warning light Lexus ES300 1998 s (in English) User Guide

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
70
16E125±1

Side airbags
Side airbags:
In response to a severe side impact, the side airbag for the driver or front
passenger works together with the seat belt to help preventing or
reducing injury by inflating, in order to decrease the impact mainly on the
driver or front passenger's chest.
The side airbag on the passenger seat is activated even with no passenge\
r in
the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.
CAUTION
SRS side airbags inflate with considerable force. To avoid
potential death or serious injury during inflation of a side
airbag, Lexus strongly recommends that the driver and front
passenger;
 Wear their seat belt.
 Remain properly seated with their back against the seat at
all times.
16E022
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the ºACCº o\
r
ºONº position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This means the SRS is
operating properly.
The SRS warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assemblies,
inflators, seat belt pretensioners, warning light, interconnecting wiring and
power sources.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT73
16E136

Vehicle roll±over
The side airbags are not designed to inflate if the vehicle is rolled over.
If the impact on the body of the passenger compartment is not strong as
illustrated above, the relevant side airbag may not inflate.
16L137

1 Side airbag module (airbag and inflator)
2Front passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
3Side airbag sensor assembly
4Seat belt pretensioner
5Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and inflator)
6SRS warning light
7Driver and front passenger airbag sensor assembly
The SRS airbag sensor assemblies consist of a safing sensor and driver and
front passenger airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger airbag sensor d\
etects
deceleration and the system triggers the front airbag inflators and seat belt
pretensioners. In a severe side impact, the side airbag sensor triggers the side
airbag inflator. Then a chemical reaction in the inflators momentarily fills the
airbags with non±toxic gas to help restrain the forward or lateral motion of \
the
occupants. Then the inflators fill the airbags and the seat belts are quickly
drawn back in by the retractors to help restrain forward motion of the
occupants.
When the SRS operates, it produces a fairly loud noise and release some
smoke along with non±toxic 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 reduc\
e

STARTING AND DRIVING
146
Resetting to a slower speed
Press the control lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº 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) e\
ach time
by pressing the control lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº direction
quickly.
However, a quicker way to reset is to depress the brake pedal and then press
the control lever downward in the ºSET/COASTº direction.
Even if you turn off the overdrive switch with the cruise control on, engine
braking will not be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. To
decrease the vehicle speed, reset to a slower speed with the cruise control lever\
or depress the brake pedal. If you use the brake pedal, cruise control \
is
cancelled.
Resuming the preset speed
If the preset speed is cancelled by pulling the control lever or by depr\
essing
the brake pedal, pushing the lever up in the ºRES/ACCº direction will\
restore
the speed set prior to cancellation. However, once the vehicle speed falls
below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the preset speed will not be resumed.
Cruise control failure warning
If the ºCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster flashes fi\
ve 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.
ELECTRONIC MODULATED SUSPENSION
This electronic modulated suspension adjusts the damping effect on the
shock absorbers with the control switch. Select one of the 4 modes which
is suited to the driving conditions with the control switch to provide good
riding comfort and stability.
31E012±2
1 For sporty type driving such as on winding mountain roads and high
speed driving
2For moderate high speed driving
3For ordinary driving such as in the city traffic
4For driving on a bumpy road

STARTING AND DRIVING147
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 driving power of the front
wheels.
31E013
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.
31E014±1
You can turn off the traction control system by pushing the ºTRAC OFFº
switch. The ºTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light will then come on. Pushing
the ºTRAC OFFº switch a second time turns the system back on
and extinguishes the ºTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light.
When the traction control system is operating, you may feel vibration or nois\
e
of your vehicle, caused by operation of the brakes. This indicates the sy\
stem
is functioning properly.
When getting the vehicle out of mud or new snow, etc. the traction control
system will help operate to prevent the wheels from spinning.
Traction control failure warning
If the ºTRAC OFFº indicator/warning light flashes, contact your Lexus dealer
as soon as possible. There may be trouble in the traction control syste\
m.
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
148
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 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 t\
wo
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 automatically help prevent
lock±up of the wheels during a sudden brake or braking on slippery road
surfaces. This assists in providing directional stability and steering
performance of the vehicle under these circumstances.
The anti±lock brake system becomes operative after the vehicle has
accelerated to a speed in excess of approximately 10 km/h (6 mph). It stops
operating when the vehicle decelerates to a speed below approximately 5
km/h (3 mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few seconds when the
engine is started or just after the vehicle is started. This means that the
anti±lock brake system is in the self±check mode, and does not indicate a
malfunction.
Effective way to press the ABS brake pedal: When the anti±lock brake
system function is in action, you may feel the brake pedal pulsating and hear
a noise. In this situation, to let the anti±lock brake system work f\
or you, just
hold the brake pedal down more firmly. Do not pump the brake. This will
result in reduced braking performance.
The brake pedal pulsation caused by the anti±lock brake system may indic\
ate
hazardous road surface conditions. Although the anti±lock brake system
assists in providing vehicle control, it is still important to drive with all due
care, because the anti±lock brake system cannot overcome the laws of physic\
s
that act on your vehicle:
 Braking capability is dependent on tire friction with the road surface.

