Page 241 of 400

239
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
6
6
Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
.6-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehi-cle exterior ................................ 240
Cleaning and protecting the vehi- cle interior ................................. 243
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements .. 246
General maintenance ............. 247
Emission inspection and mainte- nance (I/M) programs ......... 250
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions......................................................... 251
Hood............................................... 253
Positioning a floor jack............ 253
Engine compartment............... 255
Tires ................................................ 263
Tire inflation pressure............... 271
Wheels........................................... 272
Air conditioning filter...............273
Electronic key battery ............. 275
Checking and replacing fuses ........................................................ 276
Headlight aim.............................. 278
Light bulbs .................................... 279
Page 242 of 400

2406-1. Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
6-1.Maintenance and care
Working from top to bottom, liber-
ally apply water to the vehicle body,
wheel wells and underside of the
vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a
sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
For hard-to-remove marks, use car
wash soap and rinse thoroughly with
water.
Wipe away any water.
Wax the vehicle when the water-
proof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface,
apply wax when the vehicle body is cool.
■Black stainless steel window moldings (F
SPORT models)
The stainless steel window moldings are
made of black oxide coated stainless steel.
When cleaning the vehicle, do not scrub the
moldings with an abrasive cleaner as their
finish may be damaged or the color may
change.
■Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coat-
ing that is resistant to small surface
scratches caused in a car wash etc.
●The coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from
when the vehicle is delivered from the
plant.
●The restoration time differs depending on
the depth of the scratch and outside tem-
perature.
The restoration time may become shorter
when the coating is warmed by applying
warm water.
●Deep scratches caused by keys, coins,
etc. cannot be restored.
●Do not use wax that contains abrasives.
■Automatic car washes
●Fold the mirrors before washing the vehi-
cle. Start washing from the front of the
vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors
before driving.
●Brushes used in automatic car washes
may scratch the vehicle surface, parts
(wheel, etc.) and damage the paint.
■High pressure car washes
As water may enter the cabin, do not bring
the nozzle tip near the gaps around the
doors or perimeter of the windows, or spray
these areas continuously.
■When using a car wash
If the door handle becomes wet while the
electronic key is within the effective range,
the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In
that case, follow the following correction
procedures to wash the vehicle:
●Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or
more separate from the vehicle while the
vehicle is being washed. (Take care to
ensure that the key is not stolen.)
●Set the electronic key to battery-saving
mode to disable the smart access system
with push-button start. ( P.93)
■Wheels and wheel ornaments
●Remove any dirt immediately by using a
neutral detergent.
●Wash detergent off with water immedi-
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior
Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Cleaning instructions
Page 243 of 400

2416-1. Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
6
Maintenance and care
ately after use.
●To protect the paint from damage, make
sure to observe the following precau-
tions.
• Do not use acidic, al kaline or abrasive
detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such as after driving or park-
ing in hot weather
■Brake caliper coating (F SPORT mod-
els)
●When using detergent, use neutral deter-
gent. Do not use hard brushes or abra-
sive cleaners, as they will damage the
paint.
●Do not use detergent on the brake cali-
pers when they are hot.
●Wash detergent off immediately after
use.
■Brake pads and calipers
Rust may form if the vehicle is parked with
wet brake pads or disc rotors, causing them
to stick. Before parking the vehicle after it is
washed, drive slowly and apply the brakes
several times to dry the parts.
■Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
■Side windows water- repellent coating
(if equipped)
●The following precautions can extend the
effectiveness of the water-repellent coat-
ing.
• Remove any dirt, etc. from the side win- dows regularly.
• Do not allow dirt and dust to accumulate
on the windows for a long period.
Clean the windows with a soft, damp
cloth as soon as possible.
• Do not use wax or glass cleaners that contain abrasives when cleaning the win-
dows.
• Do not use any metallic objects to
remove condensation build up.
●When the water-repellent performance
has become insufficient, the coating can
be repaired. Contact your Lexus dealer.
■Plated portions
If dirt cannot be removed, clean the parts as
follows:
●Use a soft cloth dampened with an
approximately 5% solution of neutral
detergent and water to clean the dirt off.
●Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to
remove any remaining moisture.
●To remove oily deposits, use alcohol wet
wipes or a similar product.
WARNING
■When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the
engine compartment. Doing so may
cause the electrical components, etc. to
catch fire.
■When cleaning the windshield (vehi-
cles with rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers)
Set the wipers to the intermittent wind-
shield wipers. (
P.145)
If AUTO mode is selected, the wipers
may operate unexpectedly in the follow-
ing situations, and may result in hands
being caught or other serious injuries
and cause damage to the wiper blades.
●When the upper part of the windshield
where the raindrop sensor is located is
touched by hand
●When a wet rag or similar is held close
to the raindrop sensor
●If something bumps against the wind-
shield
Page 244 of 400

