1999 Lexus ES300 brake

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
192
CAUTION
Do not start the vehicle while the adjustments are
being made.
 Take care not to select the wrong button, or the seat
could strike the rear passenger or hit your body
against the steering wheel. If this happens, you can
stop the movement by pressing another driving
position memory switch, or depressing the brake
pedal.

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

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.

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
265
31E008

1Brake pedal 2ºDº (Drive) position
3. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift
the selector lever to ºDº.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.

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
270
(d) Backing up
31E010

1Brake pedal 2ºRº (Reverse) position
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift
the selector lever to the ºRº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle ismoving.