2854-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a safe distance between you and the
vehicle ahead, and drive at a reduced speed suitable to road conditions.
Park the vehicle and shift the shift position to P and block the wheel
under the vehicle without setting the parking brake. The parking brake
may freeze up, preventing it from being released.
Use the correct tire chain size when mounting the tire chains. Chain size
is regulated for each tire size.
Side chain:
3 mm (0.12 in.) in diameter
Cross chain:
4 mm (0.16 in.) in diameter
Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on location
and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing chains.
Tire chain installation
Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains:
Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
Install tire chains on the front tires only. Do not install tire chains on the rear
tires.
Install tire chains on front tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after
driving 0.5 - 1.0 km (1/4 - 1/2 mile).
Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.
When driving the vehicle
When parking the vehicle
Selecting tire chains
1
2
Regulations on the use of tire chains
2864-6. Driving tips
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
WA R N I N G
Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause death or seri-
ous injury.
Use tires of the specified size.
Maintain the recommended level of air pressure.
Do not drive at speeds in excess of the speed limit or the speed limit specified
for the snow tires being used.
Use snow tires on all, not just some wheels.
Driving with tire chains
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being unable to be driven safely, and
may cause death or serious injury.
Do not drive in excess of the speed limit specified for the tire chains being
used, or 50 km/h (30 mph), whichever is lower.
Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.
Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt steering, sudden braking and shifting oper-
ations that cause sudden engine braking.
Slow down sufficiently before entering a curve to ensure that vehicle control
is maintained.
When parking the vehicle
When parking the vehicle without applying the parking brake, make sure to
chock the wheels. If you do not chock the wheels, the vehicle may move unex-
pectedly, possibly resulting in an accident.
NOTICE
Repairing or replacing snow tires (vehicles with the tire pressure warning sys-
tem)
Request repairs or replacement of snow tires from any authorized Lexus dealer
or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional or legitimate
tire retailers.
This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the operation
of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.
Fitting tire chains (vehicles with the tire pressure warning system)
The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly
when tire chains are fitted.
479
7Maintenance and care
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior ............... 480
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle interior ................ 484
7-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements ................... 487
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions...................... 490
Hood ................................. 492
Positioning a floor jack ..... 494
Engine compartment ......... 495
12-volt battery................... 504
Tires .................................. 510
Tire inflation pressure ....... 523
Wheels .............................. 525
Air conditioning filter ....... 527
Electronic key battery ....... 530
Checking and replacing
fuses ................................ 534
Light bulbs ........................ 538
4887-2. Maintenance
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
Where to go for maintenance service?
In order to maintain your vehicle in the best possible condition, Lexus recom-
mends that maintenance service operations as well as other inspections and
repairs be carried out by authorized Lexus dealers or repairers or other duly qual-
ified and equipped professionals. For repairs and services covered by your war-
ranty, 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 profes-
sional will perform all of the scheduled maintenance on your vehicle reliably and
economically due to their experience with Lexus vehicles.
Does your vehicle need repairs?
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 condition-
ing system after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and have the exhaust system checked imme-
diately.)
Flat-looking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering, uneven tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when driven 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 (P. 570, 583)
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 possi-
ble. Your vehicle may need adjustment or repair.
5107-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
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 pres-
sure if not rotated.
Rotate the tires in the order shown.
To equalize tire wear and help
extend tire life, Lexus recommends
that tire rotation is carried out
approximately every 10000 km
(6000 miles).
Do not fail to initialize the tire pres-
sure warning system after tire rota-
tion.
(vehicle with the tire pressure warn-
ing system)
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance schedules and
treadwear.
Checking tires
1
2
3
Tire rotation
Front
5117-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
7
Maintenance and care
Your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses tire
pressure warning valves and transmitters to detect low tire inflation pres-
sure before serious problems arise.
If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is
warned by a warning light. (P. 571)
Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are installed,
new ID codes must be registered in the tire pressure warning computer
and the tire pressure warning system must be initialized. Have tire
pressure warning valve and transmitter ID codes registered by any
authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional. (P. 512)
Initializing the tire pressure warning system
The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the following
circumstances:
Vehicles with 17 inch tires: When rotating front and rear tires which
have different tire inflation pressures
When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when changing
traveling speed or load weight.
When changing the tire size
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire
inflation pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.
Tire pressure warning system (if equipped)
5137-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
7
Maintenance and care
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 fab-
ric, and bulges indicating internal damage.
A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size or loca-
tion 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.
Replacing tires and wheels
If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not registered,
the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. After driving for about
10 minutes, the tire pressure warning light blinks for 1 minute and stays on to
indicate a system malfunction.
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.
Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation pressure
checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of your routine of daily
vehicle checks.
Low profile tires (vehicles with 17 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.
If the tread on snow tires wears down below 4 mm (0.16 in.)
The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is lost.
5157-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CT200h_OM_OM76102E_(EE)
7
Maintenance and care
The initialization operation
Make sure to carry out initialization after adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
Also, make sure the tires are cold before carrying out initialization or tire infla-
tion pressure adjustment.
If you have accidentally turned the power switch off during initialization, it is
not necessary to press the reset switch again as initialization will restart auto-
matically when the power switch has been turned to ON mode for the next time.
If you accidentally press the reset switch when initialization is not necessary,
adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified level when the tires are cold,
and conduct initialization again.
Warning performance of the tire pressure warning system
The warning of the tire pressure warning system will change in accordance with
the conditions under which it was initialized. For this reason, the system may
give a warning even if the tire pressure does not reach a low enough level, or if
the pressure is higher than the pressure that was adjusted to when the system was
initialized.
When initialization of the tire pressure warning system has failed
Initialization can be completed in a few minutes. However, in the following
cases, the settings have not been recorded and the system will not operate prop-
erly. If repeated attempts to record tire inflation pressure settings are unsuccess-
ful, have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.
When operating the tire pressure warning reset switch, the tire pressure warning
light does not blink 3 times.
After carrying out the initialization procedure, the tire pressure warning light
blinks for 1 minute then stays on after driving for 20 minutes.