air LEXUS SC300 1999 Manual PDF

STARTING AND DRIVING
216
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 ºPº. If you need to restart the
engine while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever in
ºNº. 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 ºBefore 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 ºSTARTº. 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 ºIf your vehicle will not startº on page 275.
NOTICE
 Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time. This
may overheat the starter and wiring systems.
 Do not race a cold engine.
 If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls
frequently, have the engine checked immediately.

DRIVING TIPS
268

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 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 280 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 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.

DRIVING TIPS
270
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.

Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a
steady pace. Try to time the traffic signals 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 r est your foot on the clutch or brake pedal. This
causes needless wear, overheating and poor fuel economy.

Maintain a m oderate 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 separate ºOwner's Manual

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
275
IF YOUR VEHICLE WILL NOTSTART
(a) Simple checks
Before making these checks, make sure you have followed
the correct starting procedure instructions in ºHow to start the
engineº on page 216 and that you have sufficient fuel. Since
your vehicle is equipped with the engine immobiliser system,
also check whether the other keys will start the engine. If they
work, your key may be broken. Have the key checked at your
Lexus dealer. If none of your keys work, the system is
possibly broken. Call your Lexus dealer. See ºKeysº on page
12. If the engine is not turning over or is turning over too
slowly ±
1. Check that the battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch on the interior
light.
3. If the light is out, dim or goes out when the starter is
cranked,
the battery is discharged. You may try jump starting.
See º(c) Jump startingº for further instruction.
If the light is O.K., but the engine still will not start, it needs
adjustment or repair. Call a Lexus dealer, Roadside
Assistance or Customer Service Assistance. (See
ºForewordº.)
NOTICE
Do not pull±or push±start the vehicle. It may damage the
vehicle or cause a collision when the engine starts. Also
the three±way catalytic converter may overheat and
become a fire hazard.
If the engine turns over at its normal speed but will not
start ±
1. The engine may be flooded because of repeated cranking.
See º(b) Starting a flooded engineº for further instructions.
2. If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or
repair. Call a Lexus dealer, Roadside Assistance or Customer
Service Assistance. (See ºForewordº.)

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
276
(b) Starting a flooded engine
If the engine will not start, your engine may be flooded
because of repeated cranking.
If this happens, turn the key to ºSTARTº with the accelerator
pedal held down. Continue this operation for 30 seconds and
then stop cranking. Then try starting the engine with your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If the engine does not start after 30 seconds of cranking,
release the key, wait a few minutes and try again.
If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or repair.
Call a Lexus dealer, Roadside Assistance or Customer
Service Assistance. (See ºForewordº.)
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time. This
may overheat the starter and wiring systems.
(c) Jump starting
To avoid serious personal injury and damage to your
vehicle which might result from battery explosion, acid
burns, electrical burns, or damaged electronic
components, these instructions must be followed
precisely.
If you are unsure about how to follow this procedure, we
strongly recommend that you seek help from your Lexus
dealer, Roadside Assistance or Customer Service Assistance.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
282B: If no steam is coming from your engine:
Leave the engine running and turn off the air conditioning.
Check the following.


Is the cooling fan operating?

Is the coolant in the acceptable range?

Is the engine drive belt O.K.?
CAUTION

When the engine is running, keep hands and clothing away
from the moving fan and engine drive belt.

Do not attempt to remove the radiator cap when the engine
and radiator are hot. Serious injury could result from
scalding hot fluid and steam blown out under pressure.
If the cooling fan is not operating or the coolant is not in the
acceptable range, turn off the engine and call your Lexus
dealer.
If both conditions are O.K., after the engine coolant
temperature has cooled to normal, continue driving your
vehicle.
If the engine coolant temperature does not cool down, or your
vehicle overheats again, have it checked as soon as possible
by your Lexus dealer.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
284

Make sure to set the jack properly in the jack point.
Raising the vehicle with jack improperly positioned
will damage the vehicle or may allow the vehicle to
fall off the jack and cause personal injury.

Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle is
supported by the jack alone.

Use the jack only for lifting your vehicle during
wheel changing.

Do not raise the vehicle with someone in the vehicle.

When raising the vehicle, do not put an object on or
under the jack.

Raise the vehicle only high enough to remove and
change the tire.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving with a deflated tire. Driving even
a short distance can damage a tire beyond repair.
Changing procedure
1. Get the tool, jack and spare tire.
To prepare yourself for an emergency, you should familiarize
yourself with the use of the jack and each tool, and their
storage locations.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
2969. After
changing the wheel, check the air pr essure of the
replaced tire. Stow all the tools, jack and flat tire securely.
If the pressure of the replaced tire is low, drive slowly to the
nearest service station and fill to the correct pressure.
Do not forget to reinstall the tire valve cap as dirt and moisture
could get into the valve core and possible cause air leakage.
If the cap is missing, put a new one on as soon as possible.
This is the same procedure for changing or rotating your tires.
CAUTION
Before driving, make sure all the tools, jack and flat tire are
securely in place in their storage location to reduce the
possibility of personal injury during a collision or sudden
braking.

SECTION 5
309
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
310
General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
312
Does your vehicle need repairing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
315
For scheduled maintenance information, please
refer to the separate ºOwner's Manual
Supplement/ Maintenance Scheduleº.

MAINTENANCE
311
For details of your maintenance schedule, read the separate
ºOwner 's Manual Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.
It is recommended that any replacement parts used for
maintenance or for the repair of the emission control
system be Lexus supplied.
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
Owner's Guide, Owner's Manual Supplement or
Warranty Booklet 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 in±dealership training programs.
They are well informed about the operation of all the systems
on your vehicle.
You can be confident that your Lexus dealer's service
department performs the best job to meet the maintenance
requirements of your vehicle.
Your copy of the repair order is proof that all required
maintenance
has been performed for warranty coverage. And
if any problems should arise with your vehicle while under
warranty, your Lexus dealer will promptly take care of it.
Again, be sure to keep a copy of the repair order for any
service performed on your Lexus.
What about do±it±yourself maintenance?
Many of the maintenance items are easy to do yourself, if you
have a little mechanical ability and a few basic automotive
tools. Simple instructions for how to perform them are
presented in Section 6.
If you are a skilled do±it±yourself mechanic, the Lexus
service manuals are recommended. Please be aware that
do±it±yourself maintenance can affect your warranty
coverage. See your Owner's Guide, Owner's Manual
Supplement or Warranty Booklet for the details.