ESP lexus LS400 2000 Engine / LEXUS 2000 LS400 (OM50533U) Owner's Guide

STARTING AND DRIVING
309
Cruise control failure warning
If the ºCRUISEº indicator light in the instrument cluster
flashes when using the cruise control, push the main
switch to turn the system off and then push it again to
turn it on.
If any of the following conditions then occurs, there is
some trouble in the cruise control system.
The indicator light does not come on.
 The indicator light flashes again.
 The indicator light goes out after it comes on.
If this is the case, contact your Lexus dealer and have
your Lexus inspected.
ELECTRONICALLY
MODULATED AIR SUSPENSION
(U.S.A. ONLY)
This electronically modulated air suspension
adjusts the damping effect on the shock absorbers
and the vehicle height. This adjustment is
automatically made in response to the driving
conditions to provide good riding comfort and
stability in all driving conditions.

STARTING AND DRIVING
322
CAUTION
Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the pedal uses up your reserved
vacuum.
 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 help
prevent lock±up of the wheels during a sudden
braking or braking on slippery road surfaces. This
assists in providing stability and steering
performance of the vehicle under these
circumstances.
Effective way to press the ABS brake pedal: When the
anti±lock brake system function is in action, just hold the
brake pedal down more firmly. Especially, in a panic stop,
you need to keep it depressed more firmly, and do not pump
the brake. Pumping the brake pedal makes the stopping dis-
tance longer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
325
Anti±lock brake system is not designed to shorten the
stopping distance: Always drive at the moderate speed
and 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 over the steps such as the joints on the road.
 Driving on roads where the road surface is pitted or
has other differences in surface height.
Install all 4 tires of specified size at designated
pressure: The anti±lock brake system detects vehicle
speeds using the speed sensors for respective wheels'
turning speeds. The use of tires other than specified
may fail to detect the accurate turning speed, resulting
in a longer stopping distance.

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
342
Trailer towing tips
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will handle
differently than when not towing. The three main
causes of vehicle±trailer accidents are driver error,
excessive speed and improper trailer loading. Keep
these in mind when towing:
 Before starting out, check the operation of the lights
and all vehicle±trailer connections. After driving a
short distance, stop and recheck the lights and
connections. Practice turning, stopping and backing
with a trailer in an area away from traffic until you learn
the feel.
 Backing with a trailer is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your
hand to the left to move the trailer to the left. Move
your hand to the right to move the trailer to the right.
(This procedure is generally opposite to that when
backing without a trailer.) Also, just turn the steering
wheel a little at a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged
turning. Have someone guide you when backing to
reduce the risk of an accident.
 Because stopping distance may be increased,
vehicle±to±vehicle distance should be increased
when towing a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length
between you and the vehicle ahead. Avoid sudden
braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces.
 Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.

MAINTENANCE
388
MAINTENANCE
REQUIREMENTS
Your Lexus vehicle has been designed to have fewer
maintenance requirements with longer service intervals
to save both your time and money. However, each
regular maintenance as well as day±to±day care is more
important than ever before to ensure smooth,
trouble±free, safe, and economical driving.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure the specified
maintenance, including general maintenance services,
is performed. Note that both the new vehicle and
emission control system warranties specify that proper
maintenance and care must be performed. See
ªOwner's Guideº, ªOwner's Manual Supplementº or
ªWarranty Bookletº for complete warranty information.
General maintenance
General maintenance items are those day±to±day care
practices that are important to your vehicle for proper
operation. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that
the general maintenance items are performed regularly.
These checks or inspections can be done either by
yourself or your Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance
The scheduled maintenance items listed in the ªOwner's
Manual Supplement / Maintenance Scheduleº are those
required to be serviced at regular intervals.
For details of your maintenance schedule, read the
ªOwner's Manual Supplement / Maintenance
Scheduleº.
It is recommended that only genuine Lexus parts be
used for maintenance.
The owner may elect to use non±Lexus supplied
parts for replacement purposes without invalidating
the emission control system warranty. However,
use of replacement parts which are not of equivalent
quality may impair the effectiveness of the emission
control systems.
You may also elect to have maintenance,
replacement, or repair of the emission control
devices and system performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual without
invalidating this warranty. See ªOwner's Guideº,
ªOwner's Manual Supplementº or ªWarranty
Bookletº for complete warranty information.
Where to go for service?
Lexus technicians are well±trained specialists and are
kept up to date with the latest service information
through technical bulletins, service tips, and

