engine lexus LS400 2000 Engine / LEXUS 2000 LS400 (OM50533U) Repair Manual

DRIVING TIPS
333
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. It can cause dangerous overheating,
needless wear, and poor fuel economy.
 To drive down a long or steep hill, reduce your
speed and downshift. Remember, if you ride
the brakes excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly. See page 296.
 Be careful when accelerating, upshifting,
downshifting or braking on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed, such as
sudden acceleration or engine braking, could
cause the vehicle to spin or skid.
 Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even
if the legal speed limit permits it, do not drive
over 140 km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle has
high±speed capability tires. Driving over 140
km/h (85 mph) may result in tire failure, loss of
control and possible injury. Be sure to consult
a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on
your vehicle are high±speed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
 Do not continue normal driving when the
brakes are wet. If they are wet, your vehicle will
require a longer stopping distance, and it may
pull to one side when the brakes are applied.
Also, the parking brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Make sure you have a proper freeze protection of
engine coolant.
Your coolant must contain ethylene±glycol type coolant
for a proper corrosion protection of aluminum
components. Use ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or
equivalent. See ºChecking the engine coolant levelº on
page 417 for instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water
alone.
When it is extremely cold, we recommend to use 60%
solution for your Lexus, to provide protection down to
about ±50 C (±58 F). Do not use more than 70%
solution for better coolant performance.
Check the condition of the battery and cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so
it must be in top shape to provide enough power for
winter starting. Page 453 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Lexus dealer and most service
stations will be pleased to check the battery charge
level.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the
cold weather.

DRIVING TIPS
334See page 416 for recommended viscosity. Leaving a
heavy summer oil in your vehicle during winter months
may cause harder starting. If you are not sure about
which oil to use, call your Lexus dealer ± they will be
pleased to help.
Check the electronic ignition system for loose
connections or obvious damage.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de±icer or glycerine into the locks to keep
them from freezing.
Use a washer fluid containing an antifreeze solution.
This product is available at your Lexus dealer and most
auto parts stores. Follow the manufacturer's directions
for how much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any other
substitute because it may damage your vehicle'spaint.
Do not use your parking brake when there is a
possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into ºPº and block
the front wheels. Do not use the parking brake, or snow
or water accumulated in and around the parking brake
mechanism may freeze the parking brake, making it hard to release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating under the
fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders can make
steering difficult. During bad winter driving, stop and
check under the fenders occasionally.

DRIVING TIPS
341
Tires
Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated.
Adjust the tire pressure to the recommended cold tire
pressure indicated below:
Tire pressure, kPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar, psi)
Front 220 (2.2, 32)
Rear 220 (2.2, 32)
 The trailer tires should be inflated to the pressure
recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect
to the total trailer weight.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must comply with federal,
state/provincial and local regulations. See your local
recreational vehicle dealer or rental agency for the
correct type of wiring and relays for your trailer.
Check for correct operation of the turn signals and
stop lights each time you hitch up. Direct splicing may
damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a
malfunction of your lights.
Break±in schedule
 Lexus recommends that you do not tow a trailer with
a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new power train
component (engine, transmission, differential, wheel
bearing, etc.) for the first 800 km (500 miles) of
driving.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more
frequent maintenance due to the additional load. For
this information, please refer to the scheduled
maintenance information in the ªOwner's Manual
Supplement / Maintenance Scheduleº.
 Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket
after approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer
driving.
Pre±towing safety check
 Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded
or unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the
vehicle has an abnormal nose±up or nose±down
condition, and check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other possible causes.
 Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that
it cannot shift.
 Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any
federal, state/provincial or local regulation. If they do
not, install required rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.

