2001 Lexus IS300 ignition

AIR CONDITIONING
122
AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING CONTROLS
SV21005

You can adjust the brightness of the display. SeeºInstrument panel light controlº on page 46 for details.
The automatic air conditioning automatically maintains
the set temperature.
In the automatic operation mode, the air conditioning selects
the most suitable fan speed, air flow, air intake and on±off of
the air conditioning according to the temperature.
The ignition key must be in the ºONº position.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do notleave the air conditioning on longer than necessarywhen the engine is not running.

AUDIO
137
Using your audio system: some basics
This section describes some of the basic features of the Lexus
audio system. Some information may not pertain to your
system.
Your audio system works when the ignition key is in the ºACCº
or ºONº position.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not leave the car audio on longer than necessary when theengine is not running.
(a) Turning the system on and off
SV22002
Push this knob to turn the audio system on and off. Turn
this knob to adjust the volume.
The system turns on in the last mode used.
SV22003
Push ºAMº, ºFMº, ºT APEº or ºDISCº to turn on that mode.
The selected mode turns on directly.
Push these buttons if you want to switch from one mode to
another.
If the tape or disc is not set, the cassette player or compact disc
player does not turn on.
You can turn off the cassette player by ejecting the cassette
tape. If the audio system was previously off, then the entire
audio system will be turned off when you eject the cassette
tape. If another function was previously playing, it will come on
again.

AUDIO
150Push
this button on the lower side to skip backward. Push the
button until ºREWº and the number you want to skip appear on
the display.
 If you set ºREW 1º, the player will rewind to the beginning
of the current program.
 When counting the number of programs you want to rewind,
remember to count the current program as well. For
example, if you want to rewind to a song that is two before
the song you are listening to, push this button until ºREW
3º appears on the display.
When the beginning of the tape is reached, the player
automatically resumes normal play.
There must be at least 5 seconds of blank space between
programs for this feature to work correctly.
ºRPTº, ºSKIPº or ºAutomatic program selectionº
features: These features may not work well with some spoken
word, live or classical recordings.
Compact disc player operation
This compact disc player can store 6 discs in the player.
The discs can be inserted or ejected while the ignition
switch is at ºACCº or ºONº.
(a) How to insert and eject the compact discs
SV22032
1. Push the ºLOADº button. Push the button briefly for
one disc, and when inserting more than one disc, push
and hold the button until a beep sounds.
2. Insert the disc into the compact disc slot. A maximum
of 6 discs can be inserted into the player.
If the indicator blinking in amber at the next to the compact disc
slot turns into the green light, you can insert the disc into the
slot. The ºLOAD DISC 4º is displayed at that time. (If you push
LOAD, the indicator blinks in amber. ºWAIT DISC 4º is
displayed while the system is being under preparation for
inserting disc.

SECTION 3 ± 1
160
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Three±way catalytic converter161
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust caution 162
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Before starting the engine 163
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ignition switch with steering lock 164
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake 165
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
How to start the engine 165
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission 166
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electronic throttle control system 176
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 177
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
Traction control system 180
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system 181
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
Brake pad wear indicators 185
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of tires 185
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . Limited ±slip differential
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

STARTING AND DRIVING
161
THREE±WAY CATALYTICCONVERTER
SV31032
Three±way catalytic converters are emission control
devices installed in the exhaust system.
It looks somewhat like a muffler, but its purpose is to reduce
pollutants in the exhaust gas.
CAUTION
Keep people and combustible materials away from
the exhaust pipe while the engine is running. The
exhaust gas is very hot.
 Do not drive, idle or park your vehicle over anything
that might burn easily such as grass, leaves, paper or
rags.
NOTICE
A large amount of unburned gases flowing into the three±way catalytic converter may cause it to overheatand create a fire hazard. To prevent this and otherdamage, observe the following precautions:
Use only unleaded gasoline.
Do not drive with an extremely low fuel level; runningout of fuel could cause the engine to misfire, creatingan excessive load on the three±way catalyticconverter.
Do not allow the engine to run at idle speed for morethan 20 minutes.
Avoid racing the engine.
Do not push±start or pull±start your vehicle.
Do not turn off the ignition while the vehicle ismoving.
Keep your engine in good running order.Malfunctions in the engine electrical system,electronic ignition system or fuel system could cause
an extremely high three±way catalytic converter temperature.
If the engine becomes difficult to start or stallsfrequently, take your vehicle in for a check±up assoon as possible. Remember, your Lexus dealer
knows your vehicle and its three±way catalyticconverter system best.

STARTING AND DRIVING
164
IGNITION SWITCH WITH STEERINGLOCK
SS31002
ºSTARTº ± Starter motor on. The key will return to the
ºONº position when released.
For starting tips, see page 165.
ºONº ± Engine on and all accessories on.
This is the normal driving position.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ºONº position if the engine
is not running. The battery will discharge and theelectronic ignition system could be damaged.
ºACCº ± Accessories such as the radio operate, but the
engine is off. If you leave the key in the ºACCº or ºLOCKº position and open
the driver's door, a buzzer will remind you to remove the key.*
NOTE: *The volume or interval of beep sound can be
changed. Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
SS31003
ºLOCKº ± Engine is off and the steering wheel is locked.
The ignition key can be removed only at this position.
To turn the key from ºACCº to the ºLOCKº position you must put\
the transmission selector lever in the ºPº position and you must
push in the key.
Once you remove the key, the engine immobiliser system is
automatically set. See ºEngine immobiliser systemº on page
10.
When starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the
ºLOCKº 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 ºACCº.

STARTING AND DRIVING
166If 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 198.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time. This
may overheat the starter and wiring systems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to start or stallsfrequently, have the engine checked immediately.
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. ( )
SV31020

STARTING AND DRIVING
168
(a) Normal driving
SV31021

1ºPº (Park) position 2ºNº (Neutral) position
1. Start the engine as instructed in ºHow to start the
engineº on page 165.
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.
SS31019

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 176.