service Lexus ES350 2008 Owner's Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
4
3-5. Using the storage features .... 250List of storage features.............. 250
• Glove box.................................... 250
• Console box ................................. 251
• Overhead console.................... 253
• Cup holders................................. 254
• Auxiliary box ............................... 256
3-6. Other interior features........... 257 Sun visors......................................... 257
Vanity mirror ................................. 258
Clock ................................................. 259
Ashtray ............................................ 260
Cigarette lighter ............................ 261
Power outlet ................................... 262
Seat heaters and ventilators ..................................... 263
Armrest ............................................ 265
Rear sunshade ............................... 266
Extended trunk............................. 268
Floor mat.......................................... 269
Trunk features................................ 270
Garage door opener.................. 272
Compass.......................................... 277
4-1. Maintenance and care............ 282 Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior................... 282
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ................... 285 4-2. Maintenance............................. 288
Maintenance requirements .... 288
General maintenance ............... 290
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ...................................... 293
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance............................ 294
Do-it-yourself service precautions .................................. 294
Hood................................................. 298
Positioning a floor jack............... 299
Engine compartment................... 301
Tires .................................................... 316
Tire inflation pressure................. 324
Wheels............................................. 328
Air conditioning filter................. 330
Electronic key battery ................ 332
Checking and replacing fuses ................................................ 334
Headlight aim (vehicles with discharge
headlights).................................... 342
Light bulbs ....................................... 343
4Maintenance and care

ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
17
Scrapping of your Lexus
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your Lexus contain explosive
chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbags and seat belt pretensioners left
as they are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be sure to have the systems of
the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner removed and disposed of by a qualified
service shop or by your Lexus dealer before you scrap your vehicle.
Perchlorate Material
Special handling may apply, See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Your vehicle has components that may contain perchlorate. These components may
include airbag, seat belt pretensioners, and wireless remote control batteries.
CAUTION
■General precautions while driving
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehicle. Alcohol
and certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and reduce coordination,
which could lead to an accident that will hurt or kill you, your occupants or others.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other drivers
or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full attention to driving. Anything that distracts
the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a cellular phone or reading can
result in a collision with resulting death or serious injury to you, your occupants or
others.
■General precaution regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to have or
use the key.
When left unattended, children may be able to start the vehicle or shift the vehicle
into neutral. There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing
with the cigarette lighter, the windows, the moon roof, or other features of the vehi-
cle. In addition, heat build-up or extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can
be fatal to children.

167
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving the
vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the
prevailing weather conditions.
■Pre-winter preparations
●Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tempera-
tures.
• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Washer fluid
● Have a service technician inspect the level and specific gravity of
battery electrolyte.
● Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of
tire chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match
the size of the tires.
●Tire inflation pressure falls in winter as the outside temperature
falls. Add 2.9 to 4.3 psi (20 to 30 kPa, 0.2 to 0.3 kgf/cm2 or bar)
to the standard tire inflation pressure.

175
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
■Before towing
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. (→P. 3 2 4 )
●Trailer tires should be inflated according to the trailer manufacturer's recom-
mendation.
●All trailer lights work to be legal.
●Confirm all lights work each time you connect them.
●Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded trailer is
hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle is not level, and check for improper tongue
load, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
●Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for towing
purposes.
■Break-in schedule
Lexus recommends that you do not use a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new
power train components (engine, transmission, differential, wheel bearings, etc.) to
tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (800 km) of driving.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due to
the additional load. (See “Warranty and Services Guide/Owner's Manual Sup-
plement/ Scheduled Maintenance”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●The total trailer weight (trailer weight plus the weight of cargo) must not exceed
1000 lb. (450 kg).
●Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue load capacities.
●Never load more weight in the back than in the front of the trailer. About 60% of
the load should be in the front half of the trailer, and the remaining 40% in the
rear.

196
3-2. Using the audio system
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■When the battery is disconnected
Stations presets are erased.
■Reception sensitivity
●Maintaining perfect radio reception at all times is difficult due to the continually
changing position of the antenna, differences in signal strength and surrounding
objects, such as trains, transmitters, etc.
●The radio antenna is mounted inside the rear window. To maintain clear radio
reception, do not attach metallic window tinting or other metallic objects to the
antenna wire mounted inside the rear window.
■XM® Satellite Radio
An XM
® Satellite Radio is a tuner designed exclusively to receive broadcasts pro-
vided under a separate subscription. Availability is limited to the 48 contiguous
states and 10 Canadian provinces.
●XM® subscriptions
For detailed information about XM® Satellite Radio or to subscribe:
U.S.A. 
Visit on the web at www.xmradio.com
or call 1-877-515-3987.
Canada 
Visit on the web at www.xmradio.ca
or call 1-877-438-9677.
●Radio ID
You will need the radio ID when activating XM
® service or reporting a prob-
lem. Select “CH000” using , and the receiver's 8-character ID number
will appear.
●Satellite tuner
The tuner supports only Audio Services (Music and Talk) and the accompany-
ing Text Information of XM
® Satellite Radio.
*: Terms and services provided by XM® Satellite Radio are subject to change with-
out notice.

