emergency towing LEXUS LS500 2018 Owners Manual

14 Pictorial index
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) ■ Instrument panel
Engine switch ........................................................................................................... P.160
Starting the engine/changing the modes ......... ....................................................... P.160
Emergency stop of the engine ........................ ............................................................. P.410
When the engine will not start ..................................................................................... P.433
Warning messages .......................................................................................................... P.428
Shift lever................................................................................................................... P .163
Changing the shift position ............................................................................................ P.165
Precautions for towing .....................................................................................................P.41 2
Meters .................................................................................................................. P.69, 7 2
Reading the meters/adjusting the instru ment panel light............ P.69, 71, 72, 75
Warning lights/indicator lights ...................................................................................... P.64
When a warning light turns on ..................................................................................... P.418
Multi-information display ....................................................................................... P.76
Display ........................................................................................................................ .............. P.76
When a warning message is displayed.................................................................... P.428
Parking brake switch ............................................................................................. P.170 A
B
C
D
E

2034-5. Using the driving support systems
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving ■
Enabling/disabling the pre-colli-
sion system
The pre-collision system can be
enabled/disabled on ( → P.76) of
the multi-information display. The system is automa tically enabled each
time the engine switch is turned to IGNI-
TION ON mode
If the system is disabled, the PCS warn-
ing light will turn on and a message will
be displayed on the multi-information
display.
If the pre-collision sy stem is disabled,
the pedestrian alert system will also be
disabled. At this time, the FCTA (Front
Cross Traffic Alert) ( → P.218) system
will also be disabled.
■
Enabling/Disabling the pedestrian
alert system
The pedestrian alert can be
enabled/disabled on ( → P.76) of
the multi-information display. At this
time, the FCTA (Front Cross Traffic
Alert) system will also be enabled/dis-
abled.WARNING●
When your vehicle is towing another
vehicle●
When transporting the vehicle via
truck, boat, train or similar means of
transportation●
When the vehicle is raised on a lift with
the engine running and the tires are
allowed to rotate freely●
When inspecting the vehicle using a
drum tester such as a chassis dyna-
mometer or speedometer tester, or
when using an on vehicle wheel bal-
ancer●
When a strong impact has been
applied to the front bumper, rear
bumper or front grille, due to an acci-
dent or other situation●
If the vehicle cannot be driven in a sta-
ble manner, such as when the vehicle
has been in an accident or is malfunc-
tioning●
When the vehicle is driven in a sporty
manner or off-road●
When the tires are not properly
inflated
●
When the tires are very worn
●
When tires of a size other than speci-
fied are installed
●
When tire chains are installed
●
When a compact spare tire or an
emergency tire puncture repair kit is
used
●
If equipment (snow plow, etc.) that may
obstruct a sensor is temporarily
installed to the vehicle Changing settings of the pre-col-
lision system

270 4-5. Using the driving support systems
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) • Pedestrians who are bending forward or
squatting
• Pedestrians who are lying down
• Pedestrians who are running
• Pedestrians who suddenly enter the
detection area
• Pedestrians riding a bicycle, skateboard,
or other light vehicle
• Pedestrians wearing oversized clothing
such as a rain coat, long skirt, etc., making
their silhouette obscure
• Pedestrians whose body is partially hid-
den by an object, such as a cart or
umbrella
• Pedestrians which are obscured by dark-
ness, such as at night●
In some situations, such as the following,
pedestrians may not be detected by the
rear camera detection function, prevent-
ing the function from operating properly:
• When backing up in inclement weather
(rain, snow, fog, etc.)
• When the rear camera is obscured (dirt,
snow, ice, etc. are attached) or scratched
• When a very bright light, such as the sun,
or the headlights of another vehicle,
shines directly into the rear camera
• When backing up in a place where the
surrounding brightness changes sud-
denly, such as at the entrance or exit of a
garage or underground parking lot
• When backing up in a dim environment
such as during dusk or in an underground
parking lot●
Even though there are no pedestrians in
the detection area, some objects, such as
the following, may be detected, possibly
causing the rear camera detection func-
tion to operate.
• Three dimensional objects, such as a
pole, traffic cone, fence, or parked vehi-
cle
• Moving objects, such as a car or motor-
cycle
• Objects moving toward your vehicle
when backing up, such as flags or pud-
dles (or airborne matter, such as smoke,
steam, rain, or snow)
• Cobblestone or gravel roads, tram rails,
road repairs, white lines, pedestrian
crossings or fallen leaves on the road
• Metal covers (gratings), such as those
used for drainage ditches • Objects reflected in a puddle or on a wet
road surface
• The roadside or bumps on the road
•Shadows on the road ●
In some situations, such as the following,
the rear camera detection function may
operate even though there are no pedes-
trians in the detection area.
• When backing up toward the roadside or
a bump on the road
• If the vehicle is signif icantly tilted, such as
when carrying a heavy load
• When backing up toward an
incline/decline
• If the suspension has been modified or
tires of a size othe r than specified are
installed
• If the rear of the vehicle is raised or low-
ered due to the carried load
• If an electronic component, such as a
backlit license plate or rear fog light, is
installed near the rear camera
• If a bumper protector, such as an addi-
tional trim strip, is installed to the rear
bumper
• If the orientation of the rear camera has
been changed due to a collision or other
impact, or removal and installation
• If a towing eyelet is in stalled to the rear of
the vehicle
• When water is flowing over the rear cam-
era lens
• When the rear camera is obscured (dirt,
snow, ice, etc. are at tached) or scratched
• If there is a flashing light in the detection
area, such as the emergency flashers of
another vehicle ●
Situations in which the rear camera
detection function may be difficult to
notice
• If buzzer may be difficult to hear if the
surrounding area is noisy, the volume of
the audio system volume is high, the air
conditioning system is being used, etc.
• If the temperature in the cabin is
extremely high or low, the audio system
screen may not operate correctly.

