ESP Lexus GX470 2004 Engine / LEXUS 2004 GX470 THROUGH OCT. 2003 PROD. (OM60A46U) Owner's Guide

STARTING AND DRIVING
400
CAUTION
Do not overestimate the anti-lock brake system:
Although the anti-lock brake system assists in
providing vehicle control, it is still important to drive
with all due care and maintain a moderate speed and
safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, because
there are limits to the vehicle stability and effectiveness
of steering wheel operation even with the anti-lock
brake system on.
If tire grip performance exceeds its capability, or if
hydroplaning occurs during high speed driving in the
rain, the anti-lock brake system does not provide
vehicle control.
Anti-lock brake system is not designed to shorten the
stopping distance: Always drive at a moderate speed
and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Compared with vehicles without an anti-lock
brake system, your vehicle may require a longer
stopping distance in the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snow-covered roads.
Driving with tire chains installed.
Driving over the steps such as the joints on the road.
Driving on roads where the road surface is pitted or
has other differences in surface height.
Install all 4 tires of specified size at appropriate
pressure: The anti-lock brake system detects vehicle
speeds using the speed sensors for respective wheels'
turning speeds. The use of tires other than specified
may fail to detect the accurate turning speed resulting
in a longer stopping distance.

DRIVING TIPS
411
OFF-ROAD DRIVING
PRECAUTIONS
When driving your vehicle off-road, please observe the
following precautions to ensure your driving enjoyment and to
help prevent the closure of areas to off-road vehicles.
a. Drive your vehicle only in areas where off-road vehicles are
permitted to travel.
b. Respect private property. Get owner's permission before
entering private property.
c. Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers
and signs that restrict travel.
d. Stay on established roads. When conditions are wet,
driving techniques should be changed or travel delayed to
prevent damage to roads.
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining to driving your
vehicle off-road, consult the following organizations.
State and Local Parks and Recreation Departments
State Motor Vehicle Bureau
Recreational Vehicle Clubs
U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
CAUTION
Always observe the following precautions to minimize
the risk of serious personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take
unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous places.
Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving
off-road. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure
your hands. Keep both hands and especially your
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
Always check your brakes for effectiveness
immediately after driving in sand, mud, water or
snow.
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand,
rivers, etc., check that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the
underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materials
trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown
or fire could occur.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing
a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts whenever the vehicle is
moving.

DRIVING TIPS
425
Service connector for towing brake controller
Your vehicle is equipped with a service connector for the
towing brake controller as shown. Link the connector to the
towing brake controller via the sub wire harness stored in the
glove box. The detailed explanation of the sub wire harness
circuit is packed together with the sub wire harness. Be sure
to position the towing brake controller where it does not prevent
the driver from operating the pedal. Lexus recommends that
the sub wire harness be stored in the glove box when it is not
in use.
Tires
Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated. Adjust
the tire pressure to the recommended cold tire pressure
indicated below.
Tire pressure: 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 32 psi)
The trailer tires should be inflated to the pressure
recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect to the
total trailer weight.