DRIVING TIPS
343

Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns. The trailer could
hit your vehicle in a tight turn. Slow down before
making a turn to avoid the need of sudden braking.
 Remember that when making a turn, the trailer
wheels will be closer than the vehicle wheels to the
inside of the turn. Therefore, compensate for this by
making a larger than normal turning radius with your
vehicle.
 Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect
handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing sway.
Pay attention to the rear from time to time to prepare
yourself for being passed by large trucks or buses,
which may cause your vehicle and trailer to sway. If
swaying happens, firmly grip the steering wheel and
reduce speed immediately but gradually. Never
increase speed. If it is necessary to reduce speed,
brake slowly. Steer straight ahead. If you make no
extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your
vehicle and trailer will stabilize.
 Be careful when passing other vehicles. Passing
requires considerable distance. After passing a
vehicle, do not forget the l ength of your trailer and be
sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes.
 In order to maintain efficient engine braking and
electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive. Transmission must be in the º4º position. 
Because of the added load of the trailer, your vehicle's
engine may overheat on hot days (at temperatures
over 30C [85F]) when going up a long or steep
grade with a trailer. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, immediately turn off the
air conditioning (if in use), pull your vehicle off the
road and stop in a safe spot. See ºIf your vehicle
overheatsº on page 356 of this manual.
 Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle
and trailer wheels when parking. Apply the parking
brake firmly. Put the transmission in ºPº. Avoid
parking on a slope with a trailer, but if it cannot be
avoided, do so only after performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the
vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your
brakes slowly until the blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into ºPº and turn off the engine.

DRIVING TIPS
344When restarting out after parking on a slope:
1. With
the transmission in ºPº position, start the engine.
Be sure to keep the brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift into the º3º, º2º, ºLº or ºRº position.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal and
slowly pull or back away from the wheel blocks. Stop
and apply your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.
CAUTION
 Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing
speed limit, whichever is lower. Because instability
(swaying) of a towing vehicle±trailer combination
usually increases as the speed increases, exceeding
72 km/h (45 mph) may cause loss of control.
 Slow down and downshift before descending steep
or long downhill grades. Do not make sudden
downshifts.
 Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too
frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking efficiency.

DRIVING TIPS
345
HOW TO SAVE FUEL AND
MAKE YOUR VEHICLE LAST LONGER
Getting more kilometer/mileage from a liter/gallon of fuel
is easy ± just take it easy. It will help make your vehicle
last longer, too. Here are some specific tips on how to
save money on both fuel and repairs:
 Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure.
Check the pressure every two weeks, or at least once
a month. Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes
fuel.
 Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle.
Excess weight puts a heavier load on the engine,
causing greater fuel consumption.
 Avoid lengthy warm±up idling. Once the engine is
running smoothly, begin driving ± but gently.
Remember, however, that on cold winter days this
may take a little longer.
 Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit
starts.
 Avoid long engine idling. If you have a long wait
and you are not in traffic, it is better to turn off the
engine and start again later.
 Avoid engine overrevving. Use a gear position
suitable for the road on which you are traveling. 
Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing
down. Stop±and±go driving wastes fuel.

DRIVING TIPS
346
Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a steady pace. Try to time the traffic si gnals
so you only need to stop as little as possible or take
advantage of through streets to avoid traffic lights.
Keep a proper distance from other vehicles to avoid
sudden braking. This will also reduce wear on your
brakes.
 Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams whenever
possible.
 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal. This
causes premature wear, overheating and poor fuel
economy.
 Maintain a moderate speed on highways. The
faster you drive, the greater the fuel consumption. By
reducing your speed, you will cut down on fuel
consumption.
 Keep the front wheels in proper alignment. Avoid
hitting the curb and slow down on rough roads.
Improper alignment not only causes faster tire wear
but also puts an extra load on the engine, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
 Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud,
etc. This not only lessens weight but also helps
prevent corrosion. 
Keep your vehicle tuned±up and in top shape. A
dirty air cleaner, improper valve clearance, dirty
plugs, dirty oil and grease, brakes not adjusted, etc.
all lower engine performance and contribute to poor
fuel economy. For longer life of all parts and lower
operating costs, keep all maintenance work on
schedule, and if you often drive under severe
conditions, see that your vehicle receives more
frequent maintenance. (For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the ªOwner's Manual
Supplement / Maintenance Scheduleº.)

DRIVING TIPS
347
CAUTION
Never turn off the engine to coast down hills. Your
power steering and brake booster will not function
without the engine running. Also, the emission control
system operates properly only when the engine is
running.

SECTION 4
349
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
If your engine stalls while driving350
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle will not start 351
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle overheats 356
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you have a flat tire 358
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle needs to be towed 375
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever 384
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you lose your keys or lock yourself out 386
. . . . . . . . .

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
350
IF YOUR ENGINE STALLSWHILE DRIVING
If your engine stalls while driving . . . .
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line.
Move cautiously off the road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try starting the engine again.
If the engine will not start, see ºIf your vehicle will not
startº.
CAUTION
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the
brakes and steering will not work, so steering and
braking will be much harder than usual.