288 4-5. Using the driving support systems
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) denly, such as at the entrance or exit of a
garage or underground parking lot
• When backing up in a dim environment
such as during dusk or in an underground
parking lot●
Even though there are no pedestrians in
the detection area, some objects, such as
the following, may be detected, possibly
causing the Parking Support Brake func-
tion (rear pedestri ans) to operate.
• Three dimensional objects, such as a
pole, traffic cone, fence, or parked vehi-
cle
• Moving objects, such as a car or motor-
cycle
• Objects moving toward your vehicle
when backing up, such as flags or pud-
dles (or airborne matter, such as smoke,
steam, rain, or snow)
• Cobblestone or gravel roads, tram rails,
road repairs, white lines, pedestrian
crossings or fallen leaves on the road
• Metal covers (gratings), such as those
used for drainage ditches
• Objects reflected in a puddle or on a wet
road surface
• The roadside or bumps on the road
•Shadows on the road ●
In some situations, such as the following,
the Parking Support Brake function (rear
pedestrians) may operate even though
there are no pedestrians in the detection
area.
• When backing up toward the roadside or
a bump on the road
• If the vehicle is significantly tilted, such as
when carrying a heavy load
• When backing up toward an
incline/decline
• If the suspension has been modified or
tires of a size other than specified are
installed
• If the rear of the vehicle is raised or low-
ered due to the carried load
• If an electronic component, such as a
backlit license plate or rear fog light, is
installed near the rear camera
• If a bumper protector, such as an addi-
tional trim strip, is installed to the rear
bumper
• If the orientation of the rear camera has
been changed due to a collision or other
impact, or remova l and installation • If a towing eyelet is in stalled to the rear of
the vehicle
• When water is flowing over the rear cam-
era lens
• When the rear camera is obscured (dirt,
snow, ice, etc. are at tached) or scratched
• If there is a flashing light in the detection
area, such as the emergency flashers of
another vehicle

358 5-6. Using the other interior features
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) The following indicator light patterns
indicate specific system usage condi-
tions:
 Green indicator light on = Active
service
 Green indicator light flashing =
Safety Connect call in process
 Red indicator light (except at vehi-
cle start-up) = System malfunction
(contact your Lexus dealer)
 No indicator light (off) = Safety
Connect service not active ■
Automatic Collision Notification
In case of either airbag deployment or
severe rear-end collision, the system is
designed to automatically call the
response center. The responding agent
receives the vehicle’s location and
attempts to speak with the vehicle
occupants to assess the level of emer-
gency. If the occupants are unable to
communicate, the ag ent automatically
treats the call as an emergency, con-
tacts the nearest emergency services
provider to describe the situation, and
requests that assistance be sent to the
location. ■
Stolen Vehicle Location
If your vehicle is stolen, Safety Connect
can work with local authorities to assist
them in locating and recovering the
vehicle. After filing a police report, call
the Safety Connect response center at
1-800-25-LEXUS
(1-800-255-3987) and follow the prompts for Safety Connect to initiate
this service.
In addition to assisting law enforce-
ment with recovery of a stolen vehicle,
Safety-Connect-equipped vehicle
location data may, under certain cir-
cumstances, be shared with third par-
ties to locate your vehicle. Further
information is available at Lexus.com. ■
Emergency Assistance Button
(“SOS”)
In the event of an emergency on the
road, push the “SOS” button to reach
the Safety Connect response center.
The answering agent will determine
your vehicle’s location, assess the
emergency, and dispatch the neces-
sary assistance required. If you accidentally press the “SOS” button,
tell the response-center agent that you are
not experiencing an emergency. ■
Enhanced Roadside Assistance
Enhanced Roadside Assistance adds
GPS data to the already included war-
ranty-based Lexus roadside service.
Subscribers can press the “SOS” but-
ton to reach a Safety Connect
response-center agent, who can help
with a wide range of needs, such as:
towing, flat tire, fuel delivery, etc. For a
description of the Roadside Assistance
services and their limitations, please
see the Safety Connect Terms and
Conditions, which are available at
Lexus.com.Safety Connect services

