2006 Lexus GS430 ECO mode

STARTING AND DRIVING
420(a) Turning the system on
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To operate conventional cruise control mode, push the
“ON−OFF” button. This turns the system on. The “CRUISE”
indicator
light in the instrument cluster comes on and “RADAR
READY” appears on the multi −information display. Push the
control lever in the “MODE” direction for longer than 1 second
to change to conventional cruise control mode. The message
“RADAR READY” on the multi− information display will turn off.
You can now set your desired cruising speed. Pushing the
“ON−OFF” button again will turn the system completely off and
“CRUISE OFF” will appear on the multi −information display.
However, once the vehicle− to−vehicle distance control mode
activates and is used, it cannot be changed to the conventional
(fixed speed) cruise control mode using the above operation.
To change the mode, push the “ON −OFF” button to turn the
system off and then push it again to turn it on. Next push the
lever in the “MODE” direction for longer than about 1 second. When the engine switch is turned off, the system is also
automatically turned off. To use the dynamic radar cruise
control again, push the “ON
−OFF” button again to turn it on.
CAUTION
To avoid accidentally engaging cruise control , keep the
“ONOFF” button off when not using dynamic radar
cruise control.

STARTING AND DRIVING
422In the following cases, the preset speed automatically
cancels out:
a. The vehicle speed falls below about 40km/h (25 mph).
b. If the vehicle speed drops 16 km/h (10 mph) below the
preset speed, the preset speed will also automatically be
cancelled.
c. The control lever is presse
d downward in the “– SET”
direction and held at less than about 45 km/h (28 mph). (45
km/h (28 mph) is designated as a lower preset speed limit .)
If the vehicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the
preset speed data is cleared and you must set the speed from
the beginning.
If cancelled by the above cases, the multi −information display
shows nothing and the conventional cruise control enters the
ready mode.
If the preset speed automatically cancels out for other than the
above reasons, do not operate the cruise control. Although it
is no problem to continue driving, have your vehicle checked
by your Lexus dealer at the earliest opportunity.
3 Resetting to a faster speed
Press the control lever upward in the “+ RES” direction and
hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed is attained.
While the lever is held upward, the vehicle will gradually gain
speed.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can be
increased 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever upward in the “+ RES” direction quickly within 0.6
seconds.
A quicker way to reset the speed is to accelerate and then
press the control lever downward in the “– SET” direction.

STARTING AND DRIVING
423
4Resetting to a slower speed
Press the c ontrol lever downward in the “– SET” direction and
hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed is attained.
While the lever is held downward, the vehicle speed will
gradually decrease.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can be
lowered 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the control
lever downward in the “– SET” direction quickly within 0.6
seconds.
A quicker way to reset the preset speed is to depress the brake
pedal and then press the control lever downward in the “– SET”
direction.
Even if you downshift the transmission from the “D” or “6” (\
sixth
range) to “5” (fifth range), or from “D” or “5” (f\
ifth range) to “4”
(fourth range) in the conventional cruise control mode, engine
braking will not be applied because this mode is not cancelled.
To slow down, reset the cruise control to a slower speed with
the cruise control lever or depress the brake pedal. If you use
the brake pedal, cruise control is cancelled. 5 Resuming the preset speed
If the preset speed is cancelled by pulling the control lever, by
depressing the brake pedal or vehicle stability control
activation, pushing the lever up in the “+ RES” direction will
restore the speed set prior to cancellation. However, once the
vehicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the preset
speed will not be resumed.
(c) Conventional cruise control mode failure warning
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If the system malfunction is detected when the
conventional cruise control mode is in the ready mode or
operating, the master warning light comes on, a warning
tone sounds and the above message appears.
If this message appears, push the “ON− OFF” button to turn the
system off and then push it again to turn it on. If the setting still
cannot be made or the same message appears again, the
system might have malfunctioned. Although it is no problem
to continue driving, contact your Lexus dealer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
425
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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 just after the vehicle begins to move. This means that
the traction control system is in the self −check mode, but does
not indicate a malfunction.
When the traction control system is operating, the following
conditions occur:
 The system controls the spinning of the drive 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.
GS430—The slip indicator light comes on when the engine
switch is selected in “IG− ON” mode. The light goes off when
the engine is started. GS300—The slip indicator light comes on for a few seconds
when the engine switch is selected in “IG
−ON” mode.
If the indicator light does not come on when the engine switch
is selected in “IG −ON” mode, contact your Lexus dealer.
Traction control off mode
(twowheel drive models only)
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If your wheels get stuck in a ditch when you are driving on
a severe off road and sand, turn off the traction control
system. This system that controls engine performance
interferes with the process of freeing your wheels.
To turn off: Push “TRAC OFF” switch.
The slip indicator light will come on.
The vehicle stability control system is always activated even if
the traction control system is turned off.

