Lexus GS350 2008 Do-it-yourself maintenance / LEXUS 2008 GS460/350 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM30A87U)

5
When trouble arises
531
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
■Starting the engine when the 12 volt battery is discharged
The engine cannot be started by push-starting.
■To prevent 12 volt battery discharge
●Turn off the headlights and the audio system while the engine is turned off.
●Turn off any unnecessary electrical compon ents when the vehicle is running at a
low speed for an extended period, such as in heavy traffic, etc.
■When the 12 volt battery is removed or discharged
The following systems must be initialized.
●Tire pressure warning system (P. 4 2 2 )
●Intuitive parking assist (P. 5 0 7 )
CAUTION
■Avoiding battery fires or explosions
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidentally igniting the flammable
gas that may be emitted from the battery.
●Make sure the jumper cable is connected to the correct terminal and that it is not
unintentionally in contact with any pa rt other than the intended terminal.
●Do not allow the jumper cables to come into contact with the “+” and “-” termi-
nals.
●Do not allow open flame or use matches, cigarette lighters or smoke near the
battery.
Maintain the engine speed on th e second vehicle and turn the
“ENGINE START STOP” switch to the IGNITION ON mode,
then start the vehicle’s engine.
Once the vehicle’s engine ha s started, remove the jumper
cables in the exact reverse ord er in which they were con-
nected.
Once the engine starts, have the ve hicle checked at your Lexus dealer
as soon as possible.STEP5
STEP6

532
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
CAUTION
■Battery precautions
The battery contains poisonous and corrosive acidic electrolyte, while related parts
contain lead and lead compounds. Observe the following precautions when han-
dling the battery:
●When working with the battery, always wear safety glasses and take care not to
allow any battery fluids (acid) to come into contact with skin, clothing or the vehi-
cle body.
●Do not lean over the battery.
●If the battery fluid comes into contact with the skin or eyes, immediately wash the
affected area with water and seek medical attention. 
Place a wet sponge or cloth over the affected area until medical attention can be
received.
●Always wash your hands after handling the battery support, terminals, and other
battery-related parts.
●Do not allow children near the battery.
NOTICE
■When handling jumper cables
Be careful that the jumper cables do not become tangled in the cooling fan or any
of the belts when connectin g or disconnecting them.

5
When trouble arises
533
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
If your vehicle overheats
If your engine overheats:
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air conditioning
system.
Check to see if steam is coming out from under the hood.
If you see steam: 
Stop the engine and car efully lift the hood.
If you do not see steam: Leave the engine running and carefully lift the hood.
Remove the engine compartment cover. ( P. 4 0 8 )
Check to see if the cooling fan is operating.
If the fan is operating: 
Wait until the engine coolant temperature gauge begins to
fall and then stop the engine.
If the fan is not operating: 
Stop the engine immediately and call your local Lexus
dealer.
After the engine has cooled
down sufficiently, check the
coolant level and inspect the
radiator core (radiator) for any
leaks.STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5

534
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
■Overheating
In the following situations, your vehicle may be overheating.
●The engine coolant temperature gauge enters the red zone or a loss of power is
experienced.
●Steam is coming from under the hood.
CAUTION
■To prevent an accident or injury when in specting under the hood of your vehicle
●Keep hands and clothing away from the fan and engine drive belt while the
engine is running.
●Do not loosen the radiator cap while the engine and radiator are hot. 
Serious injury, such as burns, may resu lt from hot coolant and steam released
under pressure.
Add coolant if necessary.
Water can be used in an emer-
gency measure if coolant is
unavailable. ( P. 5 4 6 )
Have the vehicle checked at your nearest Lexus dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
STEP6

5
When trouble arises
535
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Wait until the engine has cooled down before adding coolant.
When adding coolant, do so slowly. Adding cool coolant to a hot engine too quickly
can cause damage to the engine.

536
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
If the vehicle becomes stuck
CAUTION
■When attempting to free a stuck vehicle
If you choose to rock the vehicle back and forth to free it, make sure the surround-
ing area is clear, to avoid striking other vehicles, objects or persons. The vehicle
may also lunge forward or lunge back suddenly as it becomes free. Use extreme
caution.
■When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an
accident and result in death or serious injury.
Carry out the following procedures if the tires spin or the vehicle becomes
stuck in mud, dirt, or snow.
Stop the engine. Set the parking brake and shift the shift lever
in “P”.
Remove the mud, snow, or sand from around the stuck tire.
Place wood, stones or some ot her material to help provide
traction under the tires.
Restart the engine.
Shift the shift lever to the “D” or “R” position and carefully apply
the accelerator to free the vehicle.
Turn off TRAC/VSC if these functi ons are hampering your attempts
to free the vehicle. ( P. 1 8 6 )
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5

5
When trouble arises
537
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
NOTICE
■To avoid damaging the automatic transmission and other components
●Avoid spinning the wheels and racing the engine.
●If the vehicle remains stuck after trying these procedures, the vehicle may require
towing to be freed.

538
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm

Vehicle specifications6
539
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
6-1. Specifications................. 540Maintenance data 
(fuel, oil level, etc.) .............. 540
Fuel information ..................... 553
Tire information...................... 556
6-2. Customization................ 569 Customizable features ........ 569
6-3. Initialization ................... 575 Items to initialize ..................... 575

540
GS_G_U
May 13, 2008 5:14 pm
6-1. Specifications
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)
Dimensions and weight
*: Unladen vehicle
Overall length190.7 in. (4845 mm)
Overall width71.6 in. (1820 mm)
Overall height *2WD56.1 in. (1425 mm)
4WD56.4 in. (1435 mm)
Wheelbase112.2 in. (2850 mm)
Tr e a d
Front60.4 in. (1535 mm)
Rear
2WD
4WD
60.6 in. (1540 mm)
60.4 in. (1535 mm)
Vehicle capacity weight 
(Occupants + luggage)815 lb. (370 kg)