3066-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service pre-
cautions
If you perform maintenance by
yourself, be sure to follow the cor-
rect procedure as given in these
sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condi-
tion (P.314)
•Warm water
•Baking soda
•Grease
• Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp
bolts)
Brake fluid
level ( P.313)
• FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
or SAE J1703 brake
fluid
FMVSS No.116 DOT 4
or SAE J1704 brake
fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine coolant
level ( P.312)
•“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” or a similar
high quality ethylene
glycol-based non-sili-
cate, non-amine, non-
nitrite and non-borate
coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid
technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 50% coolant and
50% deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 55% coolant and
45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding coolant)
Engine oil level
( P.310)
•“Toyota Genuine Motor
Oil” or equivalent
•Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses
( P.331)• Fuse with same amper-
age rating as original
Headlight aim• Phillips-head screw-driver
Light bulbs
( P.335)
•Bulb with same number
and wattage rating as
original
• Flathead sc rewdriver
Radiator and
condenser
( P.313)
ItemsParts and tools
3076-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Tire inflation
pressure
( P.325)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source
Washer fluid
( P.315)
• Water or washer fluid
containing antifreeze
(for winter use)
• Funnel (used only for adding water or washer
fluid)
WARNING
The engine compartment contains many
mechanisms and fluids that may move
suddenly, become hot, or become elec-
trically energized. To avoid death or seri-
ous injury, observe the following
precautions.
■When working on the engine com-
partment
●Keep hands, clothi ng 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 and battery fumes are flammable.
■When working near the electric cool-
ing fan or radiator grille
Be sure the engine switch is off.
With the engine switch in IGNITION
ON mode, the electric cooling fan may
automatically start to run if the air condi-
tioning is on and/or the coolant tempera-
ture is high. ( P.313)
ItemsParts and tools■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or
falling material, fluid spray, etc. from get-
ting 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.
3106-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Fuse box (P.331)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.311)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.310)
Battery ( P.314)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.313)
Radiator ( P.313)
Electric cooling fan
Condenser ( P.313)
Engine coolant reservoir ( P.312)
Washer fluid tank ( P.315)
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level on the dipstick.
■Checking the engine oil
1 Park the vehicle on level ground.
After warming up the engine and turning it
Engine compartment
Components
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
Checking and adding the engine
oil
3116-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
off, wait more than 5 minutes for the oil to
drain back into the bottom of the engine.
2Holding a rag under the end, pull
the dipstick out.
3 Wipe the dipstick clean.
4 Reinsert the dipstick fully.
5 Holding a rag under the end, pull
the dipstick out and check the oil
level.
Low
Normal
Excessive
The shape of the dipstick may differ
depending on the type of vehicle or
engine.
6Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it
fully.
■Checking the oil type and prepar-
ing the items needed
Make sure to check the oil type and prepare the items needed before add-
ing oil.
Engine oil selection
P.384
Oil quantity (Low Full)
1.9 qt. (1.8 L, 1.6 Imp.qt.)
Item
Clean funnel
■Adding engine oil
If the oil level is below or near the low
level mark, add engine oil of the same
type as that already in the engine.
1 Remove the oil filler cap by turning
it counterclockwise.
2 Add engine oil slowly, checking the
dipstick.
3 Install the oil filler cap by turning it
clockwise.
■Engine oil consumption
A certain amount of engine oil will be con-
sumed while driving. In the following situa-
tions, oil consumption may increase, and
engine oil may need to be refilled in
between oil maintenance intervals.
●When the engine is new, for example
directly after purchasing the vehicle or
after replacing the engine
●If low quality oil or oil of an inappropriate
viscosity is used
A
B
C
3126-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
●When driving at high engine speeds or
with a heavy load, or when driving while
accelerating or decelerating frequently
●When leaving the engine idling for a long
time, or when driving frequently through
heavy traffic
■After changing the engine oil
The engine oil maintena nce data should be
reset. Perform the following procedures:
1 While the vehicle is stopped, press
of the meter control switches.
2 Press or of the meter control
switches, and select .
3 Press or of the meter control
switches, select “Veh icle Settings”, and
then press “OK”.
4 Press or of the meter control
switches, select “Oil Maintenance”, and
then press “OK”.
5 Select “Yes” and then press “OK”.
A message will be displayed on the multi-
information display.
The coolant level is satisfactory if it is
between the “F” and “L” lines on the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
Reservoir cap
“F” line
“L” line
If the level is on or below the “L” line, add
coolant up to the “F” line. ( P.377)
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
or a similar high qua lity ethylene glycol
based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite,
and non-borate coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid technology.
WARNING
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains potentially
harmful contaminants which may
cause skin disorders such as inflamma-
tion and skin cancer, so care should be
taken to avoid prolonged and
repeated contact. To remove used
engine oil from your skin, wash thor-
oughly with soap and water.
●Dispose of used oil and filters only in a
safe and acceptable manner. Do not
dispose of used oil and filters in house-
hold trash, in sewers or onto the
ground.
Call your Lexus dealer, service station
or auto parts store for information
concerning recycling or disposal.
●Do not leave used engine oil within the
reach of children.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious engine damage
Check the oil level on a regular basis.
