Lexus ES300 1997 Service Procedures And Specifications: Body

235
SECTION 6 ± 5
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Body
Specifications 236
Protecting your vehicle from corrosion 237
Washing and waxing 238
Cleaning the interior 239

BODY
236
SPECIFICATIONS
±DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Overall length 4830 mm (190.2 in.)
Overall width 1790 mm (70.5 in.)
Overall height 1395 mm (54.9 in.)*
Wheelbase 2670 mm (105.1 in.)
Tread ± Front 1545 mm (60.8 in.)
± Rear 1520 mm (59.5 in.)
Vehicle capacity weight (occupants + luggage) 410 kg (900 lb.)
*: Unladen vehicle
±FUEL TANK
Capacity 70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 Imp.gal.)

BODY
237
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLE
FROM CORROSION
Proper care of your Lexus can help ensure long±term
corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corrosion to your vehicle
are:

The accumulation of road salt, dirt and moisture in
hard±to±reach areas under the vehicle.

Chipping of paint or undercoating caused by minor
accidents or by stones and gravel.
The following conditions will cause or accelerate
corrosion of your vehicle, so it is important to keep your
vehicle, particularly the underside, as clean as possible
and to repair any damage to paint or protective coatings
as soon as possible.

The presence of road salt or dust control chemicals, salt in
the air near the sea coast, industrial air pollution.

High humidity, especially at temperatures just above
freezing point.

Certain parts of your vehicle are wet or damp for an
extended period of time, even though other parts of the
vehicle are dry.

Components of the vehicle which are prevented from
quick±drying due to lack of proper ventilation are exposed
to high temperature.To help prevent corrosion on your Lexus, follow these
guidelines:
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing. In addition,
observe the following points.

If you drive on salted roads in the winter or if you live near
the ocean, you should hose off the undercarriage at least
once a month to minimize corrosion.

High pressure water or steam is effective for cleaning the
vehicle's underside and wheel housings. Pay particular
attention to these areas as it is difficult to see all the mud
and dirt. It will do more harm than good to simply wet the
mud and debris without removing them. The lower edge of
doors, rocker panels and frame members have drain holes
which should not be allowed to clog with dirt as trapped
water in these areas can cause corrosion.

Wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughly when winter
is over.
See ªWashing and waxingº for more tips.
Check the condition of your vehicle's paint and trim. If
you find any chips or scratches in the paint, touch them up
immediately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the chips
or scratches have gone through the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.

BODY
238Check the interior of your vehicle. Water and dirt can
accumulate under the floor mats and could cause corrosion.
Occasionally check under the mats to make sure the area is
dry. Be particularly careful when transporting chemicals,
cleansers, fertilizers, salt, etc. These should be transported
in proper containers. If a spill or leak should occur,
immediately clean and dry the area.
Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated
garage. If you wash your vehicle in the garage, or if you drive
it in covered with water or snow, your garage may be so
damp it will cause corrosion. Even if your garage is heated,
a wet vehicle can corrode if the ventilation is poor.
WASHING AND WAXING
Washing your Lexus by hand
Work in the shade and wait until the vehicle body is not
hot to the touch.
1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose. Remove any mud or
road salt from the underside of the vehicle or in the wheel
wells.
2. Wash with a mild car±wash soap, mixed according to the
manufacturer 's instructions. Use a soft cotton mitt and keep
it wet by dipping it frequently into the wash water. No not rub
hard ± let the soap and water remove the dirt.
Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild soap or neutral
detergent.
Urethane bumpers and side moldings: Wash carefully.
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners. The bumper and side
molding faces are soft.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or cleaners that are
marked safe for painted surfaces.
NOTICE
Do not use gasoline or strong solvents, which may
be toxic or cause damage.
3. Rinse thoroughly ± dried soap can cause streaking. In
hot weather you may need to rinse each section right after
you wash it.

BODY
239 4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean soft
cotton towel. Do not rub or press hard ± you might scratch
the paint.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash, but
remember that the paint can be scratched by some type of
brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the washing process
itself. Scratching reduces paint durability and gloss,
especially on darker colors. The manager of the car wash
should be able to advise you whether the process is safe for
the paint on your vehicle.
Waxing your Lexus
Polishing and waxing is recommended to maintain the
original beauty of your Lexus' finish.
1. Always wash and dry the vehicle before you begin
waxing, even if you are using a combined cleaner and wax.
2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If the finish has
become extremely weathered, use a car±cleaning polish,
followed by a separate wax. Carefully follow the
manufacturer 's instructions and precautions. Be sure to
polish and was the chrome trim as well as the paint.
3. Wax the vehicle again when water does not bead but
remains on the surface in large patches.
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
CAUTION!
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water, or allow
water to get onto the floor when cleaning the vehicle
interior or exterior. Water may get into audio
components or other electrical components above
or under the floor carpet (or mat) and cause a
malfunction; and it may cause body corrosion.
Leather Interior
Remove dirt using a soft cloth dampened with 5% solution
of neutral detergent for wool. Then thoroughly wipe off all
traces of detergent with a clean damp cloth.
After cleaning or whenever any part of the leather gets wet,
dry with a soft clean cloth. Allow the leather to dry in a
ventilated shaded area.
NOTICE

If a stain should fail to come out with a neutral
detergent, apply a cleaner that does not contain an
organic solvent.

Never use organic substances such as benzine,
alcohol or gasoline, or alkaline or acid solutions
for cleaning the leather as these could cause
discoloring.

BODY
240

Use of a nylon brush or synthetic fiber cloth, etc.
may scratch the fine grained surface of the leather.

Mildew may develop on soiled leather upholstery.
Be especially careful to avoid oil spots. try to keep
your upholstery always clean.

Long exposure to direct sunlight may cause the
leather surface to harden and shrink. Keep your
vehicle in a shaded area, especially in the summer.

The interior of your vehicle is apt to heat up on hot
summer days, so avoid placing on the upholstery
items made of vinyl or plastic or containing was as
these tend to stick to leather when warm.

Improper cleaning of the leather upholstery could
result in discoloration or staining.
Synthetic Leather Areas (Dash)
The synthetic leather areas may be easily cleaned with
a mild soap or detergent and water.
First vacuum over the upholstery to remove loose dirt. Then,
using a sponge or soft cloth, apply the soap solution to the
synthetic leather. After allowing it to soak in for a few minutes
to loosen the dirt, remove the dirt and wipe off the soap with
a clean damp cloth. If all the dirt does not come off, repeat
the procedure. Commercial foaming±type cleaners are also
available which work well. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline or window
cleaner on the interior.

BODY
241
Carpets, Windows and Seat Belts
Begin by vacuuming thoroughly to remove as much dirt as
possible. Several types of foam cleaners are available;
some are in aerosol cans and others are powders or liquids
which you mix with water to produce a foam. To shampoo the
carpets, use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in
overlapping circles. Do not apply water ± the best results are
obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possible. Read the
shampoo instructions and follow them closely.
The seat belts may be cleaned with mild soap and water
or with lukewarm water.
Use a cloth or sponge. As you are cleaning, check the belts
for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
NOTICE

Use a good foam±type shampoo to clean the
carpets.

Do not use dye or bleach on the belts±it may
weaken them.

The windows may be cleaned with any household
window cleaner.

When cleaning the inside of the rear window, be
careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires.
Air Conditioning Control Panel, Car Audio,
Instrument Panel, Console Panel, and
Switches
Use a soft damp cloth for cleaning.
Soak a clean soft cloth in water or lukewarm water then
lightly wipe off any dirt.
NOTICE

Do not use organic substances (solvents,
kerosene, alcohol, gasoline, etc.) or alkaline or
acidic solutions. These chemicals can cause
discoloring, staining or peeling of the surface.

If you use cleaners or polishing agents, make sure
their ingredients do not include the substances
mentioned above.

If you use a liquid car freshener, do not spill the
liquid onto the vehicle's interior surfaces. It may
contain the ingredients mentioned above.
Immediately clean any spill using the method
mentioned above.
If you have any questions about the cleaning of your
Lexus, your local Lexus dealer will be pleased to
answer them.

BODY
242