emergency towing Lexus GS300h 2015 Owner's Manual

16Pictorial index
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
■Instrument panel (Left-hand drive vehicles)
Power switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 2 1 7
Starting the hybrid system/changing the modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 217
Emergency stop of the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 469
When the hybrid system will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 543
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 494, 512
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
Changing the shift position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 470
When the shift lever does not move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 545
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 104
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 104
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 98
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 476
1
2
3

24Pictorial index
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
■Instrument panel (Right-hand drive vehicles)
Power switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 2 1 7
Starting the hybrid system/changing the modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 217
Emergency stop of the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 469
When the hybrid system will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 543
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 494, 512
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
Changing the shift position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 470
When the shift lever does not move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 545
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 104
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 104
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 98
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 476
1
2
3

2154-1. Before driving
4
Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
■Passing other vehicles
Consider the total combined length of your vehicle and trailer and ensure that
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is sufficient before executing lane changes.
■Transmission information
To maintain engine braking efficiency, when using engine braking, when driv-
ing on a long steep downgrade, do not use the transmission in D. ( →P. 2 2 7 )
■If the engine overheats
Towing a loaded trailer up a long, steep incline in temperatures exceeding
30 °C (85 °F) may result in the engine overheating. If the engine coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is overheating, turn the air condition-
ing off immediately, leave the road and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
( → P. 5 5 6 )
■When parking the vehicle
Always place wheel chocks under the whee ls of both the vehicle and trailer.
Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to P.
WA R N I N G
Follow all the instructions described in this section. Failure to do so could cause an acci-
dent resulting in death or serious injury.
■Trailer towing precautions
When towing, make sure that none of the weight limits are exceeded. ( →P. 211)
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not tow a trailer when the compact spare tire is installed on your vehicle.
●Do not tow a trailer when the tire installed is repaired with the emergency tire punc-
ture repair kit.
●Do not use cruise control (if equipped), dynamic radar cruise control (if equipped) or
dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range (if equipped) when trailer towing.
■Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds for trailer towing.
■Before descending hills or long declines
Reduce speed and downshift. However, never downshift suddenly while descending
steep or long downhill grades.
■Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal depressed often or for long periods of time.
Doing so may result in the brake overheating or reduce braking effects.

2714-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
WA R N I N G
■Pre-crash braking*3
●The pre-crash braking function may not operate if certain operations are performed
by the driver. If the accelerator pedal is being depressed strongly or the steering
wheel is being turned, the system may determine that the driver is taking evasive
action and possibly prevent the pre-crash braking function from operating.
●In some situations, while the pre-crash braking function is operating, operation of the
function may be canceled if the accelerator pedal is depressed strongly or the steer-
ing wheel is turned and the system determines that the driver is taking evasive action.
●A large amount of braking force is applied while the pre-crash braking function is
operating. As the pre-crash braking function will be canceled after the vehicle has
been stopped for approximately 2 seconds, the driver should depress the brake
pedal as necessary.
●If the brake pedal is being depressed, the system may determine that the driver is tak-
ing evasive action and possibly delay the operation timing of the pre-crash braking
function.
*3: Depending on the region in which the vehicle was sold, the pre-crash braking func-
tion may not be available.
■When to disable the pre-crash safety system
In the following situations, disable the system, as it may not operate properly, possibly
leading to an accident resulting in death or serious injury:
●When the vehicle is being towed
●When your vehicle is towing another vehicle
●When transporting the vehicle via truck, boat, train or similar means of transportation
●When the vehicle is raised on a lift with the hybrid system operating and the tires are
allowed to rotate freely
●When inspecting the vehicle using a drum tester such as a chassis dynamometer or
speedometer tester, or when using an on vehicle wheel balancer
●When a strong impact is applied to the front bumper or front grille, due to an accident
or other reasons
●If the vehicle cannot be driven in a stable manner, such as when the vehicle has been
in an accident or is malfunctioning
●When the vehicle is driven in a sporty manner or off-road
●When the tires are not properly inflated
●When the tires are very worn
●When tires of a size other than specified are installed
●When tire chains are installed
●When a compact spare tire or an emergency tire puncture repair kit is used

3054-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
WA R N I N G
■Situations unsuitable for dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range
Do not use dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range in any of the following
situations.
Doing so may result in inappropriate speed control and could cause an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
●Roads where there are pedestrians, cyclists, etc.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep downhills, or where there are sudden changes between sharp up and down
gradients
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
●At entrances to freeways and highways
●When weather conditions are bad enough that they may prevent the sensors from
detecting correctly (fog, snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
●When there is rain, snow, etc. on the front surface of the radar sensor or camera sen-
sor
●In traffic conditions that require frequent repeated acceleration and deceleration
●When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing
●When an approach warning buzzer is heard often

3174-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
WA R N I N G
■Situations unsuitable for dynamic radar cruise control
Do not use dynamic radar cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in inappropriate speed control and could cause an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
●Roads where there are pedestrians, cyclists, etc.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep downhills, or where there are sudden changes between sharp up and down
gradients
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
●At entrances to freeways and highways
●When weather conditions are bad enough that they may prevent the sensors from
detecting correctly (fog, snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
●When there is rain, snow, etc. on the front surface of the radar sensor or camera sen-
sor
●In traffic conditions that require frequent repeated acceleration and deceleration
●When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing
●When an approach warning buzzer is heard often

3294-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
■Automatic cruise control cancelation
Cruise control will stop maintaining the vehicle speed in any of the following situations.
●Actual vehicle speed falls more than approximately 16 km/h (10 mph) below the preset
vehicle speed.
At this time, the memorized set speed is not retained.
●Actual vehicle speed is below approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
●VSC is activated.
●TRC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRC system is turned off by pressing the VSC OFF switch.
■If the warning message for the cruise control is shown on the multi-information display
Press the “ON/OFF” button once to deactivate the system, and then press the button
again to reactivate the system.
If the cruise control speed cannot be set or if the cruise control cancels immediately after
being activated, there may be a malfunction in the cruise control system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional.
WA R N I N G
■To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON/OFF” button when not in use.
■Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting in death or
serious injury.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set sp eed when driving down a steep hill.
●When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing

4707-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
If your vehicle needs to be towed
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact any
authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped pro-
fessional or commercial towing service before towing.
●The hybrid warning message shows on the multi-information display and the
vehicle does not move.
●The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck to
prevent body damage.
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by any
authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped
professional or commercial towing service, using a wheel-lift type truck or
flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/provincial and
local laws.
Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck

4717-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
If your vehicle is transported by a flat-
bed truck, it should be tied down at the
locations shown in the illustration.
If you use chains or cables to tie down
your vehicle, the angles shaded in black
must be 45°.
Do not overly tighten the tie downs or
the vehicle may be damaged.
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck
XFrom the frontXFrom the rear
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels. Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
Using a flatbed truck

4727-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F00E_(EE)
If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be temporarily
towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency towing eyelets. This
should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads for short distances at under
5 km/h (3 mph).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The vehicle’s
wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condition.Take out the towing eyelet. ( →P. 5 1 8 , 5 2 9 )
Remove the eyelet cover using a flathead screwdriver.
To protect the bodywork, place a rag between the screwdriver and the vehicle body
as shown in the illustration.
Insert the towing eyelet into the hole
and tighten partially by hand.
Emergency towing
Emergency towing procedure
1
2
XExcept F SPORT modelsXF SPORT models
3