1998 Lexus ES300 brake light

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS33
(e) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pressure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a Lexus dealer or qualified repair shop
for assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when the engine is idling or it may c\
ome
on briefly after a hard stop. There is no cause for concern if it then go\
es out
when the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level is extremely low. It is not designed
to indicate low oil level, and the oil level must be checked using the oil\
level
dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the warning light on ± even for one block\
.
It may ruin the engine.
(f) Low Engine Oil Level Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil level is too low. Add oil as soon as possible.
(For instructions, see ºChecking the engine oil levelº on page 19\
8.)
While driving on steep inclines or rough roads which causes the vehicle to
substantially sway or on curves, this light may come on due to the movement
of engine oil in the engine.
NOTICE
Continued engine operation with low engine oil will damage the engine.
(g) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See ºFuel gaugeº on page 28 for
instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened securely. (See ºFuel tank capº on page
52 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your engine or automatic transmission
electrical system.
If it comes on while you are driving in case c., have your vehicle
checked/repaired by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
(h) ºABSº Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in your anti±lock \
brake
system.
If the light comes on while you are driving, have your vehicle checked by \
your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
The light will come on when the ignition key is turned to ºONº, and w\
ill go
off after about a few seconds.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
34
When the ºABSº warning light is on (and the brake system warning light is
off), the brake system operates conventionally but anti±lock brake system i\
s
not assisting brake performance so that the wheels could lock up during a
sudden brake or braking on slippery road surfaces.
(i) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the doors are completely closed.
(j) Rear Light Failure Warning Light
If this light comes on when the headlight switch is turned on (at the f\
irst or
second
clickstop), it indicates that one or more of the tail lights are burned\
out.
If it comes on when the brake pedal is depressed, one or more stop light\
s are
burned out.
Have defective bulbs replaced as soon as possible.
(k) ºTRAC OFFº Indicator/Warning Light
This light comes on when the ignition key is turned to ºONº, and will \
go off
after 3 seconds. This means that the system is operating properly.
If the light flashes, this indicates a malfunction in the traction control\
system.
Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to service the vehicle.
(l) Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light comes on when the fluid level in the tank becomes nearly empt\
y.
Fill the tank as soon as possible.
(m) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel level in the tank becomes nearly empty. Fill
the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the movement of fuel in the tank, the low fu\
el
level warning light may come on earlier than usual.
(n) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove the key when you open the driver's door
with the ignition key in the ºACCº or ºLOCKº position.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS35
How to check all the service reminder indicators
(except the low fuel level warning light):
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Open the door.
The following service reminder indicator should come on. It goes off when
you close the door completely.
3. Turn the ignition key to ºACCº.
The following service reminder indicator should come on. It goes off after 6
seconds.
4. Turn the ignition key to ºONº.
The following service reminder indicators should come on.
or

or

The following service reminder indicators go off after a few seconds.
or

5. Turn the ignition key to ºSTARTº.
The following service reminder indicators should come on.

If any service reminder indicator or warning buzzer does not function, e\
ither
the bulb is burned out or circuit is in need of repair. Have it checked by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT CONTROL
13E005
To adjust the brightness of the instrument panel lights, turn the knob.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
96
By repeating these two steps and pressing the remaining button, the driv\
ing
position for another driver can be recorded.
To set a new memorized position, select the desired position and perform s\
tep
2. The previous memory will be erased and the new position will be set.
To make only slight changes to an already memorized position, the easiest
way is to first activate the memorized position, then make the desired changes\
and perform step 2 above.
Activating a memorized position
16E048
When you push button º1º or º2º, the driving position will be
automatically adjusted to the position recorded for that button.
Conditions for memorized position activation

Ignition key ºONº and shift lever in ºPº position
All parts of the memorized positions can be activated.
However, if the brake pedal is being depressed, the seat position will not
change.
 Key not in ignition switch and within 30 seconds of opening driver's door.
The memorized position can be activated.
If any driving position memory switch is pushed while one of the memorized\
driving position profiles is being activated, the operation will stop.
To activate the system, push the desired button (º1º or º2º)\
again.
The driving position memory control system cannot be operated while the
vehicle is moving.
If the vehicle's battery is disconnected, the computer's memory will be erased
and the memorized positions will have to be set again.

STARTING AND DRIVING135
If you leave the key in the ºACCº or ºLOCKº position and open \
the driver's
door, a buzzer will remind you to remove the key.
31E037
ºLOCKº ± 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 ºACCº to the ºLOCKº po\
sition. The
selector lever must be put in the ºPº position before turning the key to t\
he
ºLOCKº position.
Once
you remove the key, the engine immobiliser system is automatically set.
See ºEngine immobiliser systemº on page 9.
When starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the ºLOCKº positio\
n.
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 ºACCº.
PARKING BRAKE
31E004
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 pedal down with your right foot and
push the parking brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your le\
ft
foot, the parking brake 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
136
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 ºPº. If you need to restart the engine \
while the
vehicle is moving, put the selector lever in ºNº. A starter safety devic\
e will
prevent the starter from operating if the selector lever is in any drive positi\
on.
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 ºBefore
crankingº.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection sys\
tem
in your engine automatically controls the proper air±fuel mixture for s\
tarting.
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 ºSTARTº. 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 minut\
es
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 ºIf 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 systems.
 Do not race a cold engine.
 If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the
engine checked immediately.

STARTING AND DRIVING
146
Resetting to a slower speed
Press the control lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº direction and hold \
it.
Release the lever when the desired speed is attained. While the lever is held
downward, the vehicle speed will gradually decrease.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the set speed is less
than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can be lowered 1.6 km/h (1 mph) e\
ach time
by pressing the control lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº direction
quickly.
However, a quicker way to reset is to depress the brake pedal and then press
the control lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº direction.
Even if you turn off the overdrive switch with the cruise control on, engine
braking will not be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. To
decrease the vehicle speed, reset to a slower speed with the cruise control lever\
or depress the brake pedal. If you use the brake pedal, cruise control \
is
cancelled.
Resuming the preset speed
If the preset speed is cancelled by pulling the control lever or by depr\
essing
the brake pedal, pushing the lever up in the ºRES/ACCº direction will\
restore
the speed set prior to cancellation. However, once the vehicle speed falls
below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the preset speed will not be resumed.
Cruise control failure warning
If the ºCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster flashes fi\
ve times and
then goes out when using the cruise control, it means that 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.
31E012±2
1 For sporty type driving such as on winding mountain roads and high
speed driving
2For moderate high speed driving
3For ordinary driving such as in the city traffic
4For driving on a bumpy road

STARTING AND DRIVING147
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 driving power of the front
wheels.
31E013
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.
31E014±1
You can turn off the traction control system by pushing the ºTRAC OFFº
switch. The ºTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light will then come on. Pushing
the ºTRAC OFFº switch a second time turns the system back on
and extinguishes the ºTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light.
When the traction control system is operating, you may feel vibration or nois\
e
of your vehicle, caused by operation of the brakes. This indicates the sy\
stem
is functioning properly.
When getting the vehicle out of mud or new snow, etc. the traction control
system will help operate to prevent the wheels from spinning.
Traction control failure warning
If the ºTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light flashes, contact your Lexus dealer
as soon as possible. There may be trouble in the traction control syste\
m.
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.