1999 Lexus ES300 brake light

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
58(n) Low fuel level Fill up tank.
warning light
(o) 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 see±through 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 337.)

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
60If the brake fluid level is correct ...
Have
the warning system checked by your Lexus dealer.
(b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzzer
Once the ignition key is turned to ºONº or ºSTARTº, the
reminder light and buzzer come on if the driver's seat
belt is not fastened. Unless the driver fastens the belt,
the light stays on and the buzzer stops after about 4 to
8 seconds.
(c) SRS Warning Light
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is
turned to the ºACCº or ºONº 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, front airbag sensors, 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
62
(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 378.)
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 oilwill 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 50 for instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened securely. (See
ºFuel tank capº on page 100 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 ºc.º, 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 will go off after about a few seconds.
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 is 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 first 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 lights are burned out.
Have defective bulbs replaced as soon as possible.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
64
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
w069

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

and
w069
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, either the bulb is burned out or circuit is in
need of repair. Have it checked by your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible.

STARTING AND DRIVING
259
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 left 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
260
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 device will prevent the starter
from operating if the selector lever is in any drive
position.
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 system in your engine automatically
controls the proper air±fuel mixture for starting. 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 minutes 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 314.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a
time. This may overheat the starter and wiringsystems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to start or stallsfrequently, have the engine checkedimmediately.

STARTING AND DRIVING
280You 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.
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a
few seconds when the engine is started or just after the
vehicle is started. This means that the traction control
system is in the self
±check mode, and does not indicate
malfunction.
When the traction control system is operating, you may
feel vibration or noise of your vehicle, caused by
operation of the brakes. This indicates the system 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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
282
VEHICLE SKID CONTROLSYSTEM
The vehicle skid control system helps provide
comprehensive control of the systems such as an
anti±lock brake system, traction control, engine
control, etc. This system automatically controls the
output of the brakes or engine to help prevent the
vehicle from skidding when cornering on a slippery
road surface or abrupt steering wheel operation
occurs.
31E013±1

Slip indicator light
If the vehicle is going to skid during driving, the slip
indicator light flashes and an alarm sounds
intermittently.
The vehicle skid control activates when the vehicle
speed is about more than 15 km/h (9 mph). You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a
few seconds when the engine is started or just after the
vehicle is started. This means that the vehicle skid
control is in the self±check mode and does not indicate
a malfunction.