DRIVING TIPS
427 7. Move the vehicle forward in the LOº (low) mode where the
hitch does not touch anything in the Nº (normal) mode.
8. Put the rear height control air suspension in the Nº (normal)
mode.
Pre-towing safety check
Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or
unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has an
abnormal nose-up or nose-down condition, and check for
improper tongue load, overload, worn suspension or other
possible causes.
Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that it
cannot shift.
Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any federal,
state/provincial or local regulations. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
Trailer towing tips
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will handle differently
than when not towing. The three main causes of
vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed
and improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when
towing:
Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all
vehicle-trailer connections. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and connections. Practice
turning, stopping and backing with a trailer in an area away
from traffic until you learn the feel.
Backing with a trailer is difficult and requires practice. Grip
the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right
to move the trailer to the right. (This procedure is generally
opposite to that when backing without a trailer.) Also, just
turn the steering wheel a little at a time, avoiding sharp or
prolonged turning. Have someone guide you when backing
to reduce the risk of an accident.
Because stopping distance may be increased,
vehicle-to-vehicle distance should be increased when
towing a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow
at least one vehicle and trailer length between you and the
vehicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as you may skid,
resulting in jackknifing and loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.
Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns. The trailer could hit
your vehicle in a tight turn. Slow down before making a turn
to avoid the need of sudden braking.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
442
CAUTION
When making the connections, to avoid serious injury,
do not lean over the battery or accidentally let the
jumper cables or clamps touch anything except the
correct battery terminals or the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal way. After starting, run it at
about 2000 rpm for several minutes with the accelerator pedal
lightly depressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order:
the negative cable and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover cloths which may now
contain sulfuric acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharging is not apparent (for
example, lights left on), you should have it checked at your
Lexus dealer.
IF YOU CANNOT INCREASE THE
ENGINE SPEED
If the engine speed does not increase with the accelerator
pedal depressed down, there may be a problem somewhere
in your electronic throttle control system.
At this time, vibration may occur. However, if you depress the
accelerator pedal more firmly and slowly, you can drive your
vehicle at low speeds. Have your vehicle checked by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Even if the abnormality of the electronic throttle control system
is corrected during low speed driving, the system may not be
recovered until the engine is stopped and the ignition key is
turned to ACCº or LOCKº position.
CAUTION
Be especially careful to prevent erroneous pedal
operation.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
472
Automatic notifications
If an airbag deploys, an emergency signal is sent
automatically to the Lexus Link Call Center. In your vehicle, the
system announces Placing an emergency call to the Lexus
Link Center.º In response to the signal, Lexus Link Advisor will
attempt to communicate with you first. If the Advisor cannot get
any response from you, the Advisor will locate your vehicle
through the GPS, call the nearest emergency services
provider, describe the situation and your location. If necessary,
the Advisor will transfer your call to the emergency services
operator.If the theft deterrent system on your vehicle is activated,
the Lexus Link System on your vehicle will automatically call
the Lexus Link Call Center. The Advisor will attempt to contact
you to determine whether the alarm is valid.
If you report to the Lexus Link Call Center that your vehicle has
been stolen, the Advisor will locate, track and provide location
information to the appropriate law enforcement authority. To
protect subscriber privacy, the Lexus Link Call Center will not
provide the location of a vehicle to anyone other than a law
enforcement authority.
If you accidentally activate the vehicle alarm, push the
UNLOCKº button on the wireless remote control key within 55
seconds after the alarm was set off, or insert the key into the
door keyhole or ignition switch. The Lexus Link System will
cancel the theft call.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
481
Audible voice prompts
The following table shows the voice responses from the Lexus Link System.
Voice phrase: Explanation about Lexus Link System
This is the Lexus Link system. Integrating
global positioning satellite and wireless
communication technology into your
Lexus and providing enhanced safety,
security, and convenience. At the touch of
a button, or automatically in the event of
an accident, you are connected to a Lexus
Link Advisor who will assist you Ð 24
hours a day, 7 days a week where GPS
and cellular coverage is available. The
Lexus Link System also has an audio
recorder allowing you to record reminders
to yourself or information from a Lexus
Link Advisor.
To contact a Lexus Link Advisor, press the
SERVICESº button. The Lexus Link
System will inform the advisor of your
vehicle's current location and your
identity. The advisors can handle a wide
variety of services, such as giving
directions to shops, gas stations, ATMs,
restaurants and roadside assistance with
location. Services available will depend
on the service package you selected.In an emergency, press the emergency
services button on your Lexus Link
console. It is marked with a red
ambulance. Upon receiving your call, the
advisor will assess the situation and, if
necessary, alert the nearest emergency
services provider. The emergency button
should only be used in life threatening
situations.
If your Lexus detects that an airbag
deployment may have occurred, the
Lexus Link System will automatically send
an emergency message to the Lexus Link
Call Center.
The system will also automatically contact
the call center if the security system alarm
goes off. An advisor will first contact you
to determine if the alarm is valid. Upon
your confirmation, the advisor will then
provide the vehicle location to the police.If you accidentally set off the alarm, press
the remote door unlock, or insert your key
in the door lock or ignition within 55
seconds. This will prevent the Lexus Link
System from placing a theft call.
The volume control lets you adjust the
volume level for Lexus Link calls, system
prompts, and memos. Press the plus key
to increase volume and the minus key to
decrease it.
To record a memo or a call, press the key
labeled RECº. When you are finished
recording, press the RECº button again.
To listen to the memo, press the PLAYº
button. You can record one message up
to five minutes long. When you record a
new memo, all of the previous memos will
be erased.
For more detailed information on the use,
features and limitations of this system,
please consult your Lexus Link Owner's
Manual.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
483 Your Lexus Link
subscription has expired.
Services are not available.
You operated a Lexus Link
button despite an expired
subscription. Your Lexus
Link subscription has
expired, push the Servicesº
button a second time to
reactivate.
No cellular service
available. Unable to
contact the Call Center.In cellular coverage areas
without analog coverage,
you cannot use the Lexus
Link System. Unable to
contact the Lexus Link Call
Center until you have
cellular coverage.