2426-1. Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
WARNING
●If you directly touch the raindrop sen-
sor body or if something bumps into
the raindrop sensor
■Precautions regarding the exhaust
pipes
As exhaust gases cause the exhaust
pipes to become quite hot, do not touch
the exhaust pipes while the engine is run-
ning or immediately after the engine is
turned off.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not
to touch the exhaust pipes until they have
cooled sufficiently, as touching hot
exhaust pipes can cause burns.
■Precaution regarding the rear
bumper with Blind Spot Monitor (if
equipped)
If the paint of the rear bumper is chipped
or scratched, the system may malfunc-
tion. If this occurs, consult your Lexus
dealer.
NOTICE
■To prevent paint deterioration and
corrosion on the body and compo-
nents (aluminum wheels, etc.)
●Wash the vehicle immediately in the
following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, in sect droppings or
bird droppings are present on the
paint surface
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust, iron
powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
●If the paint is chipped or scratched,
have it repaired immediately.
●To prevent the wheels from corroding,
remove any dirt and store in a place
with low humidity when storing the
wheels.
■Cleaning the exterior lights
●Wash carefully. Do not use organic
substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the
lights.
●Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the
lights.Wax may cause damage to the
lenses.
■To prevent damage to the windshield
wiper arms
When lifting the wiper arms away from
the windshield, pull the driver side wiper
arm upward first, an d repeat for the pas-
senger side. When re turning the wipers
to their original position, do so from the
passenger side first.
■When using an automatic car wash
(vehicles with rain-sensing windshield
wipers)
Set the wipers to the intermittent wind-
shield wipers. (
P.145)
If AUTO mode is selected, the wipers
may operate and the wiper blades may
be damaged.
■When using a high pressure car wash
●When washing the vehicle, do not
spray the camera or its surrounding
area directly with a high pressure
washer. Shock applied from high pres-
sure water may cause the device to not
operate normally.
Page 245 of 400

2436-1. Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
6
Maintenance and care
Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
uum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces
with a cloth dampened with luke-
warm water.
If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it off
with a soft cloth dampened with
neutral detergent diluted to approx-
imately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from the cloth
and thoroughly wipe off remaining traces
of detergent and water.
■Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type
cleaners available. Use a sponge or brush
to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping cir-
cles. Do not use water. Wipe dirty surfaces
and let them dry. Excellent results are
obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as
possible.
■Handling the seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water
using a cloth or spon ge. Also check the
belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying
or cuts.
■When cleaning the carpeted portions of
the glove box, console box, etc.
If a strong adhesive tape is used, there is a
possibility that the su rface of the carpet
could be damaged.
NOTICE
●Do not bring the nozzle tip close to
boots (rubber or re sin manufactured
cover), connectors or the following
parts. The parts may be damaged if
they come into contact with high-pres-
sure water.
• Traction related parts
•Suspension parts
•Steering parts
• Brake parts
●Keep the cleaning nozzle at least 11.9
in. (30 cm) away from the vehicle
body. Otherwise resin section, such as
moldings and bumpers, may be
deformed and damaged.
Also, do not continuously hold the nozzle
in the same place.
●Do not spray the lower part of the
windshield continuously.
If water enters the air conditioning sys-
tem intake located near the lower part of
the windshield, the air conditioning sys-
tem may not oper ate correctly.
●Do not wash the underside of the vehi-
cle using a high pressure car washer.
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle interior
Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Protecting the vehicle interior
Page 246 of 400