INTRODUCTION
399
DO±IT±YOURSELF SERVICEPRECAUTIONS
If you perform maintenance yourself, be sure to
follow the correct procedure given in this Section.
You should be aware that improper or incomplete
servicing may result in operating problems.
Performing do±it±yourself maintenance during the
warranty period may affect your warranty coverage.
Read the separate Lexus Warranty statement for details
and suggestions.
This Section gives instructions only for those items that
are relatively easy for an owner to perform. As explained
in Section 5, there are still a number of items that must
be performed by a qualified technician with special tools.
For information on tools and parts for do±it±yourself
maintenance, see ºParts and toolsº on page 401.
Utmost care should be taken when working on your
vehicle to prevent accidental injury. Here are a few
precautions that you should be especially careful to
observe:

CHASSIS
438Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and
does not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A, B, C
± The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C, representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades for this tire are
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Tire selection
When replacing a tire, use only the same size and
construction as originally installed and with the
same or greater load capacity.
Using any other size or type of tire may seriously affect
handling, ride, speedometer/odometer calibration,
ground clearance, and clearance between the body and
tires or snow chains.
Do not mix radial, belted, or conventional tires on
your vehicle.
Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacturer's recommended size.
It can cause dangerous handling characteristics,
resulting in loss of control. If you need to change from
conventional tires to radial tires or vice versa, replace
them as a set.

BODY
477
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLEFROM CORROSION
Proper care of your Lexus can help ensure long±term
corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corrosion to your
vehicle are:

The accumulation of road salt, dirt and moisture in
hard±to±reach areas under the vehicle.

Chipping of paint or undercoating caused by minor
accidents or by stones and gravel.
The following conditions will cause or accelerate
corrosion of your vehicle, so it is important to keep
your vehicle, particularly the underside, as clean as
possible and to repair any damage to paint or
protective coatings as soon as possible.

The presence of road salt or dust control chemicals,
salt in the air near the sea coast, industrial air
pollution.

High humidity, especially at temperatures just above
freezing point.

Certain parts of your vehicle are wet or damp for an
extended period of time, even though other parts of
the vehicle are dry.

Components of the vehicle which are prevented from
quick±drying due to lack of proper ventilation are exposed to high ambient temperature.

BODY
480Plastic wheel ornaments:
The plastic wheel
ornaments are damaged easily by organic substances.
If any organic substance splashes an ornament, be sure
to wash it off with water and check if the ornament is
damaged.
CAUTION
Do not attach the heavily damaged plastic wheel
ornament. It may fly off the wheel and cause accidents
while the vehicle is moving.
Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild soap or neutral
detergent.
Urethane bumpers and side moldings: Wash
carefully. Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners. The
bumper and side molding faces are soft.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or cleaners that are
marked safe for painted surfaces.
NOTICE
Do not use organic substances (gasoline, kerosene, benzine or strong solvents), which may
be toxic or cause damage.
3. Rinse thoroughly ± dried soap can cause streaking.
In hot weather you may need to rinse each section right
after you wash it. 4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean
soft cotton towel. Do not rub or press hard ± you might
scratch the paint.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash,
but remember that the paint can be scratched by some
type of brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the
washing process itself. Scratching reduces paint
durability and gloss, especially on darker colors. The
manager of the car wash should be able to advise you
whether
the process is safe for the paint on your vehicle.