2001 Lexus ES300 Owner's Manuals (in English)

STARTING AND DRIVING
280ªSTARTº ± Starter motor on. The key will return to
the ªONº position when released.
For starting tips, see page 283.
ªONº ± Engine on and all accessories on.
This is the normal driving position.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ªONº position if the
engine is not running. The battery will dischargeand the electronic ignition system could bedamaged.
ªACCº ± Accessories such as the radio operate, but
the engine is off. If you leave the key in the ªACCº or ªLOCKº position and
open the driver's door, a buzzer will remind you to
remove the key.
31E070

STARTING AND DRIVING
281
ªLOCKº ± Engine is off and the steering wheel is
locked. The ignition key can be removed only at this
position.
You must push in the key to turn it from ªACCº to the
ªLOCKº position. The selector lever must be put in the
ªPº position before turning the key to the ªLOCKº
position.
Once you remove the key, the engine immobiliser
system is automatically set. See ªEngine immobiliser
systemº on page 12.
When
starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the
ªLOCKº 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 ªACCº.
PARKING BRAKE
31E080

STARTING AND DRIVING
282To set: Hold the regular brake pedal down with your
right foot. Push down the parking brake pedal with
your left foot.
To release: Hold the regular brake pedal down with
your right foot and push the parking brake pedal
with your left foot. When you lift your left foot, the
parking brake pedal will follow it to the released
position.
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
283
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 ªPº. If you need to restart the
engine while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever
in ªNº. 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 ªBefore 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 ªSTARTº. 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 ªIf your vehicle will not startº on page 343.
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.

With the brake pedal depressed, shift
while holding the lock release button
in. (The ignition switch must be in the
ªONº position.)
Shift while holding the lock release
button in.
Shift normally.
STARTING AND DRIVING
284
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 ªPº position
when the b rake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ªONº position and the lock release button
depressed). ( )
31E005a
1
Lock release button

STARTING AND DRIVING
285
2Overdrive switch
For selecting either a three±speed or four±speed
transmission.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by turning off the
overdrive switch, engine braking will not be
enabled because the cruise control is not
cancelled. For the operation to decrease the
vehicle speed, see page 300.
3Shift position indicator
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and key removal
position
R: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
D: Normal driving (with overdrive on) position
2: Position for stronger engine braking
L: Position for maximum engine braking Correct use of the automatic transmission is
explained in the following parts.
(a) Overdrive switch
(b) Normal driving
(c) Using engine braking
(d) Using the ª2º and ªLº positions
(e) Backing up
(f) Parking
(g) Good driving practice
(h) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
(i) If you cannot shift the selector lever out of ªPº
position

STARTING AND DRIVING
286
(a)Overdrive switch
31E082
You can select either third gear (with overdrive off) or
fourth gear (with overdrive on) by pushing this switch.
To turn the overdrive off, push the switch. The ªO/D
OFFº indicator light should come on. To turn the
overdrive on again, push the switch again. The ªO/D
OFFº indicator light should go off.
Always drive your vehicle with the overdrive on for better
fuel economy and quieter driving.
If the engine is turned off when the overdrive is off and
restarted, the overdrive will automatically be on.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and releasing the
overdrive switch, engine braking will not be enabled
because the cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed, see page 300.

STARTING AND DRIVING
287
(b) Normal driving
31E006

1ªPº (Park) position 2ªNº (Neutral) position
1. Start the engine as instructed in ªHow to start the
engineº on page 283.
The transmission must be in ªPº or ªNº. The engine will
not start in ªRº, ª2º, ªLº or ªDº position even if \
the ignition
key is turned to ªSTARTº.