tow Lexus GX460 2015 Owner's Guide

GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)
1814-1. Before driving
4
Driving
●After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred is beyond
the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prev ent instability. Remember that swaying of the towing vehi-
cle-trailer increases as speed increases.
CAUTION
■Trailer towing precautions
●To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accordance with the
trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to do so could cause an acci-
dent resulting in death or se rious injury. Vehicle stability and braking performance are
affected by trailer stability, brake setting and performance, and the hitch. Your vehicle
will handle differently when towing a trailer.
●Set the vehicle height to the LO mode and turn off the rear height control air suspen-
sion when you connect a trailer, otherwise the vehicle height may change due to the
automatic leveling function, and you may catch part of your body in the vehicle,
resulting in an accident.
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GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)4-1. Before driving
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.
●If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device with suffi-
cient capacity is required.
●If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight distributing hitch with
sufficient capacity is required.
●Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads as close
to the trailer axle as possible.
●Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the speed limit
for your trailer as set forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Slow
down sufficiently before making a turn, in
crosswinds, on wet or slippery surface, etc.
to help avoid an accident. If you experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing
a certain speed, slow down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the
speed of which you expe rience the instability.
●Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.
●Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you ma y skid, resulting in jackknifing and loss of
vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces.
●Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.
●Do not use cruise control when towing.
●Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do not
make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long downhill grades.
●Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely on steep long down hills. Before descending
steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do not make sudden down-
shifts when descending steep or long do wnhill grades. Avoid holding the brake pedal
down too long or applying the brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to
overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.
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GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)
1834-1. Before driving
4
Driving
CAUTION
■Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the hitch manu-
facturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of towing a higher weight,
the operator must determine the maximum weight rating of the particular hitch assem-
bly and never exceed the maximum weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch.
Exceeding the maximum weight rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause
an accident resulting in death or serious personal injuries.
■When towing a trailer
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations.
●If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are required. Lexus
recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable federal and state/pro-
vincial regulations.
●Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s braking
effectiveness.
●Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer
and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, there is danger of
the trailer wandering into another lane.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the trailer
hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Direct ly splicing trailer lights may damage your
vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.
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184
GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)4-1. Before driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be ding
hy towed (with 4 wheels on the ground)
behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
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GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)
1934-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Driving on a downhill
On declines, there may be case where the vehicle shifts down automatically to obtain
engine braking. As a result of the downshifting, the engine speed may increase.
■Second start mode automatic deactivation
Second start mode is automatically deactivated if the engine is turned off after driving in
second start mode.
■S mode
When the shift range is 5 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift range to
6.
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically shifts the gear to the suitable position according to driver perfor-
mance and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shif t lever is in the D position. (Shifting the
shift lever to the S position cancels the function.)
■When driving with the cruise control or dynamic radar cruise control
Engine braking will not occur in S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or 4.
( → P. 218, 221)
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
→P. 5 4 8
■If the “S” indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when the shift lever
is in D.)
■Downshift restriction warning buzzer (S mode)
To help ensure safety and driving performa nce, downshifting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circumstances, downsh ifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
CAUTION
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause th e vehicle to spin or skid, resulting in an
accident.
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GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)
1974-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
XTy p e BThe daytime running lights
turn on.
The side marker, parking
tail, license plate and instru-
ment panel lights turn on.
The headlights and all lights
listed above turn on.
The headlights, parking
lights, daytime running
lights and so on turn on and
off automatically (when the
engine switch is in
IGNITION ON mode).
With the headlights on, push the
lever away from you to turn on the
high beams.
When the light switch is in “AUTO” posi-
tion, the Automatic High Beam system
will be activated. ( →P. 199)
Pull the lever toward you to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and release
it to flash the high beams once.
You can flash the high beams with the headlights on or off.
1
2
3
4
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2
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202
GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
●In the situations below, the system may not be able to correctly detect the surrounding
brightness levels, and may flash or expose nearby pedestrians to the high beam. There-
fore, you should consider turning the high be
am on or off manually rather than relying
on the Automatic High Beam system.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The inside rear view mirror or camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
• The camera sensor temperature is extremely high.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those of headlights, tail lights or fog lights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights that are either switched off, dirty, are changing color, or are not aimed properly.
