Format Lexus ES300 1999 s (in English) Owner's Guide

DRIVING TIPS
299
Depending on where you are driving, we
recommend
you carry some emergency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the vehicle are tire
chains, window scraper, bag of sand or salt, flares, small
shovel, jumper cables, etc.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a
passenger±carrying vehicle. Towing a trailer will have
an adverse effect on handling, performance, braking,
durability and driving economy (fuel consumption, etc.).
Your safety and satisfaction depend on the proper use
of correct equipment and cautious driving habits. For
your safety and the safety of others, you must not
overload your vehicle or trailer. Lexus warranties do not
apply to damage or malfunction caused by towing a
trailer for commercial purposes. Ask your local Lexus
dealer for further details before towing.
NOTICE
When towing a trailer, be sure to consult your Lexus dealer for further information on additional
requirements such as a towing kit, etc.
Weight limits
Before towing, make sure the total trailer weight,
gross vehicle weight, gross axle weight and trailer
tongue load are all within the limits.
The total trailer weight and tongue load can be
measured with platform scales found at a highway
weighing station, building supply company, trucking
company, junk yard, etc.

DRIVING TIPS
305
Tires
Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated.
Adjust the tire pressure to the recommended cold tire
pressure indicated below:
Tire pressure, kPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar, psi)
Front 220 (2.2, 32)
Rear 220 (2.2, 32)
 The trailer tires should be inflated to the pressure
recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect
to the total trailer weight.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must comply with federal,
state/provincial and local regulations. See your local
recreational vehicle dealer or rental agency for the
correct type of wiring and relays for your trailer.
Check for correct operation of the turn signals and
stop lights each time you hitch up. Direct splicing may
damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a
malfunction of your lights.
Break±in schedule
 Lexus recommends that you do not tow a trailer with
a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new power train
component (engine, transmission, differential, wheel
bearing, etc.) for the first 800 km (500 miles) of
driving.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more
frequent maintenance due to the additional load. For
this information, please refer to the scheduled
maintenance information in the ºOwner's Manual
Supplement/ Maintenance Scheduleº.
 Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket
after approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer
driving.
Pre±towing safety check
 Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded
or unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the
vehicle has an abnormal nose±up or nose±down
condition, and check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other possible causes.
 Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that
it cannot shift.
 Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any
federal, state/provincial or local regulation. If they do
not, install required rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.

DRIVING TIPS
310Improper alignment not only causes faster tire wear
but also puts an extra load on the engine, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
 Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud,
etc. This not only lessens weight but also helps
prevent corrosion. 
Keep your vehicle tuned±up and in top shape. A
dirty air cleaner, improper valve clearance, dirty
plugs, dirty oil and grease, brakes not adjusted, etc.
all lower engine performance and contribute to poor
fuel economy. For longer life of all parts and lower
operating costs, keep all maintenance work on
schedule, and if you often drive under severe
conditions, see that your vehicle receives more
frequent maintenance. (For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the separate ºOwner's
Manual Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.)
CAUTION
Never turn off the engine to coast down hills. Your
power steering and brake booster will not function
without the engine running. Also, the emission control
system operates properly only when the engine is
running.

SECTION 5
350
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance requirements351
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General maintenance 353
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Does your vehicle need repairing? 356
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For scheduled maintenance information,
please refer to the separate ºOwner'sManual Supplement/ MaintenanceScheduleº.

MAINTENANCE
351
MAINTENANCE
REQUIREMENTS
Your Lexus vehicle has been designed to have fewer
maintenance requirements with longer service intervals
to save both your time and money. However, each
regular maintenance as well as day±to±day care is more
important than ever before to ensure smooth,
trouble±free, safe, and economical driving.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure the specified
maintenance, including general maintenance services,
is performed. Note that both the new vehicle and
emission control system warranties specify that proper
maintenance and care must be performed. See the
Owner's Guide, Owner's Manual Supplement or
Warranty Booklet for complete warranty information.
General maintenance
General maintenance items are those day±to±day care
practices that are important to your vehicle for proper
operation. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that
the general maintenance items are performed regularly.
These checks or inspections can be done either by
yourself or your Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance
The scheduled maintenance items listed in the ºOwner's
Manual Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº are those
required to be serviced at regular intervals.
For details of your maintenance schedule, read the
separate ºOwner's Manual Supplement/Maintenance
Scheduleº.
It is recommended that any replacement parts used
for maintenance or for the repair of the emission
control system be Lexus supplied.
The owner may elect to use non±Lexus supplied
parts for replacement purposes without invalidating
the emission control system warranty. However,
use of replacement parts which are not of equivalent
quality may impair the effectiveness of the emission
control systems.
You may also elect to have maintenance,
replacement, or repair of the emission control
devices and system performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual without
invalidating this warranty. See Owner's Guide,
Owner's Manual Supplement or Warranty Booklet
for complete warranty information.

