. Turn off all
unnecessary lights and accessories.
2. If required, remove all the vent plugs from the booster
battery. Lay a cloth over the open vents on the booster
battery. (This helps reduce the explosion hazard, personal
injuries and burns.)
3. If the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery is not
running, start it and let it run for about 5 minutes. During jump
starting, run the engine at about 2000 rpm with the
accelerator pedal lightly depressed.
4. Locate positive (+) and negative terminal (±) terminals
of each battery. Connect the jumper cables in the exact order
(
  ) shown in the illustration.

Connect a positive (red) jumper cable clamp to the
positive (+) terminal of the discharged battery.
Connect the clamp at the other end of the positive
(red) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the booster
battery.
Connect a negative (black) cable to the negative (±)
terminal of the booster battery.
Connect the clamp at the other end of the negative
(black) cable to a solid, stationary, unpainted metallic
point (e.g. cylinder head) away from the battery. Do
not connect it to or near any part that moves when the
engine is cranked.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
165
CAUTION!
When making the connections, to avoid serious
injury, do not lean over the battery or accidentally let
he jumper cables or clamps touch anything except
the correct battery terminals or the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal way. After starting, run
it at about 2000 rpm for several minutes with the accelerator
pedal lightly depressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse
order: the negative cable and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover cloths which may
now contain sulfuric acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharging is not apparent (for
example, lights left on), you should have it checked.
IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
If your engine coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, if you experience a loss of power, or if you
hear a loud knocking or pinging noise, the engine has
probably overheated. You should follow this
procedure...
1. Pull safely off the road, stop the vehicle and turn on your
emergency flashers. Put the transmission in ªPº and apply
the parking brake. Turn off the air conditioning if it is being
used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or
reservoir, stop the engine. Wait until the steam subsides
before opening the hood. If there is no coolant boiling over
or steam, leave the engine running. and make sure the
engine cooling fan is operating. If it is not, turn the ignition off
.
CAUTION!
To help avoid personal injury, keep the hood closed
until there is no steam. Escaping steam or coolant
is a sign of very high pressure.
3. Look for obvious coolant leaks from the radiator, hoses,
and under the vehicle. However, note that water draining
from the air conditioning is normal if it has been in use.
CAUTION!
When the engine is running, keep hands and
clothing away from the moving fan and engine drive
belts.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
1664. If the coolant is leaking, stop the engine immediately.
Call a Lexus dealer, Roadside Assisatnce or Customer
Service Assistance. (See ªForeword.º)
5. If there are no obvious leaks, check the coolant
reservoir. If it is dry, add water to the reservoir while he
engine is running. Fill it about half full.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to remove the radiator cap when the
engine and radiator are hot. Serious injury could
result from scalding hot fluid and steam blown out
under pressure.
6. After the engine coolant temperature has cooled to
normal, again check the coolant level in the reservoir. If
necessary, bring it up to half full again. Serious coolant loss
indicates a leak in the system. You should have it checked
as soon as possible by your Lexus dealer.
IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line.
Move cautiously off the road to a safe place ± well away from
the traffic. Avoid stopping on the center divider of a highway.
Park on a level spot with firm ground.
2. Stop the engine and turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Firmly set the parking brake and put the transmission in
ªP.º4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle on the side away
from traffic.
5. Read the following instructions thoroughly.
CAUTION!
When jacking, be sure to observe the following to
reduce the possibility of personal injury:
Follow jacking instructions.
Never get beneath the vehicle when supported by
a jack.
Stop the vehicle at a level place and chock the
wheel diagonally opposite to the one being
changed. Otherwise, the vehicle the will move
and possibly cause unexpected accident.
Make sure to set the jack properly in the jack
point. Raising the vehicle with jack improperly
positioned will damage the vehicle or may allow
the vehicle to fall off the jack and cause injury to
the person.
Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle is
supported by the jack alone.
Use a jack only for lifting your vehicle during
wheel changing.
Do not raise the vehicle with someone in the
vehicle.
When raising the vehicle, do not put an object on
or under the jack.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
167
NOTICE
Do not continue driving with a deflated tire. Driving
even a short distance can damage a tire beyond
repair.

Spare tireJackWrenchJack handle
1. Get the jack, wrench and spare tire.
To prepare yourself for an emergency, you should
famialiarize yourself with the use of the ack and each tool,
and their storage locations. The jack handle and wrench are
attached at the reverse side of the cover.
2. Remove the cover.

Joint
When removing the jack, turn the joint by hand in the
ªcontractº direction until the jack is free.
When storing, turn the joint by hand in the ªexpandº
direction until the jack is firmly secured to prevent it
from flying forward during a collision or sudden
braking.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
168
To remove the spare tire:

Loosen the nut and remove it.
Remove the spare tire cover.
Loosen the bolt and remove it.
When storing the spare tire, place it with the outer side of the
wheel facing up. Then bolt the tire in place and install the
spare tire cocver to prevent thetire from flying forward during
a collision or sudden braking.3. Block the wheel diaganally opposite the flat tire to
keep the vehicle from reolling when it is jacked up.
When blocking the wheel, place a wheel block in front of the
front wheels or behind the rear wheels.