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

BASIC OPERATION QUICK REFERENCE
3
2. STEERING WHEEL
TILT STEERING WHEEL
00L0091
To tilt the steering wheel up or down to the desired angle, push
the control switch in the required direction and release the button
when the steering wheel reaches the desired angle.
TELESCOPIC STEERING WHEEL
00L0101
To move the steering wheel to the desired position, push the
control switch away from you or pull it toward you until the
steering wheel reaches the desired position.

KEYS AND DOORS
18
DOORS
Locking with key
11L0261
1
Lock 2
Unlock
Turn the key towards the front of the vehicle to lock and towards
the back to unlock.
The doors lock and unlock simultaneously with either front door. In
the driver’s door lock, turning the key once will unlock the driver’s
door and twice in succession will unlock all doors simultaneously.*
In the passenger’s door lock, turning the key once will unlock all
doors simultaneously.
NOTE: *Unlocking by a 2time operation can be changed. Ask
your Lexus dealer for details.
Locking with inside lock button
11L006
1
Lock 2
Unlock
Push in the lock button to lock and unlock the door.
When locked, the door cannot be opened with either the outside or
inside door handle.
Closing the door with the lock button pushed in will also lock the
door. Be careful not to lock your keys in the vehicle. The door will
not lock if the key is left in the ignition switch when closing the front
doors.

SWITCHES
26The time interval between sweeps is shortened when the vehicle
speed increases. When the vehicle speed reaches more than about
20 km/h (12 mph) with the interval adjuster in ”F” position, the time
interval becomes the shortest 1.5 seconds.
If you stop the vehicle with the wiper switch in the ”LO” position,
the wiper speed automatically changes from low speed to
intermittent operation speed.* This function does not work when the
interval adjuster is in the ”F” position.
NOTE: *This feature can be set inoperative. Ask your Lexus
dealer for details.
For mist wiper operation (a single wipe), pull the lever toward
you and release it.
To make the washer squirt, push the button on the end of the
lever.
If the wiper lever is in the ”OFF” position, the wipers will
automatically operate a couple of times and a few seconds later,
make a single wipe again to sweep the windshield completely.* The
last sweep does not happen if the vehicle speed exceeds about 170
km/h (106 mph).
NOTE: *The last single wipe can be set inoperative. Ask your
Lexus dealer for details.
The warning message ”LOW WASHER FLUID” is displayed in the
multi information display when the fluid level in the tank becomes
nearly empty. For information on adding washer fluid, see ”Adding
washer fluid” on page 261.
In cold weather, warm the windshield with the defroster before using
the washer. This will help prevent icing, which could block your
vision.
NOTICE
Do not operate the wipers if the windshield is dry. It may scratch
the glass.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
35 Idling for a long period with the air conditioning on in
stopandgo traffic.
Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in the engine cooling system as
this may cause the engine to overheat. The thermostat is
designed to control the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within the specified operating
range.
Do not continue driving with an overheated engine. See ”If
your vehicle overheats” on page 196.
TACHOMETER
13L0031
The tachometer indicates engine speed in thousands of rpm
(revolutions per minute). Use it while driving to prevent engine
overrevving.
Driving with the engine running too fast causes excessive engine
wear and poor fuel economy. Remember, in most cases the slower
the engine speed, the greater the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get into the red zone. This may
cause severe engine damage.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
37 (f) Take vehicle to Lexus
dealer.
(g) Take vehicle to Lexus
dealer.
(h) Close all doors.
(i) Low fuel level Fill up tank.
warning light
(j) Key reminder buzzer Remove key.
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light has the following two functions:
Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the parking brake is fully released. The
light should go off.
Low brake fluid level warning
If this light comes on and stays on while you are driving, slow down
and pull off the road. Then stop the vehicle carefully. Remember
that stopping distance and pedal effort may be increased. There may
be a problem somewhere in the brake system. Check the fluid level
of the seethrough reservoir.
To make sure the parking brake has not caused the warning light to
come on, check to see that the parking brake is fully released.
If the brake fluid level is low ...
At a safe place, test your brakes by starting and stopping.
If you judge that the brakes still work adequately, drive cautiously
to your nearest dealer or shop for repairs.
If the brakes are not working, have the vehicle towed in for
repairs. (For towing information, see page 205.)
CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving normally when the brake
fluid level is low.
or

SECTION 1 4
47
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Interior equipment
Vanity mirrors 48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interior lights 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Personal lights 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ignition switch light 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clock 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside temperature display 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cigarette lighter and ashtray 52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power outlet 53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glovebox 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Garage door opener 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cup holder 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coin box 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Penlight 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Floor mat 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Luggage stowage precautions 59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

