2013 Lexus GS450h Owner's Manual

616
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
●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 vehicle body is
cool.
■Automatic car washes
●Fold the mirrors before washing the vehicle. Start washing from the front of the
vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors before driving.
●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 win-
dows.
●Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is closed
properly.
■When using a car wash
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective range,
the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the following correc-
tion procedures to wash the vehicle:
●Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or more separate from the vehicle while the
vehicle is being washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
●Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart access system
with push-button start. (→P. 1 2 7 )
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and mainta in it in prime
condition:
GS450h_U.book Page 616 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM

GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6176-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
■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.
■Front side windows water-repellent coating (if equipped)
●The following precautions can extend the effectiveness of the water-repellent coat-
ing.
• Remove any dirt, etc. from the front side windows regularly.
• Do not allow dirt and dust to accumulate on the windows for a long period. Clean the windows with a soft, damp cloth as soon as possible.
• Do not use wax or glass cleaners that contain abrasives when cleaning the win- dows.
• Do not use any metallic objects to remove condensation build up.
●When the water-repellent performance has become insufficient, the coating can
be repaired. Contact your Lexus dealer.
GS450h_U.book Page 617 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM

618
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-1. Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may cause
the electrical components etc. to catch fire.
■When cleaning the windshield
●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
■Precautions regarding the exhaust pipes
Exhaust gases cause the exhaust pipes to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipes until they have cooled
sufficiently, as touching hot exhaust pipes can cause burns.
Set the wipers to the intermittent windshield
wipers. ( →P. 221)
If AUTO mode is selected, the wipers may
operate unexpectedly in the following situa-
tions, and may result in hands being caught
or other serious injuries and cause damage
to the wiper blades.
GS450h_U.book Page 618 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM

GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6196-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
NOTICE
■To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body and components (alu-
minum wheels etc.)
●Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the paintsurface
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust, iron powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with 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 to the surfaces of the lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses.
■When using an automatic car wash
Set the wipers to the intermittent windshield wipers. (→ P. 221)
If AUTO mode is selected, the wipers may operate and the wiper blades may be
damaged.
GS450h_U.book Page 619 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM

620
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces with a
cloth dampened with lukewarm water.
●Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
●Wipe off any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened with
diluted detergent.
Use a diluted water solution of approximately 5% neutral wool detergent.
●
Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off all
remaining traces of detergent.
●Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining mois-
ture. Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and ventilated area.
●Remove loose dirt using a vacuum cleaner.
●Apply a mild soap solution to the synthetic leather using a sponge or
soft cloth.
●Allow the solution to soak in for a few minutes. Remove the dirt and
wipe off the solution with a clean, damp cloth.
The following procedures will help protect your vehicle’s interior and
keep it in top condition:
Protecting the vehicle interior
Cleaning the leather areas
Cleaning the synthetic leather areas
GS450h_U.book Page 620 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM

GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6216-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
■Caring for leather areas
Lexus recommends cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a year to main-
tain the quality of the vehicle’s interior.
■Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available. Use a sponge or
brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not use water. Wipe dirty sur-
faces and let them dry. Excellent results are obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as
possible.
■Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also check the
belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
■When cleaning the carpeted portions of the glove box, console box, etc.
If a strong adhesive tape is used, there is a possibility that the surface of the carpet
could be damaged.
CAUTION
■Wa t e r i n t h e v e h i c l e
●Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle, such as on the floor, in the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) air vents, and in the trunk.
Doing so may cause the hybrid battery, electrical components, etc. to malfunc-
tion or catch fire.
●Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior wet.
(→ P. 4 0 )
An electrical malfunction may cause the airbags to deploy or not function prop-
erly, resulting in death or serious injury.
■Cleaning the interior (especially instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel may reflect off the
windshield, obstructing the driver’s view and leading to an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury.
GS450h_U.book Page 621 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM

622
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-1. Maintenance and care
NOTICE
■Cleaning detergents
●Do not use the following types of detergent, as they may discolor the vehicle inte-
rior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:
• Non-seat portions: Organic substances such as benzene or gasoline, alkalineor acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alcohol
●Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel’s or other interior
part’s painted surface may be damaged.
■Preventing damage to leather surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid damage to and deterioration of
leather surfaces:
●Remove any dust or dirt from leather surfaces immediately.
●Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Park
the vehicle in the shade, especially during summer.
●Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or containing wax on the upholstery, as
they may stick to the leather surface if the vehicle interior heats up significantly.
■Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system may be damaged if water comes into
contact with electrical components such as the audio system above or under the
floor of the vehicle. Water may also cause the body to rust.
■When cleaning the inside of the windshield (vehicles with LKA [Lane-Keeping
Assist])
Be careful not to touch the camera sensor ( →P. 2 5 1 ) .
If the camera is accidentally scratched or hit, LKA may not operate properly or
may cause a malfunction.
■Cleaning the inside of the rear window
●Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause damage to
the rear window defogger heater wires or antenna. Use a cloth dampened with
lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the window in strokes
running parallel to the heater wires or antenna.
●Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or antenna.
GS450h_U.book Page 622 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM

623
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)6-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Maintenance requirements
General maintenance should be performed on a daily basis. This can be
done by yourself or by a Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance should be performed at specified intervals
according to the maintenance schedule.
For details about maintenance items and schedules, refer to the “Warranty and
Service Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supplement” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.
You can perform some maintenance procedures by yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-yourself maintenance may affect warranty cov-
erage.
The use of Lexus repair manuals is recommended.
For details about warranty coverage, refer to the separate “Owner’s Guide”,
“Warranty and Service Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supplement” or “Warranty
Booklet”.
To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and regular
maintenance are essential. It is the owner’s responsibility to perform
regular checks. Lexus recommends performing the following mainte-
nance:
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance
Do-it-yourself maintenance
GS450h_U.book Page 623 Monday, January 23, 2012 10:20 AM