■When replacing the engine oil
●Be careful not to spill engine oil on the
vehicle components.
●Avoid overfilling, or the engine could
be damaged.
●Check the oil level on the dipstick
every time you re fill the vehicle.
●Be sure the engine o il filler cap is prop-
erly tightened.
Checking the engine coolant
A
B
C
3136-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mix-
ture of 50% coolant and 50% deionized
water. (Minimum temperature: -31°F [-
35°C])
Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mix-
ture of 55% coolant and 45% deionized
water. (Minimum temperature: -44°F [-
42°C])
For more details about engine coolant, con-
tact your Lexus dealer.
■If the coolant level drops within a short
time of replenishing
Visually check the radiator, hoses, engine
coolant reservoir cap, drain cock and water
pump.
If you cannot find a leak, have your Lexus
dealer test the cap and check for leaks in
the cooling system.
Check the radiator and condenser and clear away any foreign objects.
If either of the above parts is extremely
dirty or you are not sure of their condi-
tion, have your vehicle inspected by
your Lexus dealer.
■Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN” lines
on the tank.
■Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid type and
prepare the necessary items.
Fluid type
FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703
brake fluid
FMVSS No.116 DOT 4 or SAE J1704
brake fluid
Item
Clean funnel
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not remove the engine coolant reser-
voir cap or the radiator cap. ( P.379)
The cooling system may be under pres-
sure and may spray hot coolant if the cap
is removed, causing serious injuries, such
as burns.
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor
straight antifreeze. The correct mixture
of water and antifreeze must be used to
provide proper lubrication, corrosion
protection and cooling. Be sure to read
the antifreeze or coolant label.
■If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to pre-
vent it from damagi ng parts or paint.
Checking the radiator and con-
denser
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator or condenser
as they may be hot and cause serious
injuries, such as burns.
Checking and adding the brake
fluid
3146-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from
the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause
a dangerous loss of braking efficiency. Use
only newly opened brake fluid.
Check the battery as follows.
■Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery terminals
are not corroded and that there are no
loose connections, cracks, or loose
clamps. Terminals
Hold-down clamp
■Before recharging
When recharging, the battery produces
hydrogen gas which is flammable and
explosive. Therefore, observe the following
precautions before recharging:
●If recharging with the battery installed on
the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the
ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on the char-
ger is off when connecting and discon-
necting the charger cables to the battery.
■After recharging/reconnecting the bat-
tery
●The engine may not start. Follow the pro-
cedure below to initialize the system.
1 Shift the shift lever to P.
2 Open and close any of the doors.
3 Restart the engine.
●Unlocking the doors using the smart
access system with pu sh-button start may
not be possible immediately after recon-
necting the battery. If this happens, use
the wireless remote control or the
mechanical key to lo ck/unlock the doors.
●Start the engine with the engine switch in
ACCESSORY mode. The engine may
not start with the engine switch turned off.
However, the engine will operate nor-
mally from the second attempt.
●The engine switch mode is recorded by
the vehicle. If the battery is reconnected,
the vehicle will return the engine switch
mode to the status it was in before the
battery was disconnected. Make sure to
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm your
hands and 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, see a
doctor.
NOTICE
■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 out
or when the fluid level in the accumulator
is high.
If the reservoir need s frequent refilling,
there may be a serious problem.
Checking the battery
A
B
3156-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
turn off the power before disconnect the
battery. Take extra care when connecting
the battery if the engine switch mode
prior to discharge is unknown.
If the engine will not st art even after multiple
attempts at all methods above, contact your
Lexus dealer.
If any washer does not work or “Wind-
shield Washer Fluid Low” is shown on
the multi-information display, the
washer tank may be empty. Add
WARNING
■Chemicals in the battery
Battery contains poisonous and corro-
sive sulfuric acid and may produce
hydrogen gas which is flammable and
explosive. To reduce the risk of death or
serious injury, take the following precau-
tions while working on or near the bat-
tery:
●Do not cause sparks by touching the
battery terminals with tools.
●Do not smoke or light a match near the
battery.
●Avoid contact with eyes, skin and
clothes.
●Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.
●Wear protective safety glasses when
working near the battery.
●Keep children away from the battery.
■Where to safely charge the battery
Always charge the battery in an open
area. Do not charge the battery in a
garage or closed room where there is
insufficient ventilation.
■How to recharge the battery
Only perform a slow charge (5 A or
less). The battery may explode if charged
at a quicker rate.
■Emergency measures regarding
electrolyte
●If electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean water for at
least 15 minutes and get immediate
medical attention. If possible, continue
to apply water with a sponge or cloth
while traveling to the nearest medical
facility.
●If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thoroughly. If
you feel pain or burning, get medical
attention immediately.
●If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to your
skin. Immediately take off the clothing
and follow the procedure above if nec-
essary.
●If you accidentally swallow electrolyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk.
Get emergency medical attention
immediately.
■When there is insufficient battery
fluid
Do not use if there is insufficient fluid in
the battery. There is a possible danger
that the battery may explode.
NOTICE
■When recharging the battery
Never recharge the battery while the
engine is running. Also, be sure all acces-
sories are turned off.
■When adding distilled water
Avoid overfilling. Water spilled during
battery recharging may cause corrosion.
Adding the washer fluid