Page 369 of 528

369
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) 6 6
Maintenance and care Maintenance and care .
6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehi-
cle exterior ................................ 370
Cleaning and protecting the vehi-
cle interior ................................. 373
6-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements
........................................................ 378
General maintenance ............. 379
Emission inspection and mainte-
nance (I/M) programs ......... 382
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions
........................................................ 383
Hood............................................... 385
Positioning a floor jack............ 385
Engine compartment............... 387
12-volt battery............................. 393
Tires ................................................ 395
Replacing the tire ...................... 405
Tire inflation pressure .............. 408
Wheels............................................ 410
Air conditioning filter................. 411
Electronic key battery .............. 413
Checking and replacing fuses
......................................................... 414
Light bulbs ..................................... 417
Page 370 of 528

370 6-1. Maintenance and care
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) 6-1.Maintenance and care
Working from top to bottom, liber-
ally 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 water-
proof coating deteriorates. If water does not bead on a clean surface,
apply wax when the vehicle body is cool.
■
Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coat-
ing that is resistant to small surface
scratches caused in a car wash etc.
●
The coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from
when the vehicle is delivered from the
plant.
●
The restoration time differs depending on
the depth of the scratch and outside tem-
perature.
The restoration time may become
shorter when the coating is warmed by
applying warm water.
●
Deep scratches caused by keys, coins,
etc. cannot be restored.
●
Do not use wax that contains abrasives. ■
Automatic car washes ●
Before washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power trunk opener and
closer
Start washing from the front of the vehicle.
Extend the mirrors before driving.●
Brushes used in automatic car washes
may scratch the vehicl e 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 and the air suspension unit (if
equipped). ●
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 correction
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 wash ed. (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.120)■
Aluminum wheels ●
Remove any dirt immediately by using a
neutral detergent. ●
Wash detergent off with water immedi-
ately after use.
●
To protect the paint from damage, make
sure to observe the following precau-
tions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive
detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when
they are hot, such as after driving or park-
ing in hot weatherCleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Cleaning instructions
Page 371 of 528

3716-1. Maintenance and care
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) 6
Maintenance and care ■
Brake caliper coating (F SPORT mod-
els)●
When using detergent, use neutral deter-
gent. Do not use hard brushes or abra-
sive cleaners, as they will damage the
coating.●
Do not use detergent on the brake cali-
pers when they are hot.●
Wash detergent off immediately after
use.■
Bumpers and side moldings
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 insufficie nt, the coating can
be repaired. Contact your Lexus dealer.■
Plated portions
If dirt cannot be removed, clean the parts as
follows: ●
Use a soft cloth dampened with an
approximately 5% solution of neutral
detergent and water to clean the dirt off.
●
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to
remove any remaining moisture.
●
To remove oily deposits, use alcohol wet
wipes or a similar product. WARNING■
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
Set the wiper switch to off.
If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wip-
ers may operate unexpectedly in the fol-
lowing situations, and may result in hands
being caught or other serious injuries
and cause damage to the wiper blades.
Off
AUTO ●
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 wind-
shield
●
If you directly touch the raindrop sen-
sor body or if something bumps into
the raindrop sensor
■
Precautions regarding the exhaust
pipes
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipes
to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not
to touch the pipes until it has cooled suffi-
ciently, as touching a hot exhaust pipes
can cause burns. A
B
Page 372 of 528

372 6-1. Maintenance and care
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) WARNING■
Precaution regarding the front
bumper (vehicles with Lexus Safety
System+A)
If the paint of the fr ont bumper is chipped
or scratched, the Lexus Safety System+A
may not function correctly. If this occurs,
consult your Lexus dealer. ■
Precaution regarding the rear
bumper
If the paint of the rear bumper is chipped
or scratched, the fo llowing systems may
not function correctly. If this occurs, con-
sult your Lexus dealer. ●
Lexus Safety System+A (if equipped)●
BSM●
RCTA●
PKSB
NOTICE■
To prevent paint deterioration and
corrosion on the body and compo-
nents (aluminum 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, in sect droppings or
bird droppings are present on the
paint surface
• 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 wiper switch to the off position.
If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wip-
ers may operate and the wiper blades
may be damaged. ■
When using a high pressure car wash ●
When washing the vehicle, do not
spray the camera or its surrounding
area directly with a high pressure
washer. Shock applied from high pres-
sure water may cause the device to not
operate normally. ●
Do not bring the nozzle tip close to
boots (rubber or re sin manufactured
cover), connectors or the following
parts. The parts may be damaged if
they come into contact with high-pres-
sure water.
• Traction related parts
•Steering parts
• Suspension parts
• Brake parts
●
Do not wash the underside of the vehi-
cle using a high pressure car washer.
Page 373 of 528

3736-1. Maintenance and care
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) 6
Maintenance and care Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
uum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces
with a cloth dampened with luke-
warm water.
If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it off
with a soft cloth dampened with
neutral detergent diluted to approx-
imately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent and
water. ■
Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type
cleaners available. Use a sponge or brush
to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping cir-
cles. Do not use water. Wipe dirty surfaces
and let them dry. Excellent results are
obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as
possible.
■
Handling the seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water
using a cloth or spon ge. 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.Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle interior Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Protecting the vehicle interior WARNING■
Water in the vehicle ●
Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehi-
cle, such as on the floor, in the hybrid
battery (traction battery) air vents, and
in the trunk. ( → P.64)
Doing so may cause the hybrid battery,
electrical components, etc. to mal-
function or catch fire. ●
Do not get any of the SRS components
or wiring in the vehicle interior wet.
( → P.29)
An electrical malfunction may cause
the airbags to deploy or not function
properly, 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, obstructin g the driver’s view
and leading to an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE■
Cleaning detergents ●
Do not use the following types of
detergent, as they may discolor the
vehicle interior or cause streaks or
damage to painted surfaces:
• Areas other than the seats and steer-
ing wheel: Organic substances such as
benzene or gasoline, alkaline or acidic
solutions, dye, and bleach
• Seats : Alkaline or acidic solutions,
such as thinner, benzene, and alcohol
• Steering wheel: Organic substances,
such as thinner, and cleaner that con-
tains alcohol
●
Do not use polish wax or polish
cleaner. The instrument panel’s or
other interior part’s painted surface
may be damaged.
Page 374 of 528

