brake fluid LEXUS RC300 2020 Owners Manual

14Pictorial index
Parking brake...........................................................................................................P.135
Applying/releasing ........................................................................................................... P.135
Precautions for winter season .. .................................................................................... P.199
Warning buzzer/message............................................................................................ P.292
Headlight switch ..................................................................................................... P.137
Turn signal lever ...................................................................................................... P.134
Headlights/parking lights/tail lights/daytime running lights ............................P.137
Windshield wiper and washer switch ................................................................ P.142
Usage.......................................................................................................................... .............P.142
Adding washer fluid ......................................................................................................... P.2 56
Warning messages .......................................................................................................... P.292
Headlight cleaners
*1..........................................................................................................P.142
Emergency flasher switch ................................................................................... P.276
Trunk opener switch................................................................................................ P.90
Hood lock release lever ....................................................................................... P.247
Tilt and telescopic steering control switch
*1................................................... P.106
Adjustment ..................................................................................................................... ...... P.106
Driving position memory
*1............................................................................................. P.100
Tilt and telescopic steeri ng lock release lever
*1............................................ P.106
Adjustment ..................................................................................................................... ...... P.106
Air conditioning system .......................................................................................P.207
Usage.......................................................................................................................... ........... P.207
Rear window defogger...................................................................................................... P.211
Audio system
*2
Trunk opener main switch ......................................................................................P.92
*1: If equipped
*2: Refer to “NAVIGATION AND MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL”.
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M
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1214-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Cargo capacity depends on the total
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The com-
bined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX
lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from XXX
kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 - 750
(5  150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and lug-
NOTICE
●RC300: Make sure to idle the engine
immediately after high-load driving.
Stop the engine only after the turbo-
charger has cooled down.
Failure to do so may cause damage to
the turbocharger.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged ti re may cause the fol-
lowing situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the
brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehi-
cle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat
tire (
P.296)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded
after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause
the following serious damage to the vehi-
cle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water
immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded
road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure
to have your Lexus dealer check the fol-
lowing:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil
and fluid used for the engine, transmis-
sion, transfer (AWD models), differen-
tial, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the propeller
shaft, bearings and suspension joints
(where possible), and the function of
all joints, bearings, etc.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions,
cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution

2416-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Maintenance”. (To confirm setting,
press .)
3
Select “Yes” and then press .
4
A message will be displayed on the
multi-information display when the
reset procedure has been completed.
You can perform some maintenance
procedures by yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-yourself
maintenance may affect warranty cov-
erage.
The use of Lexus repair manuals is recom-
mended.
For details about warranty coverage, refer
to the separate “Owner’s Guide”, “War-
ranty and Service Guide”, “Owner’s Man-
ual Supplement” or “Warranty Booklet”.
Do-it-yourself maintenance
General maintenance
Listed below are the general main-
tenance items that should be per-
formed at the intervals specified in
the “Warranty and Service Guide”
or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.
It is recommended that any prob-
lem you notice should be brought to
the attention of your Lexus dealer
or qualified service shop for advice.
WARNING
■If the engine is running
Turn the engine off and ensure that there
is adequate ventilati on before perform-
ing maintenance checks.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
Battery
Check the indicator (if
equipped) and con-
nections. ( P.255)
Brake fluid
Is the brake fluid at the
correct level?
( P.254)
Engine/inter-
cooler coolant
Is the engine/inter-
cooler coolant at the
correct level?
( P.252)
Engine oil
Is the engine oil at the
correct level?
( P.250)
Exhaust system
There should not be
any fumes or strange
sounds.

2426-2. Maintenance
Radiator, con-
denser and inter-
cooler radiator
The radiator, con-
denser and inter-
cooler radiator should
be free from foreign
objects. (P.254)
Washer fluid
Is there sufficient
washer fluid?
( P.256)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator
pedal
• The accelerator
pedal should move
smoothly (without
uneven pedal effort
or catching).
Automatic trans-
mission “Park”
mechanism
•When parked on a slope and the shift
lever is in P, is the
vehicle securely
stopped?
Brake pedal
• Does the brake pedal move
smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have appro-
priate clearance
from the floor?
• Does the brake pedal have the cor-
rect amount of free
play?
ItemsCheck points
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 not get too
close to the floor
when the brakes are
applied.
Head restraints
•Do the head restraints move
smoothly and lock
securely?
Indicators/buzz-
ers•Do the indicators and buzzers function
properly?
Lights• Do all the lights come on?
Parking brake
• Does the parking brake pedal move
smoothly?
• When parked on a slope and the park-
ing brake is on, is the
vehicle securely
stopped?
Seat belts
• Do the seat belts operate smoothly?
• The seat belts should not be damaged.
ItemsCheck points

2456-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
6-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service pre-
cautions
If you perform maintenance by
yourself, be sure to follow the cor-
rect procedure as given in these
sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition
( P.255)
•Warm water
• Baking soda
•Grease
• Conventional
wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level
( P.254)
• SAE J1703 or
FMVSS No.116 DOT
3 brake fluid
• SAE J1704 or FMVSS No.116 DOT
4 brake fluid
•Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine/inter-
cooler coolant
level( P.252)
•“Toyota Super Long
Life Coolant” or a
similar high quality
ethylene gly-
col-based non-sili-
cate, non-amine,
non-nitrite and
non-borate coolant
with long-life hybrid
organic acid tech-
nology
• For the U.S.A.:“Toy- ota Super Long Life
Coolant” is
pre-mixed with 50%
coolant and 50%
deionized water.
•For Canada:“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is
pre-mixed with 55%
coolant and 45%
deionized water.
•Funnel (used only for adding coolant)
Engine oil level
( P.250)
•“Toyota Genuine
Motor Oil” or equiv-
alent
• Rag or paper towel
•Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses ( P.269)
•Fuse with same
amperage rating as
original
ItemsParts and tools

