2716-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Tire inflation
pressure
( P.293)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source
Washer fluid
( P.278)
• 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. Fuel 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 ON, the elec-
tric cooling fan may automatically start to
run if the air conditioning is on and/or the
coolant temperature is high. ( P.277)
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.
2746-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Fuse box (P.299)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.274)
Engine coolant reservoir ( P.276)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.275)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.277)
Washer fluid tank ( P.278)
Electric cooling fan
Condenser ( P.277)
Radiator ( P.277)
■Battery
P.279
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level
on the dipstick.
Engine compartment
Components
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Checking and adding the engine
oil
2766-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
after replacing the engine
●If low quality oil or oil of an inappropriate
viscosity is used
●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
The coolant level is satisfactory if it is
between the “F” and “L” lines on the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
■Engine coolant reservoirReservoir cap
“F” line
“L” line
If the level is on or below the “L” line, add
coolant up to the “F” line. ( P.345)
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
or a similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite,
and non-borate coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid technology.
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 radi ator, hoses, engine
coolant reservoir caps, drain cock and
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 refill the vehicle.
●Be sure the engine oi l filler cap is prop-
erly tightened.
Checking the engine coolant
A
B
C
2776-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
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
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
brake fluid
SAE J1704 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 4
brake fluid
Item
Clean funnel
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from
the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can
cause a dangerous loss of braking effi-
ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not remove the engine coolant reser-
voir cap or the coolant inlet cap.
( P.346)
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
3127-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7Shift the shift position to N and
release the parking brake.
Turn automatic mode off. ( P.158)
■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 can be purchased at
your Lexus dealer.
Fluid leaks under the vehicle.
(Water dripping from the air condi-
tioning after use is normal.)
Flat-looking tires or uneven tire
wear
Engine coolant temperature gauge
continually points higher than nor-
mal.
Changes in exhaust sound
Excessive tire squeal when corner-
ing
Strange noises related to the sus-
pension system
Pinging or other noises related to
the engine
Engine missing, stumbling or run-
ning roughly
Appreciable loss of power
Vehicle pulls heavily to one side
when braking
If you think something is
wrong
If you notice any of the following
symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Con-
tact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms
3197-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
tently for a certain period of time, after the seat belt is fastened and unfastened and the
vehicle reaches a certain speed.
*2: This light illuminates on the center panel.
■Master warning light (warning buzzer)
■Tire pressure warning light
■High coolant temperature warning light (warning buzzer)*
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display.
■SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front impact sensors, side
impact sensors (door), side impact sensors (front), driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat
belt buckle switch, front passenger occupant classification sy stem (ECU and sensors), “AIR
BAG ON” indicator light, “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch, seat belt preten sioners, airbags, interconnecting wiring and power sources.
( P.30)
Warning lightDetails/Actions
A buzzer sounds and the warning ligh t comes on and flashes to indicate
that the master warning system has detected a malfunction.
P.323
Warning lightDetails/Actions
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure such as
Natural causes ( P.320)
Flat tire ( P.327)
Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified level.
The light will turn off after a few mi nutes. In case the light does not
turn off even if the tire inflation pressure is adjusted, have the sys-
tem checked by your Lexus dealer.
When the light comes on after blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire pressure warning system
Have the system checked by your Lexus dealer.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Changes from a flashing to a solid light when the engine coolant tem-
perature increases
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Handling method. ( P.345)
3267-2. Steps to take in an emergency
may appear if the vehicle is stopped on a slope. Move the vehicle to a level surface and
check to see if the message disappears.
■If a message that indicates the need for referring to Owner’s Manual is shown
●If any of the following messages is shown on the multi-information display, follow the
instructions.
• “Engine Coolant Temp High” ( P.345)
• “Battery low” ( P.332)
• “Transmission Fluid Temp High” ( P.150)
●If any of the following messages is shown on the multi-information di splay, it may indicate
a malfunction. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
• “Access System with Elec. Key Malfunction”
• “Shift system malfunction”
• “P switch malfunction”
• “Shift system unavailable”
●If any of the following messages is shown on the multi-information di splay, it may indicate
a malfunction. Immediately stop the vehicle and contact your Lexus dealer.
• “Braking Power Low”
• “Charging System Malfunction”
• “Oil Pressure Low”
●If “Battery low” is shown, the battery charge is insufficient . Recharge or replace the bat-
tery.
■If a message that indicates the need for visiting your Lexus dealer is shown
The system or part shown on the multi-information display is malfunctioning. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
■Warning buzzer
In some cases, the buzzer may not be heard du e to being in a noisy location or audio sound.
NOTICE
■While the engine oil level warning message is displayed
Continued engine operation with low engine oil will damage the engine.
■If “High Power Consumption Partial Limit On AC/Heater Operation” is shown fre-
quently
Air conditioning, heater and other operations are temporarily limited due to high power
consumption. Turn off unnecessary electronic equipment to reduce power consumption,
and wait until the power supply returns to normal. If this message is frequently displayed,
have the vehicle inspected at your Lexus dealer.
3457-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
1Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
turn off the air conditioning system,
and then stop the engine.
2 If you see steam:
Carefully lift the hood after the
steam subsides.
If you do not see steam:
Carefully lift the hood.
3 After the engine has cooled down
sufficiently, inspect the hoses and
radiator core (radiator) for any
leaks. Radiator
Cooling fan
If a large amount of coolant leaks, immedi-
ately contact your Lexus dealer.
4
The coolant level is satisfactory if it
is between the “F” and “L” lines on
the reservoir.
Reservoir
“F” line
“L” line
Coolant inlet cap
5 Add coolant if necessary.
Water can be used in an emergency if
coolant is unavailable.
6Start the engine and turn the air
conditioning system on to check
that the radiator cooling fan oper-
ates and to check for coolant leaks
from the radiator or hoses.
The fan operates when the air conditioning
If your vehicle overheats
The following may indicate that
your vehicle is overheating.
The engine coolant temperature
gauge ( P.75) is in the red zone
or a loss of engine power is expe-
rienced. (For example, the vehicle
speed does not increase.)
“Engine Coolant Temp High” is
shown on the multi-information
display.
Steam comes out from under the
hood.
Correction procedures
A
B
A
B
C
D