1998 Lexus ES300 dashboard

KEYS AND DOORS9
11L023-2
Do not bend the key grip.
 Do not cover the key grip with any material that cuts off
electromagnetic waves.
 Do not knock the key hard against other objects.
 Do not leave the key exposed to high temperatures for a long period,
such as on the dashboard and hood under the direct sunlight.
 Do not put the key in water or wash it in an ultrasonic washer.
 Do not use the key with electromagnetic materials.
ENGINE IMMOBILISER SYSTEM
11L024±2
The engine immobiliser system is a theft prevention system. When you
insert the key in the ignition switch, the transponder chip in the key's head
transmits an electronic code to the vehicle. The engine will start, only
when the electronic code in the chip corresponds to the r egistered ID code
for the vehicle.
The system is automatically set when the key is removed from the ignition
switch. At this time, the security indicator light at the bottom of the instrument
cluster flashes. When you insert the key in the ignition switch, the security
indicator light goes out and the system is canceled automatically, which
enables the engine to start.
For your Lexus dealer to make you a new key with built±in transponder ch\
ip,
your dealer will need your key number and master key. However, there is a
limit to the number of additional keys your Lexus dealer can make for yo\
u.

KEYS AND DOORS11
You can use up to 4 wireless remote control transmitters for the same vehic\
le.
Contact your Lexus dealer for detailed information.
The wireless remote control transmitter is an electronic component.
Observe the following instructions in order not to cause damage on the
transmitter.

Do not leave the transmitter on the places where the temperature becomes
high such as on the dashboard.
 Do not disassemble it.
 Avoid knocking it hard against other objects or dropping it.
 Avoid putting it in water.
Locking/Unlocking the doors
When you push the ºLOCKº button on the transmitter, all the doors can
be locked from outside the vehicle.
At this time, the parking, tail, side marker and license plate lights flas\
h 1 time
sounding 1 beep. However, when you push the ºLOCKº button with any door
not closed securely, the buzzer sounds for 10 seconds or until all the doors are
closed securely. If the key is in the ignition switch or any of the doors are open,
locking cannot be done.
Make sure all the doors are locked when you leave the vehicle.
When you push the ºUNLOCKº button, the driver's door is unlocked.
Pushing that button once again within 3 seconds from the first push, all
other doors also unlock. At this time, 2 beeps sound. Together with the activation of unlocking, the
parking, tail, side marker and license plate lights flash 2 times. If the key i\
s
in the ignition switch, unlocking cannot be done.
You have 30 seconds to open a door after using the wireless remote unlock
feature. If a door is not opened by then, all the doors will be automat\
ically
locked again.
If the ºLOCKº or ºUNLOCKº switch is kept pressed in, the loc\
king or
unlocking operation is not repeated. Release the button and then push again.11E001±2

1
Off 2Louder
When you push the remote control switch, the vehicle sounds one beep when
the doors are locked by remote control, and two beeps when the doors are
unlocked.
You can adjust the beep loudness with the knob under the instrument panel.
Turning the knob clockwise increases the volume and turning it
counterclockwise until it stops turns the buzzer off.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT69
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM(SRS)
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) consists of driver and front
passenger airbags, side airbags and seat belt pretensioners. The
combination of these 3 systems is designed to provide further protection
for the driver and front passenger when added to the primary pr otection
provided by the seat belts.
16E124

Driver and front passenger airbags, and seat belt pretensioners
Driver and front passenger airbags:
In response to a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger
airbags work together with the seat belts to help preventing or reduce
injury by inflating, in order to decrease the likelihood of the driver's or
front passenger's heads or chests from directly hitting the steering wheel
or dashboard. Seat belt pretensioners:
In response to a severe frontal impact, the seat belts are quickly drawn
back in by the retractors so that the belts snugly restrain the driver and
front passenger.
The front passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger in the front\
seat.
The seat belt pretensioners are activated together with the driver and fron\
t
passenger airbags, even with no passenger in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger too close to the steering wheel
or dashboard during airbag deployment can be killed or
seriously injured. Lexus strongly recommends that:

