1998 Lexus LS400 Headlight

SWITCHES
22
HEADLIGHT SWITCH
12L001
To turn the lights on, twist the knob on the end of the lever.
FIRST CLICKSTOP: Only the parking, tail, license plate, side
marker and instrument panel lights turn on.
SECOND CLICKSTOP: Headlights also turn on.
THIRD CLICKSTOP (”AUTO”): The headlights and all other
lights automatically turn on depending on the darkness of the
surroundings.*
Vehicles sold in U.S.A.: When the headlights are on, the headlight
indicator lights up in the instrument cluster.
Vehicles sold in Canada: When the tail lights are on, the tail light
indicator lights up in the instrument cluster.
Manually twist the knob to the second clickstop to turn on the
headlights if they are needed immediately when entering a dark
tunnel, parking structure, etc.
12L002
The automatic light control sensor is on top of the driver’s side
instrument panel.
Do not place anything on the instrument panel, and/or do not affix
anything on the windshield to block this sensor.
When the headlights come on, the lights automatically turn off about
30 seconds after any of the doors is opened and closed with the
ignition key turned to the ”ACC” or ”LOCK” position.** To turn
them on again, turn the ignition key to the ”ON” position, or turn the
headlight switch off and then twist the knob until the first or second
clickstop. If you are going to park for over one week, make sure the
headlight switch is off.
When the headlight switch is on with all the doors locked, pushing
the ”LOCK” button on the wireless remote control key turns off the
headlights.
NOTE: *The operating condition or sensitivity can be changed.
**The time before turning off the lights can be changed. Ask your
Lexus dealer for details.

SWITCHES
23 Daytime Running Light System (Canada only)
The headlights turn on when the parking brake is released with the
engine started, even with the light switch in the ”OFF” position.
They will not go off until the ignition switch is turned off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and instrument panel lights, twist
the knob to the first clickstop.
Under the daytime running light system, the headlights turn on at
reduced intensity. Twist the knob to the second clickstop to turn to
full intensity for driving at night.
When setting the knob to the third clickstop (”AUTO”), the
headlights will automatically adjust to full intensity and/or turn on
the other lights depending on the darkness of the surroundings.
Likewise, as the surroundings become brighter, the headlights will
turn to reduced intensity, ultimately turning off the other lights.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not leave the
lights on longer than necessary when the engine is not running.
Automatic headlight leveling system (Vehicles with
discharge headlight only)
As the headlight beam level is always maintained automatically at
the proper level in all loading conditions, your headlights do not
dazzle other road users.
If this system fails, the multi information display shows a message
”HEADLIGHT LEVELING”. If this occurs, have your vehicle
checked by Lexus dealer.

SWITCHES
24
HEADLIGHT DIMMER AND TURN
SIGNAL SWITCH
12L003
For high beam, push the lever forward. Pull it back for low
beam. For the headlight flasher, pull it further back.
A blue light in the instrument cluster indicates high beam or
headlight flasher is on.
The headlight flasher works even when the headlight switch is off.
12L004
For signaling turns, move the lever up or down in the
conventional manner.
The ignition key must be in the ”ON” position.
The turn signal is selfcancelling after a turn, but after a lane change,
you may have to cancel it by hand. You can also signal a lane change
by moving the turn signal lever partway and holding it there.
If the green light in the instrument cluster flashes faster than normal,
it indicates that the front or rear turn signal bulb has burned out. If
this indicator light does not come on, the fuse or the indicator light
itself has probably failed.

SWITCHES
25
FOG LIGHT SWITCH
12L005
To turn on the fog lights, turn the switch to the ”ON” position.
The fog lights come on only when the headlights are on low beam.
WINDSHIELD WIPER AND
WASHER SWITCH
12L0061
1
Interval adjuster 2
Washer on
To turn the wipers on, move the lever down until you reach the
desired speed setting.
The ignition key must be in the ”ON” position.
There are 3 settings:
”INT” position: Intermittent operation
”LO” position: Low speed operation
”HI” position: High speed operation
Twist the interval adjuster upward to increase the wiping time
interval between sweeps, and downward to decrease it.
The wiper lever must be in the ”INT” position.

SWITCHES
27
HEADLIGHT CLEANER SWITCH
(CANADA ONLY)
12L0072
To spray fluid on the headlights, push the switch with the
headlights on.
The ignition key must be in the ”ON” position.
The warning message ”LOW WASHER FLUID” is displayed in the
multi information display when the fluid level in the tank becomes
nearly empty. For information on adding washer fluid, see ”Adding
washer fluid” on page 261.
NOTICE
Do not turn the headlight cleaner on with the tank empty. It may
cause the cleaner motor to overheat.
REAR WINDOW AND OUTSIDE
REAR VIEW MIRROR DEFOGGER
SWITCH
12L008-4
To turn the electric rear window defogger on, push the switch.
The ignition key must be in the ”ON” position.
The thin heater wires on the inside of the rear window and the heater
panels in the outside rear view mirrors will quickly clear the surface.
Keep your hands off the mirror faces when the switch is on. An
indicator light is on when the defogger is operating.
The system will automatically shut off when the defogger has
operated about 15 minutes.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
45 If you continue driving with any door or trunk open, the reminder
light starts flashing and the warning tone sounds to remind you to
close the door or trunk.
W52 W52
If the driver’s door is opened with the ignition switch turned off
and the moon roof opened, the above message appears and the
reminder light flashes.
W48 W48
In the following cases, the warning message appears and the
reminder light next to the warning message and the ”VSC OFF”
indicator light come on. And the warning tone also sounds.
(a) After the removal of the battery terminals (See ”Initial
adjustment of vehicle skid control system” on page 175.)
(b) If the vehicle skid control system malfunctions
If the above message appears for the cause of (b), have your vehicle
checked by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Although the above message appears, you can continue your normal
driving, but without the vehicle skid control system function.
W49 W49
In the following cases, the above message appears, the reminder
light comes on and the warning tone sounds.
When the headlight switch is turned to the first or second
clickstop with one or more of tail light bulbs burned out.
When the brake pedal is held down with one or more of stop light
bulbs burned out.
Have defective bulbs replaced as soon as possible.
W50 W50
When the engine oil level is too low, the above message appears,
the reminder light comes on and the warning tone sounds.
Add oil as soon as possible. (For instructions, see ”Checking the
engine oil level” on page 230.)
NOTICE
Continued engine operation with low engine oil will damage the
engine.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
46
W51 W51
When the fluid level in the tank becomes nearly empty, the above
message appears, the reminder light comes on and the warning
tone sounds.
Fill the tank as soon as possible.
W53 W53
When there is a problem somewhere in the automatic headlight
leveling system, the above message appears, the reminder light
comes on and the warning tone sounds.
If this message appears, have your vehicle checked by your Lexus
dealer.
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT
CONTROL
13L005
To adjust the brightness of the instrument panel lights, turn the
knob.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
77
Auto tilt away*
16L012-2
When the ignition key is removed, the steering column moves
forward away from the driver and also tilts up for easy exit and
entry.
When the key is inserted in the ignition switch, the steering column
returns to the previously set position.
NOTE: *This feature can be set inoperative. Ask your Lexus
dealer for details.
OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS
16L016
Adjust the mirror so you can just see the side of your vehicle in
the mirror.
When the inside rear view mirror darkens in ”AUTO” mode, the
outside rear view mirrors also darken to reduce the reflection of the
headlights of the following vehicle. For details, see ”Inside rear view
mirror” on page 79.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the mirror while the vehicle is moving. It may
cause the driver to mishandle the vehicle and an accident may
occur, resulting in personal injuries.