2012 Lexus ES350 ECT

421
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
ES350_U
Replacing light bulbs■ Headlight low beams (for vehicles with halogen bulbs), headlight
high beams and daytime running lights
Remove the engine compartment cover. ( →P. 3 7 8 )
Turn the bulb base counterclock-
wise.
Unplug the connector while
depressing the lock release.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

428
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
ES350_U
CAUTION
■Replacing light bulbs
●Turn off the headlights. Do not attempt to replace the bulb immediately after turn-
ing off the headlights.
The bulbs become very hot and may cause burns.
●Do not touch the glass portion of the light bulb with bare hands. Hold the bulb by
the plastic or metal portion.
If the bulb is scratched or dropped it may blow out or crack.
●Fully install light bulbs and any parts used to secure them. Failing to do so may
result in heat damage, fire, or water entering the headlight unit. This may damage
the headlights or cause condensation to build up on the lens.
●Do not attempt to take apart or repair the low beam headlight bulbs, connectors,
power supply circuits, or related components.
Doing so could result in electric shock and serious injury or death.
■Discharge headlights
●Contact your Lexus dealer before replacing discharge headlights (including light
bulbs).
●Do not touch the high-intensity discharge headlight’s high voltage socket when
the headlights are turned on.
An extremely high voltage of 20000 V will be discharged and could result in
serious injury or death by electric shock.
■To prevent damage or fire
Make sure bulbs are fully seated and locked.

When trouble arises5
429
ES350_U
5-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers.............. 430
If your vehicle needs to be towed ....................................... 431
If you think something is wrong ...................................... 437
Fuel pump shut off system .................................... 438 5-2. Steps to take in an
emergency
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds... ................................. 439
If a warning message is displayed................................ 449
If you have a flat tire................. 461
If the engine will not start .... 470
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ....................... 472
If you lose your keys .............. 473
If the electronic key does not operate properly........... 474
If the vehicle battery is discharged ............................. 477
If your vehicle overheats ..... 480
If the vehicle becomes stuck........................................ 483
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ............................ 484

432
5-1. Essential information
ES350_U
Installing towing eyeletRemove the eyelet cover using a
flathead screwdriver.
To protect the bodywork, place a
rag between the screwdriver and
the vehicle body, as shown in the
illustration.
■Emergency towing procedureRelease the parking brake.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to ACCESSORY (engine off)
or IGNITION ON mode (engine running).
CAUTION
■Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive stress on
the emergency towing eyelets and the cables or chains. Always be cautious of the
surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
●If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not
function, making steering and braking more difficult.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious da mage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the rear with front wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage to the transmission.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP1

5
When trouble arises
437
5-1. Essential information
ES350_U
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably needs
adjustment or repair. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
■Visible symptoms
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points
higher than normal
■ Audible symptoms
●Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the engine
■ Operational symptoms
●Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, sp ongy feeling, pedal almost touches
the floor

438
5-1. Essential information
ES350_U
Fuel pump shut off system
Follow the procedure below to restart the engine after the system is acti-
vated.Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to ACCESSORY mode
or OFF.
Restart the engine.
NOTICE
■Before starting the engine
Inspect the ground under the vehicle.
If you find that fuel has leaked on to the ground, the fuel system has been damaged
and is in need of repair. Do not restart the engine.
To minimize the risk of fuel leakage when the engine stalls or an airbag
inflates upon collision, the fuel pump shut off system stops supplying fuel to
the engine.
STEP1
STEP2

440
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U
Stop the vehicle immediately.
The following warnings indicate the possibility of damage to the vehicle
that may lead to an accident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place
and contact your Lexus dealer.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately. Failing to investigate the cause of the following warnings may lead to the
system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Charging system warning light Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system.
(USA)

(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lampIndicates the following:
•Empty fuel tank
• Loose fuel tank cap
• Malfunction in the electronic engine control system;
• Malfunction in the electronic throttle control system; or
• Malfunction in the electronic automatic transmission con-trol system.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
SRS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system; or
• Front passenger occupant classification system
• The seat belt pretensioner system.

5
When trouble arises
441
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U
Follow the correction procedure.After taking the specified steps to co rrect the suspected problem, check
that the warning light turns off.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
(USA)
(Canada)
ABS warning light
Indicates a malfunction in:
•The ABS; or
• The brake assist system.
(If equipped)
Pre-collision system warning lightIndicates a malfunction in the pre-collision system.
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Open door warning light
(warning buzzer
*1)
Indicates that a door or the
trunk is not fully closed.Check that all doors and the
trunk are closed.
Low fuel level warning light
Indicates remaining fuel level
is low.
(Approximately 2.8 gal.
[10.5 L, 2.3 Imp. gal.] or less)
Refuel the vehicle.
Driver’s seat belt reminder
light (warning buzzer
*2)
Warns the driver to fasten his
or her seat belt.Fasten the seat belt.