• When driving through an area of interm ittently changing brightness and darkness
• When frequently and repeated ly driving ascending/descending roads, or roads with
rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel tracks etc.)
• When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road
• There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
• The back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty.
• The vehicle is listing or tilting, due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed etc.
• The Automatic High Beam indicator is flashing.
• The high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched between in an abnor- mal manner.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to other
drivers or pedestrians nearby.
■If the Automatic High Beam indicator flashes...
It may indicate a malfunction in the system. Contact your Lexus dealer.
■Temporary lowering sensor sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.
To lower the sensitivity, push and hold the “AUTO” button on the inside rear view mirror
for 15 to 20 seconds, and release. The indicator light on the inside rear view mirror will
flash to indicate that the sensitivity has been lowered.
When the engine switch is turned off, the sens itivity will be returned to its normal level.
■Customization that can be configured at your Lexus dealer
The Automatic High Beam can be turned off.
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GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)
2094-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
The sensor sensitivity can be adjusted when “AUTO” is selected.Increases the sensitivity
Decreases the sensitivity
Washer/wiper dual operation
The wipers operate automatically.
(After operating several times, the
wipers operate one more time after a
short delay to prevent dripping.)
Vehicles with headlight cleaners: If
the headlights are on, the headlight
cleaners will operate once.
■The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●If the wiper switch is turned to the “AUT O” position while the engine switch is in
IGNITION ON mode, the wipers will operate once to show that “AUTO” mode is acti-
vated.
●When the sensor sensitivity ring is turned toward high while in “AUTO” mode, the wip-
ers will operate once to indicate that the sensor sensitivity is enhanced.
●If the temperature of the rain drop sensor is 194 °F (90 °C) or higher, or 5 °F (-15 °C) or
lower, the automatic operation may not occur. In this case, operate the wipers in any
mode other than “AUTO”.
5
6
7
●The raindrop sensor judges the amount of
raindrops.
An optical sensor is ad opted. It may not oper-
ate properly when sunlight from the rising or
setting of the sun intermittently strikes the
windshield, or if bugs etc. are present on the
windshield.
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GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Effects of vehicle speed on wiper operation
(vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers)
With the settings other than “AUTO” also, the time until drip prevention wiper sweep
occurs is changed depending on vehicle speed.
With the low speed wiper operation selected, wiper operation will be switched from low
speed to intermittent wiper operation only when the vehicle is stationary. (However,
when the sensor sensitivity is adjusted to th e highest level, the mode cannot be switched.)
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked if there is washer fluid in the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
CAUTION
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in “AUTO” mode (vehicles with rain-
sensing windshield wipers)
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the wind-
shield is subject to vibration in “AUTO” mode. Take care that your fingers etc. anything
else does not become caught in the windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the washer fl uid until the windshield becomes warm. The
fluid may freeze on the windshield and cause lo w visibility. This may lead to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When the washer fluid tank is empty
Do not operate the switch continually as the washer fluid pump may overheat.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be caused if the lever is pulled toward you and
held continually.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
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GX 460 _O M_ OM6 0L 72U _( U)
2194-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
To change the set speed, operate the lever until the desired set speed is obtained.Increases the speed
Decreases the speed
Fine adjustment: Momentarily move the
lever in the desired direction.
Large adjustment: Hold the lever in the
desired direction.
The set speed will be increased or decreased as follows:
Fine adjustment: By approximately 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each time the lever is operated.
Large adjustment: The set speed can be increased or decreased continually until the
lever is released.
Pulling the lever toward you cancels
the constant speed control.
The speed setting is also canceled when
the brakes are applied.
Pushing the lever up resumes the
constant speed control.
Resuming is available when the vehicle
speed is more than approximately 25
mph (40 km/h).
■Cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in the D or range 4 or higher of S has been selected.
●Vehicle speed is above approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
■Accelerating after setting the vehicle speed
●The vehicle can be accelerated normally. After acceleration, the set speed resumes.
●Even without canceling the cruise control, the set speed can be increased by first accel-
erating the vehicle to the desired speed and then pushing the lever down to set the new
speed.
Adjusting the set speed
1
2
Canceling and resuming the constant speed control
1
2
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