ESP Lexus GX470 2006 Engine / LEXUS 2006 GX470 (OM60B99U) Workshop Manual

INTRODUCTION
496
DOITYOURSELF SERVICEPRECAUTIONS
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 “Parts and tools” on page 498.
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:
CAUTION
 When the engine is running, keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from the moving fan and engine drive
belt. (Removing rings, watches, and ties is
advisable.)
 Right after driving, the engine compartment — the
engine, radiator, exhaust manifold and power
steering fluid reservoir, etc. — will be hot. So be
careful not to touch them. Oil, other fluids and spark
plugs may also be hot.
 If the engine is hot, do not remove the radiator cap or
loosen the drain plugs to prevent burning yourself.
 Do not leave anything that may burn easily, such as
paper or rags, in the engine compartment.
 Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open flames
around fuel or the battery. Their fumes are
flammable.
 Do not get under your vehicle with just the body jack
supporting it. Always use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.
 Be sure that the ignition is off if you work near the
electric cooling fan or radiator grille. With the
ignition on, the electric cooling fan will automatically
start to run if the air conditioning is on.

CHASSIS
532
Temperature A, B, C — The temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

BODY
566
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLEFROM 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 ambient 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. 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 “Washing and waxing” on page 567 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
568Fuel
filler door: Do not apply water (high −pressure car wash,
for example) at or near the fuel tank inlet with the fuel filler door
opened. If the water enters the air vent, you may experience
trouble with refueling or rough engine idling.
Plastic wheel ornaments: The plastic wheel ornaments are
damaged easily by organic substances. If any organic
substance splash an ornament, be sure to wash them off with
water and check if the ornament is damaged.
Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild soap or neutral detergent.
Plastic bumpers and side moldings: Wash carefully. Do not
scrub with abrasive cleaners. The bumper and side molding
faces are soft.
Exterior lights: Wash carefully. Do not use organic
substances or scrub them with a hard brush. This may damage
the surfaces of the lights.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces.
3. Rinse thoroughly — 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. Do not rub or press hard — you might scratch the
paint.
NOTICE
 Do not use organic substances (gasoline, kerosene,
benzine or strong solvents), which may be toxic or
cause damage.
 Do not scrub any part of the vehicle with a hard brush,
which may cause damage.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash, but
remember that the paint can be scratched by some types 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.

BODY
570
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.
 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.
Nonleather Trim
(Part of door panels)
The nonleather trim 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.