INTERIOR EQUIPMENT
59
14L036
CAUTION
Make sure the floor mat is properly placed on the floor carpet.
If the floor mat slips and interferes with the movement of the
pedals during driving, it may cause an accident.
LUGGAGE STOWAGE
PRECAUTIONS
When stowing luggage or cargo in the vehicle, observe the
following:
Put luggage or cargo in the trunk when at all possible. Be sure all
items are secured in place.
Be careful to keep the vehicle level. Placing the weight as far
forward as possible helps maintain vehicle balance.
For better fuel economy, do not carry unnecessary weight.
CAUTION
Do not place anything on the filler panel behind the rear
seatback. Such items may be thrown about and possibly
injure people in the vehicle during sudden braking or an
accident.
Do not drive with objects left on top of the instrument
panel. They may interfere with the driver’s field of view.
Or they may move during sharp vehicle acceleration or
turning, and impair the driver’s control of the vehicle. In
an accident they may injure the vehicle occupants.

EXTERIOR EQUIPMENT
66
CAUTION
Make sure the cap is tightened securely to prevent fuel
spillage in case of an accident.
Use only a genuine Lexus fuel tank cap for replacement. It
has a builtin check valve to reduce fuel tank vacuum.
In case the opener is not actuated
15L008-2
Pull the manual lever toward the back.
This is used in case the fuel filler door cannot be opened due to a
discharged battery or other trouble.
MOON ROOF
15L0241
1
Open 2
Close
To slide open the moon roof, push the switch toward the back for
about 1 second. The moon roof will fully open. To stop partway,
push the same switch or push the ”TILT” switch.
The sun shade can be opened or closed manually. However, if you
open the moon roof, the sun shade will be opened with the moon
roof.
To close the moon roof, push the switch toward the front for
about 1 second. The moon roof will fully close. To stop partway,
push the same switch or push the ”TILT” switch.

STARTING AND DRIVING
163 5. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress the
accelerator pedal slowly for smooth starting.
In normal cruising, the vehicle will start in the first gear and
automatically shift up to the most suitable gear. On inclines, declines
or winding roads, etc., the vehicle shifts up and down automatically
according to the running conditions to obtain the suitable driving
power and engine braking.
In ”4” position, the automatic transmission system will select the
most suitable gear for the running conditions such as hill climbing,
hard towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, depress the
accelerator pedal to the full throttle position. This provides more
acceleration by automatically downshifting the transmission to the
next lower gear or beyond, depending on the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a long hill, see ”(b)
Using engine braking”.
(b) Using engine braking
31L010-3
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the transmission
in the way described below:
1
Shift into the ”4” position. The transmission will downshift to
the fourth gear and engine braking will be obtained.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you downshift
from ”D” to ”4”, engine braking will not be applied because the
cruise control is not cancelled. If you need to decrease the
vehicle speed, see page 170.
2
Shift into the ”3” position. The transmission will downshift to
the third gear when the vehicle speed is or becomes lower than
154 km/h (96 mph) and more powerful engine braking will be
obtained.

STARTING AND DRIVING
164
3
Shift into the ”2” position. The transmission will downshift to
the second gear when the vehicle speed is or becomes lower
than 104 km/h (65 mph) and more powerful engine braking
than that of ”3” position will be obtained.
4
Shift into the ”L” position. The transmission will downshift to
the first gear when the vehicle speed is or becomes lower than
18 km/h (11 mph) and maximum engine braking will be
applied.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface. The
abrupt change in engine speed could cause the vehicle to spin
or skid.
(c) Using the ”3”, ”2” and ”L” positions
The ”3”, ”2” and ”L” positions are used for strong engine braking as
described previously.
With the selector lever in ”3”, ”2” or ”L”, you can start the vehicle
in motion as with the lever in ”D”.
With the selector lever in ”3” or ”2”, the vehicle will start in the first
gear and automatically shift to the third or second gear.
With the selector lever in ”L”, the transmission is engaged in the first
gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the engine. Watch the tachometer
to keep engine rpm from going into the red zone. The
approximate maximum allowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
”3” 160 km/h (99 mph). . . .
”2” 104 km/h (65 mph). . . .
”L” 68 km/h (42 mph). . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time
in the ”3”, ”2” or ”L” position. This may cause severe
automatic transmission damage from overheating. To
prevent such damage, ”4” position should be used in hill
climbing or hard towing.