2003 Lexus ES300 Tail lights

SWITCHES
30
Automatic headlight leveling system
(vehicles with discharge headlight only)
Vehicle position changes according to loading condition,
passengers getting on and off, vehicle acceleration and
deceleration, etc. However, as the headlight beam level is
always maintained automatically by the system at the proper
level, your headlights do not dazzle other road users.
If this system fails, the warning light in the instrument cluster
comes on. If this occurs, have your vehicle checked by your
Lexus dealer.
If you replace the rear suspension and/or the vehicle height
changes, contact your Lexus dealer to check the automatic
headlight leveling system and headlight beam level.
HEADLIGHT SWITCH(Canada)
To turn the lights on, twist the knob on the end of the lever.
FIRST CLICKST OP: Only the parking, tail, license plate, side
marker and instrument panel lights turn on.
SECOND CLICKSTOP: Headlights also turn on.
THIRD CLICKSTOP (“AUTO”): The headlights and all other
lights automatically turn on depending on the darkness of the
surroundings.*
NOTE:
* The sensitivity of the automatic light control sensor can be
changed.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.

SWITCHES
31
With
the knob in the “AUTO” position, there may be a case
that the headlights do not turn on immediately, even when
the vehicle enters a dark place such as a tunnel or parking
lot according to lighting conditions. In this case, we
recommend you to twist the knob manually to the second
clickstop to turn on the headlights immediately.
When the tail lights are on, the tail light indicator lights up in the
instrument cluster.
When the headlight switch is turned to the first or second
clickstop, the brightness of the instrument cluster will be
reduced slightly unless the instrument panel light control dial
is turned fully up.
The automatic light control sensor is on the top of the driver’s
side instrument panel.
Do not place anything on the instrument panel, and/or do not
affix anything on the windshield to block this sensor.
When the headlights are on, they automatically turn off about
30 seconds after any door or trunk lid is opened and closed
with the ignition key turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position\
.*
If you want to turn off the lights immediately, push the “LOCK”
button on the wireless remote control key twice. The lights also
can be turned off immediately by pushing the “LOCK” button
on the wireless remote control key with all the doors locked and
the trunk lid closed.
NOTE:
* The time before turning off the lights can be changed.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.

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GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
57
(j) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the doors are completely closed.
(k) Rear Light Failure Warning Light
If this light comes on when the headlight switch is turned on (at
the first or second clickstop), it indicates that one or more of the
tail lights are burned out.
If it comes on when the brake pedal is depressed, one or more
stop lights are burned out.
Have defective bulbs replaced as soon as possible.
(l) Vehicle Skid Control System/Traction Control System Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in the
vehicle skid control system or traction control system.
The light will come on when the ignition key is turned to “ON”
and will go off after a few seconds.
If the light comes on while driving, the system does not work.
However, as conventional braking operates when applied,
there is no problem to continue your driving.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer:
The warning light does not come on after the ignition key is
turned to “ON”.
 The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to “ON”.
 The warning light comes on while driving. The “TRAC OFF” indicator light will come on when the “VSC”
warning light comes on even if the “TRAC OFF” switch is not
pushed.
(m) Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light comes on when the fluid level in the tank becomes
nearly empty. Fill the tank as soon as possible.
(n) Automatic Headlight Leveling System
Warning Light (vehicles with discharge
headlight only)
This light warns that when there is a problem somewhere
in the automatic headlight leveling system.
If it comes on, have your vehicle checked by your Lexus dealer.
(o) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel level in the tank becomes
nearly empty. Fill the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the movement of fuel in the tank,
the low fuel level warning light may come on earlier than usual.
(p) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove the key when you open the
driver’s door with the ignition key in the “ACC” or “LOCK”
position.

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INTERIOR EQUIPMENT
67
All of the lights will come on when any of the doors are
opened.*
After all the doors are closed, the lights remain
on for about 15 seconds before fading out.**
NOTE:
* The operating condition can be changed.
** The duration of lighting can be changed and only the foot
lights can be set not to come on.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
However, in the following cases, the lights go out immediately:
 All the doors are closed and the ignition key is in the “ACC”
or “ON” position. (The foot lights come on when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” posi tion. See the following “Foot
lights”.)
 All the doors are locked.
When all the doors are unlocked simultaneously using either
the key or the wireless remote control, all of the lights will come
on and remain on for about 15 seconds before fading out.
Foot lights
The foot lights also come on when the ignition switch is in the
“ON” position with the selector lever in the “P” position. When
the selector lever is moved out of the “P” position, the foot lights
will be dimmed.*
NOTE:
* The foot lights can be set to turn off when the selector lever
is moved out of the “P” position.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
When the instrument panel light control dial is turned fully
down, the foot lights will turn off.
CLOCK
The digital clock indicates the time with the ignition key at
the “ACC” or “ON” position. To reset the hour, press the
“H” button. To reset the minutes, press the “M” button.
To adjust the time to the nearest hour, press the “:00”
button.
For example, if the “:00” button is pressed when the time is
between 9:30 − 9:59 or between 10:01 − 10:29, the time will
change to 10:00.
With the tail lights on, the brightness of the time indication will
be reduced.
If the electrical power source has been disconnected from the
clock, the time display will automatically be set to 1:00 (one
o’clock).

