2021 LEXUS RX450h service

2914-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
Use fluids that are appropriate to
the prevailing outside temperatures.
•Engine oil
• Engine/power control unit coolant
•Washer fluid
Have a service technician inspect
the condition of the 12-volt battery.
 Have the vehicle fitted with four
snow tires or purchase a set of tire
chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires ar e of the specified size
and the same brand, and that chains match
the size of the tires.
Perform the following according to the
driving conditions:
 Do not try to forcibly open a window
or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour
warm water over the frozen area to
melt the ice. Wipe away the water
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary prepara-
tions and inspections before driving
the vehicle in winter. Always drive
the vehicle in a manner appropriate
to the prevailing weather condi-
tions.
Pre-winter preparations
WARNING
■Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to
reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in a loss of
vehicle control and cause death or seri-
ous injury.
●Use tires of the specified size.
●Maintain the recommended level of air
pressure.
●Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120
km/h), regardless of the type of snow
tires being used.
●Use snow tires on all, not just some
wheels.
■Driving with tire chains
Observe the following precautions to
reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the vehicle
being unable to be driven safely, and may
cause death or serious injury.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit specified for the tire chains being
used, or 30 mph (50 km/h), which-
ever is lower.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces
or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt
steering, sudden br aking and shifting
operations that cause sudden engine
braking.
●Slow down sufficiently before entering
a curve to ensure that vehicle control is
maintained.
●Do not use the LTA (Lane Tracing
Assist) system.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs or replacement of snow
tires from your Lexus dealer or legitimate
tire retailers.
This is because the removal and attach-
ment of snow tires affects the operation
of the tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters.
Before driving the vehicle

2934-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
length)
Regulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary depending on location and
type of road. Always check local regu-
lations before installing chains.
■Tire chain installation
Observe the following precautions when
installing and removing chains:
●Install and remove tire chains in a safe
location.
●Install tire chains on the front tires only.
Do not install tire chains on the rear tires.
●Install tire chains on fr ont tires as tightly as
possible. Retighten chains after driving
1/4 1/2 mile (0.5 1.0 km).
●Install tire chains following the instruc-
tions provided with the tire chains.
To enable the windshield wipers to be
lifted when heavy snow or icy condi-
tions are expected, change the rest
position of the windshield wipers from
the retracted position below the hood
to the service position using the wiper
lever. ( P.208) 
Specific design characteristics give
it a higher center of gravity than
ordinary passenger cars. This vehi-
cle design feature causes this type
of vehicle to be more likely to roll-
over. And, utility vehicles have a sig-
nificantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
 An advantage of th e higher ground
clearance is a better view of the
road allowing you to anticipate
problems.
 It is not designed for cornering at
the same speeds as ordinary pas-
senger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed
to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Therefore,
sharp turns at excessive speeds may
cause the vehicle to rollover.
Regulations on the use of tire
chains
NOTICE
■Fitting tire chains
The tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters may not function correctly
when tire chains are fitted.
Windshield wipers
Utility vehicle precautions
This vehicle belongs to the utility
vehicle class, which has higher
ground clearance and narrower
tread in relation to the height of its
center of gravity.
Utility vehicle feature
WARNING
■Utility vehicle precautions
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of death, seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:

2944-6. Driving tips
Your vehicle is not designed to be
driven off-road. However, in the event
that off-road driving cannot be
avoided, please observe the following
precautions to help avoid the areas
prohibited to vehicles.
Drive your vehicle only in areas
where off-road vehicles are permit-
ted to travel. 
Respect private property. Get
owner’s permission before entering
private property.
 Do not enter areas that are closed.
Honor gates, barriers and signs that
restrict travel.
 Stay on established roads. When
conditions are wet, driving tech-
niques should be changed or travel
delayed to prevent damage to
roads.
 Avoid driving on very steep, slippery
roads and other surfaces, such as
sand, where the tires are liable to
lose traction. Your vehicle may not
perform as well as conventional
AWD on-road vehicles on these
surfaces.
■Additional informatio n for off-road driv-
ing
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining
to driving your vehicle off-road, consult the
following organizations.
●State and Local Parks and Recreation
Departments
●State Motor Vehicle Bureau
●Recreational Vehicle Clubs
●U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management
WARNING
●In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. Therefore,
the driver and all passengers should
always fasten th eir seat belts.
●Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers, if at all possible.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover causing death or serious
injury.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage
carrier will make the center of the
vehicle gravity higher. Avoid high
speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns,
sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of con-
trol or vehicle rollover due to failure to
operate this vehicle correctly.
●Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
Because of its profile and higher cen-
ter of gravity, your vehicle is more sen-
sitive to side winds than an ordinary
passenger car. Slowing down will allow
you to have better control.
●Do not drive horizontally across steep
slopes. Driving straig ht up or straight
down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any
similar off-road vehicle) can tip over
sideways much more easily than for-
ward or backward.
Off-road driving
WARNING
■Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of death, seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:
●Drive carefully when off the road. Do
not take unnecessary risks by driving in
dangerous places.