MAINTENANCE
488
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
Your Lexus vehicle has been designed to have fewer
maintenance requirements with longer service intervals to
save both your time and money. However, each regular
maintenance as well as day-to-day care is more important
than ever before to ensure smooth, trouble-free, safe, and
economical driving.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure the specified
maintenance, including general maintenance services, is
performed. Note that both the new vehicle and emission
control system warranties specify that proper maintenance
and care must be performed. See the Owner's Guideº,
Owner's Manual Supplementº or Warranty Bookletº for
complete warranty information.
General maintenance
General maintenance items are those day-to-day care
practices that are important to your vehicle for proper
operation. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the
general maintenance items are performed regularly.
These checks or inspections can be done either by yourself or
your Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance
The scheduled maintenance items listed in the Owner's
Manual Supplement/Scheduled Maintenanceº are those
required to be serviced at regular intervals.For details of your maintenance schedule, read the Owner's
Manual Supplement/Scheduled Maintenanceº.
It is recommended that only genuine Lexus parts be used
for maintenance or for the repair of the emission control
system.
The owner may elect to use non-Lexus supplied parts for
replacement purposes without invalidating the emission
control system warranty. However, use of replacement
parts which are not of equivalent quality may impair the
effectiveness of the emission control systems.
You may also elect to have maintenance, replacement, or
repair of the emission control devices and system
performed by any automotive repair establishment or
individual without invalidating this warranty. See
Owner's Guideº, Owner's Manual Supplementº or
Warranty Bookletº for complete warranty information.
Where to go for service?
Lexus technicians are well-trained specialists and are kept up
to date with the latest service information through technical
bulletins, service tips, and in-dealership training programs.
They are well informed about the operation of all the systems
on your vehicle.
You can be confident that your Lexus dealer's service
department performs the best job to meet the maintenance
requirements of your vehicle Ð reliably and economically.

INTRODUCTION
502
DO-IT-YOURSELF SERVICE
PRECAUTIONS
If you perform maintenance yourself, be sure to follow the
correct procedure given in this Section.
You should be aware that improper or incomplete servicing
may result in operating problems.
Performing do-it-yourself maintenance during the warranty
period may affect your warranty coverage. Read the separate
Lexus Warranty statement for details and suggestions.
This Section gives instructions only for those items that are
relatively easy for an owner to perform. As explained in
Section 5, there are still a number of items that must be
performed by a qualified technician with special tools.
For information on tools and parts for do-it-yourself
maintenance, see Parts and toolsº on page 504.
Utmost care should be taken when working on your vehicle to
prevent accidental injury. Here are a few precautions that you
should be especially careful to observe:
CAUTION

When the engine is running, keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from the moving fan and engine drive
belt. (Removing rings, watches, and ties is
advisable.)

Right after driving, the engine compartment Ð the
engine, radiator, exhaust manifold and power
steering fluid reservoir, etc. Ð will be hot. So be
careful not to touch them. Oil, other fluids and spark
plugs may also be hot.

If the engine is hot, do not remove the radiator cap or
loosen the drain plugs to prevent burning yourself.

Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open flames
around fuel or the battery. Their fumes are
flammable.

Do not get under your vehicle with just the body jack
supporting it. Always use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.

Use eye protection whenever you work on or under
your vehicle where you may be exposed to flying or
falling material, fluid spray, etc.

Be extremely cautious when working on the battery.
It contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.