towing Lexus GX470 2005 Pictorial Index / LEXUS 2005 GX470 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM60B11U)

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
58
ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
Normal range
The gauge indicates the engine coolant temperature when
the ignition switch is on. The engine operating
temperature w ill vary with changes in weather and engine
load.
If the needle points to the red zone or higher, stop your vehicle
and allow the engine to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe operating conditions,
such as:
 Driving up a long hill on a hot day.
 Reducing speed or stopping after high speed driving.
 Idling for a long period with the air conditioning on in
stop±and±go traffic.
 Towing a trailer.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
148
Second and third seats
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, press the
lock release button and push the head restraint down.
Second center head restraint: When an occupant sits on the
second center seat, always pull up the head restraint to the lock
position.
The head restraint is most effective when it is close to your
head. Therefore, using a cushion on the seatback is not
recommended.
CAUTION
 Adjust the center of the head restraint so that it is
closest to the top of your ears.
 After adjusting the head restraint, make sure it is
locked in position.
 Do not drive with the head restraints removed.
Stowing the third center head restraint
The third center head restraint can be stowed in the right
side third seatback when they are not in use.
To stow the head restraint, unfasten the zippers behind
the seatback and stow it into the seatback.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
157
CAUTION
Do not use the third center seat belt with either buckle
release. Fastening only the shoulder belt or lap belt may
cause severe personal injury in case of sudden braking
or a collision.
STOWING THE THIRD CENTER SEAT BELT
Stow the seat belt tabs into the cover of the roof as shown
above.
Make sure the tabs are securely locked in the cover.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
158PULLING OUT THE THIRD CENTER SEAT BELT
Pull
the belt out a little and pull the tabs out from the cover.
Stowing the second and third seat belt
buckles

Second seat

Third seat

STARTING AND DRIVING
405

1Brake pedal2ªDº (Drive) position
2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the
selector lever to ªDº.
Always use the ªDº position to improve fuel economy and quiet
driving. Only in this position, shifting into the overdrive gear is
possible. However, while the engine coolant temperature is
low, the transmission will not shift into the overdrive gear even
in the ªDº position. (See ª(b) Using engine brakingº and\
ª(f)
Good driving practiceº for exceptions.)
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress
the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth starting.
In normal cruising, the vehicle will start in first gear and
automatically shift up to the most suitable gear. On inclines,
declines or winding roads, etc., the vehicle shifts up and down
automatically according to the running conditions to obtain the
suitable driving power and engine braking.
When the lever is in the ª4º position, the automatic
transmission system will select the most suitable gear for the
running conditions such as hill climbing, hard towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, depress the
accelerator pedal to the full throttle position. This provides
more acceleration by automatically downshifting the
transmission to the next lower gear or beyond, depending on
the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a long hill,
see ª(b) Using engine brakingº.

STARTING AND DRIVING
407
(c) Using the ª3º, ª2º and ªLº positions
The ª3º, ª2º and ªLº positions are used for strong engine\
braking
as described previously.
With the selector lever in ª3º, ª2º or ªLº, you can start the vehicle
in motion as with the lever in ªDº.
With the selector lever in ª3º or ª2º, the vehicle will star\
t in first
gear and automatically shift to second gear.
With the selector lever in ªLº, the transmission is engaged in
first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to over±rev the engine. Watch the tachometer to keep engine rpm from going into thered zone. The approximate maximum allowablespeed for each position is given below for yourreference:
Transmission Transfer ªLº ªHº
ª3º 60 km/h (37 mph) 154 km/h (96 mph) ª2º 41 km/h (25 mph) 105 km/h (65 mph)ªLº 24 km/h (15 mph) 61 km/h (38 mph)
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time in the ª3º, ª2º or ªLº position. This may causesevere automatic transmission damage from
overheating. To prevent such damage, ª4º positionshould be used in hill climbing or hard towing.

STARTING AND DRIVING
410
When towing a trailer, in order to maintain efficient engine
braking and electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped
with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from
creeping.
NOTICE
Always use the brake pedal or parking brake to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Do not attempt to hold the vehicle using the accelerator pedal, as this can causethe transmission to overheat.

SECTION 3 ± 2
458
STARTING AND DRIVING
Driving tips
Off±road vehicle precautions459
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Break±in period 460
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Operation in foreign countries 461
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Tips for driving in various conditions s 461. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
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Off±road driving precautions 464
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Winter driving tips 467
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Dinghy towing 469
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Trailer towing 470
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How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer 482
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Vehicle load limits 483
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Cargo and luggage 485
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DRIVING TIPS
469
Do not use your parking brake when there is a possibility
it could freeze.
When
parking, put the transmission into ªPº and block the front
wheels. Do not use the parking brake, or snow or water
accumulated in and around the parking brake mechanism may
freeze the parking brake, making it hard to release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders can make steering
difficult. During bad winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving, we recommend you
carry some emergency equipment.
Some of the thi ngs you might put in the vehicle are tire chains,
window scraper, bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.
DINGHY TOWING
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with four
wheels on the ground) behind a motorhome.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground. This may cause serious damage to your vehicle.

DRIVING TIPS
470
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger±and±load
carrying vehicle. Towing a trailer will have an adverse ef fect on
handling, performance, braking, durability and driving
economy (fuel consumption, etc.). Your safety and satisfaction
depend on the proper use of correct equipment and cautious
driving habits. For your safety and the safety of others, you
must not overload your vehicle or trailer. Lexus warranties do
not apply to damage or malfunction caused by towing a trailer
for commercial purposes. Ask your local Lexus dealer for
further details before towing.
CAUTION
When disconnecting a trailer, put the vehicle height in
the ªLOº (low) mode and push the ªHEIGHT CONTROL
OFFº switch to turn off the rear height control air
suspension. Otherwise, the vehicle height may be
changed in the automatic leveling function, resulting in
accident. For details see ªRear height control air
suspensionº on page 422.
Weight limits
Before towing, make sure the total trailer weight, gross
vehicle weight, gross axle weight and trailer tongue load
are all within the limits.
The total trailer weight and tongue load can be measured with
platform scales found at a highway weighing station, building
supply company, trucking company, junk yard, etc.

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