LEXUS RX450h 2018 Owners Manual

5817-1. Maintenance and care
7
Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Note for a smart access system with push-button start ●
If the door handle becomes wet while the el ectronic key is within the effective range,
the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or more
separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being washed. (Take care to ensure that
the key is not stolen.) ●
If the electronic key is inside the vehicle and a door handle becomes wet during a car
wash, a buzzer will sound outside the vehicle. To turn off the alarm, lock all the doors.●
Set the electronic key to battery-saving mo de to disable the sm art access system with
push-button start. ( → P. 159)■
Aluminum wheels ●
Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. ●
Wash detergent off with water immediately after use. ●
To protect the paint from damage, make sure to observe the following precautions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such as after driving or park-
ing in hot weather■
Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners. ■
Front side windows water-repellent coating ●
The following precautions can extend the effectiveness of the water-repellent coating.
• Remove any dirt, etc. from the front side windows regularly.
• Do not allow dirt and dust to accumulate on the windows for a long period.
Clean the windows with a soft, damp cloth as soon as possible.
• Do not use wax or glass cleaners that co ntain abrasives when cleaning the windows.
• Do not use any metallic objects to remove condensation build up.●
When the water-repellent performance has become insufficient, the coating can be
repaired. Contact your Lexus dealer.

582 7-1. Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWARNING ■
When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may cause the
electrical components, etc. to catch fire. ■
When cleaning the windshield
●
When the upper part of the windshield where the raindrop se nsor is located is
touched by hand ●
When a wet rag or similar is held close to the raindrop sensor ●
If something bumps against the windshield ●
If you directly touch the raindrop sensor bo dy or if something bumps into the raindrop
sensor ■
Precautions regarding the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe until it has cooled suffi-
ciently, as touching a hot exhaust pipe can cause burns. ■
Precautions regarding the rear bumper with Blind Spot Monitor
If the paint of the rear bumper is chipped or scratched, the syst em may malfunction. If
this occurs, consult your Lexus dealer.Set the wiper switch to off.
If the switch is in “AUT O”, the wipers may oper-
ate unexpectedly in the following situations,
and may result in hands being caught or other
serious injuries and cause damage to the wiper
blades.
Off

5837-1. Maintenance and care
7
Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UNOTICE ■
To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body and components (aluminum
wheels, etc.) ●
Wash the vehicle immediatel y in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If you see coal tar or tree sap on the paint surface
• If you see dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings on the paint
• After driving in an area contaminated wi th soot, oily smoke, mine dust, iron pow-
der or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoli ne are spilled on the paint surface●
If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately. ●
To prevent the wheels from corroding, remove any dirt and store in a place with low
humidity when storing the wheels. ■
Cleaning the exterior lights ●
Wash carefully. Do not use organic subs tances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the lights.●
Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses. ■
When using an automatic car wash
Set the wiper switch to the off position.
If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wipers may operate and the wiper blades may be
damaged. ■
When using a high pressure car wash ●
When washing the vehicle, do not let water of the high pressure washer hit directly or
the vicinity of the camera. Due to the shock from the high pressure water, it is possible
the device may not operate as normal. ●
Do not bring the nozzle tip close to boots (rubber or resin manufactured cover), con-
nectors or the following parts. The parts may be damaged if they come into contact
with high-pressure water.
• Traction related parts
• Steering parts
• Suspension parts
•Brake parts ●
Do not point the nozzle of a high pressure
washer at the areas sh own in the illustration,
as high pressure water may damage the oil
cooler.

584 7-1. Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U●
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces with a cloth
dampened with lukewarm water. ●
If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it off with a soft cloth dampened with neutral
detergent diluted to approximately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from the clot h and thoroughly wipe off remaining
traces of detergent and water. ●
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. ●
Wipe off any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened with diluted
detergent. Use a diluted water solution of appr oximately 5% neutral wool detergent.●
Wring out any excess water from the clot h and thoroughly wipe off all remain-
ing traces of detergent. ●
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cl oth to remove any remaining moisture.
Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and ventilated area. ●
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. ●
Wipe it off with a soft cloth dampened with neutral detergent diluted to
approximately 1%. ●
Wring out any excess water from the clot h and thoroughly wipe off remaining
traces of detergent and water.Cleaning and protect ing the vehicle interiorThe following procedures will help prot ect your vehicle’s interior and keep it
in top condition:
Protecting the vehicle interior
Cleaning the leather areas
Cleaning the synthetic leather areas

5857-1. Maintenance and care
7
Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Caring for leather areas
Lexus recommends cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a year to maintain
the quality of the vehicle’s interior. ■
Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cl eaners available. Use a sponge or brush to
apply the foam. Rub in overlapp ing circles. Do not use water. Wipe dirty surfaces and let
them dry. Excellent results are obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possible.■
Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water us ing a cloth or sponge. Also check the belts
periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
WARNING ■
Water in the vehicle ●
Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle, su ch as on the floor, in the hybrid battery
(traction battery) air vents, and in the luggage compartment.
Doing so may cause the hybrid battery, elec trical components, etc. to malfunction or
catch fire. ●
Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior wet. ( → P. 38)
An electrical malfunction ma y cause the airbags to deploy or not function properly,
resulting in death or serious injury. ●
Vehicles with wireless charger:
Do not let the wireless charger ( → P. 549) get wet. Failure to do so may cause the
charger to become hot and cause burns or could cause electric shock resulting in
death or serious injury. ■
Cleaning the interior (especially instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. Th e instrument panel may reflect off the wind-
shield, obstructing the driver’s view and le ading to an accident, resulting in death or
serious injury.

