dashboard lexus LS400 1998 Audio System / LEXUS 1998 LS400 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM50498U)

KEYS AND DOORS
10
11L023-3
Do not bend the key grip.
Do not cover the key grip with any material that cuts off
electromagnetic waves.
Do not knock the key hard against other objects.
Do not leave the key exposed to high temperatures for a long
period, such as on the dashboard and hood under the direct
sunlight.
Do not put the key in water or wash it in an ultrasonic washer.
Do not use the key with electromagnetic materials.
ENGINE IMMOBILISER SYSTEM
11L0243
The engine immobiliser system is a theft prevention system.
When you insert the key in the ignition switch, the transponder
chip in the key’s head transmits an electronic code to the vehicle.
The engine will start, only when the electronic code in the chip
corresponds to the registered ID code for the vehicle.
The system is automatically set when the key is removed from the
ignition switch. At this time, the security indicator light at the
bottom of the instrument cluster flashes. When you insert the key in
the ignition switch, the security indicator light goes out and the
system is canceled automatically, which enables the engine to start.
For your Lexus dealer to make you a new key with builtin
transponder chip, your dealer will need your key number and master
key. However, there is a limit to the number of additional keys your
Lexus dealer can make for you.

KEYS AND DOORS
12In the following cases, the battery in the key may be discharged. If
this is a case, replace it using a special screwdriver.
The remote control does not work.
The operational range of wireless remote control becomes
extremely short.
The indicator light on the key is dimmed or does not come on.
For the replacement of the battery, see ”Replacing the battery” on
page 16. You can also have the battery of the key replaced by your
Lexus dealer.
If you lose the wireless key, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible to avoid the possibility of theft, or an accident.
You can use up to 4 wireless remote control keys for the same
vehicle. Contact your Lexus dealer for detailed information.
The wireless remote control key is an electronic component.
Observe the following instructions in order not to cause damage
on the key.
Do not leave the wireless remote control key on the places where
the temperature becomes high such as on the dashboard.
Do not disassemble it.
Avoid knocking it hard against other objects or dropping it.
Avoid putting it in water.
Locking/Unlocking the doors
When you push the ”LOCK” button on the key briefly, all the
doors can be locked from outside the vehicle.
At this time, you can hear one beep.* However, when you push the
”LOCK” button with any door not closed securely, the buzzer
sounds for 10 seconds.** To stop the buzzer, close all the doors
securely or push the ”UNLOCK” button. If the key is in the ignition
switch, locking cannot be done.
Make sure all the doors are locked when you leave the vehicle. Push
the ”LOCK” button once again. If they were already locked, the turn
signal lights will flash.***
NOTE: *The volume of beep sound can be changed. **The
buzzer can be set not to sound with any door not closed securely.
***The turn signal lights can be set not to flash. Ask your Lexus
dealer for details.
NOTICE
Do not push the ”LOCK” button any longer than 2 to 3 seconds.
Pushing the button longer activates an alarm. For details, see
page 14.
When you push the ”UNLOCK” button, the driver’s door is
unlocked. Pushing that button once again within 3 seconds from
the first push, all other doors are also unlocked.*
NOTE: *Unlocking by a 2time operation can be changed. Ask
your Lexus dealer for details.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
86
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (SRS)
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) consists of driver and
front passenger airbags, side airbags and seat belt pretensioners.
The combination of these 3 systems is designed to provide
further protection for the driver and front passenger when
added to the primary protection provided by the seat belts.
16L1181
Driver and front passenger airbags, and seat belt pretensioners
Driver and front passenger airbags:
In response to a severe frontal impact, the driver and front
passenger airbags work together with the seat belts to help
preventing or reduce injury by inflating, in order to decrease the
likelihood of the driver’s or front passenger’s heads or chests
from directly hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.Seat belt pretensioners:
In response to a severe frontal impact, the seat belts are quickly
drawn back in by the retractors so that the belts snugly restrain
the driver and front passenger.
The front passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger in the
front seat.
The seat belt pretensioners are activated together with the driver and
front passenger airbags, even with no passenger in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger too close to the steering wheel
or dashboard during airbag deployment can be killed or
seriously injured. Lexus strongly recommends that:
The driver sit as far back as possible from the steering
wheel while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
The front passenger sit as far back as possible from the
dashboard.
All vehicle occupants be properly restrained using the
available seat belts.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
91 some smoke along with nontoxic gas. This does not indicate a fire.
Be sure to wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent minor
skin irritation.
Deployment of the airbags happen in a fraction of a second, so the
airbags must inflate with considerable force. While the system is
designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also cause minor burns or
abrasions and swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, dashboard, front
seats) may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags themselves
will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the driver and front passenger
airbags may break the windshield as the vehicle buckles. In vehicles
with a front passenger airbag, the windshield may also be damaged
by absorbing some of the force of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION
The SRS is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver side and front passenger side seat
belt systems. The front seat occupants can be killed or
seriously injured by an inflating airbag if they do not wear
the available seat belts. During sudden braking just before
a collision, an unrestrained driver or front passenger can
move forward into direct contact with or close proximity to
the airbag which may then deploy during the collision. To
obtain maximum protection in an accident, the driver and
all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt during an accident reduces the chances
of death or serious injuries or being thrown out of the
vehicle. For instructions and precautions concerning the
seat belt system, see ”Seat belts” on page 80.
Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children
can be killed or seriously injured by a deploying airbag. An
infant or child who is too small to use a seat belt should be
properly secured using a child restraint system. Lexus
strongly recommends that all infants and children be
placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and properly
restrained. The rear seat is the safest for infants and
children. For instructions concerning the installation of a
child restraint system, see ”Child restraint” on page 98 .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
93
16L033
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the dashboard
when the vehicle is in use. The airbags inflate with
considerable speed and force; you may be killed or
seriously injured. Sit up straight and well back in the seat,
and always use your seat belt.
16L1782
Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle is in use.
The side airbag inflates with considerable speed and force;
you may be killed or seriously injured.
Do not apply excessive weight to the outer side of the front
seats on vehicles with side airbags.
The child head should not be leaned against the vicinity of
the part where the side airbag activates.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
94
16L107
Do not allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front
passenger seat. The airbag inflates with considerable speed
and force; the child may be killed or seriously injured.
Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms. Use a child
restraint system in the rear seat. For instructions
concerning the installation of a child restraint system, see
”Child restraint” on page 98.
16L034-2
Do not put objects or your pets on or in front of the
dashboard or steering wheel pad that houses the driver and
front passenger airbag system. They might restrict
inflation or cause death or serious injury as they are
projected rearward by the force of the deploying airbags.
Likewise, the driver and front passenger should not hold
things in their arms or on their knees.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
96
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting
your Lexus dealer. Such changes can interfere with proper
operation of the SRS in some cases.
Installation of electronic items such as a mobile twoway
radio, cassette tape player or compact disc player.
Modification of the suspension system.
Modification of the front end structure and side structure of
the passenger compartment.
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar, etc.),
snow plow, winches or any other equipment to the front end.
Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end
structure, console, steering column, steering wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag, front seats or seat
belt assembly.
16L136-2
This SRS has an indicator to inform the driver of operating problems.
If either of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners. Even if the
seat belt pretensioners should fail, the seat belts will operate
conventionally. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on as described above.
The light stays on or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the driver and front passenger
airbags fail. If the light flashes, the side airbags and/or seat belt
pretensioners fail.