MAINTENANCE
352
Where to go for service?
Lexus technicians are well±trained specialists and are
kept up to date with the latest service information
through technical bulletins, service tips, and
in±dealership training programs. They are well informed
about the operation of all the systems on your vehicle.
You can be confident that your Lexus dealer's service
department performs the best job to meet the
maintenance requirements of your vehicle.
Your copy of the repair order is proof that all required
maintenance has been performed for warranty
coverage. And if any problems should arise with your
vehicle while under warranty, your Lexus dealer will
promptly take care of it. Again, be sure to keep a copy
of the repair order for any service performed on your
Lexus.
What about do±it±yourself maintenance?
Many of the maintenance items are easy to do yourself,
if you have a little mechanical ability and a few basic
automotive tools. Simple instructions for how to perform
them are presented in Section 6.
If you are a skilled do±it±yourself mechanic, the Lexus
service manuals are recommended. Please be aware
that do±it±yourself maintenance can affect your
warranty coverage. See your Owner's Guide, Owner's
Manual Supplement or Warranty Booklet for the details.

MAINTENANCE
353
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Listed below are the general maintenance items that
should be performed at the intervals specified. It is
recommended that any problem you notice be brought
to the attention of your Lexus dealer or qualified service
shop for their advice.
CAUTION
Make these checks only where adequate ventilation can
be obtained if you run the engine.
Vehicle exterior
Items listed below should be performed from time to
time, unless otherwise specified.
Tire pressure
Check the pressure with a gauge every two weeks, or at
least once a month and adjust as shown on the tire
pressure label. See page 397 for additional information.
Tire surface
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage or excessive
wear. See page 399 for additional information.
Wheel nuts
When checking the tires, make sure to check the nuts for
looseness. Tighten them if necessary. Tire rotation
Rotate
the tires every 12000 km (7500 miles). See page
398 for additional information.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, water or other
fluid after the vehicle has been parked for a while. If you
smell fuel fumes or notice any leak, have the cause
found and corrected immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors, including trunk lid, operate
smoothly and all latches lock securely. Make sure the
engine hood secondary latch secures the hood when the
primary latch is released.

MAINTENANCE
355
Engine compartment
Items listed below should be checked from time to
time, e.g. each time when refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the tank. See page
432 for additional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between the ºFULLº and
ºLOWº lines on the see±through reservoir when the
engine is cold. See page 383 for additional information.
Battery
Your Lexus has a maintenance free battery. You do not
have to add distilled water. For longer life of the battery,
however, see page 415 for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct. See page 391
for additional information.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the engine turned off
and the vehicle parked on a level spot. See page 378 for
additional information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir. The level should
be in the ºHOTº or ºCOLDº range depending on the fluid temperature. See page 393 for additional information.
Exhaust system
Look
for cracks, holes and loose supports. If you notice
any change in the sound of the exhaust or smell exhaust
fumes, have the cause located and corrected
immediately. (See engine exhaust cautions in Section
3±1.)

INTRODUCTION
363
steeringfluidreservoir
DO±IT±YOURSELF SERVICE PRECAUTIONS
If you perform maintenance yourself, be sure to
follow the correct procedure given in this Section.
You should be aware that improper or incomplete
servicing may result in operating problems.
Performing do±it±yourself maintenance during the
warranty period may affect your warranty coverage.
Read the separate Lexus Warranty statement for details
and suggestions.
This Section gives instructions only for those items that
are relatively easy for an owner to perform. As explained
in Section 5, there are still a number of items that must
be performed by a qualified technician with special tools.
For information on tools and parts for do±it±yourself
maintenance, see ºParts and toolsº.
Utmost care should be taken when working on your
vehicle to prevent accidental injury. Here are a few
precautions that you should be especially careful to
observe:

ENGINE
373
FUEL
Fuel type
Your vehicle must use only unleaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mixups, your Lexus has a
smaller fuel tank opening. The special nozzle on pumps
with unleaded fuel will fit it, but the larger nozzle on
pumps with leaded gas will not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the
specifications of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB
3.5±M93 in Canada.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline will cause the three±way catalyticconverter/warm up three±way catalytic converterto lose its effectiveness and the emission controlsystem to function improperly. Also, this canincrease maintenance costs.
Octane rating
Select Octane Rating 87 (Research Octane Number
91) or higher. For improved vehicle performance,
the use of premium unleaded gasoline with an
Octane Rating of 91 (Research Octane Number 96)
or higher is recommended. Use of unleaded fuel with an Octane Rating or Research
Octane Number lower than stated above will cause
persistent heavy knocking. If it is severe, this will lead
to engine damage.
If your engine knocks ...
If you detect heavy knocking even when using the
recommended
fuel, or if you hear steady knocking while
holding a steady speed on level roads, consult your
Lexus dealer.
However, now and then, you may notice light knocking
for a short time while accelerating or driving up hills. This
is no cause for concern.
Gasolines containing detergent additives
Lexus recommends use of gasolines that contain
detergent additives to avoid build±up of engine
deposits.
For further details, ask your Lexus dealer or a local
gasoline retailer.
Improved gasolines
The American Automobile Manufacturers
Association (AAMA) has developed a specification
of improved gasolines. The AAMA specification
offers optimal fuel information for better vehicle
performance and better protection of your engine.
Lexus recommends the use of gasolines that meet the