5337-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
■Instructions for checking tire inflation 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 or has not been driven for more than
1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold tire inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
It is difficult to judge if a tire is properly inflated based only on its appearance.
●It is normal for the tire inflat ion pressure to be higher after driving as heat is generated
in the tire. Do not reduce tire inflation pressure after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is balanced.
WARNING
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly inflated, the following conditions may occur which could
lead to an accident resulting in death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resu lting from overheated tires
●Air leaking from between tire and wheel
●Wheel deformation and/or tire damage
●Greater possibility of tire damage while driving (due to road hazards, expansion
joints, sharp edges in the road, etc.)
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjust ing tire inflation pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps back on.
If a valve cap is not installed, dirt or moisture may get into the valve and cause an air
leak, resulting in decreased tire inflation pressure.
5347-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they are equivalent
to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim width and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at your Lexus dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Lexus does not recommend using the following:
●Wheels of different sizes or types
●Used wheels
●Bent wheels that have been straightened
●Use only Lexus wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with your alumi-
num wheels.
●When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the wheel nuts are
still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
●Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire chains.
●Use only Lexus genuine balance weights or equivalent and a plastic or rubber
hammer when balancing your wheels.
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters that allow the tire pressure warning system to provide advance warning in the event
of a loss in tire inflation pressure. Whenever wheels are replaced, tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters must be installed. (→P. 518)
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be replaced. Other-
wise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause a loss of handling control.
Wheel selection
Aluminum wheel precautions
553
When trouble arises8
8-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers.................. 554
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ................................ 555 8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed ...........................................556
If you think something is wrong ........................................... 563
Fuel pump shut off system ...... 564
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds..........................................565
If a warning message is displayed.......................................571
If you have a flat tire (vehicles with a spare
tire)................................................ 592
If you have a flat tire (vehicles with an
emergency tire puncture
repair kit) ....................................606
If the engine will not start ........ 620
If the electronic key does not operate properly ............. 622
If the vehicle battery is discharged ................................. 626
If your vehicle overheats .........630
If the vehicle becomes stuck ............................................. 636
5638-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle.
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
●Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
●Engine coolant temperature gauge continually points higher than normal.
●Changes in exhaust sound
●Excessive tire squeal when cornering
●Strange noises related to the suspension system
●Pinging or other noises related to the engine
●Engine missing, stumbling or running roughly
●Appreciable loss of power
●Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
●Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
●Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost touches the floor
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably needs
adjustment or repair. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms
5678-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
*1: Parking brake engaged warning buzzer (RC350/RC300/RC200t):→ P. 575
*2: Open door warning buzzer:
→ P. 573
*3: Driver’s seat belt buzzer:
The driver’s seat belt buzzer sounds to alert the driver that his or her seat belt is not
fastened. Once the engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode, the buzzer
sounds for 6 seconds. If the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer
sounds once. If the seat belt is still unfast ened after 24 seconds, the buzzer will sound
intermittently for 10 seconds. Then, if the se at belt is still unfastened, the buzzer will
sound in a different tone for 20 more seconds.
Front passenger’s seat belt buzzer:
The front passenger’s seat belt buzzer soun ds to alert the front passenger that his or
her seat belt is not fastened. The buzzer so unds once if the vehicle reaches a speed of
12 mph (20 km/h). If the seat belt is still unfastened after 24 se conds, the buzzer will
sound intermittently for 10 se conds. Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer
will sound in a different to ne for 20 more seconds.
Tire pressure warning light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure such as
• Natural causes ( →P. 568)
•Flat tire ( →P. 592, 606)
→ Adjust the tire inflation pres sure to the specified level.
The light will turn off after a few minutes. In case the light does
not turn off even if the tire inflation pressure is adjusted, have the
system checked by your Lexus dealer.
When the light comes on af ter blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire pressure warning system
→ Have the system checked by your Lexus dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
5688-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front impact sensors, side
impact sensors (door), side impact sensors (front), side impact sensors (rear), driver’s
seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch, front passenger occupant classifica-
tion system, “AIR BAG ON” indicator light, “A IR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passen-
ger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioners, airbags, interconnecting wiring and
power sources. (→ P. 41)
■Front passenger detection sensor, seat belt reminder and warning buzzer
If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger detection sensor
may cause the warning light to flash and the warning buzzer to sound even if a passenger
is not sitting in the seat.
■If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving
First check the following:
●Is the fuel tank empty?
If it is, fill the fu el tank immediately.
●Is the fuel tank cap loose?
If it is, tighten it securely.
The light will go off after several driving trips.
If the light does not go off even after severa l trips, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.
■Electric power steering system warning light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes insufficien t or the voltage temporarily drops, the
electric power steering system warning li ght may come on and the warning buzzer may
sound.
■When the tire pressure warning light comes on
Check the tire inflation pressu re and adjust to the appropriate level. Pushing the tire
pressure warning reset switch will not tu rn off the tire pressure warning light.
■The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes such as natural air
leaks and tire inflation pressure changes caus ed by temperature. In this case, adjusting
the tire inflation pressure will turn off the warning light (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with the spare tire (if equipped)
The spare tire is not equipped with a tire pr essure warning valve and transmitter. If a tire
goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will not turn off even though the flat tire has been
replaced with the spare tire.
■Conditions that the tire pressure wa rning system may not function properly
→ P. 522
■If the tire pressure warning light freque ntly comes on after blinking for 1 minute
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute when the
engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mo de, have it checked by your Lexus dealer.
■Warning buzzer
In some cases, the buzzer may not be heard due to being in a noisy location or audio
sound.
5698-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
WARNING
■If both the ABS and the brake system warning lights remain on
Stop your vehicle in a safe place immediat ely and contact your Lexus dealer. The vehi-
cle will become extremely unstable during br aking, and the ABS system may fail, which
could cause an accident resultin g in death or serious injury.
■When the electric power steering system warning light comes on
The steering wheel may become extremely heavy.
If the steering wheel becomes heavier than usual when operating, hold firmly and oper-
ate using more force than usual.
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precaution s. Failure to do so could cause a loss of
vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
Vehicles with a spare tire
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire inflation pressure
immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjust-
ment, it is probable that you have a flat tire . Check the tires. If a tire is flat, change it
with the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired by the nearest Lexus dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate, you could lose
control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
Vehicles with an emergency tire puncture repair kit
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire inflation pressure
immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjust-
ment, it is probable that you ha ve a flat tire. Check the tires. If a tire is flat, repair the
flat tire by using emergency tire puncture repair kit.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate, you could lose
control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.
5708-2. Steps to take in an emergency
WARNING
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recomm ended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label (tire and load information label). (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label [tire and load in formation label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle ha s been equipped with a tire pressure moni-
toring system (TPMS-tire pressure warning system) that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale (tire pressure warning light) when on e or more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low ti re pressure telltale (tire pressure warning
light) illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a si gnificantly under-inflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure . Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure wa rning system) is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is th e driver’s responsibility to ma intain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the le vel to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale (tir e pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warning system) mal-
function indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS
(tire pressure warning system) malfunction indi cator is combined with the low tire pres-
sure telltale (tire pressure warning light). When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately one mi nute and then remain continuously illumi-
nated. This sequence will cont inue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction in dicator is illuminated, the system may not
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfun ctions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that
prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction telltale after replacing one
or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressu re warning system) to continue to function
properly.
NOTICE
■To ensure the tire pressure warning system operates properly
Do not install tires with different specifications or makers, as the tire pressure warning
system may not operate properly.