Lexus IS300 2003 Basic Functions / LEXUS 2003 IS300 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM53439U)

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
348
CHECKING BATTERY CONDITION
Precautions
CAUTION
BATTERY PRECAUTIONS
The battery produces flammable and explosive
hydrogen gas.
Do not cause a spark by contacting the battery
terminals with tools.
 Do not smoke or light a match near the battery.
The electrolyte contains poisonous and corrosive
sulfuric acid.
 Avoid contact with eyes, skin or clothes.
 Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.
 Wear protective safety glasses when working near
the battery.
 Keep children away from the battery.
EMERGENCY MEASURES
 If electrolyte gets in your eyes, flush your eyes with
clean water for at l east 15 minutes and get immediate
medical attention. If possible, continue to apply
water with a sponge or cloth while traveling to the
medical office.
 If electrolyte gets on your skin, thoroughly wash the
contacted area. If you feel a pain or burn, get medical
attention immediately.
 If electrolyte gets on your clothes, there is a
possibility of its soaking through to your skin, so
immediately take off the exposed clothing and follow
the procedure above, if necessary.
 If you accidentally swallow electrolyte, drink a large
quantity of water or milk. Follow with milk of
magnesia, beaten raw egg or vegetable oil. Then go
immediately for emergency help.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
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Checking battery exterior
SV64002

1Terminals 2Hold±down clamp
Check the battery for corroded or loose connections,
cracks, or loose hold±down clamps.
1. If the battery is corroded, wash it off with a solution of warm
water and baking soda. Coat the terminals with grease to
prevent further corrosion.
2. If the connections are loose, tighten the clamp bolts ± but
do not overtighten.
3. Tighten the hold±down clamp only enough to keep the
battery firmly in place. Overtightening may damage the battery
case.
NOTICE
Make sure the engine and all accessories are turned off before performing maintenance.
When checking the battery, remove the ground cable
first and reinstall it last.
Be careful not to cause a short circuit with tools.
Take care no solution gets into the battery when washing it.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

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Checking battery condition
Checking by indicator
SV64016
Check the battery condition by the indicator color.
1BLUE ± Good condition.
2WHITE ± Charging necessary. Have the battery checked
by your Lexus dealer.
3RED ± Have the battery checked by your Lexus dealer.
NOTICE
Do not refill the battery with water.
BATTERY RECHARGINGPRECAUTIONS
During recharging, the battery is producing hydrogen
gas.
Therefore, before recharging:
1. If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be
sure to disconnect the ground cable.
2. Make sure the power switch on the recharger is off when
connecting the charger cables to the battery and when
disconnecting them.
CAUTION
Always charge the battery in an unconfined area. Do
not charge the battery in a garage or closed room
where there is not sufficient ventilation.
 Only do a slow charge (5 A or less). Charging at a
quicker rate is dangerous. The battery may explode
causing personal injuries.
NOTICE
Never recharge the battery while the engine is running.
Also, be sure all accessories are turned off.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

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CHECKING AND REPLACING THEBLADE TYPE FUSES
SS64009

Driver's side kick panel
SS64012a

Passenger's side kick panel
SV64017

Engine compartment 1Spare fuses 2Pull±out tool
1. Turn the ignition switch off and open the fuse box lid.
Determine which fuse may be causing the problem. The lid of
the fuse box shows the name of the circuit for each fuse.
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64L013
2. Make sure the inoperative component is turned off. Pull
the suspected fuse straight out with the pull±out tool and
check it. If it has blown, push a new fuse into the clips.
64G008