586 7-1. Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UNOTICE ■
Cleaning detergents ●
Do not use the following types of detergent, as they may discolor the vehicle interior
or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:
• Non-seat portions: Organic substances su ch as benzene or gasoline, alkaline or
acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
• Seats: Alkaline or ac idic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alcohol●
Do not use polish wax or polis h cleaner. The instrument pane l’s or other interior part’s
painted surface may be damaged. ■
Preventing damage to leather surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid damage to and deterioration of leather
surfaces: ●
Remove any dust or dirt from leather surfaces immediately.●
Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Park the
vehicle in the shade, especially during summer. ●
Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or containing wax on the upholstery, as they
may stick to the leather su rface if the vehicle interior heats up significantly.■
Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system ma y be damaged if wate r comes into contact
with electrical components such as the au dio system above or un der the floor of the
vehicle. Water may also cause the body to rust. ■
When cleaning the inside of the windshield
Do not allow glass cleaner to contact the lens. Also, do not touch the lens.
( → P. 281) ■
Cleaning the inside of the rear window ●
Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause damage to the
rear window defogger heater wires or antenna. Use a cloth dampened with luke-
warm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe th e window in strokes running
parallel to the heater wires or antenna. ●
Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or antenna.

587
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U 7
Maintenance and care 7-2. Maintenance
General maintenance should be performed on a daily basis. This can be done by
yourself or by a Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance should be perfor med at specified intervals according to
the maintenance schedule. For details about maintenance items and sc hedules, refer to the “Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supplement” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.
You can perform some maintena nce procedures by yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-yourself ma intenance may affect warranty coverage.The use of Lexus repair manuals is recommended.
For details about warranty co verage, refer to th e separate “Owner’s Guide”, “War-
ranty and Service Guide”, “Owner’s Manu al Supplement” or “Warranty Booklet”.Maintenance requirements To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and regular mainte-
nance are essential. It is the owner’s re sponsibility to perform regular checks.
Lexus recommends the following maintenance:
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance
Do-it-yourself maintenance

588 7-2. Maintenance
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Repair and replacement
It is recommended that genuine Lexus parts be used for repairs to ensure performance
of each system. If non-Lexus parts are used in replacement or if a repair shop other than
a Lexus dealer performs repairs, confirm the warranty coverage.■
Resetting the message indicating main tenance is required (U.S.A. only)
After the required maintenanc e is preformed according to the maintenance schedule,
please reset the message.
To reset the message, follow the procedures described below:
Select on the multi-information display.( → P. 108)
Press or of the meter control swit ch, select the “Scheduled Maintenance”
screen and then press and hold the .
Select the “Yes” and push .
A message will be displayed on the multi- information display when the reset proce-
dure has been completed. ■
Allow inspection and repairs to be performed by a Lexus dealer●
Lexus technicians are well-trained specialists and are kept up to date with the latest ser-
vice information. They are well informed about the operat ion of all systems on your
vehicle. ●
Keep a copy of the repair order. It proves that the maintenance that has been per-
formed is under warranty co verage. If any problem should arise while your vehicle is
under warranty, your Lexus dealer will promptly take care of it.
WARNING ■
If your vehicle is not properly maintained
Improper maintenance could result in seriou s damage to the vehicle and possible seri-
ous injury or death. ■
Handling of the 12-volt battery ●
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and a wide variety of automobile compo-
nents contain or emit chemicals known to th e State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects and other reproductive ha rm. Work in a well ventilated area.●
Oils, fuels and fluids contained in vehicles as well as waste produced by component
wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm. Avoid exposure and wash any affected area
immediately. ●
12-volt battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead com-
pounds which are known to cause brain damage. Wash your hands after handling.
( → P. 605) 1
2
3
4

5897-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UGeneral maintenance Listed below are the general maintenanc e items that should be performed at
the intervals specified in the “Warranty and Service Guide” or “Owner’s
Manual Supplement”. It is recommende d that any problem you notice should
be brought to the attention of your Lexu s dealer or qualified service shop for
advice.
Engine compartment Items Check points
Brake fluid Is the brake fluid at the correct level? ( → P. 603)
Engine/power control unit
coolant Is the engine/power control unit coolant at the correct
level?( → P. 601)
Engine oil Is the engine oil at the correct level?( → P. 598)
Exhaust system There should not be any fumes or strange sounds.
Radiator/condenser The radiator and condenser should be free from
foreign objects. ( → P. 602)
Washer fluid Is there sufficient washer fluid?( → P. 604)
Luggage compartment Items Check points
12-volt battery Check the connections. ( → P. 605)

590 7-2. Maintenance
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U* : Vehicles with sing le-beam headlightsVehicle interior Items Check points
Accelerator pedal • The accelerator pedal sh ould move smoothly (with-
out uneven pedal effort or catching).
Brake pedal • Does the brake pedal move smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have appropriate clearance
from the floor? ( → P. 716)
• Does the brake pedal have the correct amount of
free play? ( → P. 716)
Brakes • The vehicle should not pull to one side when the
brakes are applied.
• The brakes should work effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel spongy.
• The brake pedal should no t get too close to the floor
when the brakes are applied.
Head restraints • Do the head restraints move smoothly and lock
securely?
Hybrid transmission “Park”
mechanism • When parked on a slope and the shift lever is in P, is
the vehicle securely stopped?
Indicators/buzzers • Do the indicators and buzzers function properly?
Lights • Do all the lights come on?
• Are the headlights aimed correctly?
* ( → P. 635)
Parking brake • Does the parking brake switch operate normally?
• When parked on a slope and the parking brake is on,
is the vehicle securely stopped?
Seat belts • Do the seat belts operate smoothly?
• The seat belts should not be damaged.
Seats • Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel • Does the steering wheel rotate smoothly?
• Does the steering wheel have the correct amount of
free play?
• There should not be any strange sounds coming
from the steering wheel.