LEXUS LS430 2006 Owners Manual

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4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
■To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body
●Wash the car immediately 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 or in sect dr
oppings on the paint
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust, iron po
wder or chemical substances.
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled in dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
●If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately
■Wheels
Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use hard brushes
or

abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical cleaners. Use the same
mild detergent and wax as used on the point.
■Plastic bumpers and side moldings
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
■Windshield and front door glass water-repellent coating
The following precautions can extend the e
ffectiveness of the water-repellent coat-
ing.
• Remove any dirt, etc. from the windshield 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 cont
ain abrasires when cleaning the win-
dows.
• Do not use any metallic objects to remove condensation build up.

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4-1. Maintenance and care
CAUTION
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.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the antenna
Remove the antenna before driving through an automatic car wash.
■To protect your vehicle’s painted surfaces
Do not use organic cleaners su ch
as benzene or gasoline.
■Cleaning the exterior lights
Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub the exterior light a hard
br

ush. This may damage the surfaces of the lights.

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4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior
The following procedures will help protect your vehicle’s interior and keep it
in top condition.
■Protecting the vehicle interior
Remove dirt and dust using a vacu um cleaner and wipe dir
ty surfaces
with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water.
■ Cleaning the leather seats
• Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
• Wipe any excess dirt and dust wi th a sof
t cloth dampened with
diluted detergent. 
Use a diluted water soluti on of appr
oximately 5% neutral detergent
for wool.
• Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off all r
emaining traces of detergent.
• Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to r
emove any remaining
moisture. Allow the leather to dry in a ventilated and shaded area.
■ S
ynthetic leather areas
First vacuum over the upholstery to r
emove loose dirt. Then, using a
sponge or soft cloth, apply a mild so ap solution to the synthetic leather. 
After allowing it to soak in for a few minutes to loosen the dir
t, remove
the dirt and wipe off the soap with a clean damp cloth.

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4-1. Maintenance and care
■Cleaning the inside of the rear window
Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause damage to the
r
ear window defogger heater wires. Use a cloth dampened with lukewarm water to
gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the window in strokes running parallel to the
heater wires.
■Caring for leather seats
Lexus recommends regularly cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a
y
ear to maintain the quality of the vehicle’s interior.
■Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available.
Use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not apply
w
ater. The best results are obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possible.
■Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also check the
belts for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
CAUTION
■Water in the vehicle
Be careful not to splash water or spill liquid on the floor.
Do not get any of the safety system and co ntr
ol units, such as SRS airbags, in the
vehicle interior wet. 
Electrical malfunction may cause the airbag s to deplo
y or not function properly,
resulting in death or serious injury.

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4-1. Maintenance and care
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Maintenance and care
NOTICE
■Cleaning detergents
Do not use organic substances such as benzine, alcohol, gasoline, or alkaline or
ac
id solutions as they may discolor the ve hicle interior or cause streaks or damage
to painted surfaces.
■Preventing damage to leather surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid d
amage to and deterioration of leather
surfaces.
• Remove any dust or dirt on leather surfaces immediately.
• Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Park th
e vehicle in the shade, especially during summer.
• Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or that contain wax on the upholstery, as the
y may stick to the leather surface if the vehicle interior heats up signifi -
cantly.
■Water on the floor
Do not soak the floor carpet with wa ter
or other liquids when cleaning. 
Vehicle systems such as electrical cont r
ol systems and the audio system may be
damaged if liquids come into contact with them. In addition, water may cause the
body to rust.
■Cleaning the inside of the rear window
Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or connectors.

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4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements
To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and regular mainte-
nance is essential. It is the owner’s re sponsibility
to perform regular checks.
Lexus recommends the following maintenance.
■ General maintenance
Should be performed on a daily basis. This can be done y
ourself or by a
Lexus dealer.
■ Scheduled maintenance
Should be performed at specified in tervals according to the maintenance
schedule.
For details about maintenance items and schedules, refer to the “Owner’s
Manual Supplement/Scheduled Maintenance”.
■ Do-it-yourself maintenance ( P.256)
You can perform some maintenance procedures yourself. 
Please be aware that do-it-yourself maintenance may affect warranty cover -
age.
The use of Lexus Repair Manuals is recommended.
For details about warranty coverage, see separate “Owner’s Guide”,
“
Owner’s Manual Supplement” or “Warranty Booklet”.
Service and repairs not covered in this Owner’s Manual should be per -
formed by a qualified technician using Lexus service and repair publica-
tions.

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4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
■Repair and replacement
It is recommended that genuine Lexus parts be used for repairs to ensure optimum
pe
rformance. If non-Lexus replacement parts are used or if a repair shop other
than a Lexus dealer performs repairs, confirm the warranty coverage.
■Have inspections and repairs performe d by a Lexus dealer whenever possible
●Lexus technicians are well-trained specialists and are kept up to date with the
latest service information. They specialize in the operation of all systems on your
Lexus.
●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 de aler will promptly take care of it.
CAUTION
■Hazardous materials
●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
cance
r 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.273 )
●Used engine oil contains chemicals that have caused cancer in laboratory ani -
mals. Avoid prolonged and repeated contact. Always protect your skin by wash -
ing thoroughly with soap and water.

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4-2. Maintenance
General maintenance
Engine compartment
Listed below are the general maintenance items that should be performed at
the interval specified in the Owner’s 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.
ItemsCheck points
Battery• Maintenance-free. ( P. 2 7 3 )
Brake fluid • At the correct level? ( P. 2 7 0 )
Engine coolant• At the correct level? ( P. 2 6 8 )
Engine oil• At the correct level? ( P. 2 6 3 )
Exhaust system• No fumes or strange sound?
Power steering fluid• At the correct level? ( P. 2 7 2 )
Radiator/condenser/ hoses• Not blocked with foreign matter? ( P. 2 6 9 )
Wa s h e r f l u i d•Sufficient? ( P. 2 7 7 )

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4-2. Maintenance
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Maintenance and care
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal• Moves smoothly
(without uneven pedal effort or catching)?
Automatic transmission
“Park” mechanism• Can hold the vehicle securely on a incline with the selector lever in “P”?
Brake pedal
• Moves smoothly?
• Does it have appropriate clearance and correct amount of free play?
Brakes
• Not pull to one side when applied?
• Loss of brake effectiveness?
• Spongy feeling brake pedal?
• Pedal almost touches floor?
Head restraints• Move smoothly and lock securely?
Indicators/buzzers• Function properly?
Lights• Do all the lights come on?
• Headlights aimed correctly? ( P.311)
Pa r k i n g b r a ke• Moves smoothly?
• Can hold the vehicle securely on a incline?
Seat belts• Does the seat belt system operate smoothly?
• Are the belts undamaged?
Seats• The seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel
• Moves smoothly?
• Has correct free play?
•No strange noise?

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4-2. Maintenance
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Door/trunk• Do they operate smoothly?
• Do the locks work properly?
Engine hood• Does the hood latch and lock work properly?
Fluid leaks• Are there any leaks when the vehicle is parked?
Ti r e
• Is the inflation pressure correct? ( P. 2 8 3 )
• Are tire surfaces worn or damaged? ( P. 2 7 8 )
• Do the tires need to be rotated according to the mainte- nance schedule? ( P. 2 7 8 )
• Are the wheel nuts loose?