2012 Lexus ES350 service

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4-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior.................. 358
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ..................... 361
4-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ..... 364
General maintenance ................ 366
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ...................................... 369
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions .................................. 370
Hood.................................................. 374
Positioning a floor jack............... 375
Engine compartment.................. 377
Tires .................................................. 390
Tire inflation pressure................. 399
Wheels............................................. 403
Air conditioning filter................. 405
Electronic key battery ................ 407
Checking and replacing fuses ............................................... 409
Headlight aim ................................. 418
Light bulbs ....................................... 420 5-1. Essential information
Emergency 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
4Maintenance and care5When trouble arises

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Scrapping of your Lexus
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your Lexus contain explosive
chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbags and seat belt pretensioners left
as they are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be sure to have the systems of
the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner removed and disposed of by a qualified
service shop or by your Lexus dealer before you scrap your vehicle.
Perchlorate Material
Special handling may apply, See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Your vehicle has components that may contain perchlorate. These components may
include airbag, seat belt pretensioners, and wireless remote control batteries.
Vehicle control and operation data recording
Your Lexus is equipped with sophisticated computers that record certain informa-
tion about your vehicle’s operation, such as:
• Engine speed
• Accelerator status
• Brake status
• Vehicle speed
•Shift position
The data recorded varies according to the grade level and options the vehicle is
equipped with. The computers do not record conversations, sound or pictures.
● Data usage
Lexus may use the data recorded in these computers to diagnose malfunctions,
conduct research and development, and improve quality.
Lexus will not disclose the recorded data to a third party except:
• With the consent of the vehicle owner or with the consent of the lessee if the vehicle is leased
• In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a government
agency
• For research purposes where the data is not tied to a specific vehicle or vehicle owner

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●Safety Connect / Lexus Enform (U.S. mainland only)
If your Lexus has Safety Connect or Lexus Enform and if you have subscribed to
those services, please refer to the Safety Connect / Lexus Enform Telematics Sub-
scription Service Agreement for information on data collected and its usage.
CAUTION
■General precautions while driving
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehicle. Alcohol
and certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and reduce coordination,
which could lead to an accident that could result in death or serious injury.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other drivers
or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full attention to driving. Anything that distracts
the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a mobile phone or reading can
result in a collision with resulting death or serious injury to you, your occupants or
others.
■General precaution regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to have or
use the key.
When left unattended, children may be able to start the vehicle or shift the vehicle
into neutral. There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing
with the cigarette lighter, the windows, the moon roof, or other features of the vehi-
cle. In addition, heat build-up or extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can
be fatal to children.

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1-7. Safety information
ES350_UThe main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The SRS air-
bag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sen-
sor assembly consists of a safing sensor and an airbag sensor.
In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag system
triggers the airbag inflators. A chem
ical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occu-
pants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying (inflating)
SRS airbag.
●A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as
well as the seats, and parts of the front pillar, rear pillar and roof side rail, may be
hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.
●For Safety Connect subscribers, if the SRS airbags deploy or in the event of a
severe rear-end collision, the system is designed to send an emergency call to
the response center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location (without needing to
push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to speak with the occupants
to ascertain the level of emergency and assistance required. If the occupants
are unable to communicate, the agent automatically treats the call as an emer-
gency and helps to dispatch the necessary emergency services. ( →P. 3 5 0 )
■SRS airbag deployment conditions (front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds the set
threshold level (the level of force corresponding to an approximately 12 - 18
mph [20 - 30 km/h] frontal collision with a fixed wall that does not move or
deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in
which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
●It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the vehi-
cle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the
seat belt pretensioners may not activate together.

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2-5. Driving information
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Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving the
vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the
prevailing weather conditions.
■Pre-winter preparations
● Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tempera-
tures.
• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Washer fluid
● Have a service technician inspect the level and specific gravity of
battery electrolyte.
● Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of
tire chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match
the size of the tires.
●Tire inflation pressure falls in winter as the outside temperature
falls. Add 2.9 to 4.3 psi (20 to 30 kPa, 0.2 to 0.3 kgf/cm2 or bar)
to the standard tire inflation pressure.

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3-2. Using the audio system
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Interior features
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■When the battery is disconnected
All preset stations are erased.
■Reception sensitivity
●It is difficult to maintain perfect radio reception at all times due to the continually
changing position of the antenna, differences in signal strength and surrounding
objects, such as trains and transmitters.
●The radio antenna is mounted inside the rear window. To maintain clear radio
reception, do not attach metallic window tinting or other metallic objects to the
antenna wire mounted inside the rear window.
■Receiving XM® Satellite Radio
An XM
® Satellite Radio is a tuner designed exclusively to receive broadcasts pro-
vided under a separate subscription. Availability is limited to the 48 contiguous
states and 10 Canadian provinces.
●XM® subscriptions
For detailed information about XM® Satellite Radio or to subscribe:
U.S.A. 
Visit on the web at www.xmradio.com
or call 1-877-515-3987.
Canada 
Visit on the web at www.xmradio.ca
or call 1-877-515-3987.
●Radio ID
You will need the radio ID when activating XM
® service or reporting a prob-
lem. Select “CH000” using , and the receiver's 8-character ID number
will appear.
●Satellite tuner
The tuner supports only Audio Services (Music and Talk) and the accompany-
ing Text Information of XM
® Satellite Radio.

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3-4. Using the hands-free system (for mobile phone)
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■Conditions under which the system will not operate
●If using a mobile phone that does not support Bluetooth®
●If the mobile phone is switched off
●If you are outside service range
●If the mobile phone is not connected
●If the mobile phone's battery is low
●If the mobile phone is behind the seat or in the glove box or console box
●If metal is covering or touching the phone
■When using the hands-free system
●The audio system and voice guidance are muted when making a call.
●If both parties speak at the same time, it may be difficult to hear.
●If the incoming call volume is overly loud, an echo may be heard.
●Try to face toward the microphone as much as possible when speaking.
●In the following circumstances, it may be difficult to hear the other party:
• When driving on unpaved roads
• When driving at high speeds
• When a window is open
• When the air conditioning is blowing directly on the microphone
• When the air conditioning is set to high
■When transferring ownership of the vehicle
Be sure to initialize the system to prevent the personal data from being improperly
accessed. (→P. 3 0 4 )
■About Bluetooth®
Bluetooth is a registered trademark of
Bluetooth SIG. Inc.

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3-4. Using the hands-free system (for mobile phone)
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Interior features
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■Call waiting
●If your phone does not support HFP Ver. 1.5, this function cannot be used.
●Call waiting operation may differ depending on your mobile phone and service
provider.
■Call history
Up to 5 numbers can be stored in each of the outgoing and incoming history mem-
ories.
■When talking on the phone
●Do not talk at the same time as with the other party.
●Keep the volume of the incoming voice down. Otherwise, voice echo will
increase.