374 6-1. Maintenance and care
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) To prevent the hybrid battery (traction
battery) air intake vents from becom-
ing clogged, clean them periodically. Clean the vents of the both sides.
■
Cleaning the air intake vents
Remove any dust and clogs from the
air intake vents with a vacuum cleaner,
etc. The filters are attached to the back side of
the air intake vent grilles.
If “Maintenance Required for Traction
Battery Cooling Parts See Owner’s
Manual” is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display, the filters may be
clogged. Remove the air intake vent
grilles and clean the filters.NOTICE■
Preventing damage to leather sur-
faces
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, espe-
cially during summer.●
Do not place items made of vinyl, plas-
tic, or containing wax on the uphol-
stery, 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 wind-
shield
Do not allow glass cleaner to contact the
camera sensor lens. Also, do not touch
the lens. ( → P.197, 204)
■
Cleaning the inside of the rear win-
dow●
Do not use glass cleaner to clean the
rear window, as this may cause dam-
age 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. Cleaning the hybrid battery
(traction battery) air intake vents
Page 375 of 528

3756-1. Maintenance and care
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) 6
Maintenance and care ■
Cleaning the air in take vent filters
1 Remove the grille.
2 Remove the filter.
3 Remove any dust and clogs from
the filter using a vacuum cleaner,
etc.Make sure to also remove dust and clogs
from the inner side of the air intake vent
grille.
If the filter is damaged, have it replaced by
your Lexus dealer.
4 Install the filter in its original posi-
tion, and then install the grille. 5 Start the hybrid system and check
that “Maintenance Required for
Traction Battery Cooling Parts See
Owner’s Manual” is no longer dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play. It may take approximately 20 minutes after
the hybrid system is started until the warn-
ing message disappea rs. If the warning
message does not disappear, have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer. ■
Air intake vents maintenance ●
If the vehicle is driven with the air intake
vents clogged, the hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery) may not be cooled suffi-
ciently, possibly causing in fuel
consumption. ●
Depending on the conditions under
which the vehicle is used, the air intake
vents may need to be cleaned more reg-
ularly. ■
Cleaning the air intake vent filters ●
Improper handling of the air intake vent
grilles and filters may result in damage to
them. If you have any concerns about
cleaning the filter, contact your Lexus
dealer. ●
If the vehicle is driven with the air intake
vent filter clogged, the hybrid battery
(traction battery) ma y not be cooled suf-
ficiently, possibly causing an increase in
the fuel consumption and damage to the
hybrid battery (traction battery). ●
Depending on the conditions under
which the vehicle is used, the air intake
vent filters may need to be cleaned more
regularly.
■
If “Maintenance Required for Traction
Battery Cooling Parts See Owner’s
Manual” is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
●
It is possible the air intake vents or filters
are clogged due to accumulated dust.
Clean the air intake vents and filters,
referring to the cleaning method.
●
If the vehicle is driven continuously with
Page 376 of 528

376 6-1. Maintenance and care
LS500h_OM_OM50F42U_(U) this message displayed, the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) may not be cooled
sufficiently, which may lead to the driving
distance by the electric motor becoming
shorter and damage to the hybrid battery
(traction battery). Clean the air intake
vents periodically to prevent dust, etc.,
from collecting in the air intake vents and
filters.●
If the massage in the multi-information
display does not turn off, even if the air
intake vents are cleaned, have the vehicle
inspected at your Lexus dealer.
Remove dirt using a water-damp-
ened soft cloth or synthetic chamois.
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft
cloth to remove any remaining
moisture. ■
Cleaning the areas with satin-finish
metal accents
The metal areas use a layer of real metal for
the surface. It is necessary to clean them
regularly. If dirty areas are left uncleaned for
long periods of time, they may be difficult to
clean. Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
uum cleaner.
Wipe off any excess dirt and dust
with a soft cloth dampened with
diluted detergent. Use a diluted water solution of approxi-
mately 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
moisture. Allow the leather to dry in
a shaded and ventilated area. ■
Caring for leather areas
Lexus recommends cleani ng the interior of
the vehicle at least twice a year to maintain
the quality of the vehicle’s interior.
Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
uum cleaner.
Wipe it off with a soft cloth damp-
ened with neutral detergent diluted
to approximately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent and
water.
To remove dust from the fabric, use WARNING■
When cleaning the hybrid battery
(traction battery) air intake vents/fil-
ters●
Do not use water or other liquids to
clean the air intake vents/filters. If
water is applied to the hybrid battery
(traction battery) or other compo-
nents, a malfunction or fire may occur.●
When the air intake vent grilles,
located near the rear seats are to be
removed, make sure to turn the power
switch off to stop the hybrid system.
Cleaning the areas with satin-fin-
ish metal accents Cleaning the leather areas
Cleaning the synthetic leather
areas
Cleaning fabric portions of the
instrument panel