2002 Lexus ES300 Page 62

INTRODUCTION
291
Be extremely cautious when working on the battery.
It contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
 Warning: Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
NOTICE
Remember that battery and ignition cables carry high
currents or voltages. Be careful of accidentally
causing a short circuit.
 Before closing the engine hood, check to see that you
have not forgotten any tools, rags, etc.
 Do not drive with the air cleaner removed, or
excessive engine wear could result. Also backfiring
could cause a fire in the engine compartment.
 Do not overfill automatic transmission fluid, or the
transmission could be damaged.
 Be careful not to scratch the glass surface with the
wiper frame.
PARTS AND TOOLS
Here is a list of parts and tools you will need to perform
doityourself maintenance. Remember all Lexus parts are
designed in metric sizes, so your tools must be metric.
Checking the engine oil level
Parts (if level is low):
Use API grade SJ “EnergyConserving”, SL
“EnergyConserving” or ILSAC multigrade engine oil. For
recommended oil viscosity, see page 305.
Tools:
 Rag or paper towel
 Funnel (only for adding oil)
Checking the engine coolant level
Parts (if level is low):
“Toyota Long Life Coolant” or equivalent
See “Checking the engine coolant level” on page 306 for
instructions.
 Demineralized or distilled water
Tools:
 Funnel (only for adding coolant)

ENGINE
303
Importance of engine oil level check
One of the most important points in proper vehicle
maintenance is to keep the engine oil at the optimum level so
that oil function will not be impaired. Therefore, it is essential
that the oil level be checked regularly. Lexus recommends that
the oil level be checked every time you refuel the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regularly could lead to
serious engine trouble due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level check, see “Checking the
engine oil level” on page 304.
USED ENGINE OIL
CAUTION
 Used engine oil contains potentially harmful
contaminants which m ay cause skin disorders such
as inflammation or skin cancer, so care should be
taken to avoid prolonged and repeated contact with
it. To remove used engine oil from your skin, wash
thoroughly with soap and water.
 Do not leave used oil within the reach of children.
 Dispose of used oil and used oil filters only in a safe
and acceptable manner. Do not dispose of used oil
and used oil filters in household trash, in sewers or
onto the ground. Call your Lexus dealer or a service
station for information concerning recycling or
disposal.

ENGINE
307
If the coolant level drops within a short time after replenishing,
there
may be a leak in the system. V isually check the radiator,
hoses, engine coolant filler cap, radiator cap and drain cock
and water pump.
If you can find no leak, have your Lexus dealer test the cap
pressure and check for leaks in the cooling system.
CAUTION
To prevent burning yourself, do not remove the radiator
cap when the engine is hot.
Coolant type selection
Use of improper coolants may damage your engine cooling
system. Your coolant must contain ethyleneglycol type
coolant for a proper corrosion protection of your engine that
contains aluminum components. Use “Toyota Long Life
Coolant” or equivalent.
In addition to preventing freezing and subsequent damage to
the engine, this type of coolant will also prevent corrosion.
Further supplemental inhibitors or additives are neither
needed nor recommended.
Read the coolant container for information on freeze
protection. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for how much
to mix with plain water (preferably demineralized water or
distilled water). The total capacity of the cooling system is
given on page 298.
We recommend to use 50% solution for your Lexus, to provide
protection down to about 35 C (31F). When it is extremely
cold, to provide protection do wn to about 50C (58F), 60%
solution is recommended. Do not use more than 70% solution
for better coolant performance.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water alone.

CHASSIS
312 TIRES AND WHEELS
Tire size
Tire inflation pressure Recommended cold tire inflation pressure
Wheel size
Wheel nut torque
P215/60R16 94V
Front 200 kPa (2.0 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 29 psi)
Rear 200 kPa (2.0 kgf/cm2 or bar, 29 psi)
For sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (99 mph), in
countries where such speeds are permitted by law, add 40 kPa
(0.4 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 6 psi) to the front tires and rear tires, but
never exceed the maximum cold tire pressure molded on the
tire sidewall.
16  6 1/2 JJ
103 N·m (10.5 kgf·m, 76 ft·lbf.)
NOTE: For a complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing wheels\
), see “Checking tire pressure” through “Aluminum
wheel precautions” on page 315 through 321.