2496-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 AWDFuse boxes ( P.269)
Battery ( P.255)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.250)
Engine coolant reservoir ( P.252)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.250)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.254)
Washer fluid tank ( P.256)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( P.254)
Radiator ( P.254)
Engine compartment
Components
A
B
C
D
E
F
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2506-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RC300Fuse boxes ( P.269)
Battery ( P.255)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.250)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.250)
Engine coolant reservoir ( P.252)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.254)
Washer fluid tank ( P.256)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( P.254)
Intercooler radiator ( P.254)
Radiator ( P.254)
Intercooler coolant reservoir ( P.252)
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level
on the dipstick.
■Checking the engine oil
1 Park the vehicle on level ground.
After warming up the engine and
turning it off, wait more than 5 min-
utes for the oil to drain back into the
bottom of the engine.
A
B
C
D
E
F
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Checking and adding the engine
oil

2546-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Check the radiator, condenser and
intercooler radiator and clear away
any foreign objects.
If any of the above parts are extremely
dirty or you are not sure of their condi-
tion, have your vehicle inspected by
your Lexus dealer.
■Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN” lines
on the tank.
RC350/RC300 AWD
RC300
■Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid type and
prepare the necessary item.
 Fluid type
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
brake fluid
SAE J1704 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 4
brake fluid
Item
Clean funnel
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not remove the engine coolant reser-
voir cap, intercooler coolant reservoir
cap and coolant inlet cap. ( P.314)
The cooling system may be under pres-
sure and may spray hot coolant if the cap
is removed, causing serious injuries, such
as burns.
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor
straight antifreeze. The correct mixture
of water and antifreeze must be used to
provide proper lubrication, corrosion
protection and cooling. Be sure to read
the antifreeze or coolant label.
■If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to pre-
vent it from damagi ng parts or paint.
Checking the radiator, con-
denser and intercooler radiator
(if equipped)
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator, condenser or
intercooler radiator as they may be hot
and cause serious injuries, such as burns.
Checking and adding the brake
fluid

2556-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from
the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause
a dangerous loss of braking efficiency. Use
only newly opened brake fluid.
Check the battery as follows.
■Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery terminals
are not corroded and that there are no
loose connections, cracks, or loose
clamps. Terminals
Hold-down clamp
■Before recharging
When recharging, the battery produces
hydrogen gas which is flammable and
explosive. Therefore, observe the following
before recharging:
●If recharging with the battery installed on
the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the
ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on the char-
ger is off when connecting and discon-
necting the charger cables to the battery.
■After recharging/reconnecting the bat-
tery
The engine may not start. Follow the proce-
dure below to initialize the system.
1
Shift the shift lever to P.
2
Open and close either door.
3
Restart the engine.
●Unlocking the doors using the smart
access system with pu sh-button start may
not be possible immediately after recon-
necting the battery. If this happens, use
the wireless remote control or the
mechanical key to lock/unlock the doors.
●Start the engine with the engine switch in
ACCESSORY mode. The engine may
not start with the engine switch turned off.
However, the engine will operate nor-
mally from the second attempt.
●The engine switch mode is recorded by
the vehicle. If the battery is disconnected
and reconnected, the vehicle will return
the engine switch mode to the status it
was in before the battery was discon-
nected. Make sure to turn off the engine
before disconnecting the battery. Take
extra care when connecting the battery if
the engine switch mode prior to the bat-
tery being disconnected is unknown.
If the system will not start even after multi-
ple attempts, contact your Lexus dealer.
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm your
hands and eyes and damage painted sur-
faces.If fluid gets on your hands or in your
eyes, flush the affected area with clean
water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a
doctor.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go
down slightly as the brake pads wear out
or when the fluid level in the accumulator
is high.
If the reservoir need s frequent refilling,
there may be a serious problem.
Battery
A
B

2827-2. Steps to take in an emergency
4Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut wrench
or hard metal bar.
5 Securely attach cables or chains to
the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehi-
cle body.
6 Enter the vehicle being towed and
start the engine.
If the engine does not start, turn the
engine switch to IGNITION ON
mode.
7 Shift the shift lever to N and release
the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be
shifted: P.130
■While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist
for the brakes and steering will not function,
making steering and braking more difficult.
■Wheel nut wrench
Wheel nut wrench is installed in trunk.
(  P.296)
 Fluid leaks under the vehicle.
(Water dripping from the air condi-
tioning after use is normal.)
 Flat-looking tires or uneven tire
wear
 Engine coolant temperature gauge
continually points higher than nor-
mal.
 Changes in exhaust sound
 Excessive tire squeal when corner-
ing
 Strange noises related to the sus-
pension system
 Pinging or other noises related to
the engine
 Engine missing, stumbling or run-
ning roughly
 Appreciable loss of power
 Vehicle pulls heavily to one side
when braking
If you think something is
wrong
If you notice any of the following
symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Con-
tact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms