1997 Lexus ES300 light

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
136In ªDº position, the automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for the running conditions such as hill
climbing, hard towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. The transmission will
automatically downshift to the third, second or first gear,
according to the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a long hill,
see ª(b) Using engine brakingº.
(b) Using engine braking
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below.

Turn off the overdrive switch. This is effective only when
you are driving in the ªDº position.) The ªO/D OFFº
indicator light in the instrument cluster will come on and
the transmission will downshift to the third gear and
engine braking will be obtained.
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. If
you need to decrease the vehicle speed, see page 142.
Shift into the ª2º position. The transmission will
downshift to the second gear when the vehicle speed is
lower than 122 km/h (76 mph) and more powerful
engine braking will be obtained.

STARTING AND DRIVING
140
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever out of
ªPº position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from ªPº position even
thought the brake pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see ªIf you cannot shift
automatic transmission selector leverº on page 177.
CRUISE CONTROL.
The cruise control allows you to cruise the vehicle at a
desired speed over 40 km/h (25 mph) with your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained although a slight
speed change may occur when driving up or down a
gradient, within the limits of engine performance. On steeper
hills, a great speed change will occur so it is better to drive
without the cruise control.
CAUTION!
To help maintain maximum control of your
vehicle, do not use the cruise control when
driving in heavy or varying traffic, or on slippery
(rainy, icy or snow±covered) or winding roads.
Avoid vehicle speed increases when driving
downhill. If the vehicle speed is too fast in relation
to the cruise control set speed, cancel the cruise
control then downshift the transmission to use
engine braking to slow down.

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
143
Cruise control failure warning
If the ªCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster
flashes five times and then goes out when using the cruise
control, it means there is trouble in the cruise control system.
Contact your Lexus dealer.
ELECTRONIC MODULATED
SUSPENSION
This electronic modulated suspension adjusts the
damping effect on the shock absorbers with the control
switch. Select one of the 4 modes which is suited to the
driving conditions with the control switch to provide
good riding comfort and stability.

For sporty type driving such as on winding
mountain roads and high speed driving
For moderate high speed driving
For ordinary driving such as in the city traffic
For driving on a bumpy road

STARTING AND DRIVING
144
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
The traction control system automatically helps control
the spinning of the front wheels which may occur when
accelerating on slippery road surfaces, thus assisting
driver to control the driver to control the driving power
of the front wheels.
When you turn the ignition switch on, this system
always turns on. Leave the system on during ordinary
driving so that it can operate when needed. When
traction control is applied, the slip indicator light
blinks.
You can turn off the traction control system by pushing
the ªTRAC OFFº switch. The ªTRAC OFFº
indicator/warning light will then come on. Pushing the
ªTRAC OFFº switch a second time turns the system
back on and extingusihes the ªTRAC OFFº
indicator/warning light.
You may hear a slight clicking noise in the engine
compartment when the engine is started. This means that
the traction control system is in the self±check mode, and
does not indicate malfunction. When the traction control
system is operating, you may feel vibation or noise of your
vehicle, caused byoperation of the brakes. This indicates the
system is functioning properly.
When getting the vehicle out of the mud or new snow, etc.
the traction control system will help operate to prevent the
wheels from spinning.

STARTING AND DRIVING
145
Traction control failure warning
If hte ªTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light flashes, contact
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be
trouble in the traction control system.
CAUTION!
Under certain slippery road conditions, full traction
of the vehicle and power to the front wheels cannot
be maintained, even though the traction control
system is in operation. Do not drive the vehicle
under any speed or maneuvering conditions which
will cause the vehicle to lose traction. In situations
where the road surface is covered with ice or snow,
your vehicle should be fitted with snow tires or tire
chains. Always drive at an appropriate and cautious
pace.
BRAKE SYSTEM
The tandem master cylinder brake system is hydraulic system
with two separate sub±systems. If either sub±system should
fail, the other will still work. However, the pedal will be harder
to press, and your stopping distance will be longer. Also, the
brake system warning light may come on.
CAUTION!
Do not drive your vehicle with only a single brake
system. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
Brake booster
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to power±assist the
brakes. If the engine should quit while you are driving, you can
bring the vehicle to a stop with normal pedal pressure. There
is enough reserve vacuum for one or two stops but no more!
CAUTION!
Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the pedal uses up your braking
distance will be longer.
Even if the power assist is completely lost, the
brakes will still work. But you will have to push the
pedal hard ± much harder than normal. And your
braking distance will be longer.