STARTING AND DRIVING
426GS430
only—When the vehicle speed exceeds about 50 km/h
(30 mph) even if the traction control system is turned off, the
system turns on automatically.
To turn on: Push “TRAC OFF” switch once again.
The slip indicator light will go off.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer:
 The slip indicator light does not come on when the engine
switch is selected in “IG −ON” mode.
 The slip indicator light remains on after the engine is started
(GS430), or remains on a few seconds after the engine
switch is selected in “IG− ON” mode (GS300).
 The slip indicator light comes on in the normal driving mode
while driving.
Traction control system failure warning
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 1
GS430 2GS300
If the traction control system malfunctions, the slip
indicator light (twowheel drive models only) and brake
system warning light (yellow) come on. At this time, the
above message appears. (GS430 only—In some cases,
the multiinformation display shows either “CHECK VSC”
or “CHECK ECB*” only.)
*: Electronically Controlled Brake System
If the message appears, the traction control system, vehicle
stability control system and hill− start assist control system do
not work. Although it is no problem to continue driving, have
your vehicle checked by your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.

STARTING AND DRIVING
427
VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROLSYSTEM
The vehicle stability control system helps provide
comprehensive control of the systems such as antilock
brake system, traction control, engine control, etc. This
system automatically controls the brakes and engine to
help prevent the vehicle from skidding when cornering on
a slippery road surface or operating steering wheel
abruptly.
The vehicle stability control system is activated when the
vehicle speed is about more than 15 km/h (9 mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few
seconds 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 accident. If the slip indicator
light blinks, sounding an alarm, special care should
be taken while driving.
 Only use tires of specified size. The size,
manufacturer, brand and tread pattern for all 4 tires
should be the same. If you use the tires other than
specified, or different type or size, the vehicle
stability control system may not function correctly.
When replacing the tires or wheels, contact your
Lexus dealer.
 In situations where the road surface is covered with
ice or snow, your vehicle should be fitted with snow
tires or tire chains.

STARTING AND DRIVING
428
G31038
Slip indicator light
If the vehicle is going to skid during driving, the slip indicator
light blinks and an alarm sounds intermittently. Special care
should be taken while driving.
GS430—The slip indicator light comes on when the engine
switch is selected in “IG− ON” mode. The light goes off when
the engine is started.
GS300—The slip indicator light comes on for a few seconds
when the engine switch is selected in “IG −ON” mode.
If the indicator light does not come on when the engine switch
is selected in “IG −ON” mode, contact your Lexus dealer.
Vehicle stability control failure warning
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 1
GS430 2GS300
If the vehicle stability control system malfunctions, the
slip indicator light (twowheel drive models only) and
brake system warning light (yellow) come on. At this time,
the above message appears. (GS430 only—In some
cases, the multiinformation display shows either
“CHECK VSC” or “CHECK ECB*” only.)
*: Electronically Controlled Brake System
If the message appears, the vehicle stability control system,
traction control system and hill −start assist control system do
not work. Although it is no problem to continue driving, have
your vehicle checked by your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.

STARTING AND DRIVING
430GS430—The slip indicator light comes on when the engine
switch is selected in “IG−
ON” mode. The light goes off when
the engine is started.
GS300—The slip indicator light comes on for a few seconds
when the engine switch is selected in “IG −ON” mode.
If the indicator light does not come on when the engine switch
is selected in “IG −ON” mode, contact your Lexus dealer.
Keep the following in mind when driving:
 The hill −start assist control system operates for 5 seconds
maximally. If both the brake and accelerator pedals remain
undepressed for longer than 5 seconds, the system will
gradually stop operating.
 The hill− start assist control system is not designed for
stopping the vehicle on an uphill slope. When stopping the
vehicle, be sure to depress the brake pedal.
Hillstart assist control system failure
warning
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 1 GS430 2GS300
If the hillstart assist control system malfunctions, the
slip indicator light (twowheel drive models only) and
brake system warning light (yellow) come on. At this time,
the above message appears. (GS430 only—In some
cases, the multiinformation display shows either
“CHECK VSC” or “CHECK ECB*” only.)
*: Electronically Controlled Brake System
If the message appears, the hill−start assist control system,
vehicle stability control system and traction control system do
not work. Although it is no problem to continue driving, have
your vehicle checked by your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.