Page 408 of 609

388
IS250/220d/200d_EE
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
Automatic car washes
Fold the mirrors back before washing the vehicle.
Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface
and harm your vehicle’s paint.
High pressure car washes
Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity
of the windows.
Before car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is closed
properly.
Touch-up paint (if equipped)
Touch-up paint may be used to cover small chips or scratches.
Apply the paint soon after the damage occurs or corrosion may set in. To
apply the touch-up paint so it is hardly noticeable the trick is to apply it only
to the bare spots. Apply only the smallest amount possible and do not paint
the surface around the scratch or chip.
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in prime
condition.
Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the
vehicle body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to
remove any dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as
a chamois.
For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse
thoroughly with water.
Wipe away any water.
Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehi-
cle body is cool.
Page 409 of 609

389
4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
IS250/220d/200d_EE
Aluminum wheels
Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use
hard brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical
cleaners.
Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.
Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after
driving for long distance in the hot weather.
Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use.
Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
Outside rear view mirror rain-clearing coating (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions in order to retain the rain-clearing prop-
erties of the mirror.
Clean the mirrors using car shampoo or glass cleaner that does not con-
tain silicone or an abrasive compound, and rinse thoroughly with water.
Allow the mirrors to be exposed to direct sunlight for 1 to 2 days.
CAUTION
When cleaning the windshield (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers)
When the upper part of the windshield where the raindrop sensor is
located is touched by hand
When a wet rag or similar is held close to the raindrop sensor
If something bumps against the windshield
If you directly touch the raindrop sensor body or if something bumps into
the raindrop sensor
Set the wiper switch to off.
If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the
wipers may operate unexpectedly in the
following situations, and may result in
hands being caught or other serious inju-
ries and cause damage to the wiper
blades.Off
Page 410 of 609

390
4-1. Maintenance and care
IS250/220d/200d_EE
CAUTION
Caution about the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe until it has
cooled sufficiently, as touching a hot exhaust pipe can cause burns.
NOTICE
To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body and components
(aluminum wheels etc.)
Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If you see coal tar or tree sap on the paint surface
• If you see dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings on the paint
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine
dust, iron powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled in dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.
To prevent the wheels from corroding, remove any dirt and store in a
place with low humidity when storing the wheels.
Cleaning the exterior lights
Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the lights.
Do not apply wax on the surfaces of the lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses.
To prevent damage to the windshield wiper arms
When lifting the wiper arms away from the windshield, pull the driver side
wiper arm upward first, and repeat for the passenger side. When returning
the wipers to their original position, do so from the passenger side first.
Page 446 of 609

425
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
IS250/220d/200d_EE
NOTICE
Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire air pressure, reducing the cushion-
ing ability of the tires. In addition driving on rough roads may cause damage
to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels and body.
Low profile tires and wheels (vehicles with 17- and 18- inch tires)
Wheels with profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the tire
wheel when receiving impact from the road surface. Therefore pay attention
to the following:
Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated,
they may be damaged more severely.
Avoid pot holes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards.
Failure to do so may lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
If tire pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.
Page 448 of 609
427
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
IS250/220d/200d_EE
CAUTION
Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions may
occur and result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
Excessive wear
Uneven wear
Poor handling
Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
Poor sealing of the tire bead
Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
When inspecting and adjusting tire pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or moisture could get into the valve and cause
air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps have been lost,
replace them as soon as possible.
Page 449 of 609

428
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS250/220d/200d_EE
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be replaced.
Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause loss of han-
dling control.
Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that
they are equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diame-
ter, rim width, and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at any authorized Lexus
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped pro-
fessional.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Lexus does not recommend using:
Wheels of different sizes or types
Used wheels
Bent wheels that have been straightened
Aluminum wheel precautions
Use only Lexus wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use
with your aluminum wheels.
When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that
the wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1600 km (1000
miles).
Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
Page 450 of 609
429
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
IS250/220d/200d_EE
CAUTION
When replacing wheels
Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in the
Owner’s Manual, as this may result in loss of handling control.
Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a tube-
less tire. Doing so may result in an accident, causing serious injury or
death.
Page 485 of 609

5
459
5-1. Essential information
When trouble arises
IS250/220d/200d_EE
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towing
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission.
Contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly
qualified and equipped professional, before towing.
The engine is running, but the vehicle will not move.
The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Emergency towing
If a tow truck is not available, in an emergency your vehicle may
be temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emer-
gency towing eyelet(s). This should only be attempted on hard,
surfaced roads for short distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by
any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional, such as a commercial towing service, using a
lift-type truck or a flat bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/provin-
cial and local laws.
If towing from the rear, the vehicle's front wheels and axles must be in
good condition. (P. 463)
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flat bed truck.