warning Lexus ES330 2004 Destination Input and Route Guidance / LEXUS 2004 ES330 (OM33633U) Owner's Guide

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
153 To ensure the system correctly detects an adult sitting in the
front passenger seat, make sure the above do not occur.
Make sure the AIRBAG ONº indicator light is illuminated when
an adult is seated in the front passenger seat. If the AIRBAG
OFFº indicator light is illuminated, ask the passenger to sit up
straight, well back in the seat, and with the seat belt worn
correctly. If the AIRBAG OFFº indicator light still remains
illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat,
or if that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully
rearward.
The AIRBAG OFFº and AIRBAG ONº indicator lights will
be initially illuminated when the ignition switch is turned
to the ONº position. It will remain for about four seconds
and then go off. After the two seconds, the front
passenger occupant classification system operates and
judges which indicator light to turn on.
The SRS warning light and AIRBAG OFFº indicator light
will be illuminated if there is a malfunction in the front
passenger occupant classification system.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
154
Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification system
Indicator/warning lightDevices
Condition detected
by the front
passenger occupant
classification systemAIRBAG
OFFº and
AIRBAG
ONº
indicator
lights
SRS
warning light
Front
passenger's
seat belt
reminder
light
Front
passenger
airbagSide airbag
on the front
passenger
seatCurtain
shield airbag
in the front
passenger
sideFront
passenger's
seat belt
pretensioner
1Adult*1AIRBAG
ONºOFFFlashing*4Activated
2Child *2 or child
restraint system*3AIRBAG
OFFºOFFFlashing*4DeactivatedActivated
3UnoccupiedNot
illuminatedOFFOFFDeactivatedActivatedDeactivated
4There is a
malfunction in the
systemAIRBAG
OFFºONOFFDeactivatedActivated
*1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may
recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and posture.
*
2: When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her
as an adult depending on his/her physique or posture.
*
3: Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger seat. A forward-facing child restraint system should
only be installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable. (See Child restraint systemº on page 158 as for installing
the child restraint system.)
*
4: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
156
When it is unavoidable to install the forward-facing
child restraint system on the front passenger seat,
install the child restraint system on the front
passenger seat in the proper order. (As for the
installation order, see Child restraint systemº on
page 158.)
Do not remove the seat.
Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to
severe impact. Otherwise, the SRS warning light may
come on to indicate a malfunction of the detection
system. In this case, contact your Lexus dealer
immediately.
In addition to the precautions outlined above, the AIRBAG
ONº indicator light may be illuminated when a child sits in the
front passenger seat or a forward-facing child restraint system
is installed on the front passenger seat. If the AIRBAG OFFº
indicator light is not illuminated in these circumstances, the
front passenger airbag and side airbag on the front passenger
side are in activated condition Ð the airbags will deploy if an
impact meets the deployment criteria. Refer to all the cautions
in this Section and Child restraintº on page 156.
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of appropriate child restraint
systems for children.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A. and Canada now require
the use of a child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAE J1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the child should
sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using the vehicle's
seat belt. See Seat beltsº on page 112 for details.
CAUTION
For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint system depending
on age and size of the child. Holding a child in your
arms is not a substitute for a child restraint system.
In an accident, the child can be crushed against the
windshield, or between you and the vehicle's interior.
Lexus strongly urges use of a proper child restraint
system which conforms to the size of the child,
installed on the rear seat. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat.

STARTING AND DRIVING
282
Cruise control failure warning
If the CRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster flashes
when using the cruise control, push the main switch to turn the
system off and then push it again to turn it on.
If any of the following conditions then occurs, there is some
trouble in the cruise control system. Contact your Lexus dealer
and have your Lexus inspected.
The indicator light does not come on.
The indicator light flashes again.
The indicator light goes out after it comes on.
ELECTRONIC MODULATED
SUSPENSION
This electronic modulated suspension adjusts the
damping effect on the shock absorbers with the control
switch. Select one of the 4 modes which is suited to the
driving conditions with the control switch to provide good
riding comfort and stability.
1For sporty type driving such as on winding mountain
roads and high speed driving
2For moderate high speed driving
3For ordinary driving such as in the city traffic
4For driving on a bumpy road
5Soft
6Firm

STARTING AND DRIVING
285
VSCº warning light

U.S.A.

