Lexus GS450h 2008 Do-it-yourself maintenance / LEXUS 2008 GS450H OWNER'S MANUAL (OM30A96U)

When trouble arises5
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GS_HV_U
December 12, 2007 3:30 pm
5-1. Essential information..... 482If your vehicle needs 
to be towed ........................... 482
If you think something is  wrong ..................................... 488
Event data recorder .............. 489 5-2. Steps to take in an

emergency .................... 491
If a warning light turns on or a 
warning buzzer sounds... ... 491
If a warning message is 
displayed................................ 500
If you have a flat tire (Vehicles 
with standard tires) ............... 517
If you have a flat tire (Vehicles 
with run-flat tires)................ 527
If the hybrid system will 
not start .................................. 528
If the shift lever cannot be 
shifted from “P”.................... 529
If you lose your keys .............. 530
If the electronic key does 
not operate properly........... 531
If the 12 volt battery is 
discharged ............................ 534
If your vehicle overheats ..... 538
If the vehicle becomes 
stuck......................................... 541

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GS_HV_U
December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
5-1. Essential information
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towingThe following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Lexus dealer before towing.
● The hybrid system is running, but the vehicle will not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Emergency towing
If a tow truck is not available, in an emergency your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed using a cable or ch ain secured to the emergency towing
eyelet. This should only attempted on hard, surfaced roads for short dis-
tances below 18 mph (30 km/h). 
A driver must be in the vehicle to s teer and operate the brakes. The vehi-
cle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condi-
tion.
If towing is necessary, we recommen d having your vehicle towed by your
Lexus dealer or a commercial towing service, using a lift-type truck or a flat
bed truck. 
Use a safety chain system for all towing , and abide by all state/provincial
and local laws.
If towing from the rear, the wheels and axle on the ground must be in good
condition.
If they are damaged, use a to wing dolly or flat bed truck.

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When trouble arises
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5-1. Essential information
GS_HV_U
December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
Towing eyelet
■Emergency towing procedureRelease the parking brake.
Put the shift lever in “N”.
The “POWER” switch must be in the ACCESSORY mode (hybrid system
off) or the ON mode (hybrid system on).
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 eyelet and the cable or chain.
●If the hybrid system is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering
will not function, making steeri ng and braking more difficult.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground. 
This may cause serious dama ge to the transmission.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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5-1. Essential information
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December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
Installing towing eyeletRemove 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 eyelet
securely using a wheel nut wrench.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
■Location of the emergency towing eyelet
P. 5 1 7

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When trouble arises
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5-1. Essential information
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December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
Towing with a sling-type truck
CAUTION
■Installing towing eyelet to the vehicle
Make sure that towing eyelet is installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelet ma y come loose during towing. This may lead
to accidents that cause serious injury or even death.
NOTICE
■To prevent body damage
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.

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5-1. Essential information
GS_HV_U
December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
Towing with a wheel lift-type truckFrom front Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
From rear Turn the “POWER” switch to the
ACCESSORY mode so that the
steering wheel is unlocked.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground.
■To prevent damaging the vehicle
●Do not tow the vehicle with the “POWER” switch is OFF. 
The steering lock mechanism is not st rong enough to hold the front wheel
straight.
●When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at the
opposite end of the raised vehicle. Wi thout adequate clearance, the vehicle
could be damaged while being towed.

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When trouble arises
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5-1. Essential information
GS_HV_U
December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
Using a flat bed truckIf your Lexus 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.

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December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably needs
adjustment or repair. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
■ Visible symptoms
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle 
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temper ature gauge needle continually points
higher than normal
■ Audible symptoms
●Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the hybrid system
■ Operational symptoms
●Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, sp ongy feeling, pedal almost touches
the floor

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When trouble arises
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December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
Event data recorder
In a crash or a near car crash eventThe SRS airbag sensor ass embly contains the EDR. In a crash or a near
car crash event, this devic e may record some or all of the following infor-
mation:
● Gasoline engine speed
● Whether the brake pedal was applied or not
● Vehicle speed
● To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
● Position of the transmission shift lever
● Whether the driver and front passenger wore seat belts or not
● Driver’s seat position
● SRS airbag deployment data
● SRS airbag system diagnostic data
● Front passenger’s occupant classification
Your vehicle has computers that monitor and control certain aspects of
your vehicle. These computers assist in driving and maintaining optimal
vehicle performance.
Besides storing data useful for troublesh ooting, there is a system to record
data in a crash or a near car crash event. This is called an Event Data
Recorder (EDR).

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December 12, 2007 3:50 pm
Disclosure of the dataLexus will not disclose the data re corded in an EDR to a third party
except when:
● An agreement from the vehicle’s ow ner (or the leasing company for a
leased vehicle) is obtained
● Officially requested by the police or other authorities
● Used as a defense for Lexus in a law suit
● Ordered by a court
However, if necessary Lexus will:
● Use the data for research on Le xus vehicle safety performance
● Disclose the data to a third party for research purposes without dis-
closing details of the vehicle owner, and only when it is deemed neces-
sary
● Disclose summarized data cleared of vehicle identification information
to a non-Lexus organization for research purposes