CHASSIS
315
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the power steering could be
damaged.
CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE
The recommended cold tire pressures, tire size and the
vehicle capacity weight are given on the label.
You should check the tire pressures every two weeks, or at
least once a month. And don’t forget the spare! The air
pressure for the spare tire should be adjusted according to the
conditions in the table on page 312. Incorrect tire pressure can
reduce tire life and make your vehicle less safe to drive. Low tire pressure results in excessive wear, poor handling,
reduced fuel economy, and the possibility of blowouts from
overheated tires. Also, low tire pressure can cause poor
sealing of the tire bead. If the tire pressure is excessively low,
there is the possibility of wheel deformation and/or tire
separation. So keep your tire pressures at the proper level.
If a tire needs frequent refilling, have it checked by your Lexus
dealer.
High tire pressure produces a harsh ride, handling problems,
excessive wear at the center of the tire tread, and a greater
possibility of tire damage from road hazards.
The following instructions for checking tire pressure should be
observed:

The pressure should be checked only when the tires are
cold. If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours
and has not been driven for more than 1.5 km or 1 mile
since, you will get an accurate cold tire pressure reading.
 Always use a tire pressure gauge. The appearance of the
tire can be misleading. Besides, tire pressures that are
even just a few pounds off can degrade ride and handling.
 Do not bleed or reduce tire pressure after driving. It is
normal for the tire pressure to be higher after driving.
 Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight. The
passengers and luggage weight should be located so that
the vehicle is balanced.
 Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps. Without the valve
caps, dirt or moisture could get into the valve core and
cause air leakage. If the caps have been lost, have new
ones put on as soon as possible.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
331
NOTICE
Make sure the engine and all accessories are turned
off before performing maintenance.
 When checking the battery, remove the ground cable
first and reinstall it last.
 Be careful not to cause a short circuit with tools.
 Take care no solution gets into the battery when
washing it.
If the battery is disconnected or run down
The moon roof may not operate automatically and the jam
protection function will not function correctly after you
reconnect, replace or recharge the battery. In any of these
cases, you should normalize the moon roof. To normalize the
moon roof, see page 89.
Checking battery condition
Checking by indicator
Check the battery condition by the indicator color.
1 BLUE Good condition.
2WHITE Charging necessary. Have the battery checked
by your Lexus dealer.
3RED Have the battery checked by your Lexus dealer.
NOTICE
Do not refill the battery with water.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
338
REPLACING LIGHT BULBS
The illustration on the following pages show the locations of
light bulbs. If it is necessary to replace a bulb, take your vehicle
to your Lexus dealer as soon as possible. Use bulbs with the
bulb numbers and wattage ratings given in the table.
CAUTION
 To prevent yourself from burning, do not replace the
light bulbs while they are hot.
 Vehicles with discharge headlight—Do not
disassemble, repair or take apart the low beam
headlight bulbs, connector, power supply circuits
and rotated components. Or you may be injured by
electric shocks. Call your dealer when the headlights
fail to work or have to be replaced or disposed of.
 Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
require special handling. They can burst or shatter if
scratched or dropped. Hold a bulb only by its plastic
or metal case. Do not touch the glass part of a bulb
with bare hands.
NOTICE
Only use a bulb of the listed type.
The inside of the lens of exterior lights such as headlights may
temporarily fog up when the lens becomes wet in the rain or in
a car wash. This is not a problem because the fogging is
caused by the temperature dif ference between the outside and
inside of the lens, just like the windshield fogged up in the rain.
However, if there is a large drop of water on the inside of the
lens, or if there is water pooled inside the light, contact your
Lexus dealer.

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.