
257
6
6
Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
6-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehi-cle exterior ................................ 258
Cleaning and protecting the vehi- cle interior ................................. 262
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements .. 265
General maintenance ............. 266
Emission inspection and mainte- nance (I/M) programs ......... 269
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions........................................................ 270
Hood............................................... 272
Positioning a floor jack............ 272
Engine compartment............... 274
Battery ........................................... 279
Tires ................................................. 281
Replacing the tire ...................... 289
Tire inflation pressure .............. 293
Wheels........................................... 295
Air conditioning  filter...............296
Electronic key battery ............. 297
Checking and replacing fuses ........................................................ 299
Headlight aim.............................. 302
Light bulbs .................................... 303 

2656-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
6-2.Maintenance
■Repair and replacement
It is recommended that genuine Lexus parts 
be used for repairs to ensure performance 
of each system. If non-Lexus parts are used 
in replacement or if a repair shop other than 
a Lexus dealer perfor ms repairs, confirm 
the warranty coverage.
■Allow inspection and repairs to be per-
formed by a Lexus dealer
●Lexus technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the 
latest service information. They are well 
informed about the operations of all sys-
tems on your vehicle.
●Keep a copy of the repa ir order. It proves 
that the maintenance that has been per-
formed is under warranty coverage. If 
any problem should arise while your vehi-
cle is under warranty, your Lexus dealer 
will promptly take care of it.
General maintenance should be per-
formed on a daily basis. This can be 
done by yourself or by a Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance should be 
performed at specified intervals 
according to the maintenance sched-
ule.
For details about ma intenance items and 
schedules, refer to the “Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.
■Resetting the message indicating main-
tenance is required
After the required maintenance is per-
formed according to the maintenance 
schedule, please reset the message.
To reset the message, follow the procedure 
described below:
1
Press   or   of the meter control 
switches and select  .
2
Press   or   of the meter control 
switches and select  “Vehicle Settings”. 
Then press “OK”.
Maintenance requirements
To ensure safe and economical 
driving, day-to-day care and regu-
lar maintenance are essential. It is 
the owner’s responsibility to per-
form regular checks. Lexus recom-
mends the following maintenance:
WARNING
■If your vehicle is not properly main-
tained
Improper maintenanc e could result in 
serious damage to the vehicle and possi-
ble death or serious injury.
■Handling of the battery
●Engine exhaust, some of its constitu-
ents, and a wide variety of automobile 
components contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of California to 
cause cancer and birth defects and 
other reproductive harm. Work in a 
well ventilated area.
●Oils, fuels and fluids contained in vehi-
cles as well as waste produced by 
component wear contain or emit 
chemicals known to the State of Cali-
fornia to cause cancer and birth 
defects or other reproductive harm. 
Avoid exposure and wash any affected 
area immediately.
●Battery posts, terminals and related 
accessories contain lead and lead 
compounds which are known to cause 
brain damage. Wash your hands after 
handling. ( P.279)
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance 

2666-2. Maintenance
3Press   or   of the meter control 
switches and select “Scheduled Mainte-
nance”. Then press “OK”.
4
Select “Yes” and press “OK”.
A message will be disp layed when the reset 
procedure has been completed.
You can perform some maintenance 
procedures by yourself. 
Please be aware that do-it-yourself 
maintenance may affect warranty cov-
erage.
The use of Lexus repair manuals is recom-
mended.
For details about warranty coverage, refer 
to the separate “Owner’s Guide”, “War-
ranty and Service Guide”, “Owner’s Man-
ual Supplement” or “Warranty Booklet”.
Do-it-yourself maintenance
General maintenance
Listed below are the general main-
tenance items that should be per-
formed at the intervals specified in 
the “Warranty and Service Guide” 
or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”. 
It is recommended that any prob-
lem you notice should be brought to 
the attention of your Lexus dealer 
or qualified service shop for advice.
WARNING
■If the engine is running
Turn the engine off and ensure that there 
is adequate ventilati on before perform-
ing maintenance checks.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
Brake fluid
Is the brake fluid at the 
correct level? 
(  P.277)
Engine coolant
Is the engine coolant at 
the correct level? 
( P.276)
Engine oil
Is the engine oil at the 
correct level? 
( P.274)
Exhaust system
There should not be 
any fumes or strange 
sounds. 

