Lexus ES300 1998 Owner's Manuals (in English)

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY163
NOTICE
Do not pull± or push±start the vehicle. It may damage the vehicle o\
r cause
a collision when the engine starts. Also the three±way catalytic conv\
erter
/ warm up three±way catalytic converter may overheat and become a fir\
e
hazard.
If the engine turns over at its normal speed but will not start ±
1. The engine may be flooded because of repeated cranking. See º(b) Star\
ting
a flooded engineº for further instructions.
2. If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or repair. Call a Lexus
dealer, Roadside Assistance or Customer Service Assistance. (See
ºForewordº.)
(b) Starting a flooded engine
If the engine will not start, your engine may be flooded because of
repeated cranking.
If this happens, turn the key to ºSTARTº with the accelerator pedal held down.
Continue this operation for 30 seconds and then stop cranking. Then try
starting the engine with your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the engine does not start after 30 seconds of cranking, release the key\
, wait
a few minutes and try again.
If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or repair. Call a Lexus
dealer. Roadside Assistance or Customer Service Assistance. (See
ºForewordº.)
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time. This may overheat the
starter and wiring systems.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
164
(c) Jump starting
To avoid serious personal injury and damage to your vehicle which might
result from battery explosion, acid burns, electrical burns, or damaged
electronic components, these instructions must be followed precisely.
If you are unsure about how to follow this procedure, we strongly recommen\
d
that you seek help from your Lexus dealer, Roadside Assistance or Customer
Service Assistance. (See ºForewordº.).
CAUTION
Batteries contain sulfuric acid which is poisonous and
corrosive. Wear protective safety glasses when jump
starting, and avoid spilling acid on your skin, clothing, or
vehicle.
 If you should accidentally get acid on yourself or in your
eyes, remove any contaminated clothing and flush the
affected area with water immediately. Then get immediate
medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with
a sponge or cloth while en route to the medical office.
 The gas normally produced by a battery will explode if a
flame or spark is brought near. Use only standardized
jumper cables and do not smoke or light a match while
jump starting.
NOTICE
The battery used for boosting must be 12 V. Do not jump start unless you
are sure that the booster battery is correct.
40E001±2

5
Discharged battery 6Booster battery

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY165
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE
1. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle, make sure the vehi\
cles
are not touching. Turn off all unnecessary lights and accessories.
2. If required, remove all the vent plugs from the booster battery. Lay a cloth
over the open vents on the booster battery. (This helps reduce the explosion
hazard, personal injuries and burns.)
3. If the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery is not running, st\
art it
and let it run for about 5 minutes. During jump starting, run the engine a\
t about
2000 rpm with the accelerator pedal lightly depressed.
4. Locate
positive (+) and negative (±) terminals of each battery. Connect the
jumper cables in the exact order (
1
2 3 4) shown in the illustration.
1
Connect a positive (red) jumper cable clamp to the positive (+) terminal
of the discharged battery.
2Connect the clamp at the other end of the positive (red) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the booster battery.
3Connect a negative (black) cable clamp to the negative (±) terminal of
the booster battery.
4Connect the clamp at the other end of the negative (black) cable to a
solid, stationary, unpainted metallic point (e.g. cylinder head) away
from the battery. Do not connect it to or near any part that moves when
the engine is cranked.
CAUTION
When making the connections, to avoid serious injury, do not
lean over the battery or accidentally let the jumper cables or
clamps touch anything except the correct battery terminals or
the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal way. After starting, run it at about 2000 rpm
for several minutes with the accelerator pedal lightly depressed. 6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order: the negative
cable and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover cloths which may now contain
sulfuric acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharging is not apparent (for example, lights left
on), you should have it checked.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
166
IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
If your engine coolant temperature gauge indicates overheating, if you
experience a loss of power, or if you hear a loud knocking or pinging noise,
the engine has probably overheated.
When the engine overheats
Pull safely off the road, stop the vehicle and turn on your emergency flashers.
Put the transmission in ºPº and apply the parking brake.
A: If steam is coming from your engine:
Turn off the engine. Leave the hood closed until there is no sign of steam or
coolant. Your engine could have been seriously damaged already. Call your
Lexus dealer for assistance.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury, keep the hood closed until there
is no steam. Escaping steam or coolant is sign of very high
pressure.
B: If no steam is coming from your engine:
Leave the engine running and turn off the air conditioning. Check the
following.
Is the cooling fan operating?
 Is the coolant in the acceptable range?
 Is the engine drive belt O.K.?
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep hands and clothing away
from the moving fan and engine drive belt.
 Do not attempt to remove the radiator cap when the engine
and radiator are hot. Serious injury could result from
scalding hot fluid and steam blown out under pressure.
If the cooling fan is not operating or the coolant is not in the acceptabl\
e range,
turn off the engine and call your Lexus dealer.
If both conditions are O.K., after the engine coolant temperature has cooled
to normal, continue driving your vehicle.
If the engine coolant temperature does not cool down, or your vehicle
overheats again, have it checked as soon as possible by your Lexus dealer.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY167
IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line. Move cautiously off
the road to a safe place ± well away from the traffic. Avoid stopping on the
center divider of a highway. Park on a level spot with firm ground.
2. Stop the engine and turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Firmly set the parking brake and put the transmission in ºPº.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle on the side away from traffic.
5. Read the following instructions thoroughly.
CAUTION
When jacking, be sure to observe the following to reduce the
possibility of personal injury:
Follow jacking instructions.
 Do not start or run the engine while your vehicle is
supported by the jack.
 Stop the vehicle on a level firm ground, firmly set the
parking brake and put the transmission in ºPº. Block the
wheel diagonally opposite to the one being changed if
necessary.
 Make sure to set the jack properly in the jack point. Raising
the vehicle with jack improperly positioned will damage
the vehicle or may allow the vehicle to fall off the jack and
cause personal injury.
Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle is supported
by the jack alone.
 Use the jack only for lifting your vehicle during wheel
changing.
 Do not raise the vehicle with someone in the vehicle.
 When raising the vehicle, do not put an object on or under
the jack.
 Raise the vehicle only high enough to remove and change
the tire.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving with a deflated tire. Driving even a short distan\
ce
can damage a tire beyond repair.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
168
40E002±1

