brake light lexus LS400 1994 Gauges, Meters and Service Reminder Indicators / 1994 LS400: STARTING AND DRIVING

STARTING AND DRIVING
121 When starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the
“LOCK” 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 in motion, turn the key only to “ACC”.
PARKING BRAKE
Release
Set
To set: Fully depress the parking brake pedal.
To release: Pull the parking brake release lever.
Before leaving your vehicle, firmly apply the parking brake.
CAUTION:
Before driving, make sure the parking brake is fully
released and that the parking brake reminder light is off.
HOW TO START THE ENGINE
Before cranking
1. Apply the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
3. Put the selector lever in “P”. If you need to restart the engine
while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever in “N”. A
starter safety device will prevent the starter from operating if
the selector lever is in any drive position.
4. Depress the brake pedal and hold it to the floor until you are
ready to drive off.
Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to follow the instructions in
“Before cranking”.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system / sequential multiport fuel
injection system in your engine automatically controls the
proper air-fuel mixture for starting. You can start a cold or hot
engine as follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, crank the engine by
turning the key to “START”. Release it when the engine starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 seconds, you are ready
to drive.
If 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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
124Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system to
minimize the possibility of incorrect operation. This means you
can only shift out of “P” position when the brake pedal is
depressed (with the ignition switch in “ON” position and the
lock release button pressed in).
Correct use of the automatic transmission is explained in the
following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the “2” and “L” positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) If you cannot shift the selector lever out of “P” position
(h) If the “O / D OFF” indicator light flashes
(a) Normal driving
“P” (Park)
position
“N” (Neutral)
position
1. Start the engine as instructed in “How to start the
engine” on page 121.
The transmission must be in “P” or “N”. The engine will not start
in “R”, “2”, “L” or “D” position even if the key is turned to
“START”.
Driving pattern
selector switchIndicator light
Power position
Normal position
2. Set the driving pattern selector switch to the NORMAL
position.
Your transmission has a driving pattern selector switch which
allows you to select either “NORM” or “PWR” to suit your
driving condition. For ordinary driving, Lexus recommends that
you use the NORMAL position to improve fuel economy.
3. For more powerful acceleration and sporty driving, use
the POWER position.
In the POWER position, the “ECT PWR” 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
NORMAL position.

STARTING AND DRIVING
125
Overdrive switch
Indicator light
On
Off
4. Set the overdrive switch to the ON position.
Always set the overdrive switch to the ON position to improve
fuel economy and quiet driving. (See “(b) Using engine
braking” and “(f) Good driving practice” for exceptions.)
Brake pedal
“D” (Drive)
position
5. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the
selector lever to “D”.
CAUTION:
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.
6. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress the
accelerator pedal slowly for smooth starting.
The vehicle will start in the first gear and automatically shift to
the most suitable gear for the running conditions, such as the
vehicle speed, hill climbing, hard towing, etc. However, while
the engine coolant temperature is low and the vehicle is
traveling at low speed, the transmission will not shift into the
overdrive gear even with the overdrive switch on.
In “D” position, the automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for the running conditions such as hill
climbing, hard towing, etc.

STARTING AND DRIVING
128
(f) Good driving practice

If the transmission repeatedly upshifts and downshifts
between the third and overdrive gears when climbing a
gentle slope, it is suggested that the overdrive switch be
turned off. Be sure to turn the switch on immediately
afterward.

When towing a trailer, in order to maintain efficient engine
braking and electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
CAUTION:
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped
with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from
creeping.
NOTICE:
Do not hold the vehicle on an upgrade with the
accelerator pedal. This can cause the transmission to
overheat. Always use the brake pedal or parking brake.
(g) If you cannot shift the selector lever out
of “P” position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from “P” position even
though the brake pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see “If you cannot shift
automatic transmission selector lever” on page 163.
(h) If the “O / D OFF” indicator light flashes
If the “O / D OFF” indicator light flashes, contact your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible. There may be trouble in the
transmission system.
CRUISE CONTROL
The cruise control allows you to cruise the vehicle at a
desired speed over 40 km / h (25 mph) with your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained although a slight speed
change may occur when driving up or down a gradient, within
the limits of engine performance. On steeper hills, a greater
speed change will occur so it is better to drive without the cruise
control.
When the cruise control is on, the driving pattern of the
automatic transmission is fixed in the normal position,
regardless of the position of the selector switch.
CAUTION:

To help maintain maximum control of your vehicle, do
not use the cruise control when driving in heavy or
varying traffic, or on slippery (rainy, icy or
snow-covered) or winding roads.

Avoid vehicle speed increases when driving downhill.
Use engine braking by downshifting the transmission.

STARTING AND DRIVING
129
Turning on the system
To operate the cruise control, push the main switch. This turns
the system on. The indicator light in the instrument cluster
shows that you can now set your desired cruising speed.
Another push on the switch will turn the system completely off.
When the ignition key is turned off, the main switch is also
automatically turned off. To use the cruise control again, push
the main switch again to turn it on.
CAUTION:
To avoid accidental cruise control engagement, keep the
main switch off when not using the cruise control.
Setting at a desired speed
Bring the vehicle to the desired speed, press the control lever
downward in the “SET / COAST” direction and release it. This
sets the vehicle at that speed. Now you may take your foot off
the accelerator pedal. If you need acceleration − for example,
when passing − depress the accelerator pedal enough for the
vehicle to exceed the set speed. When you release the
accelerator, the vehicle will return to the speed set prior to the
acceleration.
Cancelling the preset speed
You can cancel the preset speed by either of the following:
a. Pulling the control lever in the “CANCEL” direction.
b. Depressing the brake pedal.