2696-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
The OBD system determines that a 
problem exists somewhere in the emis-
sion control system. Your vehicle may 
not pass the I/M test and may need to 
be repaired. Contact your Lexus 
dealer to service the vehicle.
When the battery is disconnected 
or discharged
Readiness codes that are set during 
ordinary driving are erased. 
Also, depending on your driving 
habits, the readiness codes may not 
be completely set.
 When the fuel tank cap is loose
The malfunction indicator lamp 
comes on indicating a temporary 
malfunction and your vehicle may 
not pass the I/M test. The error code in the OBD system will 
not be cleared unless the vehicle is 
driven 40 or more times.
Contact your Lexus dealer to prepare 
the vehicle for re-testing.
Emission inspection and 
maintenance (I/M) pro-
grams
Some states have vehicle emission 
inspection programs which include 
OBD (On Board Diagnostics) 
checks. The OBD system monitors 
the operation of the emission con-
trol system.
If the malfunction indicator lamp 
comes on
Your vehicle may not pass the 
I/M test in the following situa-
tions:
When the malfunction indicator 
lamp still remains on after sev-
eral driving trips
If your vehicle does not pass the 
I/M test 

2706-3. 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.279)
•Grease
• Conventional wrench 
(for terminal clamp 
bolts)
Brake fluid 
level 
( P.277)
• SAE J1703 or FMVSS 
No.116 DOT 3 brake 
fluid
SAE J1704 or FMVSS 
No. 116 DOT 4 brake 
fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for  adding brake fluid)
Engine coolant 
level 
( P.276)
•“Toyota Super Long 
Life Coolant” or a simi-
lar high quality eth-
ylene glycol-based 
non-silicate, 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% cool-
ant and 50% deionized 
water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long 
Life Coolant” is pre-
mixed with 55% cool-
ant and 45% deionized 
water.
• Funnel (used only for  adding coolant)
Engine oil level 
( P.274)
•“Toyota Genuine 
Motor Oil” or equiva-
lent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for  adding engine oil)
Fuses 
( P.299)• Fuse with same amper-
age rating as original
Headlight aim• Phillips-head screw-driver
Light bulbs 
( P.303)
Radiator and 
condenser 
( P.277)
ItemsParts and tools 

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 

2956-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
When replacing wheels, care should 
be taken to ensure that they are equiv-
alent to those removed in load capac-
ity, 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
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped 
with tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters 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 pres-
sure warning valves an d transmitters must 
be installed. ( P.285) Use only Lexus wheel nuts and 
wrenches designed for use with 
your aluminum wheels.
 When rotating, repairing or chang-
ing your tires, check that the wheel 
nuts are still tight after driving 1000 
miles (1600 km).
 Use only Lexus genuine balance 
weights or equivalent and a plastic 
or rubber hammer when balancing 
your wheels.
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heav-
ily corroded, it should be replaced. 
Otherwise, the tire may separate 
from the wheel or cause a loss of 
handling control.
Wheel selection
WARNING
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a different 
size from those recommended in the 
Owner’s Manual, as this may result in a 
loss of handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking 
wheel which is designed for a tubeless 
tire. Doing so may result in an acci-
dent, causing death or serious injury.
■Use of defective wheels prohibited
Do not use cracked or deformed wheels.
Doing so could cause the tire to leak air 
during driving, possibly causing an acci-
dent.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning 
valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement 
may affect the tire pressure warning 
valves and transmitters, make sure to 
have tires serviced by your Lexus 
dealer or other qua lified service shop. 
In addition, make sure to purchase 
your tire pressure warning valves and 
transmitters at your Lexus dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine Lexus wheels 
are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and 
transmitters may not work properly 
with non-genuine wheels.
Aluminum wheel precautions 

3097-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be 
t
owed
If towing is ne cessary, we recom-
mend having your vehicle towed by 
your Lexus dealer or commercial 
towing service, using a wheel-lift 
type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all 
towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or 
serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all 
four wheels raised off the ground. If the 
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting 
the ground, the drivetrain and related 
parts may be damaged or an accident 
may occur due to a change in direction 
of the vehicle.
■While towing
●When towing using cables or chains, 
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place 
excessive stress on the towing eyelets, 
cables or chains. The towing eyelets, 
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people, 
and cause serious damage.
●Do not turn the engine switch off. 
This may lead to an accident as the 
rear wheels will be locked by the park-
ing lock. 
Also, there is a possibility that the 
steering wheel is locked and cannot be 
operated.
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle
Make sure that towing eyelets are 
installed securely. 
If not securely installed, towing eyelets 
may come loose during towing.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle 
when towing using a wheel-lift type 
truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the rear 
when the engine switch is OFF. The 
steering lock mechanism is not strong 
enough to hold the front wheels 
straight.
●When raising the vehicle, ensure ade-
quate ground clearance for towing at 
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. 
Without adequate clearance, the vehi-
cle could be damaged while being 
towed.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle 
when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either 
from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle 
during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the 
suspension components.