2000 Lexus ES300 sport

STARTING AND DRIVING
299
Cruise control failure warning
If the ªCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster
flashes five times and then goes out when using the
cruise control, it means that there is trouble in the cruise
control system. Contact your Lexus dealer.
ELECTRONIC MODULATED SUSPENSION
This electronic modulated suspension adjusts the
damping effect on the shock absorbers with the
control switch. Select one of the 4 modes which is
suited to the driving conditions with the control
switch to provide good riding comfort and stability.
31E044a
1For sporty type driving such as on winding
mountain roads and high speed driving
2For moderate high speed driving
3For ordinary driving such as in the city traffic
4For driving on a bumpy road
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
The traction control system automatically helps
control the spinning of the front wheels which may
occur when accelerating on slippery road surfaces,
thus assisting driver to control the driving power of
the front wheels.
31E013±1

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
364
40E014
40E042
If your Lexus is transported by a flat bed, it should
be tied down at locations A and B as shown above.

CHASSIS
427
If you have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks
deep enough to expose the fabric, or bulges
indicating internal damage, the tire should be
replaced.
If a tire often goes flat or cannot be properly repaired due
to the size or location of a cut or other damage, it should
be replaced. If you are not sure, consult with your Lexus
dealer.
If an air loss occurs while driving, do not continue driving
with a deflated tire. Driving even a short distance can
damage a tire beyond repair.
Any tires which are over 6 years old must be
checked by a qualified technician even if damage is
not obvious.
Tires deteriorate with age even if they have never or
seldom been used.
This also applies to the spare tire and tires stored for
future use.
Uniform tire quality grading
This information has been prepared in accordance
with regulations issued by the National Highway
Traffic
Safety Administration of the U.S. Department
of Transportation. It provides the purchasers and/or
prospective purchasers of Lexus vehicles with
information on uniform tire quality grading.
Your Lexus dealer will help answer any questions
you may have as you read this information.
DOT quality grades ± All passenger car tires must
conform to Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades. Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear ± The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half (1 ± 1/2) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B, C ± The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B and C, and they represent the
tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under

BODY
473
To help prevent corrosion on your Lexus, follow
these guidelines:
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing.
In
addition, observe the following points.

If you drive on salted roads in the winter or if you live
near the ocean, you should hose off the
undercarriage at least once a month to minimize
corrosion.

High p ressure water or steam is effective for cleaning
the vehicle's underside and wheel housings. Pay
particular attention to these areas as it is difficult to
see all the mud and dirt. It will do more harm than
good to simply wet the mud and debris without
removing them. The lower edge of doors, rocker
panels and frame members have drain holes which
should not be allowed to clog with dirt as trapped
water in these areas can cause corrosion.

Wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughly when
winter is over.
See ªWashing and waxingº on page 474 for more tips.
Check the cond ition of your vehicle's paint and trim.
If you find any chips or scratches in the paint, touch them
up immediately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the
chips or scratches have gone through the bare metal,
have a qualified body shop make the repair. Check the interior of your vehicle. Water and dirt can
accumulate under the floor mats and could cause
corrosion. Occasionally check under the mats to make
sure the area is dry. Be particularly careful when
transporting chemicals, cleansers, fertilizers, salt, etc.
These should be transported in proper containers. If a
spill or leak should occur, immediately clean and dry the
area.
Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated garage or a
roofed place. Do not park your vehicle in a damp,
poorly ventilated garage.
If you wash your vehicle in
the garage, or if you drive it in covered with water or
snow, your garage may be so damp it will cause
corrosion. Even if your garage is heated, a wet vehicle
can corrode if the ventilation is poor.

SECTION 7
480
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
FOR U.S. OWNERS
Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners480
. . . . . . . . .
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
FOR U.S. OWNERS
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or dea th, you should immediately inform
the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition to
notifying Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
(Toll±free: 1±800±25±LEXUS).
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer,
or Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the
Auto Safety Hotline toll±free at 1±800±424±9393 (or 366±0123 in
Washington.D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
Washington.
D.C. 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor vehicle safety
from the Hotline.