emergency towing Lexus GS350 2012 Owner's Manual

16Pictorial index
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Instrument panel (Left-hand drive vehicles)
Engine switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Starting the engine/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Emergency stop of the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 739
When the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 815
Warning messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 774
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 214
Changing the shift position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 214
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 740
When the shift lever does not move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 817
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 98
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . P. 98
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 94
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 7491
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24Pictorial index
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Instrument panel (Right-hand drive vehicles)
Engine switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Starting the engine/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Emergency stop of the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 739
When the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 815
Warning messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 774
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 214
Changing the shift position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 214
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 740
When the shift lever does not move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 817
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 98
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . P. 98
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 94
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 7491
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2084-1. Before driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
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 temperature gauge indicates that the engine is
overheating, turn the air conditioning off immediately, leave the
road and stop the vehicle in a safe place. (P. 829)
When parking the vehicle
Always place wheel chocks under the wheels of both the vehicle
and trailer. Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever
to P.
CAUTION
To avoid accident or injury
Do not tow a trailer when the compact spare tire is installed on your vehi-
cle.
Do not tow the vehicle when the tire installed is repaired with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit.
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.
NOTICE
For vehicles with an emergency tire puncture repair kit (if equipped)
Do not tow anything if a tire that has been repaired using the emergency tire
puncture repair kit is installed. The load on the tire may cause unexpected
damage to the tire.

2574-5. Using the driving support
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Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
CAUTION
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 speed when driving down a steep hill.
When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing

2714-5. Using the driving support
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Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
CAUTION
To avoid inadvertent cruise control activation
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
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 acci-
dent 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 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 expressways
When weather conditions are bad enough that they may prevent the sen-
sors from functioning correctly (fog, snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
When an approach warning buzzer is heard often
When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing

7407-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
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 professional before towing.
The engine is running but the vehicle will not move.
The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed
by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly quali-
fied and equipped professional or a commercial towing service,
using a lift-type truck or flat bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
Before towing

7417-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)If a tow truck is not available in
an emergency, your vehicle may
be temporarily towed using a
cable or chain secured to the
emergency towing eyelet. This
should only be attempted on hard
surfaced roads for short dis-
tances at low speeds.
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.
Emergency towing

7427-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)Take out the towing eyelet. (P. 784, 799)
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.
Tighten down the towing eye-
let securely using a wheel nut
wrench.
Installing towing eyelet
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7437-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)Do not tow with a sling-type
truck to prevent body damage.
Towing with a sling-type truck
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck
From the frontFrom the rear (2WD models)
Use a towing dolly under the
rear wheels.Turn the engine switch to
ACCESSORY mode so that the
steering wheel is unlocked.
From the rear (AWD models)
Use a towing dolly under the
front wheels.

7457-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Before emergency towing
Release the parking brake.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Turn the engine switch to ACCESSORY (engine off) or IGNITION ON
(engine running) mode.
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
Caution while towing
Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive
stress on the emergency towing eyelets and the cables or chains. Always
be cautious of the surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering
will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.
Installing towing eyelets to the vehicle
Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing.
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