Lexus GX460 2012 Owner's Manual

319
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
■When lowering the vehicle
In order to prevent the vehicle height from rising as occupants leave the vehicle,
lowering control will occur for a short while after the engine has been stopped.
■The rear height control air suspension failure warning
●If a malfunction occurs in the rear height control air suspension, N mode is auto-
matically selected. However, the system may not switch to N mode depending
on the location of the malfunction.
●The warning message is displayed on the multi-information display, and the rear
height control air suspension cannot be activated until the malfunction is cor-
rected.
Stop the engine and start it again. If the warning message turns off, the system is
operating correctly. If the warning message continues to be displayed, have
your vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
CAUTION
■The rear height control air suspension must be turned off
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Otherwise, the automatic leveling
function may cause vehicle height to change, and you may catch part of your body
in the vehicle, resulting in an accident:
●When jacking up the vehicle, installing tire chains or tying the vehicle with chains/
wires for transportation via flat bed truck, turn off the rear height control air sus-
pension and stop the engine.
●When the vehicle must be towed or disconnecting a trailer, put the vehicle height
in N mode and turn off the rear height control air suspension.
●When the vehicle is stuck, turn off the rear height control air suspension.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
CAUTION
■Selecting the correct height mode
●HI mode should only be used when driving on rough roads, for example when
driving off-road. Because the vehicle’s center of gravity will become higher when
in the mode, the vehicle may become unstable when turning abruptly, resulting in
an accident.
●Do not select HI mode when loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier.
Because the vehicle’s center of gravity will become higher when in the mode, the
vehicle may become unstable when turning abruptly, resulting in an accident.
●Before lowering vehicle height, check that there is no one under the vehicle.
NOTICE
■Be careful in any place where overhead space is limited
The vehicle height will rise when a higher mode is selected or cargo is unloaded.
This may cause damage to the vehicle.
■Do not select LO mode when driving on bumpy roads
If the underbody of the vehicle touches a rugged road surface, the vehicle may be
damaged.
■Changing vehicle height
Do not change vehicle height frequently.
The compressor may overheat and stop operation.
■When on the extremely uneven roads with rocks
Sometimes the vehicle height is not adjusted because it is judged as uneven road
driving.

321
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
AVS (Adaptive Variable Suspension System)∗
∗: If equipped
■Driving mode
●Mode is suitable for heavy load or driving on a unpaved road.
●With the four-wheel drive control switch at L4, the damping effect suitable for
off-road driving will be provided, regardless of the position of the AVS switch.
AVS controls the suspension according to the road and driving conditions.
Selecting an optimum driving mode allows good riding comfort and stabil-
ity.
Sport mode
For winding mountain road driv-
ing or high speed driving
Normal mode
For normal driving
Comfort mode
For bumpy road driving

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2-4. Using other driving systems
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
Four-wheel drive system
Use the four-wheel drive control switch and center differential lock/unlock
switch to select the following transfer and center differential modes.
■Four-wheel drive control switch
H4 (high speed position)
Normal driving on all types of
roads.
L4 (low speed position)
Driving requiring maximum
power and traction such as
climbing or descending steep
hills, off-road driving, and hard
pulling in sand or mud, etc.
The low speed four-wheel
drive and VSC OFF indica-
tors will come on.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
■Center differential lock/unlock switch
Lock the center differential
when your vehicle’s wheels get
stuck in a ditch or when driving
on a slippery or bumpy surface.
The center differential lock indi-
cator will come on.
Unlock the center differential
after the wheels have been
freed, or after moving to a flat,
non-slippery surface.
To unlock the center differential,
push the switch again.

324
2-4. Using other driving systems
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
Shifting between H4 and L4■ Shifting from H4 to L4
Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal held down.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and shift the four-wheel drive control switch to L4.
Maintain this condition until the low speed four-wheel drive indicator
light turns on.
■Shifting from L4 to H4
Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal held down.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and shift the four-wheel drive control switch to H4.
Maintain this condition until the low speed four-wheel drive indicator
light turns off.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
■When the four-wheel drive control switch can be operated
●The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
●The shift lever is in the N position.
●The vehicle is stopped completely.
■The low speed four-wheel drive indicator light
●The indicator light blinks while switching between H4 and L4.
●If the low speed four-wheel drive indicator light continues to blink when you
operate the four-wheel drive control switch to the H4 or L4 position, stop the
vehicle completely, shift the shift lever securely into N and then operate the
switch again.
●If the shift lever is moved before the low speed four-wheel drive indicator turns
on/off, the transfer mode may not be shifted completely. The transfer mode dis-
engages both the front and rear drive shafts from the powertrain and allows the
vehicle to move regardless of the shift position. (At this time, the indicator blinks
and the buzzer sounds.)
Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the shift lever is in P. You or someone
else could be seriously injured. You must complete the shifting of the transfer
mode and confirm that the indicator light has turned off (H4) or turned on (L4).
●If the engine coolant temperature is too low, the four-wheel drive control system
may not be able to shift. When the engine is warmer operate the switch again.
If the indicator continue to blink even if doing so, have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four-wheel drive
system.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
■When the center differential lock/unlock switch can be operated
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■The center differential lock indicator light
●The indicator light blinks while locking/unlocking the center differential.
●If the center differential lock indicator light blinks and the buzzer sounds when
the center differential is locked, stop the slipping or spinning and push the
switch again.
If the indicator continue to blink even if doing so, have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four-wheel drive
system.
■Locking/unlocking the center differential
●When the four-wheel drive control switch is in L4 with the center differential
locked, VSC is automatically turned off. (The center differential lock and VSC
OFF indicator light will come on.)
●If the operation is not completed, the center differential lock indicator blinks. If
the indicator light does not turn off when unlocking the center differential, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decelerating, or drive in reverse.
●Avoid turning suddenly while the center differential is locked. If you do turn sud-
denly, the difference in turning speeds between the front and rear wheels may
have a similar effect to braking, thus making driving difficult.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
CAUTION
■While driving
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may cause an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
●Never move the four-wheel drive control switch if the wheels have lost traction.
●Do not operate the center differential lock/unlock when the vehicle is turning or
when its wheels are spinning freely off the ground.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the center differential
●For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, unlock the center differential.
●Unlock the center differential after the wheels are out of the ditch or off the slip-
pery or bumpy surface.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60J00U)
Crawl Control∗
∗: If equipped
Allows travel on extremely rough off-road surfaces at a fixed low speed
without pressing the accelerator or brake pedal. Minimizes loss of traction
or vehicle slip when driving on slippery road surfaces, allowing for stable
driving.
■ Crawl Control switch
ON/OFF switch
Speed selection switch
■ System operation
On/off
The Crawl Control indicator is
lit and the slip indicator flashes
when operating.
Also, the operating status and
speed select status of the Crawl
Control are shown on the multi-
information display.
Higher
Lower