1998 Lexus LS400 maintenance

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
195
40L002-7
5
Discharged battery 6
Booster battery
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE
1. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle, make sure the
vehicles are not touching. Turn off all unnecessary lights and
accessories.2. If required, remove all the vent plugs from the booster battery.
Lay a cloth over the open vents on the booster battery. (This helps
reduce the explosion hazard, personal injuries and burns.)
If the booster battery is an extended maintenance interval battery, it
is not necessary to remove the vent plugs.
3. If the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery is not running,
start it and let it run for about 5 minutes. During jump starting, run
the engine at about 2000 rpm with the accelerator pedal lightly
depressed.
4. Locate positive (+) and negative () terminals of each battery.
Connect the jumper cables in the exact order (
1
2
3
4
)
shown in the illustration.
1
Connect a positive (red) jumper cable clamp to the positive (+)
terminal of the discharged battery.
2
Connect the clamp at the other end of the positive (red) cable
to the positive (+) terminal of the booster battery.
3
Connect a negative (black) cable clamp to the negative ()
terminal of the booster battery.
4
Connect the clamp at the other end of the negative (black) cable
to a solid, stationary, unpainted metallic point (e.g. engine
hanger) away from the battery. Do not connect it to or near any
part that moves when the engine is cranked.

SECTION 5
212
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance requirements 213. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General maintenance 214. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Does your vehicle need repairing? 217. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For scheduled maintenance information, please refer to the
separate ”Owner’s Manual Supplement/ Maintenance
Schedule”.

MAINTENANCE
213
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 daytoday
care is more important than ever before to ensure smooth,
troublefree, 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 the Owner’s Guide, Owner’s Manual Supplement
or Warranty Booklet for complete warranty information.
General maintenance
General maintenance items are those daytoday 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 ”Owner’s Manual
Supplement/Maintenance Schedule” are those required to be
serviced at regular intervals.For details of your maintenance schedule, read the separate
”Owner ’s Manual Supplement/Maintenance Schedule”.
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 nonLexus 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 welltrained specialists and are kept up to date
with the latest service information through technical bulletins,
service tips, and indealership 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 reliably and economically.

MAINTENANCE
214Your 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 doityourself 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 doityourself mechanic, the Lexus service
manuals are recommended. Please be aware that doityourself
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 241
for additional information.
Tire surface
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage or excessive wear. See
page 243 for additional information.
Wheel nuts
When checking the tires, make sure to check the nuts for looseness.
Tighten them if necessary.

MAINTENANCE
215 Tire rotation
Rotate the tires every 12000 km (7500 miles). See page 242 for
additional information.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, water or other fluid after the
vehicle has been parked for a while. If you smell fuel fumes or notice
any leak, have the cause found and corrected immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors, including trunk lid, operate smoothly and all
latches lock securely. Make sure the engine hood secondary latch
secures the hood when the primary latch is released.
Vehicle interior
Items listed below should be checked regularly, e.g. while
performing periodic services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail lights, turn signal lights,
and other lights are working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
function properly.Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified freeplay. Be alert for changes in
steering condition, such as hard steering, excessive freeplay or
strange noise.
Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as seat adjusters, seatback
recliner, etc. operate smoothly. Check that the head restraints move
up and down smoothly and that the locks hold securely in any latched
position.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as buckles, retractors and
anchors operate properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt webbing
is not cut, frayed, worn or damaged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and uneven pedal effort or
catching.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and the proper clearance and
freeplay. Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do not pull to one side when
applied.

MAINTENANCE
216Parking brake
Check that the pedal has the proper travel and that, on a safe incline,
your vehicle is held securely with only the parking brake applied.
Automatic transmission ”Park” mechanism
On a safe incline, check that your vehicle is held securely with the
selector lever in ”P” position and all brakes released.
Engine compartment
Items listed below should be checked from time to time, e.g. each
time when refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the tank. See page 261 for
additional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between the Upper and Lower lines
on the seethrough reservoir when the engine is cold. See page 233
for additional information.
Battery
Your Lexus has a maintenance free battery. You do not have to add
distilled water. For longer life of the battery, however, see page 253
for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct. See page 239 for
additional information.Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the engine turned off and the
vehicle parked on a level spot. See page 230 for additional
information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level on the dipstick. The level should be in the ”HOT”
or ”COLD” range depending on the fluid temperature. See page 240
for additional information.
Exhaust system
Look for cracks, holes and loose supports. If you notice any change
in the sound of the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have the cause
located and corrected immediately. (See engine exhaust cautions in
Section 31.)

MAINTENANCE
217
DOES YOUR VEHICLE NEED
REPAIRING?
Be on the alert for changes in performance and sounds, and visual
tipoffs that indicate service is needed. Some important clues are:
Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A fluid leak under the vehicle (However, water dripping from the
air conditioning after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous carbon
monoxide leak. Drive with the windows open and have the
exhaust system checked immediately.)
Flatlooking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering, uneven
tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when driving straight on a level road
Strange noises related to suspension movement
Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling brake pedal, pedal
almost touches floors, vehicle pulls to one side when braking
Engine coolant temperature continually higher than normal
If you notice any of these clues, take your vehicle to your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible. It probably needs adjustment or repair.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving with the vehicle unchecked. It could
result in serious vehicle damage and possibly personal injury.

INTRODUCTION
221
DOITYOURSELF SERVICE
PRECAUTIONS
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 doityourself 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 doityourself maintenance,
see ”Parts and tools”.
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:
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from the moving fan and engine drive belt.
(Removing rings, watches, and ties is advisable.)
Right after driving, the engine compartment the engine,
radiator, exhaust manifold and power steering fluid
reservoir, etc. will be hot. So be careful not to touch them.
Oil and other fluids may also be hot.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open flames around
fuel or the battery. Their fumes are flammable.
Be extremely cautious when working on the battery. It
contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
Do not get under your vehicle with just the body jack
supporting it. Always use automotive jack stands or other
solid supports.
Be sure the ignition is off if you work near the electric
cooling fan or radiator grille. With the ignition on, the
electric cooling fan may automatically start to run if the air
conditioning is on and/or if the coolant temperature is high.
Use eye protection whenever you work on or under your
vehicle where you may be exposed to flying or falling
material, fluid spray, etc.
NOTICE