Canada
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in the
traction control system or the vehicle stability control system.
The light will come on when the ignition key is turned to ONº
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 ONº.
The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to ONº.
The warning light comes on while driving.
The TRAC OFFº indicator light will come on when the VSCº
warning light comes on even if the TRAC OFFº switch is not
pushed.

STARTING AND DRIVING
287
VSCº warning light

U.S.A.

Canada
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in the
vehicle stability control system or the traction control system.
The light will come on when the ignition key is turned to ONº
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 ONº.
The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to ONº.
The warning light comes on while driving.
The TRAC OFFº indicator light will come on when the VSCº
warning light comes on even if the TRAC OFFº switch is not
pushed.

STARTING AND DRIVING
288
BRAKE SYSTEM
The tandem master cylinder brake system is a hydraulic
system with two separate sub-systems. If either sub-system
should fail, the other will still work. However, the pedal will be
harder to press, and your stopping distance will increase. Also,
the brake system warning light may come on.
CAUTION
Do not drive your vehicle with only a single brake
system. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
Brake booster
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to power-assist the
brakes. If the engine should quit while you are driving, you can
bring the vehicle to a stop with normal pedal pressure. There
is enough reserved vacuum for one or two stops but no more!
CAUTION
Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the pedal uses up your reserved
vacuum.
Even if the power assist is completely lost, the brakes
will still work. But you will have to push the pedal
hard, much harder than normal. And your braking
distance will increase.
Anti-lock brake system
The anti-lock brake system is designed to help prevent
lock-up of the wheels during a sudden braking or braking
on slippery road surfaces. This assists in providing
directional stability and steering performance of the
vehicle under these circumstances.
Effective way to press the ABS brake pedal: When the
anti-lock brake system function is in action, you may feel the
brake pedal pulsating and hear a noise. In this situation, to
let the anti-lock brake system work for you, just hold the
brake pedal down more firmly. Do not pump the brake in a
panic stop. This will result in reduced braking performance.
The anti-lock brake 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).
Depressing the brake pedal on slippery road surfaces such as
on a manhole cover, a steel plate at a construction site, joints
in a bridge, etc. on a rainy day tends to activate the anti-lock
brake system.

STARTING AND DRIVING
290ABSº warning light

1U.S.A.2Canada
Vehicles without vehicle stability control system Ð
The light comes on when the ignition key is turned to the ONº
position. If the anti-lock brake system works properly, the light
turns off after a few seconds. Thereafter, if either of the
systems malfunctions, the light comes on again.
When the ABSº warning light is on (and the brake system
warning light is off), the anti-lock brake system does not
operate, but the brake system still operates conventionally.
When the ABSº 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. 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 ONº 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.
CAUTION
If the ABSº warning light remains on together with the
brake system warning light, immediately stop your
vehicle at a safe place and contact your Lexus dealer.
In this case, not only the anti-lock brake system will fail
but also the vehicle will become extremely unstable
during braking.
Vehicles with vehicle stability control system Ð
The light comes on when the ignition key is turned to the ONº
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
291 When the ABSº 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
stability control system do not operate, but the brake system
still operates conventionally.
When the ABSº 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 components monitored
by the warning light. 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 ONº 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.
CAUTION
If the ABSº warning light remains on together with the
brake system warning light, immediately stop your
vehicle at a safe place and contact your Lexus dealer.
In this case, not only the anti-lock brake system will fail
but also the vehicle will become extremely unstable
during braking.
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
stability 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 ABS
warning lightº on page 62.

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292
BRAKE PAD WEAR LIMIT
INDICATORS
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.