brake light Lexus ES300 1997 Starting And Driving

STARTING AND DRIVING
131 If you leave the key in the ªACCº or ªLOCKº position and
open the driver's door, a buzzer will remind you to remove
the key.
ªLOCKº ± Engine is off and the steering wheel is locked.
The ignition key can be removed only at this position.
You must push in the key to turn it from ªACCº to the ªLOCKº
position. The selector lever must be put in the ªPº position
befoer turning the key in the ªLOCKº position.
When starting the engine, the key may seem stuck at the
ªLOCKº 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 moving, turn the key only to ªACCº.
PARKING BRAKE
To set: Hold the regular brake pedal down with your
right foot. Push down the parking brake pedal with your
left foot.
To release: Hold the regular brake down with your right
foot and push and parking brake pedal with your left
foot. When you lift your left foot, the parking barke
pedal will follow it to the released position.
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
132
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 ªPº. If you need to restart the
engine while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever in
ªNº. 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 ªBefore crankingº.
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 ªSTARTº. 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.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct procedure given in normal
starting.
If the engine will not start
See ªIf your vehicle will not startº on page 162.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time.
This may overheat the starter and wiring system.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls
frequently, have the engine checked immediately.

STARTING AND DRIVING
140
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever out of
ªPº position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from ªPº position even
thought the brake pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see ªIf you cannot shift
automatic transmission selector leverº on page 177.
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 great speed change will occur so it is better to drive
without the cruise control.
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. If the vehicle speed is too fast in relation
to the cruise control set speed, cancel the cruise
control then downshift the transmission to use
engine braking to slow down.

STARTING AND DRIVING
144
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
The traction control system automatically helps control
the spinning of the front wheels which may occur when
accelerating on slippery road surfaces, thus assisting
driver to control the driver to control the driving power
of the front 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 slip indicator light
blinks.
You can turn off the traction control system by pushing
the ªTRAC OFFº switch. The ªTRAC OFFº
indicator/warning light will then come on. Pushing the
ªTRAC OFFº switch a second time turns the system
back on and extingusihes the ªTRAC OFFº
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 vibation or noise of your
vehicle, caused byoperation of the brakes. This indicates the
system is functioning properly.
When getting the vehicle out of the mud or new snow, etc.
the traction control system will help operate to prevent the
wheels from spinning.

STARTING AND DRIVING
145
Traction control failure warning
If hte ªTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light flashes, contact
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be
trouble in the traction control system.
CAUTION!
Under certain slippery road conditions, full traction
of the vehicle and power to the front wheels cannot
be maintained, even though the traction control
system is in operation. Do not drive the vehicle
under any speed or maneuvering conditions which
will cause the vehicle to lose traction. In situations
where the road surface is covered with ice or snow,
your vehicle should be fitted with snow tires or tire
chains. Always drive at an appropriate and cautious
pace.
BRAKE SYSTEM
The tandem master cylinder brake system is 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 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 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 braking
distance will be longer.
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
147 ªABSº warning light
This light comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ªONº position. After about 3 seconds, the light will
turn 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 comse on while driving.
Even if the anti±lock brake system should fail, the brake
system will still operate conventionally. But when the ªABSº
warning light is on (and the brake system warning light is off),
anti±lock system is not assisting brake performance so that
the wheels could lick up during a sudden brake or braking on
slippery road surfaces. 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.
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.