2000 Lexus LS400 ESP

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
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
309
Cruise control failure warning
If the ºCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster
flashes when using the cruise control, push the main
switch to turn the system off and then push it again to
turn it on.
If any of the following conditions then occurs, there is
some trouble in the cruise control system.
The indicator light does not come on.
 The indicator light flashes again.
 The indicator light goes out after it comes on.
If this is the case, contact your Lexus dealer and have
your Lexus inspected.
ELECTRONICALLY
MODULATED AIR SUSPENSION
(U.S.A. ONLY)
This electronically modulated air suspension
adjusts the damping effect on the shock absorbers
and the vehicle height. This adjustment is
automatically made in response to the driving
conditions to provide good riding comfort and
stability in all driving conditions.

STARTING AND DRIVING
322
CAUTION
Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the pedal uses up your reserved
vacuum.
 Even if the power assist is completely lost, the brakes
will still work. But you will have to push the pedal
hard, much harder than normal. And your braking
distance will be longer.
Anti±lock brake system
The anti±lock brake system is designed to help
prevent lock±up of the wheels during a sudden
braking or braking on slippery road surfaces. This
assists in providing stability and steering
performance of the vehicle under these
circumstances.
Effective way to press the ABS brake pedal: When the
anti±lock brake system function is in action, just hold the
brake pedal down more firmly. Especially, in a panic stop,
you need to keep it depressed more firmly, and do not pump
the brake. Pumping the brake pedal makes the stopping dis-
tance longer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
325
Anti±lock brake system is not designed to shorten the
stopping distance: Always drive at the moderate speed
and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Compared with vehicles not fitted with an
anti±lock brake system, your vehicle may require a
longer stopping distance in the following cases:
 Driving on rough, gravel or snow±covered roads.
 Driving with tire chains installed.
 Driving over the steps such as the joints on the road.
 Driving on roads where the road surface is pitted or
has other differences in surface height.
Install all 4 tires of specified size at designated
pressure: The anti±lock brake system detects vehicle
speeds using the speed sensors for respective wheels'
turning speeds. The use of tires other than specified
may fail to detect the accurate turning speed, resulting
in a longer stopping distance.

DRIVING TIPS
341
Tires
Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated.
Adjust the tire pressure to the recommended cold tire
pressure indicated below:
Tire pressure, kPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar, psi)
Front 220 (2.2, 32)
Rear 220 (2.2, 32)
 The trailer tires should be inflated to the pressure
recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect
to the total trailer weight.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must comply with federal,
state/provincial and local regulations. See your local
recreational vehicle dealer or rental agency for the
correct type of wiring and relays for your trailer.
Check for correct operation of the turn signals and
stop lights each time you hitch up. Direct splicing may
damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a
malfunction of your lights.
Break±in schedule
 Lexus recommends that you do not tow a trailer with
a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new power train
component (engine, transmission, differential, wheel
bearing, etc.) for the first 800 km (500 miles) of
driving.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more
frequent maintenance due to the additional load. For
this information, please refer to the scheduled
maintenance information in the ªOwner's Manual
Supplement / Maintenance Scheduleº.
 Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket
after approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer
driving.
Pre±towing safety check
 Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded
or unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the
vehicle has an abnormal nose±up or nose±down
condition, and check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other possible causes.
 Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that
it cannot shift.
 Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any
federal, state/provincial or local regulation. If they do
not, install required rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.