1Spare tire 2Jack 3Wrench 4Jack handle
1. Get the jack, wrench and spare tire.
To prepare yourself for an emergency, you should familiarize yourself with
the use of the jack and each tool, and their storage locations. The jack h\
andle
and wrench are attached at the reverse side of the cover.
2. Remove the cover.
40E003±4

1 Joint
2 When removing the jack, turn the joint by hand in the ºcontractº
direction until the jack is free.
3 When storing, turn the joint by hand in the ºexpandº direction un\
til the
jack is firmly secured to prevent it from flying forward during a
collision or sudden braking.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY169
40E004±1
To remove the spare tire:
1Loosen the nut and remove it.
2Remove the spare tire cover.
3Loosen the bolt and remove it.
When storing the spare tire, place it with the outer side of the wheel facing\
up.
Then bolt the tire in place and install the spare tire cover to prevent the \
tire
from flying forward during a collision or sudden braking.
40E005±1
3. Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire to keep the vehicle
from rolling when it is jacked up. When blocking the wheel, place a wheel block in front of the front wheels or
behind the rear wheels.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
170
40E006
4. Loosen all the wheel nuts.
Always loosen the wheel nuts before raising the vehicle.
Turn the nuts counterclockwise to loosen them. To get maximum leverage,
fit the wrench to the nut so that the handle is on the right side, as shown\
above.
Grab the wrench near the end of the handle and pull up on the handle. Be
careful that the wrench does not slip off the nut.
Do not remove the nuts yet ± just unscrew them about one±half turn\
.
40E007
5. Position the jack at the jack points as shown.
Make sure the jack is positioned on a level and solid surface.
40E008±1
6. After making sure no one is in the vehicle, raise it high enough so that
the spare tire can be installed.
Allow for the fact that you need more ground clearance when putting on the
spare tire than when removing the flat tire.
To raise the vehicle, insert the jack handle into the jack (it is a loos\
e fit) and
turn it clockwise. As the jack touches the vehicle and begins to lift,
double±check that it is properly positioned.
CAUTION
Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle is supported by
the jack alone.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY171
40E009±1
7. Remove the wheel nuts and remove the flat tire.
Lift the flat tire straight off and put it aside.
40E010
Before putting on the wheel, remove any corrosion on the mounting surfaces
with a wire brush or such. Installation of wheels without good metal±to±metal
contact at the mounting surface can cause wheel nuts to loosen and eventually
cause a wheel to come off while driving.
40E011
8. Reinstall all the wheel nuts finger tight.
Align the holes in the wheel with the bolts. Then lift up the wheel and get \
at
least the top bolt started through its hole. Wiggle the tire and press it back over
the other bolts.
Reinstall the wheel nuts and tighten them as much as you can by hand. Press
the tire back and see if you can tighten them more.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
172
40E012
9. Lower the vehicle completely and tighten the wheel nuts.
Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the vehicle.
Use only the wheel nut wrench to tighten the nuts. Do not use other tools \
or
any additional leverage other than your hands, such as a hammer, pipe or your
foot. Make sure the wrench is securely engaged over the nut.
Tighten each nut a little at a time in the order shown. Repeat the process unti\
l
all the nuts are tight.
CAUTION
 When lowering the vehicle, make sure all portions of your
body and all other persons around will not be injured as the
vehicle is lowered to the ground.
 As soon as possible after changing wheels, have the wheel
nuts tightened by torque wrench at 103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76
ft´lbf.).
10. After changing the wheel, check the air pressure of the replaced tire.
Stow all the tools, jack and flat tire securely.
If the pressure of the replaced tire is low, drive slowly to the nearest service
station and fill to the correct pressure.
Do not forget to reinstall the tire valve cap as dirt and moisture could get into
the valve core and possible cause air leakage. If the cap is missing, put a new
one on as soon as possible.
This is the same procedure for changing or rotating your tires.
CAUTION
Before driving, make sure all the tools, jack and flat tire are
securely in place in their storage location to reduce the
possibility of personal injury during a collision or sudden
braking.