Good
Blown
a. Look carefully at the fuse. If the thin wire is broken, the fuse
has blown. If you are not sure or if it is too dark to see, try
replacing the suspected fuse with one of the same value that
you know is good.
b. Install only a fuse with the amperage rating designated on
the fuse box lid.
If you do not have a spare fuse, in an emergency you can pull
out the ºCIGº, ºRADIO NO.1º or ºOBDº fuse, which may b\
e
dispensable for normal driving, and use it if its amperage rating
is the same.
If you cannot use one of the same amperage, use one lower
than, but as close as possible to, the amperage. If the
amperage is lower than that specified, the fuse might blow out
again but this does not indicate anything wrong. Be sure to get
the correct fuse as soon as possible and return the substitute
to its original clips.
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It is a good idea to purchase a set of spare fuses and keep them
in your vehicle for emergencies.
If the new fuse immediately blows out, there is a problem with
the electrical system. Have your Lexus dealer correct it as
soon as possible.
CAUTION
Never use a fuse with a higher amperage rating, or any
other object, in place of a fuse. This may cause
extensive damage and possibly a fire.
CHECKING THE CARTRIDGE TYPE
FUSES
SV64005

1Good 2Melted
If the headlights or other electrical components do not
work and the blade type fuses are O.K., check the
cartridge type fuses. If any of the cartridge type fuses are
blown, they must be replaced.
If there is an overload in the circuits from the battery, the fuses
are designed to blow before the entire wiring harness is
damaged.
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ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
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CAUTION
Always use a genuine Lexus fuse or equivalent for
replacement. Never install an ordinary wire ± even for
a temporary fix. This may cause extensive damage and
possibly a fire.
NOTICE
Before replacing the fuses, have the cause of electricaloverload determined and repaired by your Lexus dealer.
ADDING WASHER FLUID
SS64013
If the washer tank becomes nearly empty, add washer
fluid.
You may use plain water as washer fluid. However, in cold
areas where temperatures range below the freezing point, use
washer fluid containing antifreeze. This product is available at
your Lexus dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow the
manufacturer's directions for how much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any other substitute because it may damage your vehicle's paint.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

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CHECKING THE HEADLIGHT AIM
SV64027

1Vertical movement adjusting bolt 1
2Vertical movement adjusting bolt 2
Before checking the headlight aim:
1. Be sure that the body around the headlight is not deformed.
2. Park the vehicle on a level spot.
3. The driver gets into the driver's seat and puts the vehicle in
a state readying for a driving (with a full tank).
4. Bounce the vehicle several times.
Adjusting the vertical aiming
SV64051
1. Turn the vertical movement adjusting bolt 1 in either
direction. At this time, keep the turning direction and number
of turns in mind.
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SB64028
2. Turn the vertical movement adjusting bolt 2 the same
number of turns and in the same direction at step 1.
REPLACING LIGHT BULBS
The illustration on the following pages show the locations of
light bulbs. If it is necessary to replace a bulb, take your vehicle
to your Lexus dealer as soon as possible. Use bulbs with the
bulb numbers and wattage ratings given in the table.
CAUTION
 To prevent burning yourself, do not replace the light
bulbs while they are hot.
 Do not disassemble, repair or take apart the low beam
headlight bulbs, connector, power supply circuits
and rotated components. Or you may be injured by
electric shocks. Call your dealer when the headlights
fail to work or have to be replaced or disposed of.
 Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
require special handling. They can burst or shatter if
scratched or dropped. Hold a bulb only by its plastic
or metal case. Do not touch the glass part of a bulb
with bare hands.
NOTICE
Only use a bulb of the listed type.
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The inside of the lens of exterior lights such as headlights may
temporarily
fog up when the lens becomes wet in the rain or in
a car wash. This is not a problem because the fogging is
caused by the temperature dif ference between the outside and
inside of the lens, just like the windshield fogged up in the rain.
However, if there is a large drop of water on the inside of the
lens, or if there is water pooled inside the light, contact your
Lexus dealer. LIGHT LOCATION
SV64032
Light Bulbs
Bulb No. W Type
1Headlights (High beam) HB3 60 A
2Parking lights 168 5 E
3Headlights (Low beam) D2R 35 B
4Front fog lights ±±± 55 D
5Front turn signal lights ±±± 21 I
6Front side marker lights 168 5 E
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)