1999 Lexus ES300 transmission

SECTION 3 ± 1
250
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Three±way catalytic converter250
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust caution 253
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Before starting the engine 255
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ignition switch with steering lock 256
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake 259
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to start the engine 260
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission 261
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 274
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electronic modulated suspension 278
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction control system 278
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle skid control system 282
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system 286
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake pad wear limit indicators 292
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of tires 292
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THREE±WAY CATALYTIC
CONVERTER

With the brake pedal depressed, shift while hold-
ing the lock release button in. (The ignition
switch must be in the ºONº position)
Shift while holding the lock release button in.
STARTING AND DRIVING
261
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system
to minimize the possibility of incorrect operation.
This means you can only shift out of ºPº position
when the brake pedal is dep ressed (with the ignition
switch in ºONº position and the lock release button
pressed in). ( )
31E005
1
Lock release button

STARTING AND DRIVING
262
2Overdrive switch
For selecting either a three±speed or four±speed
transmission.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by turning off the
overdrive switch, engine braking will not be applied
because the cruise control is not cancelled. For the
operation to decrease the vehicle speed, see page
277.
3 Shift position indicator
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and key removal
position
R: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
D: Normal driving position (Shifting into overdrive
possible)
2: Position for engine braking
L: Position for stronger engine braking than that in
º2º position Correct use of the automatic transmission is
explained in the following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the º2º and ºLº positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever out of ºPº
position

STARTING AND DRIVING
263
(a) Normal driving
31E006

1ºPº (Park) position 2ºNº (Neutral) position
1. Start the engine as instructed in ºHow to start the
engineº on page 260.
The transmission must be in ºPº or ºNº. The engine will
not start in ºRº, º2º, ºLº or ºDº position even if \
the ignition
key is turned to ºSTARTº.

STARTING AND DRIVING
2664. Release the parking brake and brake pedal.
Depress the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth
starting.
The vehicle will start in the first gear and automatically
shift to the most suitable gear for the running conditions,
such as the vehicle speed, hill climbing, hard towing, etc.
However, while the engine coolant temperature is low
and the vehicle is traveling at low speed, the
transmission will not shift into the overdrive gear even
with the overdrive switch on.
In ºDº position, the automatic transmission system will
select the most suitable gear for the running conditions
such as hill climbing, hard towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. The
transmission will automatically downshift to the third,
second or first gear, according to the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a
long hill, see º(b) Using engine brakingº.

STARTING AND DRIVING
267
(b) Using engine braking
31E009±2
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below:
1Turn off the overdrive switch. (This is effective only
when you are driving in the ºDº position.) The ºO/D
OFFº indicator light in the instrument cluster will
come on and the transmission will downshift to the
third gear and engine braking will be obtained.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by turning off the
overdrive switch, engine braking will not be applied
because the cruise control is not cancelled. If you
need to decrease the vehicle speed, see page 277.
2 Shift into the º2º position. The transmission will
downshift to the second gear when the vehicle
speed is lower than 122 km/h (76 mph) and more
powerful engine braking will be obtained.
3Shift into the ºLº position. The transmission will
downshift to the first gear when the vehicle speed
is lower than 55 km/h (34 mph) and maximum
engine braking will be applied.

STARTING AND DRIVING
269
(c) Using the º2º and ºLº positions
The º2º and ºLº positions are used for strong engine
braking as described previously.
With the selector lever in º2º or ºLº, you can start the
vehicle in motion as with the lever in ºDº.
With the selector lever in º2º, the vehicle will start in the
first gear and automatically shift to the second gear.
With the selector lever in ºLº, the transmission is
engaged in the first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the engine. Watch thetachometer to keep engine rpm from going intothe red zone. The approximate maximumallowable speed for each position is givenabove for your reference.
º2º 128 km/h (80 mph) . . .
ºLº 70 km/h (43 mph) . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for
a long time in the º2º or ºLº position. This maycause severe automatic transmission damagefrom overheating. To prevent such damage,
ºDº position should be used in hill climbing orhard towing.

STARTING AND DRIVING
272
(f) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly upshifts and
downshifts between the third and overdrive gears
when climbing a gentle slope, turn off the overdrive
switch. Be sure to turn the switch on immediately
after climbing the slope.
 When towing a trailer, in order to maintain efficient
engine braking and electrical charging performance,
do not use overdrive.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped
with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from
creeping.
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an upgrade with the accelerator pedal. This can cause thetransmission to overheat. Always use the brakepedal or parking brake.
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
CAUTION
If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,
then you may attempt to rock the vehicle free by moving
it forward and backward. Do not attempt this procedure
if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle.
During the rocking operation the vehicle may suddenly
move forward or back as it becomes un±stuck, causing
injury or damage to nearby people or objects.