maintenance LEXUS RX450h 2016 User Guide

396 4-6. Driving tips
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G ■
Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury
or damage to your vehicle: ●
Drive carefully when off the road. Do not ta ke unnecessary risks by driving in danger-
ous places. ●
Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump could jerk
the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and especially your thumbs on the
outside of the rim. ●
Always check your brakes for effectivenes s immediately after driving in sand, mud,
water or snow. ●
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that there is no
grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the underbody.
Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materi-
als trapped or adhering to the underb ody, a breakdown or fire could occur.●
When driving off-road or in rugged terrai n, do not drive at excessive speeds, jump,
make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive damage to your vehi-
cle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE ■
To prevent water damage
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the hybrid battery
(traction battery), hybrid system or other components does not occur. ●
Water entering the engine compartment may cause severe damage to the hybrid
system. Water entering the interior may cause the hybrid battery (traction battery)
stowed under the rear seats to short circuit. ●
Water entering the hybrid transmission and rear electric motor (traction motor)
(AWD models only) will cause deterioration in transmission qua lity. The malfunction
indicator may come on, and the vehicle may not be drivable. ●
Water can wash the grease from wheel be arings, causing rusting and premature fail-
ure, and may also enter the hybrid transmission case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricat-
ing qualities. ■
When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check the depth of
the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and avoid deep
water. ■
Inspection after off-road driving ●
Sand and mud that has accumulated around brake discs may affect braking efficiency
and may damage brake system components. ●
Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off-road driving that has
taken you through rough terr ain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance
information, refer to the “Warranty and Services Guide/Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment/Scheduled Maintenance”.

457
6Maintenance and care
RX450h_U_OM0E013U 6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior ................ 458
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior .................. 462
6-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements .............................465
General maintenance .............. 467
Emission inspection and
maintenance (I/M)
programs .................................... 470 6-3. Do-it-yourself
maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions .................................. 471
Hood ................................................473
Positioning a floor jack .............. 474
Engine compartment ............... 475
12-volt battery..............................483
Tires .................................................. 487
Tire inflation pressure ............... 496
Wheels ........................................... 499
Air conditioning filter ................ 501
Windshield wiper inserts ........504
Electronic key battery ..............506
Checking and replacing
fuses ............................................. 508
Headlight aim ................................. 511
Light bulbs...................................... 513

458
RX450h_U_OM0E013U 6-1. Maintenance and care
●
Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the vehicle body, wheel
wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any dirt and dust. ●
Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a chamois. ●
For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughly with
water. ●
Wipe away any water. ●
Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates. If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehicle body is cool. ■
Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coating that is resistant to small surface scratches
caused in a car wash etc. ●
The coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from when the vehicle is delivered from the plant.●
The restoration time differs depending on the depth of the scratch and outside temper-
ature. The restoration time may become shor ter when the coating is warmed by apply-
ing warm water. ●
Deep scratches caused by keys, coins, etc. cannot be restored.●
Do not use wax that contain abrasives. ■
Automatic car washes ●
Before washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door
Start washing from the front of the vehicle. Extend the mirrors before driving. ●
Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and harm your
vehicle’s paint. ●
Rear spoiler may not be washable in some automatic car washes. There may also be an
increased risk of damage to vehicle. ■
High pressure car washes ●
Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity of the windows. ●
Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is closed prop-
erly.Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior Perform the following to protect the ve hicle and maintain it in prime condi-
tion:

4596-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
RX450h_U_OM0E013U ■
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 insi de 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 mode to disable the smart access system with
push-button start. (  P. 1 5 9 )■
Aluminum 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 as used on the paint. ●
Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after driving for
long distance in the hot weather. ●
Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use. ■
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, da mp 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.

460 6-1. Maintenance and care
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G ■
When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the en gine 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 sensor 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 body 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 “AUTO”, 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

4616-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
RX450h_U_OM0E013U NOTICE ■
To prevent paint deterioration and corrosio n on the body and components (aluminum
wheels etc.) ●
Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the paint surface
• 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 gaso line are spilled on the paint surface●
If the paint is chipped or scratche d, have it repaired immediately.●
To prevent the wheels from corroding, remo ve any dirt and store in a place with low
humidity when storing the wheels. ■
Cleaning the exterior lights ●
Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the su rfaces 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 fr om 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 shown in the illustration,
as high pressure water may damage the oil
cooler.

462 6-1. Maintenance and care
RX450h_U_OM0E013U Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces with a cloth
dampened with lukewarm 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 cloth and thoroughly wipe off all remain-
ing traces of detergent. ●
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and ventilated area. ●
Remove loose dirt using a vacuum cleaner. ●
Apply a mild soap solution to the synthe tic leather using a sponge or soft cloth.●
Allow the solution to soak in for a few minutes. Remove the dirt and wipe off
the solution with a clean, damp cloth.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
Cleaning the leather areas
Cleaning the synthetic leather areas

4636-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
RX450h_U_OM0E013U ■
Caring for leather areas
Lexus recommends cleaning the interior of th e vehicle at least twice a year 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 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 using a cloth or sponge. Also check the belts
periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
WA R N I N G ■
Wa t e r i n t h e v e h i c l e ●
Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle, such as on the floor, in the hybrid battery
(traction battery) air vents, and in the luggage compartment.
Doing so may cause the hybrid battery, electrical components, etc. to malfunction or
catch fire. ●
Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior wet. (  P. 4 0 )
An electrical malfunction may cause the airb ags to deploy or not function properly,
resulting in death or serious injury. ●
Vehicles with wireless charger:
Do not let the wireless charger (  P. 434) 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. The instrument panel may reflect off the wind-
shield, obstructing the driver’s view and leading to an accident, resulting in death or
serious injury.

464 6-1. Maintenance and care
RX450h_U_OM0E013U NOTICE ■
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 such as benzene or gasoline, alkaline or
acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, su ch as thinner, benzene, and alcohol●
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel’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 water comes into contact
with electrical components such as the au dio system above or under the floor of the
vehicle. Water may also cause the body to rust. ■
When cleaning the inside of the windshie ld (vehicles with Lexus Safety System+)
Do not allow glass cleaner to contact the lens. Also, do not touch the lens.
(  P. 292, 302) ■
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 cl ean. Wipe the window in strokes running
parallel to the heater wires or antenna. ●
Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or antenna.

465
RX450h_U_OM0E013U 6
Maintenance and care 6-2. 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 in tervals 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 maintenance procedures by yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-yourself maintenance may affect warranty coverage. The use of Lexus repair manuals is recommended.
For details about warranty coverage, refer to the 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