1999 Lexus LS400 overheating

SWITCHES
55
CAUTION
Occupants must use caution when operating the seat
heater because they may experience minor burns even
at low temperatures. Use extra caution for;
Baby, small child, elderly person, sick person or
handicapped person
 Persons who have delicate skin
 Persons who are exhausted
 Persons who have taken alcohol or drugs which
induce sleep (sleeping drug, cold remedy, etc.).
To prevent the seat from overheating, do not use the
seat heater with a blanket, cushion, or other insulating
objects which cover the seat.

STARTING AND DRIVING
290
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.
(c) Using the º3º, º2º and ºLº positions
The º3º, º2º and ºLº positions are used for strong engine\
braking as described previously.
With the selector lever in º3º, º2º or ºLº, you can start the
vehicle in motion as with the lever in ºDº.
With the selector lever in º3º or º2º, the vehicle will star\
t
in the first gear and automatically shift to the third or
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 the tachometer to keep engine rpm from going intothe red zone. The approximate maximumallowable speed for each position is givenbelow for your reference:
º3º 160 km/h (99 mph) . . .
º2º 104 km/h (65 mph) . . .
ºLº 68 km/h (42 mph) . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for
a long time in the º3º, º2º or ºLº position. Thismay cause severe automatic transmission
damage from overheating. To prevent suchdamage, º4º position should be used in hillclimbing or hard towing.

DRIVING TIPS
324
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. It can cause dangerous overheating,
needless wear, and poor fuel economy.
 To drive down a long or steep hill, reduce your
speed and downshift. Remember, if you ride
the brakes excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly. See page 288.
 Be careful when accelerating, upshifting,
downshifting or braking on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed, such as
sudden acceleration or engine braking, could
cause the vehicle to spin or skid.
 Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even
if the legal speed limit permits it, do not drive
over 140 km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle has
high±speed capability tires. Driving over 140
km/h (85 mph) may result in tire failure, loss of
control and possible injury. Be sure to consult
a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on
your vehicle are high±speed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
 Do not continue normal driving when the
brakes are w et. If they are wet, your vehicle will
require a longer stopping distance, and it may
pull to one side when the brakes are applied.
Also, the parking brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Make sure you have a proper freeze protection of
engine coolant.
Your coolant must contain ethylene±glycol type coolant
for a proper corrosion protection of aluminum
components. Use ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or
equivalent. See ºChecking the engine coolant levelº on
page 409 for instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water
alone.
When it is extremely cold, we recommend to use 60%
solution for your Lexus, to provide protection down to
about ±50 C (±58 F). Do not use more than 70%
solution for better coolant performance.
Check the condition of the battery and cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so
it must be in top shape to provide enough power for
winter starting. Page 443 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Lexus dealer and most service
stations will be pleased to check the battery charge
level.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the
cold weather.

DRIVING TIPS
334
Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns. The trailer could
hit your vehicle in a tight turn. Slow down before
making a turn to avoid the need of sudden braking.
 Remember that when making a turn, the trailer
wheels will be closer than the vehicle wheels to the
inside of the turn. Therefore, compensate for this by
making a larger than normal turning radius with your
vehicle.
 Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect
handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing sway.
Pay attention to the rear from time to time to prepare
yourself for being passed by large trucks or buses,
which may cause your vehicle and trailer to sway. If
swaying happens, firmly grip the steering wheel and
reduce speed immediately but gradually. Never
increase speed. If it is necessary to reduce speed,
brake slowly. Steer straight ahead. If you make no
extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your
vehicle and trailer will stabilize.
 Be careful when passing other vehicles. Passing
requires considerable distance. After passing a
vehicle, do not forget the l ength of your trailer and be
sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes.
 In order to maintain efficient engine braking and
electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive. Transmission must be in the º4º position. 
Because of the added load of the trailer, your vehicle's
engine may overheat on hot days (at temperatures
over 30C [85F]) when going up a long or steep
grade with a trailer. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, immediately turn off the
air conditioning (if in use), pull your vehicle off the
road and stop in a safe spot. See ºIf your vehicle
overheatsº on page 347 of this manual.
 Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle
and trailer wheels when parking. Apply the parking
brake firmly. Put the transmission in ºPº. Avoid
parking on a slope with a trailer, but if it cannot be
avoided, do so only after performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the
vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your
brakes slowly until the blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into ºPº and turn off the engine.

DRIVING TIPS
337

Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a steady pace. Try to time the traffic si gnals
so you only need to stop as little as possible or take
advantage of through streets to avoid traffic lights.
Keep a proper distance from other vehicles to avoid
sudden braking. This will also reduce wear on your
brakes.
 Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams whenever
possible.
 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal. This
causes needless wear, overheating and poor fuel
economy.
 Maintain a moderate speed on highways. The
faster you drive, the greater the fuel consumption. By
reducing your speed, you will cut down on fuel
consumption.
 Keep the front wheels in proper alignment. Avoid
hitting the curb and slow down on rough roads.
Improper alignment not only causes faster tire wear
but also puts an extra load on the engine, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
 Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud,
etc. This not only lessens weight but also helps
prevent corrosion.
 Keep your vehicle tuned±up and in top shape. A
dirty air cleaner, improper valve clearance, dirty
plugs, dirty oil and grease, brakes not adjusted, etc.
all lower engine performance and contribute to poor

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
347
CAUTION
When making the connections, to avoid serious injury,
do not lean over the battery or accidentally let the
jumper cables or clamps touch anything except the
correct battery terminals or the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal way. After starting,
run it at about 2000 rpm for several minutes with the
accelerator pedal lightly depressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse
order: the negative cable and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover cloths which
may now contain sulfuric acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharging is not apparent
(for example, lights left on), you should have it checked.IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
If your engine coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, if you experience a loss of power, or if
you hear a loud knocking or pinging noise, the
engine has probably overheated.