STARTING AND DRIVING149

Even though the anti±lock brake system is operating, a driver cannot
maintain full control on certain slippery road surfaces, when cornering at
high speeds, or in violent maneuvers.
 Avoid high speeds on wet roads. The anti±lock brake system cannot
eliminate the risk of hydroplaning and loss of tire friction.
Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Compared
with vehicles not fitted with an anti±lock brake system, your vehicle\
may
require a longer stopping distance in the following cases:
 Driving on rough, gravel or snow±covered roads.
 Driving with tire chains installed.
 Driving on roads where the road surface is pitted or has other differences
in surface height. ºABSº warning light
31E015
This light comes on when the ignition key is turned to the ºONº po\
sition.
After about 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. But when the ºABSº warning light is on (and the
brake system warning light is off), anti±lock brake system is not assisting
brake performance so that the wheels could lock 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.

MAINTENANCE
182
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires every 12000 km (7500 miles). See page 208 for additional
information.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, water or other fluid after the vehicl\
e
has been parked for a while. If you smell fuel fumes or notice any leak, h\
ave
the cause found and corrected immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check
that all doors, including trunk lid, operate smoothly and all latches lo\
ck
securely. Make sure the engine hood secondary latch secures the hood when
the primary latch is released.
Vehicle interior
Items listed below should be checked regularly, e.g. while performing
periodic services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlight, stop lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and o\
ther
lights are working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators and warning buzzers function
properly.
Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified freeplay. Be alert for changes in steering
condition, such as hard steering, excessive freeplay or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc.
operate smoothly. Check that the head restraints move up and down smoothly
and that the locks hold securely in any latched position.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as buckles, retractors and anchors operat\
e
properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt webbing is not cut, frayed, worn
or damaged.

CHASSIS
212
REPLACING WHEELS
When to replace your wheels
If you have wheel damage such as bending, cracks or heavy corrosion, the
wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, a tire may slip off a wheel or they may
cause loss of handling control.
Replacement with used wheels is not recommended as they may have been
subjected to rough treatment or high mileage and could fail without warning.
Also, bent wheels which have been straightened may have hidden structural
damage and therefore should not be used. Never use an inner tube in a leaking
wheel which is designed for a tubeless tire.
Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they are
equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim width, and
offset.
Correct replacement wheels are available at your Lexus dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type may adversely affect handling, wheel and
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odometer calibration, stopping
ability, headlight aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or
snow chain clearance to the body and chassis.
ALUMINUM WHEEL PRECAUTIONS
 After driving your vehicle the first 1600 km (1000 miles), check that the
wheel nuts are tight.
 If you have rotated, repaired, or changed your tires, check that the whe\
el
nuts are still tight after driving 1600 km (1000 miles).
 When using tire chains, be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels.
 Use only the Lexus wheel nuts and wrench designed for your aluminum
wheels.
 When balancing your wheels, use only Lexus balance weights or
equivalent and a plastic or rubber hammer.
 As with any wheel, periodically check your aluminum wheels for damage.
If damaged, replace immediately.
SUSPENSION AND CHASSIS
CAUTION
Do not modify the suspension/chassis with lift kits, spacers,
springs, etc. It can cause dangerous handling characteristics,
resulting in loss of control.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS217
No.FUSEAMPERECIRCUIT
1 ABS60Anti±lock brake system
2 DRL NO.25Vehicles sold in Canada
Daytime Running Light System
3 H±LP
LH (LO)10Vehicles sold in Canada
Left±hand headlight (low beam)
4
H±LP
RH(LO)10Vehicles sold in Canada
Right±hand headlight (low beam)
4
A/F HTR25Vehicles sold in California
Air fuel ratio sensor
5 ALT100Charging system
6 CDS NO.230No circuit
7 HTR50Air conditioning system, Seat
heater
8 MAIN40Headlight, Starting system
9 DOME7.5
Theft deterrent system, Clock,
Door courtesy light, Interior light,
Ignition switch light, Vanity light,
Wireless remote control system
10 ECU±B10Cruise control system, Air
conditioning system, Power seat
system
11 RAD NO.120Audio system
12 HAZ10Emergency flashers, Turn signal
lights
13 AM230Starting system
No.FUSEAMPERECIRCUIT
14 TEL5Telephone
15
H±LP LH15Vehicles sold in the U.S.A.
Left±hand headlight (high beam)
15 H±LP
LH HI15Vehicles sold in Canada
Left±hand headlight (high beam)
16 ALT±S5Charging system
17
H±LP RH15Vehicles sold in the U.S.A.
Right±hand headlight (high beam)
17 H±LP RH HI15Vehicles sold in Canada
Right±hand headlight (high beam)
18 EFI15Multiport fuel injection
19 HORN10Theft deterrent system
20 RDI FAN30Electronic cooling fan system
21 CDS30Air conditioning system
22 A/C10No circuit
23 S±HTR20Seat heater system
24 HTR10Air conditioning system
25 GAUGE10
Gauges and meters, service reminder
indicators and warning buzzers, Back±up
light, Door courtesy light, Seat heater, Power
window system
26 WIP20Windshield wipers and washer