2000 Lexus ES300 brake

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280
PARKING BRAKE
31E080
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.

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281
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 ªPº. If you need to restart the
engine while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever
in ªNº. 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
driving off.
Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to follow the
instructions in ªBefore 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 ªSTARTº. 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 ªIf your vehicle will not startº on page 337.
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 holding the lock release button
in. (The ignition switch must be in the
ªONº position.)
Shift while holding the lock release
button in.
Shift normally.
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282
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 ªPº position
when the b rake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ªONº position and the lock release button
depressed). ( )
31E005a
1
Lock release button

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286
31E008

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

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287
3. 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 on.
When the lever is in the ªDº 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 ª(c) Using engine brakingº.

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291
(e) Backing up
31E010

1Brake pedal 2ªRº (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 ªRº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle ismoving.

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(f) Parking
31E011±1

1Brake pedal 2Parking brake pedal
3ªPº (Park) position
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Depress the parking brake fully to securely apply the
parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift
the selector lever to the ªPº position.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector lever into ªPº under
any circumstances while the vehicle is moving. Serious
mechanical damage and loss of vehicle control may
result.

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(g) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up and down
between the third and overdrive gears when climbing
a gentle slope, the overdrive should be turned off. 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.
(h) 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 backward as it becomes un±stuck,
causing injury or damage to nearby people or objects.