Towing Lexus GX470 2008 User Guide

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2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Trailer towing tipsYour vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. The 3 main
causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed and
improper trailer loading. Keep the following in mind when towing.
● Before starting out, check the trailer lights and the vehicle-trailer con-
nections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and rever sing with the trailer attached in an
area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel of the
vehicle.
● Reversing with a trailer attached 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 right. (This is generally opposite to reversing without a trailer
attached.) Avoid sharp or prolon ged turning. Have someone guide
you when reversing to reduce the risk of an accident.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.
● 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, and slow down before making
turns.

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2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in “P”. Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so
only after performing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into “P” and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in the “P” position, start the engine. Be sure
to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into “3”, “2”, “L”, or “R” position (if reversing).
Release the parking brake and brake pedal, and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
CAUTION
■To avoid an accident
●Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is
lower. A instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination increases
as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may cause loss of control.
●Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do
not make sudden downshifts.
●Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too fre-
quently.
This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.
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2-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on the
ground) behind a motor home.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
FuseAmpereCircuit
35A/F HEATER15A/F sensor
36TRN-HAZ15Turn signal lights
37ETCS10Electronic throttle control system
38EFI20
Multiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection
system
39D FR P/W20Po w e r w i n d o w
40DR/LCK25Po w e r d o o r l o c k
41TOW I NG30Towing converter
42RADIO NO.230Audio system, navigation system
43A/PUMP50
Multiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection
system

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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 engine 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 chain secured to the emergency towing
eyelet. This should only attempted on hard, surfaced roads for short dis-
tances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The vehi-
cle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steer ing and brakes must be in good condi-
tion.
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by your
Lexus dealer or a commercial towing se rvice, 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.
The wheels and axle on the ground must be in good condition.
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flat bed truck.

5
When trouble arises
373
5-1. Essential information
Towing eyelets
■Emergency towing procedureRelease the parking brake.
Put the shift lever in “N”.
The engine switch must be in the “ACC” position (engine off) or the “ON”
position (engine on).
CAUTION
■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 engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not
function, making steering and braking more difficult.
●Put the vehicle height in the “N” (normal) mode and push the height control
“OFF” switch to turn off rear height control air suspension. Otherwise the auto-
matic leveling function may adjust the vehicle height unexpectedly, resulting in an
accident.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the rear with four wheels on the ground.
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5-1. Essential information
Towing with a sling-type truck
Towing with a wheel lift-type truckFrom front Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
NOTICE
■To prevent body damage
Do not tow with a sling type truck, either from the front or rear.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground.

5
When trouble arises
375
5-1. Essential information
From rearUse a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
NOTICE
■To prevent damaging the vehicle
●Do not tow the vehicle with the engine switch in the “LOCK” position.
The steering lock mechanism is not strong 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. Without adequate clearance, the vehicle
could be damaged while being towed.

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Firmly tighten each nut two or
three times in the order shown in
the illustration.
Tightening torque:
83 ft•lbf (112 N•m, 11.5 kgf•m)
Reinstall the wheel ornament.
Stowing the flat/spare tire, jack and toolsLay down the tire with the outer
side facing up, and install the hold-
ing bracket.
Raise the tire.
Vehicles with kinetic dynamic suspension: Pull the tire towards
the rear of the vehicle when raising. After raising, visually check
that the tire is not interfering with suspension components.
Stow the tools and jack securely, and replace all covers.
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When trouble arises
401
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
NOTICE
■Do not drive the vehicle with a flat tire
Do not continue driving with a flat tire.
Driving even a short distance with a flat tire can damage the tire and the wheel
beyond repair.
■When stowing the flat tire
●Ensure that there is no object caught between the tire and the vehicle underbody.
●Vehicles with kinetic dynamic suspension: To avoid damaging the suspension sys-
tem, make sure that the spare tire does not interfere with the suspension compo-
nents when stowed.
■When replacing the tires
●When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, contact your Lexus dealer as the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
●Replace the grommets for the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters as
well.
■To avoid damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
Do not use liquid sealants on flat tires.