Page 270 of 410
2686-2. Maintenance
Seats• Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steering wheel rotate
smoothly?
• Does the steering wheel have the cor-
rect amount of free
play?
•There should not be any strange sounds
coming from the
steering wheel.
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors/trunk• Do the doors/trunk operate smoothly?
Engine hood
•Does the engine hood lock system
work properly?
Fluid leaks
•There should not be any signs of fluid
leakage after the
vehicle has been
parked.
ItemsCheck points
Tires
• Is the tire inflation pressure correct?
• The tires should not be damaged or
excessively worn.
• Have the tires been rotated according to
the maintenance
schedule?
• The wheel nuts should not be loose.
Windshield wip-
ers
• The wiper blades should not show any
signs of cracking,
splitting, wear, con-
tamination or defor-
mation.
• The wiper blades should clear the
windshield without
streaking or skip-
ping.
ItemsCheck points
Page 276 of 410
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
Page 277 of 410

2756-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Checking the engine oil
1 Park the vehicle on level ground.
After warming up the en gine and turning it
off, wait more than 5 minutes for the oil to
drain back into the bottom of the engine.
2 Holding 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.351
Oil quantity (Low Full)
1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 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
A
B
C
Page 278 of 410

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
Page 279 of 410

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
Page 280 of 410

2786-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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
washer fluid.
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 and adding the washer
fluid
WARNING
■When adding washer fluid
Do not add washer fluid when the engine
is hot or running as washer fluid contains
alcohol and may catch fire if spilled on
the engine etc.
NOTICE
■Do not use any fluid other than
washer fluid
Do not use soapy water or engine anti-
freeze instead of washer fluid.
Doing so may cause streaking on the
vehicle’s painted surfaces, as well as
damaging the pump leading to problems
of the washer fluid not spraying.
■Diluting washer fluid
Dilute washer fluid with water as neces-
sary.
Refer to the freezing temperatures listed
on the label of the washer fluid bottle.
Page 282 of 410

2806-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Pull the strap upwards to lift up the lug-
gage mat.Make sure that the battery terminals
are not corroded and
that there are no
loose connections, cracks, or loose
clamps.
Terminals
Hold-down clamp
Check that the level is upper than the
center between the bottom of the bat-
tery lid and “LOWER LEVEL” line.
Bottom of the battery lid
“LOWER LEVEL” line
Center of and
If the fluid level is below , replace the
battery.
WARNING
■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. NOTICE
■When recharging the battery
Never recharge the battery while the
engine is running. Also, be sure all acces-
sories are turned off.
Removing the battery cover
Exterior
Checking battery fluid
A
B
A
B
CAB
C
Page 298 of 410

2966-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
1Turn the engine switch off.
2 Open the glove box.
3 Remove the panel.
4 Unlock the filter cover ( ), pull
the filter cover out of the claws
( ), and remove the filter cover. 5
Remove the filter case.
6 Remove the air conditioning filter
from the filter case and replace it
with a new one.
The “ UP” marks shown on the filter and
the filter case should be pointing up.
■Checking interval
Inspect and replace the air conditioning fil-
ter according to the maintenance schedule.
In dusty areas or areas with heavy traffic
flow, early replacement may be required.
(For scheduled maintenance information,
please refer to the “Owner’s Manual Sup-
plement” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.)
■If air flow from the vents decreases dra-
matically
The filter may be clogged. Check the filter
and replace if necessary.
■Air conditioning filt er with deodorizing
function
When fragrances are placed in your vehi-
cle, the deodorizing effect may become sig-
nificantly weakened in a short period.
When an air conditioning odor comes out
continuously, replace the air conditioning
Air conditioning filter
The air conditioning filter must be
changed regularly to maintain air
conditioning efficiency.
Removing the air conditioning
filter
A
B