2001 Lexus ES300 maintenance schedule

INTRODUCTION
ii
New vehicle warranty
Your new vehicle is covered by the following Lexus limited
warranties:

New vehicle warranty

Emission control systems warranty

Others
For further information, please refer to the ªOwner's Guideº,
ªOwner's Manual Supplementº or ªWarranty Bookletº.
Your responsibility for maintenance
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure the specified
maintenance is performed. Section 5 of this Owner's Manual
gives details of these maintenance requirements. Included in
Section 6 is general maintenance. For scheduled
maintenance information, pl ease refer to the ªOwner's Manual
Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.
Accessories, spare parts and modification of
your Lexus
A wide variety of non±genuine spare parts and accessories for
Lexus vehicles are currently available in the market. You
should know that Toyota does not warrant these products and
is not responsible for their performance, repair, or
replacement, or for any damage they may cause to, or adverse
effect they may have on, your Lexus vehicle. This vehicle should not be modified with non±genuine Lexus
products. Modification with non±genuine Lexus products
could af
fect its performance, safety or durability, and may even
violate governmental regulations. In addition, damage or
performance problems re sulting from the modification may not
be covered under warranty.
Spark ignition system of your Lexus
The spark ignition system in your Lexus meets all
requirements of the Canadian Interference±Causing
Equipment Standard.
Installation of a mobile two±way radio system
As the installation of a mobile two±way radio system in your
vehicle could affect electronic systems such as the multiport
fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system,
cruise control system, anti±lock brake system, SRS airbag
system and seat belt pretensioner system, be sure to check
with your Lexus dealer for precautionary measures or special
instructions regarding installation.
Scrapping of your Lexus
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your
Lexus contain explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped
with the airbags and seat belt pretensioners left as they are,
this may cause an accident such as fire. Be sure to have the
systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner removed
and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your Lexus
dealer before you scrap your vehicle.

AIR CONDITIONING
233
On some models, the air conditioning filters are
behind the central instrument panel.
The air conditioning filter may clog after long use. The
filter may need to be replaced if the air flow of the air
conditioner
and heater experiences extreme reductions
in operating efficiency, or if the windows become to fog
up easily.
To maintain the air conditioning efficiency, inspect and
replace the air conditioning filter according to the
maintenance schedule. (For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the ªOwner's Manual
Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.)
CAUTION
Be careful not to touch the hot heater radiator pipes.
20E208

STARTING AND DRIVING
276
To ensure that the three±way catalytic
converter and the entire emission controlsystem operate properly, your vehicle mustreceive the periodic inspections required bythe Lexus Maintenance Schedule. Forscheduled maintenance information, refer tothe ªOwner's Manual
Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.ENGINE EXHAUST CAUTION

DRIVING TIPS
333
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 regulations. If they
do not, install required rear view mirrors appropriate
for towing purposes.

DRIVING TIPS
339

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 si gnals
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 rest your foot on the brake pedal. This
causes premature wear, overheating and poor fuel
economy.
 Maintain a moderate 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 ªOwner's Manual
Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.)

SECTION 5
379
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance requirements380
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General maintenance 382
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Does your vehicle need repairing? 385
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For scheduled maintenance information,
please refer to the ªOwner's ManualSupplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.

MAINTENANCE
380
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 the
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 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 ªOwner's Guideº,
ªOwner's Manual Supplementº or ªWarranty
Bookletº for complete warranty information.

MAINTENANCE
382
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 431 for a dditional information.
Tire surface
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage or excessive
wear. See page 433 for additional information.
Wheel nuts
When checking the tires, make sure to check the nuts for
looseness. Tighten them if necessary. Tire rotation
Rotate
the tires according to the maintenance schedule.
(For scheduled maintenance information, please refer to
the ªOwner's Manual Supplement/Maintenance
Scheduleº.) See page 432 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.