2002 Lexus ES300 ESP

INTRODUCTION
290
DOITYOURSELF SERVICEPRECAUTIONS
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” on page 291.
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.
 Do not get under your vehicle with just the body jack
supporting it. Always use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.
 Be sure that the ignition is off if you work near the
electric cooling fans or radiator grille. With the
ignition on, the electric cooling fans will
automatically start to run if the engine coolant
temperature is high and/or the air conditioning is on.
 Use eye protection whenever you work on or under
your vehicle where you may be exposed to flying or
falling material, fluid spray, etc.

CHASSIS
318Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A, B, C The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire established for a
tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately
or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.
Tire selection
When replacing a tire, use only the same size and
construction as originally installed and with the same or
greater load capacity.
Using any other size or type of tire may seriously affect
handling, ride, speedometer/odometer calibration, ground
clearance, and clearance between the body and tires or snow
chains.
Do not mix radial, belted, or conventional tires on your
vehicle.
Do not use tires or wheels other than the manufacturer’s
recommended size.
It can cause dangerous handling characteristics, resulting in
loss of control. If you need to change from conventional tires
to radial tires or vice versa, replace them as a set.

BODY
343
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLEFROM CORROSION
Proper care of your Lexus can help ensure longterm
corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corrosion to your vehicle
are:
The accumulation of road salt, dirt and moisture in
hardtoreach areas under the vehicle.
 Chipping of paint or undercoating caused by minor
accidents or by stones and gravel.
The following conditions will cause or accelerate
corrosion of your vehicle, so it is important to keep your
vehicle, particularly the underside, as clean as possible
and to repair any damage to paint or protective coatings
as soon as possible.
 The presence of road salt or dust control chemicals, salt in
the air near the sea coast, industrial air pollution.
 High humidity, especially at temperatures just above
freezing point.
 Certain parts of your vehicle are wet or damp for an
extended period of time, even though other parts of the
vehicle are dry.
 Components of the vehicle which are prevented from
quickdrying due to lack of proper ventilation are exposed
to high temperature. To help prevent corrosion on your Lexus, follow these
guidelines:
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing.
In addition,
observe the following points.
 If you drive on salted roads in the winter or if you live near
the ocean, you should hose off the undercarriage at least
once a month to minimize corrosion.
 High pressure water or steam is effective for cleaning the
vehicle’s underside and wheel housings. Pay particular
attention to these areas as it is dif ficult to see all the mud and
dirt. It will do more harm than good to simply wet the mud
and debris without removing them. The lower edge of
doors, rocker panels and frame members have drain holes
which should not be allowed to clog with dirt as trapped
water in these areas can cause corrosion.
 Wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughly when winter
is over.
See “Washing and waxing” on page 344 for more tips.
Check the condition of your vehicle’s paint and trim. If you
find any chips or scratches in the paint, touch them up
immediately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the chips or
scratches have gone through the bare metal, have a qualified
body shop make the repair.

BODY
345
Plastic wheel ornaments:
The plastic wheel ornaments are
damaged easily by organic substances. If any organic
substances splashes an ornament, be sure to wash it off with
water and check if the ornament is damaged.
CAUTION
Do not attach the heavily damaged plastic wheel
ornament. It may fly off the wheel and cause accidents
while the vehicle is moving.
Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild soap or neutral detergent.
Urethane bumpers and side moldings: Wash carefully. Do
not scrub with abrasive cleaners. The bumper and side
molding faces are soft.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces.
NOTICE
Do not use organic substances (gasoline, kerosene,
benzine or strong solvents), which may be toxic or
cause damage.
3. Rinse thoroughly dried soap can cause streaking. In hot
weather you may need to rinse each section right after you
wash it. 4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean soft
cotton
towel. Do not rub or press hard you might scratch the
paint.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash, but
remember that the paint can be scratched by some type of
brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the washing process
itself. Scratching reduces paint durability and gloss, especially
on darker colors. The manager of the car wash should be able
to advise you whether the process is safe for the paint on your
vehicle.
Waxing your Lexus
Polishing and waxing is recommended to maintain the
original beauty of your Lexus’ finish.
Once a month or if the vehicle surface does not repel water
well, apply wax.
1. Always wash and dry the vehicle before you begin waxing,
even if you are using a combined cleaner and wax.
2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If the finish has become
extremely weathered, use a carcleaning polish, followed by
a separate wax. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s
instructions and precautions. Be sure to polish and wax the
chrome trim as well as the paint.
3. Wax the vehicle again when water does not bead but
remains on the surface in large patches.

BODY
347
NOTICE
Dirt or sand adhered to the leather may damage the
treated surface and cause it to wear earlier. Remove
dirt or sand using a vacuum cleaner.
 If a stain should fail to come out with a neutral
detergent, apply a cleaner that does not contain an
organic solvent.
 Never use organic substances such as benzine,
alcohol or gasoline, or alkaline or acid solutions for
cleaning the leather as these could cause
discoloring.
 Use of a nylon brush or synthetic fiber cloth, etc. may
scratch the fine grained surface of the leather.
 Mildew may develop on soiled leather upholstery. Be
especially careful to avoid oil spots. Try to keep your
upholstery always clean.
 Long exposure to direct sunlight may cause the
leather surface to harden and shrink. Keep your
vehicle in a shaded area, especially in the summer.
 The interior of your vehicle is apt to heat up on hot
summer days, so avoid placing on the upholstery
items made of vinyl or plastic or containing wax as
these tend to stick to leather when warm.
 Improper cleaning of the leather upholstery could
result in discoloration or staining.
Synthetic Leather Areas (Dash)
The synthetic leather areas may be easily cleaned with a
mild soap or detergent and water.
First vacuum over the upholstery to remove loose dirt. Then,
using a sponge or soft cloth, apply the soap solution to the
synthetic lea ther. After allowing it to soak in for a few minutes
to loosen the dirt, remove the dirt and wipe off the soap with a
clean damp cloth. If all the dirt does not come off, repeat the
procedure. Commercial foamingtype cleaners are also
available which work well. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline or window cleaner
on the interior.
Carpets, Windows and Seat Belts
Begin by vacuuming thoroughly to remove as much dirt as
possible. Several types of foam cleaners are available; some
are in aerosol cans and others are powders or liquids which
you mix with water to produce a foam. To shampoo the
carpets, use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in
overlapping circles. Do not apply water the best results are
obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possible. Read the
shampoo instructions and follow them closely.