1998 Lexus LS400 warning

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
37 (f) Take vehicle to Lexus
dealer.
(g) Take vehicle to Lexus
dealer.
(h) Close all doors.
(i) Low fuel level Fill up tank.
warning light
(j) Key reminder buzzer Remove key.
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light has the following two functions:
Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the parking brake is fully released. The
light should go off.
Low brake fluid level warning
If this light comes on and stays on while you are driving, slow down
and pull off the road. Then stop the vehicle carefully. Remember
that stopping distance and pedal effort may be increased. There may
be a problem somewhere in the brake system. Check the fluid level
of the seethrough reservoir.
To make sure the parking brake has not caused the warning light to
come on, check to see that the parking brake is fully released.
If the brake fluid level is low ...
At a safe place, test your brakes by starting and stopping.
If you judge that the brakes still work adequately, drive cautiously
to your nearest dealer or shop for repairs.
If the brakes are not working, have the vehicle towed in for
repairs. (For towing information, see page 205.)
CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving normally when the brake
fluid level is low.
or

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
38If the brake fluid level is correct ...
Have the warning system checked by your Lexus dealer.
(b) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzzer
Once the ignition key is turned to ”ON” or ”START”, the reminder
light flashes and buzzer sounds if the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened. Unless the driver fastens the belt, the light stays flashing
and the buzzer stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Front Passenger’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
Once the ignition key is turned to ”ON” or ”START”, the reminder
light flashes if a passenger sits in the front passenger seat and does
not fasten the seat belt. Unless the front passenger fastens the belt,
the light stays flashing.
If luggage load is placed on the front passenger seat, depending on
its weight and how it is placed on the seat, builtin sensors in the seat
cushion may detect the pressure, causing the reminder light to come
on.
(d) SRS Warning Light
The indicators come on when the ignition key is turned to the
”ACC” or ”ON” position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS is operating properly.
The SRS warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assemblies, inflators, seat belt pretensioners, warning light,
interconnecting wiring and power sources.
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.
The light stays on or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the driver and front passenger
airbags fail. If the light flashes, the side airbags and/or seat belt
pretensioners fail.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
39
(e) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, stop the vehicle, turn off the
engine, and check for the cause. Look first at the engine drive belt.
If it is loose or broken, the generator will not charge the battery
properly.
If the belt is O.K., there is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to operate, however, until the
battery is discharged. Turn off the air conditioning, blower, radio,
etc., and drive directly to the nearest Lexus dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine drive belt is broken or
loose.
(f) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See ”Fuel gauge” on page 34
for instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened securely. (See ”Fuel tank cap”
on page 65 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your engine electrical system
or electronic throttle control 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.
(g) ”ABS” Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in your antilock
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 ”ON”, and
will go off after about a few seconds.
When the ”ABS” warning light is on (and the brake system warning
light is off), the brake system operates conventionally but antilock
brake system is not assisting brake performance so that the wheels
could lock up during a sudden brake or braking on slippery road
surfaces.
(h) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the doors are completely closed.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
40
(i) 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 fuel level warning light may come on earlier than usual.
(j) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove the key when you open the
driver’s door with the ignition key in the ”ACC” or ”LOCK”
position.
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 ”ACC”.
The following service reminder indicator should come on. It goes
off after 6 seconds.
4. Turn the ignition key to ”ON”.
The following service reminder indicators should come on.

or
The following service reminder indicators go off after 3 seconds.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
41

or
5. Turn the ignition key to ”START”.
The following service reminder indicator should come on.
or
If any service reminder indicator or warning buzzer does not
function, either the bulb is burned out or circuit is in need of repair.
Have it checked by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY
13L0421
The multi information display provides cruise information on
your vehicle’s driving condition and warning messages if your
vehicle has trouble. During ordinary driving, cruise
information is shown in the display. However, if any problem
occurs in your vehicle, a warning message appears in place of
cruise information. To change to the cruise information display,
push the ”FUNCTION” button.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
44
(b) Warning messages
13L052
Reminder light
W40
W40
When the engine oil pressure becomes too low, the above
message appears, the reminder light flashes and the warning
tone sounds.
If this message appears 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 message may appear 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 message displayed
even for one block. It may ruin the engine.
W41 W41
When your brake pads are worn enough to require replacement,
the above message appears, the reminder light flashes and the
warning tone sounds.
If this message appears while you are driving, have the brake pads
checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
W43 W43
W42
W42
W451
W44
W44
W46
W46
When any door or trunk is open with the ignition switch turned
on, the message which door or trunk is open appears, and the
reminder light comes on.

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.