ABS Lexus ES300 1998 Owner's Manuals (in English)

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS33
(e) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pressure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a Lexus dealer or qualified repair shop
for assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when the engine is idling or it may c\
ome
on briefly after a hard stop. There is no cause for concern if it then go\
es out
when the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level is extremely low. It is not designed
to indicate low oil level, and the oil level must be checked using the oil\
level
dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the warning light on ± even for one block\
.
It may ruin the engine.
(f) Low Engine Oil Level Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil level is too low. Add oil as soon as possible.
(For instructions, see ºChecking the engine oil levelº on page 19\
8.)
While driving on steep inclines or rough roads which causes the vehicle to
substantially sway or on curves, this light may come on due to the movement
of engine oil in the engine.
NOTICE
Continued engine operation with low engine oil will damage the engine.
(g) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See ºFuel gaugeº on page 28 for
instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened securely. (See ºFuel tank capº on page
52 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your engine or automatic transmission
electrical system.
If it comes on while you are driving in case c., have your vehicle
checked/repaired by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
(h) ºABSº Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in your anti±lock \
brake
system.
If the light comes on while you are driving, have your vehicle checked by \
your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
The light will come on when the ignition key is turned to ºONº, and w\
ill go
off after about a few seconds.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
34
When the ºABSº warning light is on (and the brake system warning light is
off), the brake system operates conventionally but anti±lock brake system i\
s
not assisting brake performance so that the wheels could lock up during a
sudden brake or braking on slippery road surfaces.
(i) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the doors are completely closed.
(j) Rear Light Failure Warning Light
If this light comes on when the headlight switch is turned on (at the f\
irst or
second
clickstop), it indicates that one or more of the tail lights are burned\
out.
If it comes on when the brake pedal is depressed, one or more stop light\
s are
burned out.
Have defective bulbs replaced as soon as possible.
(k) ºTRAC OFFº Indicator/Warning Light
This light comes on when the ignition key is turned to ºONº, and will \
go off
after 3 seconds. This means that the system is operating properly.
If the light flashes, this indicates a malfunction in the traction control\
system.
Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to service the vehicle.
(l) Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light comes on when the fluid level in the tank becomes nearly empt\
y.
Fill the tank as soon as possible.
(m) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel level in the tank becomes nearly empty. Fill
the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the movement of fuel in the tank, the low fu\
el
level warning light may come on earlier than usual.
(n) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove the key when you open the driver's door
with the ignition key in the ºACCº or ºLOCKº position.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
74
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 passeng\
er
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 ºSeat beltsº on page 64.
 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 ºChild restraintº on page 80 .

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 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.

DRIVING TIPS
158

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 length 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.
 Because of the added load of the trailer, your vehicle's engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over 30C [85 F]) when going up a long or
steep gr ade 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 166 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.
When restarting out after parking on a slope:
1. With the transmission in ºPº position, start the engine. Be sure to k\
eep the
brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift into the 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 fr equently. This
could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking
efficiency.

CHASSIS205
CHECKING BRAKE FLUID
63E001
To check the fluid level, simply look at the see±through reservoir. The
level should be between the ºMAXº and ºMINº lines on the tank.
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pa\
ds wear.
So be sure to keep the reservoir filled.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it may indicate a serious mec\
hanical
problem.
If the level is low, add FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
to the brake reservoir.
Remove and replace the reservoir cover by hand. Add brake fluid up to the
ºMAXº line.
Use only newly opened brake fluid. Once opened, brake fluid absorbs
moisture from the air, and excess moisture can cause a dangerous loss of
braking efficiency.
CAUTION
Take care when filling the reservoir because brake fluid can
harm your eyes and damage painted surfaces. If fluid gets in
your eyes, flush your eyes with clean water.
NOTICE
If you spill some of the fluid, be sure to wash it off with water to prevent
it from damaging the parts or paintwork.

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