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4-6. Driving tips
■Air conditioning
Use the air conditioning only when necessary. Doing so can help con-
trol excessive gasoline consumption.
In summer: In high temperatures, use the recirculated air mode. Doing
so will help to reduce the burden on the air conditioner and reduce fuel
consumption as well.
In winter: Because the gasoline eng ine will not automatically cut out
until the gasoline engine and the interi or of the vehicle are warm, it will
consume fuel. Also, fuel consumption can be improved by avoiding
overuse of the heater.
■Checking tire inflation pressure
Make sure to check the tire inflation pressure frequently. Improper tire
inflation pressure can cause poor fuel consumption.
Also, as snow tires can cause large amounts of friction, their use on dry
roads can lead to poor fuel consump tion. Use a tire that is appropriate
for the season.
■Luggage
Carrying heavy luggage can lead to poor fuel consumption. Avoid car-
rying unnecessary luggage. Installing a large roof rack can also cause
poor fuel consumption.
■Warming up before driving
Since the gasoline engine starts up and cuts out automatically when
cold, warming up the engine is unne cessary. Moreover, frequently driv-
ing short distances will cause the engine to repeatedly warm up, which
can lead to poor fuel consumption.
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6Maintenance and care
6-1. Maintenance and care Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .................. 616
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ..................620
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ... 623
General maintenance .............. 626
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ................................... 630 6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions ................................. 631
Hood ............................................... 634
Positioning a floor jack ............. 635
Engine compartment ............... 637
12-volt battery.............................. 647
Tires ................................................... 651
Tire inflation pressure .................661
Wheels ........................................... 664
Air conditioning filter ............... 666
Electronic key battery ..............668
Checking and replacing fuses .............................................. 670
Headlight aim ..............................685
Light bulbs..................................... 687
Page 629 of 860
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6296-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Ve h i c l e e x t e r i o r
ItemsCheck points
Doors/trunk• Do the doors/trunk operatesmoothly?
Engine hood• Does the engine hood lock systemwork properly?
Fluid leaks
• There should not be any signs of fluidleakage after the vehicle has been
parked.
Ti r e s
• Is the tire inflation pressure correct?
• The tires should not be damaged orexcessively worn.
• Have the tires been rotated accord- ing to the maintenance schedule?
• The wheel nuts should not be loose.
CAUTION
■If the hybrid system is operating
Turn the hybrid system off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.
Page 632 of 860
632
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Fuses( P. 6 7 0 )• Fuse with same amperage rating as
original
Headlight aim ( P. 6 8 5 )• Phillips-head screwdriver
Light bulbs ( P. 6 8 7 )
• Bulb with same number and wattage
rating as original
• Phillips-head screwdriver
•Flathead screwdriver
•Wrench
Radiator and condenser ( P. 644)
Tire inflation pressure ( P. 6 6 1 )• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source
Wa s h e r f l u i d ( P. 646)
• Water or washer fluid containing anti-
freeze (for winter use)
• Funnel (used only for adding water or washer fluid)
ItemsPa r t s a n d t o o l s
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6536-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
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.
Vehicles without the tire inflation pressure display function
If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is
warned by a warning light. ( P. 715)
Vehicles with the tire inflation pressure display function
●If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is
warned by a screen display and a warning light. ( P. 740)
●The tire pressure detected by the tire pressure warning system can be
displayed on the multi- information display. (P. 9 7 )
◆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 pres-
sure warning valve and transmitter ID codes registered by your Lexus
dealer. ( P. 655)
◆Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the following
circumstances:
●When rotating the tires.
●When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when changing
traveling speed or load weight.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire
inflation pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.
Tire pressure warning system
Page 654 of 860
654
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■How to initialize the tire pressure warning systemPark the vehicle in a safe place and turn the power switch off.
Initialization cannot be performed while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire inflation
pressure level. ( P. 790)
Make sure to adjust the tire pressure to the specified cold tire inflation pres-
sure level. The tire pressure warning sy stem will operate based on this pressure
level.
Turn the power switch to ON mode.
Press and hold the tire pres-
sure warning reset switch until
the tire pressure warning light
blinks slowly 3 times.
Wait for a few minutes with the power switch in ON mode and then
turn the power switch off.
1
2
3
4
5
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6556-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
◆Registering ID codes
The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a
unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code. Have the ID code
registered by your Lexus dealer.
■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,
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, consul t with your Lexus dealer.
■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 20 min-
utes, the tire pressure warning light blinks for 1 minute and stays on to indicate a sys-
tem malfunction.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even if it has sel-
dom 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.
■When rotating the tires (vehicles with the tire inflation pressure display function)
Make sure that the power switch is off. If the tires are rotated while the power switch
is in ON mode, the tire position information will not be updated.
If this accidentally occurs, either turn the power switch to off and then to ON mode,
or initialize the system after checking that the tire pressure is properly adjusted.
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656
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Low profile tires (except 225/50R17 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.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of the replacement tire is greater than 1 /2 of the
Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) of either the front axle or the rear axle, which-
ever is greater.
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway driving
under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same traction perfor-
mance as snow tires, summer tires are in adequate for driving on snow-covered or
icy roads. For driving on snow-covered road s or icy roads, the use of snow tires is
recommended. When installing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
●All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to be ade-
quate for driving in most winter conditions as well as for use year-round. All season
tires, however, do not have adequate traction performance compared with snow
tires in heavy or loose snow. Also, all seas on tires fall short in acceleration and han-
dling performance compared with summer tires in highway driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using snow tires.
If you need snow tires, select tires of th e same size, construction and load capacity
as the originally installed tires. Since your vehicle has radial tires as original equip-
ment, make sure your snow tires also have radial construction. Do not install stud-
ded tires without first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Snow
tires should be installed on all wheels. ( P. 3 1 9 )
For the GAWR, see the Certification Label.
For the maximum load of the tire, see the load
limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure
mentioned on the sidewall of the tire.
(
P. 795)