2446-1. Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
WARNING
■Water in the vehicle
●Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehi-
cle.
Doing so may cause electrical compo-
nents, etc. to malfun ction or catch fire.
●Do not get any of the SRS components
or wiring in the vehicle interior wet.
( P.28)
An electrical malfunction may cause the
airbags to deploy or not function prop-
erly, resulting in death or serious injury.
■Cleaning the interior (especially
instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner.
The instrument panel may reflect off the
windshield, obstructing the driver’s view
and leading to an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■Cleaning detergents
●Do not use the following liquids, as
they may discolor the vehicle interior
or cause streaks or damage to painted
surfaces:
• Center Display: Organic substances such as benzine or gasoline, alkaline
solutions, and alcohol
• Seats: Alkaline solutions, organic sub- stances such as thinner or benzine,
and alcohol
• Other parts: Organic substances such as benzine or gasoline, alkaline or
acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
●Do not use polish wax or polish
cleaner. The instrument panel’s or
other interior part’s painted surface
may be damaged.
■Preventing damage to leather sur-
faces
Observe the following precautions to
avoid damage to and deterioration of
leather surfaces:
●Remove any dust or dirt from leather
surfaces immediately.
●Do not expose the vehicle to direct
sunlight for extended periods of time.
Park the vehicle in the shade, espe-
cially during summer.
●Do not place items made of vinyl, plas-
tic, or containing wax on the uphol-
stery, as they may stick to the leather
surface if the vehicle interior heats up
significantly.
■Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system
may be damaged if water comes into
contact with electrical components such
as the audio system above or under the
floor of the vehicle. Water may also
cause the body to rust.
■When cleaning the inside of the wind-
shield
Do not allow glass cleaner to contact the
lens. Also, do not touch the lens.
( P.156)
■Cleaning the inside of the rear win-
dow
●Do not use glass cleaner to clean the
rear window, as this may cause dam-
age to the rear window defogger
heater wires or antenna. Use a cloth
dampened with lukewarm water to
gently wipe the window clean. Wipe
the window in strokes running parallel
to the heater wires or antenna.
●Be careful not to scratch or damage
the heater wires or antenna.
Cleaning the leather areas
Page 247 of 400
2456-1. Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
6
Maintenance and care
uum cleaner.
Wipe off any excess dirt and dust
with a soft cloth dampened with
diluted detergent.
Use a diluted water so lution of approxi-
mately 5% neutral wool detergent.
Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off all
remaining traces of detergent.
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft
cloth to remove any remaining
moisture.
Allow the leather to dry in a shaded
and ventilated area.
■Caring for leather areas
Lexus recommends cleaning the interior of
the vehicle at least twice a year to maintain
the quality of the vehicle’s interior.
Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
uum cleaner.
Wipe it off with a soft cloth damp-
ened with neutral detergent diluted
to approximately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent and
water.
Cleaning the synthetic leather
areas
Page 248 of 400

2466-2. Maintenance
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
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 performs 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 repair 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
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 Select on the multi-information dis-
play. ( P.76)
2 Press the or meter control
switch on the steeri ng wheel to select
“Vehicle Settings” then “Scheduled
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 maintenance below.
WARNING
■If your vehicle is not properly main-
tained
Improper maintenance 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 re productive harm.
Avoid exposure and wash any affected
area immediately.
●Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contai n lead and lead
compounds which are known to cause
brain damage. Wash your hands after
handling. ( P.261)
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance