Lexus ES300 1998 Owner's Manuals (in English)

BODY233
SPECIFICATIONS
± DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTOverall length
Overall width
Overall height
Wheelbase
Tread ± Front ± Rear
Vehicle capacity weight (occupants + luggage)
4830 mm (190.2 in.)
1790 mm (70.5 in.)
1395 mm (54.9 in.)*
2670 mm (105.1 in.)
1545 mm (60.8 in.)
1520 mm (59.8 in.)
410 kg (900 lb.)
*: Unladen vehicle
± FUEL TANK
Capacity
70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 lmp.gal.)

BODY
234
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLE FROMCORROSION
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 are\
as
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 t\
he
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 ºWashing 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 f\
rom
starting. If the chips or scratches have gone through the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.

BODY235
Check 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.
Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated garage or a roofed place. 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
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing.
The following cases may cause weakness to the paint or corrosion to the bod\
y
and parts. Wash your vehicle as soon as possible.

When driving in a coastal area

When driving on a road sprinkled with antifreeze

When having stuck of coal tar, tree sap, bird droppings and carcass of an
insect.

When driving in the areas where there are a lot of smoke, soot, dust, iron
dust and chemical substance

When the vehicle becomes remarkably dirty with dust and mud
Hand±washing your Lexus
Work in the shade and wait until the vehicle body is not hot to the touch.
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.

BODY
236
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. Do
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 thor oughly ± dried soap can cause streaking. In hot weather you may
need to rinse each section right after you wash it.
4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean soft cotton towel. D\
o
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.
Once a month or if the vehicle does not repel water well, apply wax.
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
wax 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.

BODY237
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
CAUTION

Be careful not to splash water or spill liquid on the floor.
This may prevent the side airbags from activating
correctly, resulting in serious injury.

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
The selected leather is used in your Lexus. Due to a leather product, some\
parts of leather may be rough, uneven or scratched originally.
To keep good appearance, we recommend you to clean it periodically twice
a year.
Remove dirt on the leather in the following ways:
1. Wipe it off lightly using a soft cloth (e.g. gauze) dampened with 5%
solution of neutral detergent for wool.
2. Wring water from a clean cloth and thoroughly wipe off all traces of
detergent with it.
3. Wipe off the surface of the leather with a dry soft cloth. Allow the leather
to dry in a ventilated shaded area. Excess of wet may cause the hardeni\
ng or
shrinking of the leather.
NOTICE

Dirt or sand adhered to the leather may damage the treated surface
and cause it to wear earlier. Remove dirt or sand using a vacuum
cleaner.

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.

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 wax as these tend to stick to leather when warm.

Improper cleaning of the leather upholstery could result in
discoloration or staining.

BODY
238
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 sp\
onge
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 wi\
pe 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.
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 excessi\
ve 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.

BODY239
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.

SECTION 7
240
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
FOR U.S. OWNERS
Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners241
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .

KEYS AND DOORS241
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS FOR U.S.OWNERS
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause
a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) in addition to notifying Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.,
Inc. (Toll±free: 1±800±25±LEXUS).
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group
of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer, or Toyota Motor Sales,
U.S.A., Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline
toll±free at 1±800±424±9393 (or 366±0123 in Washington.D.C.
area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation,
Washington. D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information
about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.