LEXUS SC300 1999 Owners Manual

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
403

SECTION 6 ± 5
404
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Body
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
405
Protecting your vehicle from corrosion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
406
Washing and waxing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
407
Cleaning the interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
409

BODY
405
SPECIFICATIONS
± DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTOverall length
Overall width
Overall height
Wheelbase
Tread ± Front ± Rear
Vehicle capacity weight (occupants + luggage)
4900 mm (192.9 in.) / 4890 mm (192.5 in.)*1
1800 mm (70.9 in.)
1350 mm (53.1 in.)*2
2690 mm (105.9 in.)
1520 mm (59.8 in.)
1525 mm (60.0 in.)
340 kg (750 lb.)
*1: without front license plate moulding *2: Unladen vehicle
± FUEL TANK
Capacity
78 L (20.6 gal., 17.2 lmp.gal.)

BODY
406
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLEFROM CORROSION
Proper care of your Lexus can help ensure long±term
corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corrosion to your vehicle are:

The accumulation of road salt, dirt and moisture in
hard±to±reach areas under the vehicle.

Chipping of paint or undercoating caused by minor
accidents or by stones and gravel.
The following conditions will cause or accelerate
corrosion of your vehicle, so it is important to keep your
vehicle, particularly the underside, as clean as possible
and to repair any damage to paint or protective coatings
as soon as possible.

The presence of road salt or dust control chemicals, salt in
the air near the sea coast, industrial air pollution.

High humidity, especially at temperatures just above
freezing point.

Certain parts of your vehicle are wet or damp for an
extended period of time, even though other parts of the
vehicle are dry.

Components of the vehicle which are prevented from
quick±drying due to lack of proper ventilation are exposed
to high temperature. To help prevent corrosion on your Lexus, follow these
guidelines:
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing.
In addition,
observe the following points.

If you drive on salted roads in the winter or if you live near
the ocean, you should hose off the undercarriage at least
once a month to minimize corrosion.

High pressure water or steam is effective for cleaning the
vehicle's underside and wheel housings. Pay particular
attention to these areas as it is difficult to see all the mud
and dirt. It will do more harm than good to simply wet the
mud and debris without removing them. The lower edge
of doors, rocker panels and frame members have drain
holes which should not be allowed to clog with dirt as
trapped water in these areas can cause corrosion.

Wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughly when winter
is over.
See ºWashing and waxingº for more tips.
Check the condition of your vehicle's paint and trim. If
you find any chips or scratches in the paint, touch them up
immediately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the chips
or scratches have gone through the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.

BODY
407
Check the interior of your vehicle.
Water and dirt can
accumulate under the floor mats and could cause corrosion.
Occasionally check under the mats to make sure the area is
dry. Be particularly careful when transporting chemicals,
cleansers, fertilizers, salt, etc. These should be transported in
proper containers. If a spill or leak should occur, immediately
clean and dry the area.
Use mud shields on your wheels. If you drive on salted or
gravel roads, mud shields help protect your vehicle. Full size
shields, which come near to the ground as possible, are the
best. We recommend that the fittings and the area where the
shields are installed be treated to resist corrosion. Your Lexus
dealer will be happy to assist in supplying and installing the
shields if they are recommended for your area.
Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated garage or a roofed
place. Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly
ventilated garage. If you wash your vehicle in the garage,
or if you drive it in covered with water or snow, your garage
may be so damp it will cause corrosion. Even if your garage
is heated, a wet vehicle can corrode if the ventilation is poor.
WASHING AND WAXING
Washing your Lexus
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing.
The following cases may cause weakness to the paint or
corrosion to the body and parts. Wash your vehicle as soon
as possible.

When driving in a coastal area

When driving on a road sprinkled with antifreeze

When having stuck of coal tar, tree sap, bird droppings and
carcass of an insect

When driving in the areas where there is a lot of smoke,
soot, dust, iron dust and chemical substance

When the vehicle becomes remarkably dirty with dust and
mud
Hand±washing your Lexus
Work in the shade and wait until the vehicle body is not hot
to the touch.
1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose. Remove any mud or road
salt from the underside of the vehicle or in the wheel wells.
2. Wash with a mild car±wash soap, mixed according to the
manufacturer 's instructions. Use a soft cotton mitt and keep
it wet by dipping it frequently into the wash water. Do not rub
hard ± let the soap and water remove the dirt.

