1997 Lexus ES300 key

STARTING AND DRIVING
130
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
1. Check the area around the vehicle before entering it.
2 Adjust seat position, seatback angle, head restraint
height and steering wheel angle.
3. Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors.
4. Lock all doors.
5. Fasten seat belts.
Remember to check that the service reminder indicators
function when turning the key to ªONº, and check the fuel
gauge to see that you have sufficient fuel.
IGNITION SWITCH WITH STEERING
LOCK
ªSTARTº ± Starter motor on. The key will return to the
ªONº position when released.
For starting tips, see page 132.
ªONº ± Engine on and all accessories on.
This is the normal driving position.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ªONº position if the
engine is not running. The battery will discharge
and the electronic ignition system/distributor
ignition system could be damaged.
ªACCº ± Accessories such as the radio operate, but the
engine is off.

STARTING AND DRIVING
131 If you leave the key in the ªACCº or ªLOCKº position and
open the driver's door, a buzzer will remind you to remove
the key.
ªLOCKº ± Engine is off and the steering wheel is locked.
The ignition key can be removed only at this position.
You must push in the key to turn it from ªACCº to the ªLOCKº
position. The selector lever must be put in the ªPº position
befoer turning the key in the ªLOCKº position.
When starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the
ªLOCKº position. To free it, first be sure the key is pushed
all the way in, and then rock the steering wheel slightly while
turning the key gently.
If, in an emergency, you must turn the engine off while the
vehicle is moving, turn the key only to ªACCº.
PARKING BRAKE
To set: Hold the regular brake pedal down with your
right foot. Push down the parking brake pedal with your
left foot.
To release: Hold the regular brake down with your right
foot and push and parking brake pedal with your left
foot. When you lift your left foot, the parking barke
pedal will follow it to the released position.
Before leaving your vehicle, firmly apply the parking brake.
CAUTION!
Before driving, make sure the parking brake is fully
released and that the parking brake reminder light is
off.

STARTING AND DRIVING
132
HOW TO START THE ENGINE
Before cranking
1. Apply the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
3. Put the selector lever in ªPº. If you need to restart the
engine while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever in
ªNº. A starter safety device will prevent the starter from
operating if the selector lever is in any drive position.
4. Depress the brake pedal and hold it to the floor until you
are ready to drive off.
Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to follow the instructions
in ªBefore crankingº.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel
injection system in your engine automatically controls the
proper air±fuel mixture for starting. You can start a cold or hot
engine as follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, crank the engine
by turning the key to ªSTARTº. Release it when the engine
starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 seconds, you are ready
to drive.If the weather is below freezing, let the engine warm up for
a few minutes before driving. Do not leave the vehicle while
the engine is warming up.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct procedure given in normal
starting.
If the engine will not start
See ªIf your vehicle will not startº on page 162.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time.
This may overheat the starter and wiring system.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls
frequently, have the engine checked immediately.

STARTING AND DRIVING
133
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system to
minimize the possibility of incorrect operation. This
means you can only shift out of ªPº position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition switch in
ªONº position and the lock release button pressed in).
(*)

Lock release button
With the brake pedal depressed, shift while
holding the lock release button in. (The ignition
switch must be in the ªONº position).
Shift while holding the lock release button in.Overdrive switch
For selecting either a three±speed or four±speed
transmission.
When the cruise control is being used even if you
downshift the transmission, engine braking will not be
applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For
ways to decrease the vehicle speed, see ªCruise
controlº on page 142.
Shift position indicator
The shift position is also displayed on the instrument
cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and key removal position
R:Reverse position
N:Neutral position
D:Normal driving position (Shifting into overdrive
possible)
2:Position for engine braking
L:Position for stronger engine braking than that in ª2º
position

STARTING AND DRIVING
134Correct use of the automatic transmission is explained
in the following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the ª2º and ªLº positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) Rocking your vehicle in stuck
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever out of ªPº position
(a) Normal driving

ªPº (Park) positionªNº (Neutral) position
1. Start the engine as instructed in ªHow to start the
engineº on page 132.
The transission must ne in ªPº or ªNº. The engine will not start
in ªRº, ª2º, ªLº, or ªDº position even if the ignition key is turned
to ªSTARTº.

STARTING AND DRIVING
141
Turning on the system
To operate the cruise control, push the main switch. Thus
turns the system on. The indicator light in the instrument
cluster shows that you can now set your desired cruising
speed. Another push on the switch will turn the system
completely off.
When the ignition key is turned off, the main switch is also
automatically turned off. To use the cruise control again,
push the main switch again to turn it off.
CAUTION!
To avoid accidental cruise control engagements,
keep the main switch off when not using the cruise
control.
Setting at a desired speed
The transmission must be in ªDº before you set the cruise
control speed.
Bring your vehicle to the desired speed, push the control
lever downward in the ªSET/COASTº direction and release
it. This sets the vehicle at that speed. Now you may take your
foot off the accelerator pedal. If you need acceleration ± for
example, when passing ± depress the accelerator pedal
enough for the vehicle to exceed the set speed. When you
release for accelerator pedal, the vehicle will return to the
speed set prior to the acceleration.

STARTING AND DRIVING
147 ªABSº warning light
This light comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ªONº position. After about 3 seconds, the light will
turn off.
If either of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction somewhere in the parts monitored by the
warning light system. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on as described above, or remains
on.
The light comse on while driving.
Even if the anti±lock brake system should fail, the brake
system will still operate conventionally. But when the ªABSº
warning light is on (and the brake system warning light is off),
anti±lock system is not assisting brake performance so that
the wheels could lick up during a sudden brake or braking on
slippery road surfaces. Have your vehicle checked by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Drum±in±disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum±in±disc type parking brake system.
This type of brake system needs bedding±down of the brake
shoes periodically or whenever the parking brake shoes
and/or drums are replaced.
Have your Lexus dealer perform the bedding±down.
BRAKE PAD WEAR LIMIT
INDICATORS
The brake pad wear limit indicators on your disc brakes
give a warning noise when the brake pads are worn to
the extent that replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise while driving, have
the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer
as soon as possible. Expensive rotor damage can result if
the pads are not replaced when needed.