2004 Lexus ES330 Maintenance required

AIR CONDITIONING
206
(e) Checking and replacing the air conditioning
filter
The air conditioning filter information label is placed in the
glove box as shown and indicates that a filter has been
installed.
The air conditioning filter prevents dust from entering the
vehicle through the air conditioning vent.
The air conditioning filter is behind the glove box.
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 begin to fog up easily.
To maintain the air conditioning efficiency, inspect and replace
the air conditioning filter according to the maintenance
schedule. In dusty areas or areas with heavy traffic flow, such
as inner city or desert areas, early replacement may be
required. (For scheduled maintenance information, please
refer to the Owner's Manual Supplement/Scheduled
Maintenanceº.)

STARTING AND DRIVING
265 
To ensure that the three-way catalytic converter and
the entire emission control system operate properly,
your vehicle must receive the periodic inspections
required by the Lexus Maintenance Schedule. For
scheduled maintenance information, refer to the
Owner's Manual Supplement/Scheduled
Maintenanceº.

DRIVING TIPS
305
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 Owner's Manual Supplement/
Scheduled Maintenanceº.
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.
Trailer towing tips
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will handle differently
than when not towing. The three main causes of
vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed
and improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when
towing:
Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all
vehicle-trailer connections. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and connections. Practice
turning, stopping and backing with a trailer in an area away
from traffic until you learn the feel.
Backing with a trailer is difficult and requires practice. Grip
the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right
to move the trailer to the right. (This procedure is generally
opposite to that when backing without a trailer.) Also, just
turn the steering wheel a little at a time, avoiding sharp or
prolonged turning. Have someone guide you when backing
to reduce the risk of an accident.
Because stopping distance may be increased,
vehicle-to-vehicle distance should be increased when
towing a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow
at least one vehicle and trailer length between you and the
vehicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as you may skid,
resulting in jackknifing and loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
319
40E128

5Discharged battery
6Booster 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 23 4) shown in the illustration.
1Connect a positive (red) jumper cable clamp to the
positive (+) terminal of the discharged battery.
2Connect the clamp at the other end of the positive (red)
cable to the positive (+) terminal of the booster battery.
3Connect a negative (black) cable clamp to the negative
(-) terminal of the booster battery.
4Connect the clamp at the other end of the negative (black)
cable to a solid, stationary, unpainted metallic point (e.g.
cylinder head) away from the battery. Do not connect it
to or near any part that moves when the engine is
cranked.

MAINTENANCE
344
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 Owner's Guideº,
Owner's Manual Supplementº or Warranty 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 Owner's
Manual Supplement/Scheduled Maintenanceº are those
required to be serviced at regular intervals.
For details of your maintenance schedule, read the Owner's
Manual Supplement/Scheduled Maintenanceº.
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
Owner's Guideº, Owner's Manual Supplementº or
Warranty Bookletº for complete warranty information.

MAINTENANCE
345
Where to go for service?
Lexus technicians are well-trained specialists and are kept up
to date with the latest service information through technical
bulletins, service tips, and in-dealership 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.
Your copy of the repair order is proof that all required
maintenance has been performed for warranty coverage. 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 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 Guideº, Owner's Manual
Supplementº or Warranty Bookletº 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 with adequate ventilation if you
run the engine.
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 432 for
additional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between the Fº and Lº lines on
the see-through reservoir when the engine is cold. See page
375 for additional information.
Radiator, condenser and hoses
Check that the front of the radiator and condenser are clean
and not blocked with leaves, dirt, or insects. See page 377 for
additional information.

cm-2
Maintenance procedures for the engine, chassis,
body, electrical system, and more, are clearly
explained and illustrated.
Periodic maintenance and tune-up
Periodic maintenance and tune-up helps to prevent small
problems from growing into larger ones later on. The repair
manual outlines exactly what maintenance is required and
clearly explains how to do the work yourself step-by-step.
Areas covered include such things as spark plug replacement,
valve clearance adjustment and engine oil and filter
replacement.
Where to obtain the
Repair Manual
The repair manual for ES330, written in English, may be
purchased as applicable from any Lexus dealer.
Pub. Name: 2004 ES330 Repair Manual
Pub. No.: Vol.1 RM1052U1
Vol.2 RM1052U2