5157-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
■Where to go for maintenance service?
In order to maintain your vehicle in the best possible condition, Lexus recommends that maintenance service operations as well as ot her inspections and repairs be carried out by authorized 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 youmay encounter. There can also be advantages in utilizing authorized Lexus dealers or
repairers for non-warranty repa irs 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 professional 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 conditioning sys-
tem 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 immediately.)
●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. 118, 124)
If you notice any of these clues, take your vehicle to any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipp ed professional as soon as possible. Your vehicle may need adjustment or repair.
WARNING
■If your vehicle is not properly maintained
Improper maintenance could result in serious damage to the vehicle and possible death or serious injury.
■Handling of the battery
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds which are known to cause brain damage. Wash your hands after handling. ( P. 530)
5177-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
WARNING
The engine compartment contains many mechanisms and fluids that may move suddenly, become hot, or become electrically energize d. To avoid death or serious injury, observe the following precautions.
■When working on the engine compartment
●Keep hands, clothing and tools away from the moving fan and engine drive belt.
●Be careful not to touch the engine, radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right after driving
as they may be hot. Oil and other fluids may also be hot.
●Do not leave anything that may burn easily, such as paper and rags, in the engine compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose an open flame to fuel or the battery. Fuel andbattery fumes are flammable.
●Be extremely cautious when working on the battery. It contains poisonous and corro-
sive sulfuric acid.
●Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and damage painted sur- faces. If fluid gets on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean
water immediately. If you still experience discomfort, consult a doctor.
■When working near the electric cooling fans or radiator grille
Be sure the engine switch is off. With the engine switch in IGNITION ON mode, the electric cooling fans may auto-matically start to run if the air conditioning is on and/or the coolant temperature is high.
( P. 529)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc. from getting in
your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive engine wear due to dirt in the air.
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads wear or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refillin g, it may indicate a serious problem.
5818-1. Essential information
8
When trouble arises
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly depress it.
Do not pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the effort required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to N.
If the shift lever is shifted to N
After slowing down, stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
Stop the engine.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted to N
Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce vehicle speed as
much as possible.
To stop the engine, press and hold
the engine switch for 2 consecutive
seconds or more, or press it briefly 3
times or more in succession.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency
Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the vehicle in
the normal way, stop the vehicle using the following procedure:
1
2
3
4
3
Press and hold for 2 seconds or more
or press briefly 3 times or more
4
WARNING
■If the engine has to be turned off while driving
Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn. Decelerate as much as possi-
ble before turning off the engine.
5
5848-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
If your vehicle is transported by a flat-
bed truck, it should be tied down at the
locations shown in the illustration.
If you use chains or cables to tie down
your vehicle, the angles shaded in black
must be 45 .
Do not overly tighten the tie downs or
the vehicle may be damaged.
If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be temporarily
towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency towing eyelets. This
should only be attempted on hard surfac ed roads for at most 80 km (50 miles)
at under 30 km/h (18 mph).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The vehicle’s
wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condition.
Using a flatbed truck
Emergency towing
5868-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
Insert the towing eyelet into the hole
and tighten partially by hand.
Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut wrench
or hard metal bar.
Securely attach cables or chains to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
Enter the vehicle being towed and start the engine.
If the engine does not start, turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode.
Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted: P. 258
■While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.
■Wheel nut wrench
Wheel nut wrench is installed in trunk. ( P. 620, 635)
3
4
5
6
7
5898-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
●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 fe eling, 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 any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified an d equipped professional as soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms
5918-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights comes on or
flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then goes off, this does not necessar-
ily indicate a malfunction in the system. However, if this continues to occur,
have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified an d equipped professional.
Warning light and warning buzzer list
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
Brake system warning light (warning buzzer) Indicates that:
• The brake fluid level is low; or • The brake system is malfunctioningRC200t: This light also comes on when the parking brake is not
released. If the light turns off after the parking brake is fully released the system is operating normally. Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact any
authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional. Continuing to drive the vehicle maybe dangerous.
Charging system warning lightIndicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact any
authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Malfunction indicator lampIndicates a malfunction in:
• The electronic engine control system; • The electronic throttle control system; or• The electronic automatic transmission control system
Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professionalimmediately.
SRS warning light
Indicates a malfunction in: • The SRS airbag system; or• The seat belt pretensioner system
Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professionalimmediately.
5928-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RC200t_RC F_EE(OM24728E)
ABS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
•The ABS; or • The brake assist system Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional immediately.
Electric power steering system warning light (warning buzzer)Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steering) sys-
tem Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional
immediately.
(Flashes) (If equipped)
Pre-crash safety system warning lightIndicates a malfunction in the PCS (Pre-Crash Safety system)The warning light will operate as follows, even when the system is
not malfunctioning: • The light will flash quickly when the system is operating. ( P. 356)
• The light will turn on when the pre-crash safety system is dis- abled. ( P. 357) • The light will turn on when th e VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
system is disabled. ( P. 352) • The light will flash when the sy stem cannot temporarily be used.
( P. 611) Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional
immediately.
Slip indicator Indicates a malfunction in:• The VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system;
• The TRC (Traction Control) system; or • The hill-start assist control systemThe light will flash when the VSC or the TRC system is operating.
Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professionalimmediately.
Automatic headlight leveling system warning light
Indicates a malfunction in the au tomatic headlight leveling system Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional
immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions