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4Maintenance and care
387
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior ........ 388
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior ......... 392
4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements .................. 395
4-3. Do-it-yourself
maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions..................... 398
Hood ................................ 401
Positioning a floor jack .... 402
Engine compartment ........ 404
Tires ................................. 420
Tire inflation pressure ...... 424
Wheels ............................. 426
Air conditioning filter ...... 428
Electronic key battery ...... 431
Checking and replacing
fuses ............................... 433
Light bulbs ....................... 448
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4-2. Maintenance
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Maintenance and care
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Where to go for service?
In order to maintain your vehicle in the highest possible condition, Lexus
recommends that all repairs and service operations be carried out by autho-
rized Lexus dealers or repairers or other duly qualified and equipped profes-
sionals. For repairs and services covered by your warranty, please visit an
authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, who will use genuine Lexus parts in
repairing any difficulties you may encounter. There can also be advantages
in utilizing authorized Lexus dealers or repairers for non-warranty repairs
and services, as members of the Lexus network will be able to expertly
assist you with any difficulties you may encounter.
Your Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped pro-
fessional service department will perform all of the scheduled maintenance
on your vehicle - reliably and economically due to their experience with
Lexus vehicles.
Does your vehicle need repair?
Be on the alert for changes in performance and sounds, and visual tip-offs
that indicate service is needed. Some important clues are:
Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A fluid leak under the vehicle (However, water dripping from the air
conditioning after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous carbon monox-
ide leak. Drive with the windows open and have the exhaust system
checked immediately.)
Flat-looking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering, uneven tire
wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when driving straight on a level road
Strange noises related to suspension movement
Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling brake pedal, pedal almost
touches the floor, vehicle pulls to one side when braking
Engine coolant temperature continually higher than normal
If you notice any of these clues, take your vehicle to any authorized Lexus
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional, as
soon as possible. Your vehicle may need adjustment or repair.
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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
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ItemsParts and tools
Tire inflation pressure (P. 426)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source
Washer fluid (P. 420)
• Water washer fluid containing
antifreeze (for winter use)
• Funnel
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422
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS250/220d/200d_EE
Replace the tires when the treadwear indicators show.
Checking tires
New tread
Treadwear indicator
Wo r n t r e a d
The location of treadwear
indicators is shown by the
“TWI” or “ ” marks, etc.,
molded on the sidewall of
each tire.
Check spare tire condition
and inflation pressure if not
rotated.
Tire rotation
Models with 16-inch tires (with a compact spare tire or an
emergency tire puncture repair kit)
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and
help extend tire life, Lexus
recommends that you rotate
your tires approximately
every 10000 km (6000
miles).
Models with 16-inch tires (with a full-size spare tire)
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and
help extend tire life, Lexus
recommends that you rotate
your tires approximately
10000 k (6000
Front
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424
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to expose
the fabric or bulges indicating internal damage
A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size
or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even if
it has seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
If the tread on snow tires wears down below 4 mm (0.16 in.)
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.
Low profile tires (models not equipped with 16-inch tires)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire grip performance
will be reduced on snowy and/or icy roads when compared to standard tires.
Be sure to use snow tires or tire chains
* on snowy and/or icy roads and
drive carefully at a speed appropriate for road and weather conditions.
*: Tire chains cannot be mounted on 18-inch tires.
CAUTION
When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to parts of the drive train, as well as dan-
gerous handling characteristics, which may lead to an accident resulting in
death or serious injury.
Do not mix tires of different makes, models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of remarkably different treadwear.
Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Lexus.
Do not mix differently constructed tires (radial, bias-belted or bias-ply
tires).
Do not mix summer, all season and snow tires.
Do not use tires that have been used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not know how they were used previously.
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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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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.
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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Tire inflation pressure
Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure may result in the following:
Reduced fuel efficiency
Reduced driving comfort and tire life
Reduced safety
Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent refilling, have it checked by any authorized Lexus
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Instructions for checking tire pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours and has not been
driven for more than 1.5 km or 1 mile, you will get an accurate cold tire
inflation pressure reading.
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be misleading. In addition, tire inflation
pressures that are even just a few pounds off can degrade ride and han-
dling.
Do not bleed or reduce tire inflation pressure after driving. It is normal
for the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving.
Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is
balanced.
Make sure to maintain the proper tire inflation pressure. Tire inflation
pressure should be checked at least once per month. However, Lexus
recommends that tire inflation pressure be checked once every two
weeks.
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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
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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.