2000 Lexus LS400 lexus LS400 2000 Engine / LEXUS 2000 LS400 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM50533U)

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.

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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 ºPº position
when the brake pedal is depressed with the ignition
switch in ºONº position. ( )

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31L078a

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The shift position is displayed on the instrument
cluster.
P: Parking, engine starting and key removal position
R: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
D: Normal driving position (Shifting into overdrive
possible)
4: Position for engine braking (Shifting into
overdrive not possible)
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ºDº to º4º, engine braking will not
be applied because the cruise control is not
cancelled. For the operation to decrease the
vehicle speed, see page 308.
3, 2: Position for more powerful engine braking
L: Position for maximum engine braking Correct use of the automatic transmission is
explained in the following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the º3º, º2º and ºLº positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever

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(a) Normal driving
31L007b

1ºPº (Park) position 2ºNº (Neutral) position
1. Start the engine as instructed in ºHow to start the
engineº on page 288.
The transmission must be in ºPº or ºNº. The engine will
not start in any drive position even if the ignition key is
turned to ºSTARTº.

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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.

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31l055a

1ºDº (Drive) position 2Brake pedal
4. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift
the selector lever to ºDº.
Always use the ºDº position to improve fuel economy
and quiet driving. Only in this position, shifting into the
overdrive gear is possible. However, while the engine
coolant temperature is low, the transmission will not shift
into the overdrive gear even in the ºDº position. (See º(b)
Using engine brakingº and º(f) Good driving practiceº for
exceptions.)
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.