maintenance LEXUS RX450h 2018 User Guide

396 4-6. Driving tips
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U [
WARNING ■
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 effectiveness 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 underbody, a breakdown or fire could occur. ●
When driving off-road or in rugged terrain , do not drive at excessive speeds, jump,
make sharp turns, strike obje cts, 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) will
cause deterioration in transmission qualit y. 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 transmissi on case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricat-
ing qualities. ■
When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when cro ssing 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 afte r each day of off-road driving that has
taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance
information, refer to the “Warranty and Services Guide/Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment/Scheduled Maintenance”.

5776-5. Using the other interior features
6
Interior features
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Availability of service ●
Lexus Enform Service Connect is available in the contiguous United States, Washing-
ton D.C., and Alaska. ●
Lexus Enform Service Connect is not availa ble in Puerto Rico, Canada, and the United
States Virgin Islands. ■
Lexus Enform Service Connect Information
Availability of functions of the Lexus Enform Service Connect is dependent on network
reception level. ■
Safety information for Le xus Enform Service Connect
Refer to the safety information for Safety Connect: → P. 575LEXUS Enform Service Connect ∗
∗ : If equippedLexus Enform Service Connect uses embedded telematics hardware to col-
lect and transmit vehicle data that allows Lexus to provide:●
Vehicle Health Report (VHR)
(Safety Recalls, Service Campaigns, Current Vehicle Alerts, Required
Maintenance, and Vehicle Condition Status) ●
Maintenance Notifications ●
Vehicle Alert Notifications
For details about this service and how to register, refer to
http://www.lexus.com/enform/
.
The Lexus Enform Service Connect is achieved by using a Data Communica-
tion Module (DCM) built in the vehicle.

579
7Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior................ 580
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior ................. 584
7-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements.............................587
General maintenance ............. 589
Emission inspection and
maintenance (I/M)
programs ....................................592 7-3. Do-it-yourself
maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions................................593
Hood ...............................................595
Positioning a floor jack ............ 596
Engine compartment ............... 597
12-volt battery .............................605
Tires .................................................... 611
Tire inflation pressure............... 620
Wheels ........................................... 623
Air conditioning filter ............... 625
Windshield wiper inserts ........ 628
Electronic key battery ..............630
Checking and replacing
fuses .............................................. 632
Headlight aim .............................. 635
Light bulbs..................................... 637

580
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U7-1. Maintenance and care
●
Working from top to bott om, liberally apply water to the vehicle body, wheel
wells and underside of the vehicl e 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 wa sh soap and rins e 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 tem-
perature. The restoration ti me may become shorter when the coating is warmed by
applying 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 wash able 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 protect ing the vehicle exteriorPerform the following to protect the ve hicle and maintain it in prime condi-
tion:

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.