1998 Lexus ES300 WHEEL NUT

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 .

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY169
40E004±1
To remove the spare tire:
1Loosen the nut and remove it.
2Remove the spare tire cover.
3Loosen the bolt and remove it.
When storing the spare tire, place it with the outer side of the wheel facing\
up.
Then bolt the tire in place and install the spare tire cover to prevent the \
tire
from flying forward during a collision or sudden braking.
40E005±1
3. Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire to keep the vehicle
from rolling when it is jacked up. When blocking the wheel, place a wheel block in front of the front wheels or
behind the rear wheels.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
170
40E006
4. Loosen all the wheel nuts.
Always loosen the wheel nuts before raising the vehicle.
Turn the nuts counterclockwise to loosen them. To get maximum leverage,
fit the wrench to the nut so that the handle is on the right side, as shown\
above.
Grab the wrench near the end of the handle and pull up on the handle. Be
careful that the wrench does not slip off the nut.
Do not remove the nuts yet ± just unscrew them about one±half turn\
.
40E007
5. Position the jack at the jack points as shown.
Make sure the jack is positioned on a level and solid surface.
40E008±1
6. After making sure no one is in the vehicle, raise it high enough so that
the spare tire can be installed.
Allow for the fact that you need more ground clearance when putting on the
spare tire than when removing the flat tire.
To raise the vehicle, insert the jack handle into the jack (it is a loos\
e fit) and
turn it clockwise. As the jack touches the vehicle and begins to lift,
double±check that it is properly positioned.
CAUTION
Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle is supported by
the jack alone.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY171
40E009±1
7. Remove the wheel nuts and remove the flat tire.
Lift the flat tire straight off and put it aside.
40E010
Before putting on the wheel, remove any corrosion on the mounting surfaces
with a wire brush or such. Installation of wheels without good metal±to±metal
contact at the mounting surface can cause wheel nuts to loosen and eventually
cause a wheel to come off while driving.
40E011
8. Reinstall all the wheel nuts finger tight.
Align the holes in the wheel with the bolts. Then lift up the wheel and get \
at
least the top bolt started through its hole. Wiggle the tire and press it back over
the other bolts.
Reinstall the wheel nuts and tighten them as much as you can by hand. Press
the tire back and see if you can tighten them more.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
172
40E012
9. Lower the vehicle completely and tighten the wheel nuts.
Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the vehicle.
Use only the wheel nut wrench to tighten the nuts. Do not use other tools \
or
any additional leverage other than your hands, such as a hammer, pipe or your
foot. Make sure the wrench is securely engaged over the nut.
Tighten each nut a little at a time in the order shown. Repeat the process unti\
l
all the nuts are tight.
CAUTION
 When lowering the vehicle, make sure all portions of your
body and all other persons around will not be injured as the
vehicle is lowered to the ground.
 As soon as possible after changing wheels, have the wheel
nuts tightened by torque wrench at 103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76
ft´lbf.).
10. After changing the wheel, check the air pressure 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.

MAINTENANCE181
Your copy of the repair order is proof that all required maintenance has bee\
n
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 perfor\
med 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.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Listed below are the general maintenance items that should be performed at
the intervals specified. It is recommended that any problem you notice be
brought to the attention of your Lexus dealer or qualified service shop for their
advice.
CAUTION
Make these checks only where adequate ventilation can be
obtained if you run the engine.
Vehicle exterior
Items listed below should be performed from time to time, unless
otherwise specified.
Tire pressure
Check the pressure with a gauge every two weeks, or at least once a month and
adjust as shown on the tire pressure label. See page 207 for additional
information.
Tire surface
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage or excessive wear. See page 208
for additional information.
Wheel nuts
When checking the tires, make sure to check the nuts for looseness. Tighten\
them if necessary.

CHASSIS
204
± STEERING
Wheel freeplay
Power steering fluid type
Less than 30 mm (1.2 in.)
Automatic transmission fluid DEXRONII or III
± TIRES AND WHEELSTire size
Recommended cold tire inflation pressure Vehicle load up to 4 occupants
Vehicle loaded up to vehicle capacity weight
Spare tire
Trailer towing (conventional and snow tires)
Wheel size
Wheel nut torque
P205/65 R15 92V
180 kPa (1.8 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 26 psi) (Both front and rear)
220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 32 psi) (Both front and rear)
220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 32 psi)
220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 32 psi) (Both front and rear)
15 x 6 JJ
103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76 ft´lbf.)

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.