2954-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
WARNING
●Do not grip the steering wheel spokes
when driving off-road. A bad bump
could jerk the wheel and injure your
hands. Keep both hands and especially
your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
●Always check your brakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.
●After driving through tall grass, mud,
rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that there
is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone,
sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter
from the underbody. If the vehicle is
used with these materials trapped or
adhering to the underbody, a break-
down or fire could occur.
●When driving off-road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike
objects, etc. This may cause loss of
control or vehicle rollover causing
death or serious injury. You are also
risking expensive damage to your
vehicle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE
■To prevent water damage
Take all necessary sa fety measures to
ensure that water da mage to the hybrid
battery (traction battery), hybrid system
or other components does not occur.
●Water entering the engine compart-
ment may cause severe damage to the
hybrid system. Water entering the inte-
rior may cause the hybrid battery
(traction battery) stowed under the
rear seats to short circuit.
●Water entering the hybrid transmis-
sion and rear electr ic motor (traction
motor) will cause deterioration in
transmission quality. The malfunction
indicator may come on, and the vehi-
cle may not be drivable.
●Water can wash the grease from wheel
bearings, causing rusting and prema-
ture failure, and may also enter the
hybrid transmission case, reducing the
gear oil’s lubricating qualities.
■When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when
crossing shallow streams, first check the
depth of the water and the bottom of the
riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and
avoid deep water.
■Inspection after off-road driving
●Sand and mud that has accumulated
around brake discs may affect braking
efficiency and may damage brake sys-
tem components.
●Always perform a maintenance
inspection after each day of off-road
driving that has taken you through
rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For
scheduled maintena nce information,
refer to the “Warranty and Services
Guide/Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment/Scheduled Maintenance”.

3075-3. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
5
Interior features
push-button start is used to unlock a pas-
senger door.
●The doors that can recall the air condi-
tioning setting when unlocked using the
smart access system with push-button
start can be changed.
* For details, con-
tact your Lexus dealer.
*: The doors that can recall the driving
position memory are changed at the
same time.
■Operation of the air conditioning sys-
tem in Eco drive mode
In Eco drive mode, the air conditioning sys-
tem is controlled as follows to prioritize fuel
efficiency:
●Engine speed and compressor operation
controlled to restri ct heating/cooling
capacity
●Fan speed restricted when automatic
mode is selected
To improve air condit ioning performance,
perform the following operations:
●Adjust the fan speed
●Turn off Eco drive mode ( P.281)
■When the outside temperature falls to
nearly 32°F (0°C)
The dehumidification function may not
operate even when “A/C” is selected.
■Ventilation and air conditioning odors
●To let fresh air in, set the air conditioning
system to the outside air mode.
●During use, various odors from inside and
outside the vehicle may enter into and
accumulate in the air conditioning sys-
tem. This may then cause odor to be
emitted from the vents.
●To reduce potential odors from occur-
ring:
• It is recommended that the air condition- ing system be set to outside air mode
prior to turning the vehicle off.
• The start timing of the blower may be delayed for a short period of time imme-
diately after the air conditioning system is
started in automatic mode or with the
micro dust and pollen filter on.
■Using the voice command system
Air conditioning system can be operated
using voice commands. For details, refer to
“NAVIGATION AND MULTIMEDIA
SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL”.
■Air conditioning filter
 P.390
■Air conditioning system refrigerant
●A label regarding the refrigerant of the
air conditioning system is attached to the
hood at the location shown in the follow-
ing illustration.
●The meaning of each symbol on the label
are as follows:
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.480)
Caution
Air conditioning system
Air conditioning system
lubricant type
Requires registered tech-
nician to service air condi-
tioning system
Flammable refrigerant

355
6
6
Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
.6-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehi-cle exterior ................................ 356
Cleaning and protecting the vehi- cle interior ................................. 359
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements........................................................ 362
General maintenance ............. 363
Emission inspection and mainte- nance (I/M) programs ......... 366
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions........................................................ 367
Hood............................................... 369
Positioning a floor jack............ 369
Engine compartment................ 371
12-volt battery............................. 376
Tires ................................................ 380
Tire inflation pressure .............. 387
Wheels........................................... 389
Air conditioning filter...............390
Windshield wiper inserts........ 392
Electronic key battery ............. 393
Checking and replacing fuses ........................................................ 395
Headlight aim.............................. 397
Light bulbs .................................... 399

3626-2. Maintenance
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 operation 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 warra nty coverage. If any
problem should arise while your vehicle 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 (U.S.A. only)
After the required maintenance is pre-
formed according to the maintenance
schedule, please reset the message.
To reset the message, follow the procedures
described below:
1 Press or of the meter control
switch to select .
2 Press or of the meter control
switch, select the “Scheduled Mainte-
nance” screen and then press and hold
the .
Maintenance requirements
To ensure safe and economical driv-
ing, day-to-day care and regular
maintenance are essential. It is the
owner’s responsibility to perform
regular checks. Lexus recommends
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 12-volt 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 re productive harm.
Avoid exposure and wash any affected
area immediately.
●12-volt battery post s, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds which are known to
cause brain damage. Wash your hands
after handling. ( P.376)
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance

3636-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
3Select the “Yes” and press .
4 A message will be displayed on the
multi-information display 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 warra nty 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 hybrid system is operating
Turn the hybrid system off and ensure
that there is adequate ventilation before
performing maintenance checks.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
Brake fluid
Is the brake fluid at the
correct level?
(  P.375)
Engine/power
control unit cool-
antIs the engine/power
control unit coolant at
the correct level?
( P.373)
Engine oil
Is the engine oil at the
correct level?
( P.371)
Exhaust system
There should not be
any fumes or strange
sounds.