BODY
408Aluminum wheels:
Use only a mild soap or neutral
detergent.
Urethane bumpers and side moldings: Wash carefully. Do
not scrub with abrasive cleaners. The bumper and side
molding faces are soft.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or cleaners that are
marked safe for painted surfaces.
NOTICE
Do not use gasoline or strong solvents, which may be
toxic or cause damage.
3. Rinse thoroughly ± dried soap can cause streaking. In hot
weather you may need to rinse each section right after you
wash it.
4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean soft
cotton towel. Do not rub or press hard ± you might scratch the
paint.
Automatic car wash
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the antenna, make sure it is
retracted before driving your vehicle through an
automatic car wash.
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash, but
remember that the paint can be scratched by some type of
brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the washing process
itself. Scratching reduces paint durability and gloss,
especially on darker colors. The manager of the car wash
should be able to advise you whether the process is safe for
the paint on your vehicle.
Waxing your Lexus
Polishing and waxing is recommended to maintain the
original beauty of your Lexus' finish.
Once a month or if the vehicle does not repel water well, apply
wax.
1. Always wash and dry the vehicle before you begin waxing,
even if you are using a combined cleaner and wax.
2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If the finish has
become extremely weathered, use a car±cleaning polish,
followed by a separate wax. Carefully follow the
manufacturer's instructions and precautions. Be sure to
polish and wax the chrome trim as well as the paint.
3. Wax the vehicle again when water does not bead but
remains on the surface in large patches.

BODY
409
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
CAUTION
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water, or allow water to get
onto the floor when cleaning the vehicle interior or exterior.
Water may get into audio components or other electrical
components above or under the floor carpet (or mat) and
cause a malfunction; and it may cause body corrosion.

BODY
410
Leather Interior
The selected leather is used in your Lexus. Due to a leather
product, some parts of leather may be rough, uneven or
scratched originally.
To keep good appearance, we recommend you to clean it
periodically twice a year.
Remove dirt on the leather in the following ways:
1. Wipe it off lightly using a soft cloth (e.g. gauze) dampened
with 5% solution of neutral detergent for wool.
2. Wring water from a clean cloth and thoroughly wipe off all
traces of detergent with it. 3. Wipe off the surface of the leather with a dry soft cloth.
Allow the leather to dry in a ventilated shaded area. Excess
of wet may cause the hardening or shrinking of the leather.
NOTICE

BODY
411


Dirt or sand adhered to the leather may damage the
treated surface and cause it to wear earlier. Remove
dirt or sand using a vacuum cleaner.

If a stain should fail to come out with a neutral
detergent, apply a cleaner that does not contain an
organic solvent.

Never use organic substances such as benzine, alcohol
or gasoline, or alkaline or acid solutions for cleaning
the leather as these could cause discoloring.

Use of a nylon brush or synthetic fiber cloth, etc. may
scratch the fine grained surface of the leather.

Mildew may develop on soiled leather upholstery. Be
especially careful to avoid oil spots. Try to keep your
upholstery always clean.

Long exposure to direct sunlight may cause the leather
surface to harden and shrink. Keep your vehicle in a
shaded area, especially in the summer.

The interior of your vehicle is apt to heat up on hot
summer days, so avoid placing on the upholstery items
made of vinyl or plastic or containing wax as these
tend to stick to leather when warm.

Improper cleaning of the leather upholstery could
result in discoloration or staining.
Synthetic Leather Areas (Dash)
The synthetic leather areas may be easily cleaned with a
mild soap or detergent and water.
First vacuum over the upholstery to remove loose dirt. Then,
using a sponge or soft cloth, apply the soap solution to the
synthetic leather. After allowing it to soak in for a few
minutes to loosen the dirt, remove the dirt and wipe off the
soap with a clean damp cloth. If all the dirt does not come off,
repeat the procedure. Commercial foaming±type cleaners are
also available which work well. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline or window cleaner
on the interior.

BODY
412
Carpets, Windows and Seat Belts
Begin by vacuuming thoroughly to remove as much dirt as
possible. Several types of foam cleaners are available; some
are in aerosol cans and others are powders or liquids which
you mix with water to produce a foam. To shampoo the
carpets, use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in
overlapping circles. Do not apply water ± the best results are
obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possible. Read the
shampoo instructions and follow them closely.
The seat belts may be cleaned with mild soap and water or
with lukewarm water.
Use a cloth or sponge. As you are cleaning, check the belts
for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
NOTICE

Use a good foam±type shampoo to clean the carpets.

Do not use dye or bleach on the belts ± it may weaken
them.

Do not use the belts until they become dry.

The windows may be cleaned with any household
window cleaner.

When cleaning the inside of the rear window, be
careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires.
Air Conditioning Control Panel, Car Audio,
Instrument Panel, Console Panel, and
Switches
Use a soft damp cloth for cleaning.
Soak a clean soft cloth in water or lukewarm water then
lightly wipe off any dirt.
NOTICE

Do not use organic substances (solvents, kerosene,
alcohol, gasoline, etc.) or alkaline or acidic solutions.
These chemicals can cause discoloring, staining or
peeling of the surface.

If you use cleaners or polishing agents, make sure
their ingredients do not include the substances
mentioned above.

If you use a liquid car freshener, do not spill the liquid
onto the vehicle's interior surfaces. It may contain the
ingredients mentioned above. Immediately clean any
spill using the method mentioned above.
If you have any questions about the cleaning of your
Lexus, your local Lexus dealer will be pleased to answer
them.