2000 Lexus LS400 light

AUDIO
274Station
swapping ± If the FM signal you are listening to
is interrupted or weakened, and there is another strong
station nearby on the FM band, your radio may tune in
the second station until the original signal can be picked
up again.
AM
Fading ± AM broadcasts are reflected by the upper
atmosphere ± especially at night. These reflected
signals can interfere with those received directly from
the radio station, causing the radio station to sound
alternately strong and weak.
Station interference ± When a reflected signal and a
signal received directly from a radio station are very
nearly the same frequency, they can interfere with each
other, making it difficult to hear the broadcast.
Static ± AM is easily affected by external sources of
electrical noise, such as high tension power lines,
lightening, or electrical motors. This results in static.
Caring for your cassette player and tapes
For the best performance for your cassette player and
tapes:
Clean the tape head and other parts regularly.
 A dirty tape head or tape path can decrease sound
quality and tangle your cassette tapes. The easiest
way to clean them is by using a cleaning tape. (A wet
type is recommended.) Use high±quality cassettes:

Low±quality cassette tapes can cause many
problems, including poor sound, inconsistent playing
speed, and constant auto±reversing. They can also
get stuck or tangled in the cassette player.
 Do not use a cassette if it has been damaged or
tangled or if its label is peeling off.
 Do not leave a cassette in the player if you are not
listening to it, especially if it is hot outside.
 Store cassettes in their cases and out of direct
sunlight.
 Avoid using cassettes with a total playing time longer
than 100 minutes (50 minutes per side). The tape
used in these cassette is thin and could get stuck or
tangled in the cassette player.

AUDIO
277
Your automatic changer cannot play special shaped or
low±quality compact discs such as those shown here.
Do not use them as the changer could be damaged.
20L038

Correct
Wrong

Handle compact discs carefully, especially when you
set them into the magazine. Hold them on the edge
and do not bend them. Avoid getting fingerprints on
them, particularly on the shiny side.
 Dirt, scrapes, warping, pin holes, or other disc
damage could cause the player to skip or to repeat a
section of a track. (To see a pin hole, hold the disc up
to the light.)

STARTING AND DRIVING
286ºLOCKº ± Engine is off and the steering wheel is
locked. The ignition key can be removed only at this
position.
To turn the key from ºACCº to the ºLOCKº position, you
must put the transmission selector lever in the ºPº
position.
Once you remove the key, the engine immobiliser
system is automatically set. See ºEngine immobiliser
systemº on page 15.
When
starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the
ºLOCKº position. To free it, first be sure the key is
pushed all the way in, and then rock the steering wheel
slightly while turning the key gently.
If, in an emergency, you must turn the engine off while
the vehicle is moving, turn the key only to ºACCº.
PARKING BRAKE
31L005a

STARTING AND DRIVING
287
1To set: Fully depress the parking brake pedal.
2To release: Pull the parking brake release lever.
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
288
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
driving 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 351.
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
294

1Power position 2Normal position
3Snow position
2. Set the driving pattern selector switch to the
ºNormalº position.
Your transmission has a driving pattern selector switch
which allows you to select ºPowerº, ºNormalº or ºSnowº\
mode to suit your driving condition. For ordinary driving,
Lexus recommends that you use the ºNormalº position
to improve fuel economy.
3. For more powerful acceleration and sporty
driving, use the ºPowerº position.
In the ºPowerº position, the ºECT PWRº light in the
instrument cluster is on and the transmission is shifted
up at higher vehicle speeds and shifted down more
responsively than in the ºNormalº position.
For ºSnowº mode, see ºElectronic Throttle Control
Systemº on page 303.

STARTING AND DRIVING
304In the power mode, the ºECT PWRº light in the
instrument cluster is on and the transmission is shifted
up at higher vehicle speeds and shifted down more
responsively than in the normal mode.
To return to the normal mode, push the driving pattern
selector switch lightly on the ºSNOWº side.
Snow mode: For slippery road surfaces such as in
snow. In this mode, the spinning of the rear wheels is
controlled appropriately.
When
you push the driving pattern selector switch on the
ºSNOWº side, the snow mode is turned on and the ºECT
SNOWº light in the instrument cluster comes on.
To return to the normal mode, push the driving pattern
selector switch on the ºSNOWº side again.
When you turn the ignition switch off in the snow mode,
the mode automatically changes to the normal mode.

STARTING AND DRIVING
305
CRUISE CONTROL
The cruise control allows you to cruise the vehicle
at a desired speed over 40 km/h (25 mph) with your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained although a slight
speed change may occur when driving up or down a
gradient, within the limits of engine performance. On
steeper hills, a great speed change will occur so it is
better to drive without the cruise control.
When the cruise control is on, the driving pattern of the
automatic transmission is fixed in the normal position,
regardless of the position of the selector switch.
CAUTION
To help maintain maximum control of your vehicle,
do not use the cruise control when driving in heavy
or varying traffic, or on slippery (rainy, icy or
snow±covered) or winding roads.
 Avoid vehicle speed increases when driving
downhill. If the vehicle speed is too fast in relation to
the cruise control set speed, cancel the cruise
control then downshift the transmission to use
engine braking to slow down.