2004 Lexus GX470 ECO mode

STARTING AND DRIVING
412
REAR HEIGHT CONTROL AIRSUSPENSION
This rear height control air suspension controls the
vehicle height depending on the vehicle driving condition.
Select your desired height among the HIº (high), Nº
(normal) and LOº (low) modes with the height select
switch.
(a) Vehicle height modes
Nº (normal) mode: The vehicle height in this mode is
standard. Regardless of the number of occupants or the
luggage loading condition, the vehicle height is always
automatically adjusted to a fixed height in any mode while the
engine is running.
This mode is suitable for ordinary driving. HIº
(high) mode: The vehicle height is about 40 mm (1.6 in.)
higher at the rear than the Nº mode height.
This mode is suitable when driving on the bumpy roads and
through water.
However, when the vehicle speed exceeds about 30 km/h (19
mph) or over in the HIº mode, the Nº mode is automatically
selected.
CAUTION
The HIº mode should be used for severe off-road
driving condition only. As the vehicle's center of gravity
is higher in this setting, the vehicle may become
unstable when turning abruptly resulting in accident.
LOº (low) mode: The vehicle height is about 20 mm (0.8 in.)
lower at the rear than the Nº mode height.
This mode allows you easy access to the vehicle (getting in and
out) and easy loading and unloading operation.
This mode is available when the vehicle speed is under about
12 km/h (7 mph).

STARTING AND DRIVING
414In the following cases, the rear height control suspension
will not operate.

The underbody of the vehicle has touched the surface on
bumpy roads.
 The area around the rear suspension is coated with ice.
If the vehicle is moved to its usual location or the ice is removed
and the height select switch is pressed, the vehicle height
control cannot be operated. In this case, turn off and restart the
engine, then push the control switches.
(c) Vehicle height adjustment

1Higher2Lower
To change the mode, push the height select switch on
either side of  º (higher) or º (lower). The height control indicator light indicates which mode is
selected. (See (e) Height control indicator lightº described
below.)

Selecting the HIº mode
Push the height select switch on the  º side when the vehicle
speed is under about 30 km/h (19 mph).
To change the Nº mode to HIº: Push the switch once.
To change the LOº mode to HIº: Push the switch twice. It
takes about 30 se conds until the LOº mode changes to the HIº
mode.
 Selecting the Nº mode
To change the HIº mode to Nº: Push the height select
switch on the  º side once.
To change the LOº mode to Nº: Push the height select
switch on the  º side once.
 Selecting the LOº mode
Push the height select switch on the º side while the vehicle
is stopped.
To change the Nº mode to LOº: Push the switch once.
To change the HIº mode to LOº: Push the switch twice.
Even if the engine is stopped while the vehicle height is being
lowered, the operation continues for up to 25 seconds. If within
this 25 seconds, any of the side doors or the back door is
opened, operation will continue for a further 15 seconds.

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415
NOTICE
If the vehicle height is changed frequently when thevehicle is heavily loaded, the compressor mayoverheat causing the vehicle height adjustmentoperation to stop.
Before you lower the vehicle height with the heightselect switch, check under the vehicle to make surenothing to dam age the vehicle or no one to be injured
is there and that the underbody of the vehicle does not touch the ground.
After unloading, the height of a vehicle equipped with
the rear height control air suspension becomes
slightly higher than the normal vehicle height. Takesufficient care where the overhead height isrestricted.
Do not select the LOº mode in the bumpy roads. Ifthe underbody of the vehicle touches the ruggedroad surface, the vehicle may be damaged.

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418
(e) Height control indicator lights

1Height control indicator lights
2Height control OFFº indicator light
When the ignition switch is turned on, all the indicator lights
come on. Only the indicator light showing the present mode
remains on and all other lights go off after a few seconds. This
means the system operates correctly.
When you change the vehicle height mode, the indicator lights
change as follows:
When changing the vehicle height from the Nº mode to
HIº:
1. The Nº mode indicator light goes off and the HIº mode
indicator light blinks.
2. After the vehicle height control reaches the HIº mode, the
HIº mode indicator light remains on. If the underbody of the vehicle has touched the surface on
bumpy roads or the area around the rear suspension is
coated with ice, the height control suspension will not
operate and the indicator lights change as follows:
1. The present mode indicator light goes off and the selected
mode indicator light blinks.
2. The selected mode indicator light goes off. (The vehicle
height does not change.) The present mode indicator light
comes on again.
Height control OFFº indicator light: When the ignition
switch is t
urned on, this light comes on. If it goes out after a few
seconds, the rear height control air suspension operates
correctly. If you push the HEIGHT CONTROL OFFº switch,
the rear height control air suspension is turned off. The height
control OFFº indicator light comes on.
In the following cases, there is a problem somewhere in the
rear height control air suspension. Although there is no
problem to continue normal driving, have the rear height
control air suspension checked by your Lexus dealer as soon
as possible.
 The height control OFFº indicator light does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned on.
 The height control OFFº indicator light blinks.