AIR CONDITIONING AND AUDIO
130
(d) Operating tips
Make sure the air inlet grilles in front of the windshield are not
blocked by leaves or other obstructions.
If air flow control is not satisfactory, check the dashboard vents.
(See ”Center vents”, ”Side vents”, ”Lower vent” and ”Rear
vents”.)
To help cool down the interior after parking in the hot sun, drive
for the first few minutes with the windows open. After the excess
heat has blown away, close the windows.
When driving on dusty roads, close all windows. If dust thrown
up by the vehicle is still drawn into the vehicle after closing the
windows, it is recommended that the air intake control button be
left to the OUTSIDE AIR mode and the fan speed control button
be pressed to anywhere except the ”OFF” button.
If following another vehicle on a dusty road, or driving in windy
and dusty conditions, it is recommended that the air intake control
button be temporarily pressed in to the RECIRCULATED AIR
mode, which will close off the outside passage and prevent
outside air and dust from entering the vehicle interior.
Center vents
21L0121
The center vents may be opened or closed as shown.
Side vents
21L013
The side vents may be opened or closed as shown.

STARTING AND DRIVING
156To ensure that the threeway catalytic converter and the
entire emission control system operate properly, your vehicle
must receive the periodic inspections required by the Lexus
Maintenance Schedule. For scheduled maintenance
information, refer to the separate ”Owner’s Manual
Supplement/ Maintenance Schedule”.
ENGINE EXHAUST CAUTION
CAUTION
Avoid inhaling the engine exhaust. It contains carbon
monoxide, which is a colorless and odorless gas. It can
cause unconsciousness or even death.
Make sure the exhaust system has no holes or loose
connections. The system should be checked from time to
time. If you hit something, or notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust, have the system checked immediately.
Do not run the engine in a garage or enclosed area except
for the time needed to drive the vehicle in or out. The
exhaust gases cannot escape, making this a particularly
dangerous situation.
Do not remain for a long time in a parked vehicle with the
engine running. If it is unavoidable, however, do so only in
an unconfined area and adjust the heating or cooling
system to force outside air into the vehicle.
Keep the trunk lid closed while driving. An open or
unsealed trunk lid may cause exhaust gases to be drawn
into the vehicle. If you must drive with the trunk lid open
to accommodate a large object, close the windows, open all
the dashboard vents and have the heating or cooling system
deliver fresh air into the vehicle by turning the fan to high
speed with the air intake control button in the OUTSIDE
AIR mode.
To allow proper operation of your vehicle’s ventilation
system, keep the inlet grilles in front of the windshield clear
of snow, leaves, or other obstructions.
If you smell exhaust fumes in the vehicle, drive with the
windows open and the trunk lid closed. Have the cause
immediately located and corrected.