412 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be
towed If towing is ne cessary, we recom-
mend having your vehicle towed by
your Lexus dealer or commercial
towing service, using a wheel-lift
type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all
towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws. WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury. ■
When towing the vehicle 
2WD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the driv etrain and related
parts may be damaged or an accident
may occur due to a change in direction
of the vehicle. 
AWD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the driv etrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehicle may
fly off the truck.
■
While towing ●
When towing using cables or chains,
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets,
cables or chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people,
and cause serious damage.
●
Make sure to disable all functions of
the vehicle height control of the elec-
tronically modulated air suspension.
Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change and part of your body may be
caught under the vehicle, possibly
causing injury. ( → P.293)
●
Do not turn the engine switch off.
This may lead to an accident as the
rear wheels will be locked by the park-
ing lock.
Also, there is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and cannot be
operated.

4137-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises
In the following situations, it is not pos-
sible to be towed by another vehicle
using cables or chains, as the rear
wheels may be locked due to the park-
ing lock. Contact your Lexus dealer or
commercial towing service.
 There is a malfunction in the shift control system. ( → P.163, 428)
 There is a malfunction in the engine
immobilizer system. ( → P.58)
 There is a malfunction in the smart
access system with push-button
start. ( → P.436)
 The battery is discharged.
( → P.438)
The following may indicate a problem
with your transmission. Contact your
Lexus dealer or commercial towing
service before towing.
 The engine is running but the vehi-
cle does not move.
 The vehicle makes an abnormal
sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck to
prevent body damage.WARNING■
Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets
may come loose during towing.
NOTICE■
To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing using a wheel-lift type
truck●
Do not tow the vehicle from the rear
when the engine switch is off. The
steering lock mechanism is not strong
enough to hold the front wheels
straight.●
When raising the vehicle, ensure ade-
quate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle.
Without adequate clearance, the vehi-
cle could be damaged while being
towed.■
To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either
from the front or rear.
■
To prevent damage to the vehicle
during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the
suspension components.
Situations when it is not possible
to be towed by another vehicle Situations when it is necessary to
contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck

414 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 
From the front
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels. 
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
If your vehicle is transported by a flat-
bed truck, it should be tied down at the
locations shown in the illustration. If you use chains or cables to tie down
your vehicle, the angles shaded in
black must be 45°.
Do not overly tighten the tie downs or
the vehicle may be damaged.
Make sure to disable all functions of
the vehicle height control of the elec-
tronically modulated air suspension.
Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change and the vehicle may be dam-
aged. ( → P.293)
If a tow truck is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed using cables or chains
secured to the emergency towing eye-
lets. This should only be attempted on
hard surfaced roads for short distances
at under 18 mph (30 km/h).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer
and operate the brakes. The vehicle’s Towing with a wheel-lift type
truck
Using a flatbed truck
Emergency towing

4157-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises wheels, drive train, axles, steering and
brakes must be in good condition.
To have your vehicle towed by another
vehicle, the towing eyelet must be
installed to your vehicle. Install the tow-
ing eyelet using the following proce-
dure.
1 Take out the phillips-head screw-
driver and towing eyelet.
Phillips-head screwdriver
Towing eyelet
2 Remove the eyelet cover using a
flathead screwdriver.To protect the bodywork, place a rag
between the screwdriver and the vehicle
body as shown in the illustration. 3 Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by hand.
4 Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a phillips-head
screwdriver or hard metal bar.
5 Securely attach cables or chains to
the towing eyelet. Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
6 Enter the vehicle being towed and
start the engine. If the engine does not start, turn the engine
switch to IGNITION ON mode.
7 Shift the shift position to N and
release the parking brake. ■
While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist
for the brakes and steering will not function,
making steering and braking more difficult.Emergency towing procedure
A
B

446 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 1 Stop the engine. Set the parking
brake and shift the shift position to
P.
2 Remove the mud, snow or sand
from around the rear wheels.
3 Place wood, stones or some other
material under the rear wheels to
help provide traction.
4 Restart the engine.
5 Shift the shift position to D or R and
release the parking brake. Then,
while exercising caution, depress
the accelerator pedal. ■
When it is difficult to free the vehicle
Press the switch to turn off TRAC.If the vehicle becomes stuck Carry out the following proce-
dures if the tires spin or the vehicle
becomes stuck in mud, dirt or snow:
Recovering procedure WARNING■
When attempting to free a stuck vehi-
cle
If you choose to push the vehicle back
and forth to free it, make sure the sur-
rounding area is clear to avoid striking
other vehicles, obje cts or people. The
vehicle may also lunge forward or lunge
back suddenly as it becomes free. Use
extreme caution. ■
When shifting the shift position
Be careful not to shift the shift position
with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to un expected rapid accel-
eration of the vehicle that may cause an
accident resulting in death or serious
injury.
NOTICE■
To avoid damaging the transmission
and other components ●
Avoid spinning the rear wheels and
depressing the accelerator pedal
more than necessary. ●
If the vehicle remains stuck even after
these procedures are performed, the
vehicle may require towing to be freed.