The driver sit as far back as possible from the steering
wheel while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
 The front passenger sit as far back as possible from the
dashboard.
 All vehicle occupants be properly restrained using the
available seat belts.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
74
serious injuries, it may also cause minor burns or abrasions and swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, dashboard, front seats)\
may
be hot for several minutes, but the airbags themselves will not be hot. \
The
airbags are designed to inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the driver and front passenger airbags \
may
break
the windshield as the vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a front passeng\
er
airbag, the windshield may also be damaged by absorbing some of the force
of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION
 The SRS is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver side and front passenger side seat
belt systems. The front seat occupants can be killed or
seriously injured by an inflating airbag if they do not wear
the available seat belts. During sudden braking just before
a collision, an unrestrained driver or front passenger can
move forward into direct contact with or close proximity to
the airbag which may then deploy during the collision. To
obtain maximum protection in an accident, the driver and
all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt during an accident reduces the chances
of death or serious injuries or being thrown out of the
vehicle. For instructions and precautions concerning the
seat belt system, see ºSeat beltsº on page 64.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children
can be killed or seriously injured by a deploying airbag. An
infant or child who is too small to use a seat belt should be
properly secured using a child restraint system. Lexus
strongly recommends that all infants and children be
placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and properly
restrained. The rear seat is the safest for infants and
children. For instructions concerning the installation of a
child restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 80 .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
76
16E028
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the dashboard when
the vehicle is in use. The airbags inflate with considerable speed and
force; you may be killed or seriously injured. Sit up straight and
well back in the seat, and always use your seat belt.
16E126
Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle is in use. The side
airbag inflates with considerable speed and for ce; you may be killed
or seriously injured.
 Do not apply excessive weight to the outer side of the front seats on
vehicles with side airbags.
 The child head should not be leaned against the vicinity of the part
where the side airbag activates.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT77
16E029
Do not allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front passenger
seat. The airbag inflates with considerable speed and force; the
child may be killed or seriously injured.
 Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms. Use a child r estraint
system in the rear seat. For instructions concerning the installation
of a child restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 80.
16E030
 Do not put objects or your pets on or in front of the dashboard or
steering wheel pad that houses the driver and front passenger
airbag system. They might restrict inflation or cause death or
serious injury as they are projected rearward by the force of the
deploying airbags. Likewise, the driver and front passenger should
not hold things in their arms or on their knees.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
78
16E127
Do not attach a cup holder or any other device on or around the door.
When the side airbag inflates, the cup holder or any other device will
be thrown with great force, or the side airbag may not activate
correctly, resulting in death or serious injury. Likewise, the driver
and front passenger should not hold things in their arms or on their
knees.
 Do not use accessories for the seats which cover the parts where the
side airbags should inflate. Such accessories may prevent the side
airbags from activating correctly, causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify, remove, strike
or open any components, such as the steering wheel column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front seats, airbag sensor assembly or
seat belt assemblies. Doing any of these may cause sudden SRS
operation or disable the system, which could result in death or
serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the seats or surface of the front seats with
side airbags. Such changes may disable the system or cause the side
airbags to inflate, resulting in death or serious injury. Consult your
Lexus dealer.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or serious
injuries.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting your
Lexus dealer. Such changes can interfere with proper operation of the
SRS in some cases.
 Installation of electronic items such as a mobile two±way radio,
cassette tape player or compact disc player.
 Modification of the suspension system.
 Modification of the front end structure and side structure of the
passenger compartment.
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow plow,
winches or any other equipment to the front end.
 Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end structure,
console, steering column, steering wheel, dashboard near the front
passenger airbag, front seats or seat belt assembly.

AIR CONDITIONING AND AUDIO
110
(c) Operating tips
Make sure the air inlet grilles in front of the windshield are not blocked b\
y
leaves or other obstructions.
 If air flow control is not satisfactory, check the dashboard vents. (See ºSide
ventsº.)
 To help cool down the interior after parking in the hot sun, drive for the first
few minutes with the windows open. After the excess heat has blown away,
close the windows.
 When driving on dusty roads, close all windows. If dust thrown up by the
vehicle is still drawn into the vehicle after closing the windows, it is
recommended that the air intake control button be left to the OUTSIDE
AIR mode and the fan speed control button be pressed to anywhere except
the ºOFFº button.
 If following another vehicle on a dusty road, or driving in windy and dust\
y
conditions, it is recommended that the air intake control button be
temporarily pressed in to the RECIRCULATED AIR mode, which will
close off the outside passage and prevent outside air and dust from entering
the vehicle interior.
Side vents
20E009
The side vents may be opened or closed as shown.