2004 Lexus GX470 Engine / LEXUS 2004 GX470 FROM AUG. 2004 THROUGH SEP. 2004 PROD. OWNER'S MANUAL (OM60B55U)

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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
416
(d) Turning off the rear height control airsuspension
To turn off the rear height control air suspension with the
vehicle stopped, push the HEIGHT CONTROL OFFº
switch. The height control OFFº indicator light comes on
and the vehicle height is fixed in the same mode as the
height control switch is pushed.
This status is memorized in the system even after the engine
is stopped.
If you push the switch again, the height control OFFº indicator
light goes out and the rear height control air suspension is
turned on.
Even after the rear height control air suspension is turned off
with the HEIGHT CONTROL OFFº switch, if the vehicle speed
exceeds 30 km/h (19 mph), the rear height control air
suspension automatically selects the Nº mode.
CAUTION
If you drive through deep water over about 700 mm (28
in.) in depth, put the vehicle height in the HIº mode with
the height select switch and then turn off the rear height
control air suspension by pushing the HEIGHT
CONTROL OFFº switch.

STARTING AND DRIVING
417
NOTICE
When jacking up or installing tire chains, be sure toturn off the rear height control air suspension withthe HEIGHT CONTROL OFFº switch and stop theengine. Otherwise, the vehicle height may changebecause of the automatic leveling function resultingin accident.
If your vehicle must be towed, put the vehicle heightin the Nº mode and turn off the rear height control airsuspension. Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change because of the automatic leveling functionresulting in accident.
If your vehicle gets ditched, turn off the rear heightcontrol air suspension with the HEIGHT CONTROLOFFº switch. Otherwise, the vehicle height maychange because of the automatic leveling functionresulting in accident.

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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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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.