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INTERIOR EQUIPMENT
70
GLOVE BOX
 1Unlock 2Open 3Lock
To open the glove box door, pull the lever. To lock the
glove box door, insert the master key and turn it
clockwise.
With the tail lights on, the glove box light will come on when the
glove box door is open.
The trunk lid opener main switch is installed inside the glove
box. See page 85 for further information.
CAUTION
To reduce the chance of injury in case of an accident or
a sudden stop, always keep the glove box door closed
while driving.
REAR CONSOLE BOX
14E104
 1 Upper tray 2Console box
To access the upper tray, push the lock release button and
raise the lid. To access the console box, pull up the lock
release lever and raise the lid.
The rear console box light comes on when the tail lights are
turned on.
CAUTION
To reduce the chance of injury in case of an accident or
a sudden stop, always keep the rear console box closed
while driving.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
101
OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS
Adjust the mirror so that you can just see the side of your
vehicle in the mirror.
Be careful when judging the size or distance of any object seen
in the outside rear view mirror on the passenger’s side. It is a
convex mirror with a curved surface. Any object seen in a
convex mirror will look smaller and farther away than if seen in
a normal flat mirror.
When the inside rear view mirror darkens in AUTO mode, the
outside rear view mirrors also darken to reduce the reflection
of the headlights of the following vehicle. For details, see
“Inside rear view mirror” on page 103. When you push the rear window and outside rear view mirror
defogger switch, the heater panels in the outside rear view
mirrors
will quickly clear the mirror surface. (See “Rear window
and outside rear view mirror defogger switch” on page 39.)
CAUTION
 Do not adjust the mirror while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause the driver to mishandle the
vehicle and an accident may occur resulting in death
or serious injuries.
 Since the mirror surfaces can get hot, do not touch
them when the rear window and outside rear view
mirror defogger switch is on.

THEFT DETERRENT
156
THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM
To deter theft of the vehicle, this system is designed to
sound an alarm if any of the doors, trunk or hood is
forcibly unlocked or the battery terminal is disconnected
and then reconnected while the vehicle is locked.
The alarm blows the horn intermittently and flashes the
headlights, tail lights and turn signal lights.
Further more when the interior light switch is in the “DOOR”
position, the interior light turns on.
After the alarm is activated, when you unlock any door using
an ignition key or wireless remote control, the tail lights turn on
for about 2 seconds to inform you that the system was
activated.
 Security indicator light
Setting the system
1. Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” position and
remove it.
The engine immobiliser system causes the indicator light to
flash.
2. Close and lock all the doors, trunk and hood using an
ignition key or wireless remote control.
If you lock them with wireless remote control, the turn signal
lights flash once.
The flashing indicator light will remain on when all the doors,
trunk and hood are closed and locked.
3. After 30 seconds, the indicator starts flashing and the
system is set.

MAINTENANCE
290Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the maintenance schedule. (For
scheduled maintenance information, please refer to the
“Owner’s Manual Supplement/Scheduled Maintenance”.)
See page 326 for additional information.
Fluid leaks
Check
underneath for leaking fuel, oil, water or other fluid after
the vehicle has been parked for a while. If you smell fuel fumes
or notice any leak, have the cause found and corrected
immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors, including trunk lid, operate smoothly and
all latches lock securely. Make sure the engine hood
secondary latch secures the hood when the primary latch is
released.
Vehicle interior
Items listed below should be checked regularly, e.g. while
performing periodic services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlight, stop lights, tail lights, turn signal
lights, and other lights are working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers function properly.
Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified freeplay. Be alert for changes
in steering condition, such as hard steering, excessive
freeplay or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as seat adjusters,
seatback recliner, etc. operate smoothly. Check that the head
restraints move up and down smoothly and that the locks hold
securely in any latched position.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as buckles, retractors
and anchors operate properly and smoothly. Make sure the
belt webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or damaged.