219
3
Interior features
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
3-3. Using the hands-free phone system (for cellular phone)
Hands-free phone system features (for cellular phone) (if equipped)
■Conditions affecting operation
The hands-free phone system may not operate normally in the following situations:
●The cellular phone is turned off, or located outside the service area.
●The cellular phone has a low battery.
●The cellular phone is not connected to the system.
●The cellular phone is behind the seat or in the glove box, or metal material cov-
ers or touches the phone.
■When transferring ownership of the vehicle
Be sure to initialize the system to prevent the personal data from being improperly
accessed.
■Required profiles for the cellular phone
●HFP (Hands Free Profile) Ver. 1.0
●OPP (Object Push Profile) Ver. 1.1
■Trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG. Inc.
This system supports Bluetooth®, which allows you to make or receive calls
without using cables to connect a cellular phone and the system, and with-
out operating the cellular phone.
TitlePa g e
Using the hands-free phone system (for cellular
phone)P. 222
Making a phone callP. 2 3 0
Setting a cellular phoneP. 2 3 4
Security and system setupP. 2 3 8
Using the phone bookP. 2 4 1

Maintenance and care4
281
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
4-1. Maintenance and care ............................... 282
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior............ 282
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ............. 285
4-2. Maintenance .................. 288 Maintenance requirements ....................... 288
General maintenance .......... 290
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs
................................. 293
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance ................ 294
Do-it-yourself service precautions ........................... 294
Hood ......................................... 298
Positioning a floor jack ......... 299
Engine compartment ............. 301
Tires ............................................. 316
Tire inflation pressure ........... 324
Wheels ..................................... 328
Air conditioning filter........... 330
Electronic key battery ......... 332
Checking and replacing fuses......................................... 334 Headlight aim (vehicles with
discharge headlights) ........ 342
Light bulbs................................ 343

288
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements
■Repair and replacement
It is recommended that genuine Lexus parts be used for repair to ensure perfor-
mance 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.
To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and regular main-
tenance is essential. It is the owner’s responsibility to perform regular
checks. Lexus recommends the following 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 performed at specified intervals according to the mainte-
nance schedule.
For details about maintenance items and schedules, refer to the “War-
ranty and Services Guide/Owner’s Manual Supplement/Scheduled
Maintenance”.
■Do-it-yourself maintenance
You can perform some maintenance procedures yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-yourself maintenance may affect war-
ranty coverage.
The use of Lexus Repair Manuals is recommended.
For details about warranty coverage, see the separate “Owner’s Guide”,
“Warranty and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supplement” or
“Warranty Booklet”.

289
4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
■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 service information. They are well informed about the operations of all
systems on your vehicle.
●Keep a copy of the repair order. It proves that the maintenance that has been
performed is under warranty coverage. If any problem should arise while your
vehicle is under warranty, your Lexus dealer will promptly take care of it.
CAUTION
■Warning in handling of battery
●Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and a wide variety of automobile com-
ponents contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause can-
cer and birth defects and other reproductive harm. Work in a well ventilated area.
●Oils, fuels and fluids contained in vehicles as well as waste produced by compo-
nent 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.
●Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead com-
pounds which are known to cause brain damage. Wash your hands after han-
dling. (→P. 3 1 2 )

290
4-2. Maintenance
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
General maintenance
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
BatteryMaintenance-free. (→P. 3 1 2 )
Brake fluidAt the correct level? ( →P. 3 0 9 )
Engine coolantAt the correct level? ( →P. 3 0 7 )
Engine oilAt the correct level? ( →P. 303)
Exhaust systemNo fumes or strange sounds?
Power steering fluidAt the correct level? ( →P. 3 1 0 )
Radiator/condenser/hosesNot blocked with foreign matter?
(→ P. 3 0 9 )
Washer fluidAt the correct level? ( →P. 3 1 5 )
Listed below are the general maintenance items that should be performed
at the intervals specified in the “Warranty and Service Guide” or “Owners
Manual Supplement”. It is recommended that any problem you notice
should be brought to the attention of your Lexus dealer or qualified service
shop for advice.