2001 Lexus ES300 air conditioning

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(a) Climate control
SETTING OPERATION ± automatic control
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1. Push the ªAUTOº button.
An indicator light will illuminate to show that the
automatic operation mode has been selected.
Air flow quantity, switching of the diffusers, on±off of the
air conditioning and switching of the air intake between
RECIRCULATED AIR and OUTSIDE AIR are
automatically adjusted. The operation status is shown
by each indicator.
When one of the manual control buttons is depressed
while operating in automatic mode, the operation
corresponding to the button depressed is set. Other
conditions continue to be adjusted automatically.
Push the ªOFFº button to turn the air conditioning system
off.

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2. Turn the ªTEMPº knob until the desired
temperature is displayed.
The ªTEMPº knob is used to set the desired passenger
compartment temperature. The temperature of air
delivered to the passenger compartment will be
controlled automatically according to the setting. The
figures on the panel indicate degrees Fahrenheit or
Centigrade.
When you adjust the ªTEMPº knob to maximum cooling,
a ªMAX. COLDº message will appear on the display and
the air intake mode will be automatically changed to
RECIRCULATED AIR. SETTING OPERATION ± manual control
If manual air flow selection is desired ±

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The outlets from which air is delivered can be selected
manually by pushing the button. The function of each
mode is as follows:
1Panel ± Air flows mainly from the instrument panel
vents.
2 Bi±level ± Air flows from both the floor vents and
the instrument panel vents.
3 Floor ± Air flows mainly from the floor vents.
4Floor/Windshield ± Air flows mainly from the floor
vents and windshield vents. If quick heating or cooling is desired ±
Turn the ªTEMPº knob until ªMAX. HOTº or ªMAX.
COLDº appears on the display.
When the ªMAX. COLDº is selected, the air intake is
automatically set to RECIRCULATED AIR mode.
If manual fan speed control is desired ±

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1Fan speed at low 2Fan speed at high
The fan speed can be set to your desired speed by
pushing the appropriate side of fan speed control button.
The higher the fan speed is, the more air is delivered.
Pushing the ªOFFº button turns off the fan.
To remove exterior windshield frost, use the high speed
setting. If manual switching of air intake is desired ±

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The air intake control button is used to switch the air
intake between the OUTSIDE AIR mode and
RECIRCULATED AIR mode.
With the button in the OUTSIDE AIR mode, the
OUTSIDE AIR mode indicator light will come on and the
system will take fresh outside air into the vehicle.
If quick circulation of cooled air is desired, push the air
intake control button for RECIRCULATED AIR. The
RECIRCULATED AIR mode indicator light will come on.
For normal use, it is best to keep the air intake control
button set to OUTSIDE AIR mode. If recirculated air is
used
during heating, the windows will fog up more easily.
When the air conditioning is ON, if the engine coolant
temperature becomes extremely high, the
RECIRCULATED AIR mode is automatically selected.
This is not a malfunction. When the engine coolant
temperature is lowered, the previous mode resumes.
If manual on±off of the air conditioning is desired ±
Push the ªA/Cº button to turn the air conditioning on and
push it again to turn the air conditioning off.
The air conditioning does not work if the outside
temperature is lowered down to around 0 C (32F).
If the system is used for ventilation, heating in dry
weather or removing frost or exterior fog on the
windshield, turn the air conditioning off once it is no
longer required. This will improve fuel economy. The air
conditioning can be used for year±round automatic temperature
control including cooling and dehumidifying
operation.
If the air conditioning compressor does not operate, the
indicator of the ªA/Cº button will blink. If the indicator of
the ªA/Cº button blinks even when the ªA/Cº button is
pushed again, have the compressor checked by your
nearest Lexus dealer.
Displaying the outside temperature ±
When you push the ªOUTSIDE TEMPº knob, the
temperature display shows the outside temperature. To
return to the display of the current set temperature, push
the knob again. The temperature display ranges from
±30 C (±22 F) up to 50C (122F).

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(b) Windshield defogging and defrosting
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To remove interior fog on the windshield ±
Push the ªFRONT WINDSHIELDº button.
To remove frost or exterior fog on the windshield ±
1. Turn the ªTEMPº knob at the maximum temperature.
2. Push the ªFRONT WINDSHIELDº button.
3. Push the fan speed control button on the right side to
obtain a maximum air flow.
4. Leave the air conditioning on±off button off.
When the ªFRONT WINDSHIELDº button is pushed, air
flows mainly from the windshield vents and the
OUTSIDE AIR mode is automatically set. This setting
clears the front view more quickly.
If you want to return the setting to RECIRCULATED AIR
mode, push the air intake control button once again.
Pushing the ª
FRONT WINDSHIELDº button turns on the
defroster±linked air conditioning. At this time, the ªA/Cº
button indicator comes on regardless of whether or not
the ªA/Cº button is pushed in. This is to clean up the front
view more quickly.
To turn off the air conditioning alone, push the ªA/Cº
button once again.
When the ªA/Cº button is not pushed in, pushing another
air flow control button turns off the air conditioning.
Pushing the ªFRONT WINDSHIELDº button once again
returns the air flow mode to the last one used.
CAUTION
Do not use the ªFRONT WINDSHIELDº button during
cooled air operation in extremely humid weather. The
difference between the temperature of the outside air
and that of the windshield could cause the outer surface
of the windshield to fog up blocking your vision.