1998 Lexus ES 300 Owners Manual - Page 136

STARTING AND DRIVING 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 "P". If you need to restart the engine while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever in "N". 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. 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 "If your vehicle will not start" on page 162. NOTICE D Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time. This may overheat the starter and wiring systems. D Do not race a cold engine. D If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the engine checked immediately. Starting the engine Before starting the engine, be sure to follow the instructions in "Before cranking". 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 "START". Release it when the engine starts. 2. After the engine runs for about 10 seconds, you are ready to drive. 136