1998 Lexus LS400 headlights

00L013
00L014
High beam
Headlight flasherParking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument
panel lights turn on.
Headlights also turn on.
Automatic light control
00L013
00L013
Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument
panel lights turn on.
Headlights also turn on
at full intensity.
Automatic light controlParking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument
panel lights turn on.
Headlights also turn on.
Automatic light control
BASIC OPERATION QUICK REFERENCE
5
4. HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL
SW
ITCH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH (FOR U.S.A.)
HEADLIGHT SWITCH (FOR CANADA)
With the ignition OFF
With the engine started and parking brake
released

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
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.

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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
79
Folding rear view mirrors
16L018
To fold the rear view mirror, push backward.
The rear view mirrors can be folded backward for parking in
restricted areas.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the mirrors folded backward. Both the
driver and passenger side rear view mirrors must be extended
and properly adjusted before driving.
INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR
16L019-1
Pushing the switch changes the mode between ”AUTO” and
”DAY”.
The indicator comes on when the ”AUTO” mode is selected.
”DAY” mode: The mirror surface is normal.
”AUTO” mode: If the mirror detects light from the headlights
of the vehicle behind you, the mirror surface darkens slightly to
reduce the reflected light.
When the inside rear view mirror surface changes, the outside rear
view mirror surfaces will also become darker.
When the ignition key is inserted and turned on, the inside rear view
mirror always turns on in the ”AUTO” mode.
Adjust it before driving so that the rear view is the best.
When the outside air temperature is low, it may take a little longer
for the mirror to darken in response to the detection of headlights.

THEFT DETERRENT
117
THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM
To deter theft of the vehicle, this system is designed to give an
alarm if any of the doors, trunk or hood is forcibly unlocked or
the battery terminal is disconnected and then reconnected while
the vehicle is locked.*
NOTE: *The system operating condition can be changed. Ask
your Lexus dealer for details.
The alarm blows the horn intermittently and flashes the headlights,
tail lights and other exterior lights.
17L001
Setting the system
1. Turn the ignition key to the ”LOCK” position and remove it.
2. Close and lock all the doors, trunk and hood using an ignition
key or wireless remote control.If you lock them with wireless remote control, the turn signals flash
once.* If you do not want to make them flash, consult with your
Lexus dealer.
NOTE: *The turn signals can be set not to flash. Ask your Lexus
dealer for details.
The indicator light will come on when all the doors, trunk and hood
are closed and locked.
3. After 30 seconds, the indicator flashes and the system is set.
Cancelling the system
When you unlock any door or trunk using an ignition key or
wireless remote control, the system is cancelled.
If you unlock any door or trunk with wireless remote control, the turn
signals flash twice.* If you do not want to make them flash, consult
with your Lexus dealer.
NOTE: *The turn signals can be set not to flash. Ask your Lexus
dealer for details.
Activating the system
The alarm sounds for 60 seconds if any of the following are operated:
Unlocking any door or trunk without using an ignition key or
wireless remote control.
Opening the hood forcibly.
Reconnecting the battery.