2001 Lexus ES300 Owner's Manuals (in English)

STARTING AND DRIVING
312
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 without 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 appropriate
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
313
ªABSº warning light
31E068
The light comes on when the ignition key is turned to the
ªONº position. If the anti±lock brake system and the
brake
assist system work properly, the light turns off after
a few seconds. Thereafter, if either of the systems
malfunctions, the light comes on again.
When the ªABSº warning light is on (and the brake
system warning light is off), the anti±lock brake system,
the brake assist system, the traction control system and
the vehicle skid control system do not operate, but the
brake system still operates conventionally.
When the ªABSº warning light is on (and the brake
system warning light is off), the anti±lock brake system
does not operate so that the wheels could lock up during
a sudden braking or braking on slippery road surfaces. If either of the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction somewhere in the parts
monitored by the warning light system. Contact
your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible to service the
vehicle.
 The light does not come on when the ignition key is
turned to the ªONº position, or remains on.
 The light comes on while you are driving.
A warning light turning on briefly during operation does
not indicate a problem.

STARTING AND DRIVING
314
Drum±in±disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum±in±disc type parking brake
system. This type of brake system needs
bedding±down of the brake shoes periodically or
whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drums are
replaced.
Have your Lexus dealer perform the bedding±down.
Brake assist system (Vehicles with
vehicle skid control system)
When you slam the brakes on, the brake assist
system judges as an emergency stop and provides
more powerful braking for a driver who cannot hold
down the brake pedal firmly.
When you slam the brakes on, more powerful braking
will be applied. At this time, you may hear a sound in the
engine compartment and feel the vibrations of the brake
pedal. This does not indicate a malfunction.
The brake assist system becomes operative after the
vehicle has accelerated to a speed in excess of
approximately 10 km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when
the vehicle decelerates to a speed below approximately
5 km/h (3 mph).
For an explanation of this system's warning light, see
ªABS warning lightº on page 65 and ªVehicle skid control
system warning lightsº on page 65.

STARTING AND DRIVING
315
BRAKE PAD WEAR LIMITINDICATORS
31E016
The brake pad wear limit indicators on your disc
brakes give a warning noise when the brake pads
are worn to the extent that replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise while driving,
have the brake pads checked and replaced by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible. Expensive rotor
damage can result if the pads are not replaced when
needed.TYPES OF TIRES
Determine what kind of tires your vehicle is originally
equipped with.
1. Summer tires
Summer tires are high±speed capability tires best suited
to highway driving under dry conditions.
Since summer tires do not have the same traction
performance as snow tires, summer tires are
inadequate for driving on snow±covered or icy roads.
For driving on snow±covered or icy roads, we
recommend using snow tires. If installing snow tires, be
sure to replace all four tires.

STARTING AND DRIVING
316
2. All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction
in snow and to be adequate for driving in most winter
conditions, as well as for use all year round.
All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose
snow. Also, all season tires fall short in acceleration and
handling performance compared with summer tires in
highway driving.

STARTING AND DRIVING
317
CAUTION
Do not mix summer and all season tires on your
vehicle as this can cause dangerous handling
characteristics, resulting in loss of control.
 Do not use tires other than the manufacturer's
designated tires, and never mix tires or wheels of the
sizes different from the originals.

SECTION 3 ± 2
318
STARTING AND DRIVING
Driving tips
Break±in period319
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Operation in foreign countries 319
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Tips for driving in various conditionss 319
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Winter driving tips 321
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Dinghy towing 324
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Trailer towing 327
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How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer 338

DRIVING TIPS
319
BREAK±IN PERIOD
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
You need not follow a break±in schedule with your new
Lexus. But following a few simple tips for the first 1600
km (1000 miles) can add to the future economy and long
life of your vehicle:
Do not drive over 88 km/h (55 mph).
 Avoid overrevving. Maintain engine speed between
2000 and 4000 rpm.
 Avoid full±throttle starts.
 Try to avoid hard stops during the first 300 km (200
miles).
 Do not drive for a long time at any single speed, either
fast or slow.
 Do not tow a trailer during the first 800 km (500 miles).
OPERATION IN FOREIGN
COUNTRIES
If you plan to drive your Lexus in another country ...
First, comply with the vehicle registration laws.
Second, confirm the availability of the correct fuel
(unleaded and minimum octane rating).
TIPS FOR DRIVING IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. This will
allow you much better control.
 Drive slowly onto curbs and, if possible, at a right
angle. Avoid driving onto high, sharp±edged objects
and other road hazards. Failure to do so can lead to
severe tire damage resulting in tire bursts.
 When parking on a hill, turn the front wheels until they
touch the curb so that the vehicle will not roll. Apply
the parking brake, and place the transmission in ªPº.
If necessary, block the wheels.
 Washing your vehicle or driving through deep water
may get the brakes wet. To see whether they are wet,
check that there is no traffic near you and then press
the pedal lightly. If you do not feel a normal braking
force, the brakes are probably wet. To dry them, drive
the vehicle cautiously while lightly pressing the brake
pedal with the parking brake applied. If they still do
not work safely, pull to the side of the road and call a
Lexus dealer for assistance.