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419
(f) Parking and stopping tips
If you immediately stop the engine to park the vehicle after
off-road driving, the vehicle height is lowered slightly as the
vehicle becomes cool. When parking, make sure there is
nothing that will be in contact with the underbody of the vehicle.
When you start the engine, the vehicle returns to the previous
height.
If you park the vehicle for a long time, the vehicle height may
be gradually lowered. When parking for a long time, make sure
there is nothing that will be in contact with the underbody of the
vehicle. When you start the engine, the vehicle returns to the
previous height.
If you stop the engine, the vehicle height may change in
accordance with the change in the temperature. When you
start the engine, the vehicle returns to the previous height.
(g) Rear height control failure warning
If there is a problem somewhere in the rear height control air
suspension, the Nº mode is automatically selected. If this
occurs, the height control OFFº indicator light blinks and the
vehicle height control cannot be activated until the malfunction
is corrected. If this is the case, bring your vehicle to your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible and have it checked.
ELECTRONIC MODULATED SUSPENSION
This electronic modulated suspension adjusts the
damping effect on the shock absorbers with the control
switch. Select one of the 4 modes which is suited to the
driving conditions with the control switch to provide good
riding comfort and stability.
1For driving on a bumpy road
2For ordinary driving such as in the city traffic
3For moderate high speed driving
4For sporty type driving such as on winding mountain
roads and high speed driving
5Soft
6Firm

STARTING AND DRIVING
420We recommend you to select the mode

2
for ordinary
driving. The damping effect will be changed automatically to
provide good riding comfort.
When your vehicle is loaded heavily or you are driving in an
unpaved road, the mode
3
or 4
will be recommended. To
provide good vehicle stability, the damping effect will be harder
than for ordinary driving mode.
With the four-wheel drive control lever at Lº, the damping
effect suitable for off-road driving will be provided in any mode.
ACTIVE TRACTION CONTROL
SYSTEM
The active traction control system automatically helps
prevent the spinning of 4 wheels when the vehicle is
started or accelerated on slippery road surfaces.
When the ignition key is turned to ONº, the system
automatically turns on.
CAUTION
Under certain slippery road conditions, full traction of
the vehicle and power to the 4 wheels cannot be
maintained, even though the traction control system is
in operation. Do not drive the vehicle under any speed
or maneuvering conditions which may cause the
vehicle to lose traction control. In situations where the
road surface is covered with ice or snow, your vehicle
should be fitted with snow tires or tire chains. Always
drive at an appropriate and cautious speed for the
present road conditions.

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421

Slip indicator light
Leave the system on during the ordinary driving so that it
can operate when needed.
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few
seconds when the engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This means that the active traction control
system is in the self-check mode, but does not indicate a
malfunction.
When the active traction control system is operating, the
following conditions occur:
 The system controls the spinning of the 4 wheels. At this
time, the slip indicator light blinks.
 You may feel vibration or noise in your vehicle, caused by
operation of the brakes. This indicates the system is
functioning properly. The slip indicator light comes on for a few seconds when the
ignition key is turned to ONº. If the indicator light does not
come on when the ignition is turned on, contact your Lexus
dealer.
VSC TRACº warning light
This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in the
following.

Active traction control system
 Vehicle stability control system
 Downhill assist control system
 Hill-start assist control system
When the system is normal and the ignition key is turned to
ONº, the warning light will come on and will go off after a few
seconds. It is not a malfunction that the warning light may stay
on for 60 seconds after the ignition key is turned to the ONº
position.

STARTING AND DRIVING
422Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly may turn on the light.
It is normal if it goes out after a few seconds.
The brake actuator temperature increases during continuous
operation of the above mentioned systems such as on slippery
roads. If the brake actuator temperature becomes too high
while any of the systems is operating, a buzzer will start to
sound intermittently to indicate that the active traction control
system can no longer operate. In this case, immediately stop
your vehicle at a safe place.
If the system continues to operate, the buzzer sound changes
from intermittent to continuous. (The continuous buzzer
sounds for about 3 seconds.) At the time, the VSC TRACº
warning light will come on and the active traction control
system temporarily stops operating in order to protect the
brake actuator. (Although the active traction control system
does
not operate, there is no problem to continue your driving.)
The system will be automatically restored after a short time and
the VSC TRACº warning light goes out.
If the light comes on while driving, the active traction control
system does not work. However, as normal braking operates
when being applied, there is no problem to continue your
driving.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer:
 The warning light does not come on after the ignition key is
turned to ONº.
 The warning light remains on after the ignition key is turned
to ONº.
 The warning light comes on while driving.
VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL
SYSTEM
The vehicle stability control system helps provide
integrated control of the systems such as anti-lock brake
system, traction control, engine control, etc. This system
automatically controls the output of the brakes or engine
to help prevent the vehicle from skidding when cornering
on a slippery road surface or operating steering wheel
abruptly.
This system activates when the vehicle speed about more than
15 km/h (9mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few
seconds when the engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This means that the system is in the
self-check mode, but does not indicate a malfunction.
CAUTION
 Do not rely excessively on the vehicle stability
control system. Even if the vehicle stability control
system is operating, you must always drive carefully
and attentively to avoid serious injury. Reckless
driving will result in an unexpected accident. If the
slip indicator light blinks and an alarm sounds,
special care should be taken while driving.