STARTING AND DRIVING
130If the vehicle speed falls below 40 km / h (25 mph), the preset
speed will automatically cancel out.
If the vehicle speed drops 16 km / h (10 mph) below the preset
speed, the preset speed will also automatically cancel out.
If the preset speed automatically cancels out for other than
these reasons, have your vehicle checked by your Lexus
dealer at the earliest opportunity.
Resetting to a faster speed
Press the control lever upward in the “RES / ACC” direction and
hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed is attained.
While the lever is held upward, the vehicle will gradually gain
speed.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km / h (3 mph), the set speed can be
increased 1.6 km / h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever upward in the “RES / ACC” direction quickly within 0.6
seconds.
However, a quicker way to reset is to accelerate the vehicle
and then press the control lever downward in the
“SET / COAST” direction.
Resetting to a slower speed
Press the control lever downward in the “SET / COAST”
direction and hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed
is attained. While the lever is held downward, the vehicle
speed will gradually decrease.When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km / h (3 mph), the set speed can be
lowered 1.6 km / h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever downward in the “SET / COAST” direction quickly within
0.6 seconds.
However, a quicker way to reset is to depress the brake pedal
and then press the control lever downward in the
“SET / COAST” direction.
Resuming the preset speed
Press the control lever upward in the “RES / ACC” direction.
The vehicle will resume the speed set prior to cancellation
unless it is caused by the vehicle slowing down to less than 40
km / h (25 mph) or to a speed 16 km / h (10 mph) below the
preset speed.
Cruise control failure warning
If the “CRUISE” indicator light in the instrument cluster flashes
five times and then goes out when using the cruise control, it
means that there is trouble in the cruise control system.
Contact your Lexus dealer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
134If the “HI” display is blinking and you suspect a malfunction,
first check that the height control ON / OFF switch is actually
turned on.
If you then confirm that the switch is blinking in the malfunction
mode, have the system checked by your Lexus dealer at the
first opportunity.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
The traction control system automatically controls
spinning of the rear wheels which may occur when
accelerating on slippery road surfaces, thus maintaining
vehicle stability and driving power to the rear wheels.
When you turn the ignition switch on, this system always
turns on. Leave the system on during ordinary driving so
that it can operate when needed. When traction control is
applied, the “TRAC” indicator / warning light blinks.
Vehicles without headlight cleaner
Vehicles with headlight cleaner
You can turn off the traction control system by pushing
the “TRAC-OFF-” switch. The “TRAC OFF”
indicator / warning light will then come on. Pushing the
“TRAC-OFF-” switch a second time turns the system back
on and extinguishes the “TRAC OFF” indicator / warning
light.
You may hear a slight clicking noise in the engine compartment
when the engine is started. This means that the traction control
system is in the self-check mode, and does not indicate
malfunction. When the traction control system is operating,
you may feel vibration of your vehicle, caused by operation of
the brakes. This indicates the system is functioning properly.
When getting the vehicle out of mud or new snow, etc. the
traction control system will operate to prevent the wheels from
spinning. Even though the accelerator pedal is fully depressed,
the engine speed will be restrained to a certain level.

STARTING AND DRIVING
135 CAUTION:
Under certain slippery road conditions, full stability of the
vehicle and power to the rear wheels cannot be
maintained, even though the traction control system is in
operation. In situations where the road surface is covered
with ice or snow, your vehicle should be fitted with snow
tires or tire chains and driven at a more cautious pace.
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 be longer.
Also, the brake system warning light may come on.
CAUTION:
Do not rely on 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 reserve 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 vacuum reserve.
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 be longer.
Anti-lock brake system
The anti-lock brake system is designed to prevent lock-up
of the wheels during sudden braking or braking on
slippery surfaces. This helps the vehicle remain steerable
and stable under these circumstances.
The system functions with normal pedal operation. When the
anti-lock function is in action, pulsation of the brake pedal may
occur, together with a characteristic noise. This indicates that
the system is functioning properly.
The anti-lock brake system comes into operation when the
vehicle is accelerating and the vehicle speed reaches
approximately 10 km / h (6 mph). It stops operating when the
vehicle is decelerating and the vehicle speed falls below
approximately 5 km / h (3 mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few
seconds just after the vehicle is started. This means that the
anti-lock brake system is in the self-check mode, and does not
indicate malfunction.
Even though the anti-lock brake system is operating, full
stability of the vehicle cannot be maintained for certain slippery
road conditions or high speed driving when cornering. Even
with the anti-lock brake system installed, it is still important, to
drive with all due care.

STARTING AND DRIVING
136Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Compared with vehicles not fitted with an anti-lock brake
system, your vehicle requires a longer stopping distance in the
following cases:

Driving on rough, gravel or snow-coverd roads.

Driving with tire chains installed.

Driving on roads where the road surface is pitted or has
other differences in surface height.
Avoid high speeds on wet roads. The anti-lock brake system
cannot eliminate the risk of aquaplaning.
Anti-lock brake system warning light
This light comes on when the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position. After a few seconds, the light will go off.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 as described above, or remains
on.

The light comes on while driving.
Even if the anti-lock brake system should fail, the brake system
will still operate conventionally. Have your vehicle checked by
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
137
Brake pad wear limit warning light
When your brake pads are worn enough to require
replacement, the brake pad wear limit warning light in the
instrument cluster comes on.
If the warning light comes on 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
Make sure 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.
Summer tires are, however, 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.
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, fall short in acceleration and
handling performance compared with Summer tires in highway
driving. Snow tires have better snow traction than All Season
tires.
CAUTION:
Do not mix Summer and All Season tires on your vehicle
as this can cause dangerous handling characteristics,
resulting in loss of control.