2008 Lexus IS250 brake

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4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal• Moves smoothly (without uneven pedal effort or catching)?
Automatic transmission “Park”
mechanism• Can the vehicle be hold securely on an incline with the shift lever in
P?
Brake pedal
• Moves smoothly?
• Does it have appropriate clearance and correct amount of free play?
Brakes
• Not pull to one side when applied?
• Loss of brake effectiveness?
• Spongy feeling brake pedal?
• Pedal almost touches floor?
Head restraints• Move smoothly and lock securely?
Indicators/buzzers•Function properly?
Lights
• Do all the lights come on?
• Headlights aimed correctly? (
→P. 3 4 1 )
Pa r k i n g b r a ke
• Moves smoothly?
• Can hold the vehicle securely on an incline?
Seat belts
• Does the seat belt system operate smoothly?
• Are the belts undamaged?
Seats• Do the seat controls operate prop- erly?

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions
If you perform maintenance yourself, be sure to follow the correct proce-
dure given in these sections.
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition (→P. 3 0 2)
•Warm water
• Baking soda
•Grease
•Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level (→P. 3 0 1 )
• FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
•Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake
fluid)
Engine coolant level (→P. 299)
• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or similar high-quality ethylene gly-
col-based non-silicate, non-amine,
non-nitrite and non-borate coolant
with long-life hybrid organic acid
technology.
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
is pre-mixed with 50% coolant and
50% deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
is pre-mixed with 55% coolant and
45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding
engine coolant)

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
■When raising your vehicle:
Make sure to observe the following to reduce the possibility of death or serious
injury.
●Do not use the jack that was supplied with your vehicle.
●Do not put any part of your body or get underneath the vehicle supported only by
the floor jack.
Always use automotive jack stands on a solid, level, surface.
●Do not start the engine while the vehicle is supported by the floor jack.
●Stop the vehicle on level firm ground, firmly set the parking brake and put the shift
lever in P (automatic) or R (manual).
●Make sure to set the floor jack properly at the jack point.
Raising the vehicle with an improperly positioned floor jack will damage the vehi-
cle and may cause the vehicle to fall off the floor jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is in the vehicle.
●When raising the vehicle, do not place any objects on top of or underneath the
floor jack.
●Lift up the vehicle using a floor jack such as
the one shown in the illustration.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Engine compartment
IS350
Battery (→P. 302)
Engine oil level dipstick (→P. 295)
Engine oil filler cap (→P. 295)
Brake fluid reservoir (→P. 301)
Fuse boxes ( →P. 327)Washer fluid tank
(→P. 305)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( →P. 3 0 1 )
Radiator ( →P. 3 0 1 )
Engine coolant reservoir (→P. 299)

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Maintenance and care
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IS250
Battery (→P. 302)
Engine oil level dipstick (→P. 295)
Engine oil filler cap (→P. 295)
Brake fluid reservoir (→P. 301)
Fuse boxes ( →P. 327)Washer fluid tank
(→P. 305)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( →P. 3 0 1 )
Radiator ( →P. 3 0 1 )
Engine coolant reservoir (→P. 299)

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Maintenance and care
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Radiator and condenserCheck the radiator and condenser and clear any foreign objects.
If either of the above parts are extremely dirty or you are not sure of their
condition, have your vehicle checked by your Lexus dealer.
Brake fluid■ Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN”
lines on the tank.
Make sure to check the fluid type and prepare the necessary items.
■ Adding fluid
CAUTION
■When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator or condenser, as they may be hot and you may be burned.
Fluid typeFMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
ItemsClean funnel
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air
Excess moisture in the fluid can cause a dangerous loss of braking efficiency. Use
only newly opened brake fluid.

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BatteryCheck the battery as follows.
■ Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery terminals are not corroded and that there
are no loose connections, cracks, or loose clamps.
Terminals
Hold-down clamp
CAUTION
■When filling the reservoir
Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and damage painted
surfaces.
If fluid gets in your eyes, flush your eyes with clean water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads wear or
when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it may indicate a serious problem.

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Maintenance and care
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)■
Checking battery condition
Check the battery condition using the indicator color.
Blue: Good condition
White: Charging is necessary.
Have the vehicle inspected by
your Lexus dealer.
Red: Not working properly,
have the battery checked by
your Lexus dealer.
■Before recharging
When recharging, the battery produces hydrogen gas which is flammable and
explosive. Therefore, before recharging:
●If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the
ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and discon-
necting the charger cables to the battery.
■After recharging the battery
The engine may not start. Follow the procedure below to initialize the system.Shift the shift lever to P (automatic) or depress the brake pedal with the
shift lever in N (manual).
Open and close any of the doors.
Restart the engine.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3