Page 336 of 493

DRIVING TIPS
314
CAUTION
Always observe the following precautions to help
minimize the risk of serious personal injury or damage
to your vehicle:
Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take
unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous places.
Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving
off road. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure
your hands. Keep both hands and especially your
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
Always check your brakes for effectiveness
immediately after driving in sand, mud, water or
snow.
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand,
rivers, etc., check that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the
underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materials
trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown
or fire could occur.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing
a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts whenever the vehicle is
moving.
When driving off road or in rugged terrain, do not
drive at excessive speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or
vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage to your vehicle’s
suspension and chassis.
NOTICE
If driving through water, such as when crossing
shallow streams, first check the depth of the water
and the bottom of the river bed for firmness. Drive
slowly and avoid deep water.
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that
water damage to the engine or other components
does not occur.
Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe
engine damage.
Water entering the automatic transmission will cause
deterioration in shift quality, locking up of your
transmission accompanied by vibration, and
ultimately damage.
Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings,
causing rusting and premature failure, and may also
enter the differentials, transmission and transfer
case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricating qualities.
Sand and mud that has accumulated in brake drums
and around brake discs may affect braking ef ficiency
and may damage brake system components.
Page 338 of 493

DRIVING TIPS
316Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the cold
weather.
See page 412 for recommended viscosity. Leaving a heavy
summer oil in your vehicle during winter months may cause
harder starting. If you are not sure about which oil to use, call
your Lexus dealer
− they will be pleased to help.
Check the electronic ignition system for loose
connections or obvious damage.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de −icer or glycerine into the locks to keep them from
freezing.
Use a washer fluid containing an antifreeze solution.
This product is available at your Lexus dealer and most auto
parts stores. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for how
much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any other substitute
because it may damage your vehicle’s paint.
Do not use your parking brake when there is a possibility
it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into “P” and block the front
wheels. Do not use the parking brake, or snow or water
accumulated in and around the parking brake mechanism may
freeze the parking brake, making it hard to release. Keep ice
and snow from accumulating under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders can make steering
difficult. During bad winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving, we recommend you
carry some emergency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the vehicle are tire chains,
window scraper, bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.
Page 343 of 493
DRIVING TIPS
321
32X004a
1Trailer ball load rating 2Ball diameter
3Shank length 4Shank diameter
3. When mounted in the ball mount, the threaded ball shank
must protrude beyond the bottom of the lock washer and nut
at least 2 threads. The trailer ball shank must be matched to
the ball mount hole diameter size.
Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler
height
No matter which class of tow hitch applies, for a safe trailer
hookup, the trailer ball setup on must be the proper height for
the coupler on the trailer.
32x003d
1 Coupler 2Trailer ball
Page 348 of 493
![LEXUS LX470 2006 Owners Manual DRIVING TIPS
326
Because of the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s
engine may overheat on hot days (at temperatures over
30 C [85 F]) when going up a long or steep grade with a
trailer. LEXUS LX470 2006 Owners Manual DRIVING TIPS
326
Because of the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s
engine may overheat on hot days (at temperatures over
30 C [85 F]) when going up a long or steep grade with a
trailer.](/manual-img/36/58004/w960_58004-347.png)
DRIVING TIPS
326
Because of the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s
engine may overheat on hot days (at temperatures over
30 C [85 F]) when going up a long or steep grade with a
trailer. If the engine coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the air conditioning (if in
use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
See “If your vehicle overheats” on page 338.
Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly. Put
the transmission in “P”. Avoid parking on a slope with a
trailer, but if it cannot be avoided, do so only after performing
the following:
1. Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle
and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your brakes
slowly until the blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into “P” and turn off the engine. When restarting out after parking on a slope:
1. With the transmission in “P” position, start the engine. Be
sure to keep the brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift into the “3”, “2”, “L” or “R” position.
3. Release the
parking brake and brake pedal and slowly pull
or back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply your
brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing
speed limit, whichever is lower. Because instability
(swaying) of a towing vehicle trailer combination
usually increases as the speed increases, exceeding
72 km/h (45 mph) 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 too
frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking efficiency.
Page 355 of 493

SECTION 4
333
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
In case of an emergency
If your engine stalls while driving334
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle will not start 334
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you cannot increase engine speed 338
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle overheats 338
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you have a flat tire 339
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
.
If your vehicle becomes stuck 350
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle needs to be towed 351
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever 357
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . .
Lexus link system 358
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . .
If you lose your keys or lock yourself out 384
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page 362 of 493

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
340
Stop the vehicle on a level firm ground, firmly
set the parking brake and put the transmission
in “P”. Block the wheel diagonally opposite to
the one being changed if necessary.
Make sure to set the jack properly in the jack
point. Raising the vehicle with jack improperly
positioned will damage the vehicle or may allow
the vehicle to fall off the jack and cause
personal injury.
Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle is
supported by the jack alone.
Use the jack only for lifting your vehicle during
wheel changing.
Do not raise the vehicle with someone in the
vehicle.
When raising the vehicle, do not place any
objects on top of or underneath the jack.
Raise the vehicle only high enough to remove
and change the tire.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving with a deflated tire.
Driving even a short distance can damage a tire
and wheel beyond repair.
40X002d
On the left side of the luggage compartment
1Tool bag 2Jack
1. Get the tool, jack and spare tire.
To prepare yourself for an emergency, you should
familiarize yourself with the use of the jack and each tool,
and their storage locations.
When storing the jack, put it into place and secure to
prevent it from flying forward during a collision or sudden
braking.
Page 364 of 493
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
342
40X003f
1Lower 2Raise 3Paper
To remove the spare tire:
1. Remove the spare tire carrier lid using a flathead
screwdriver.
2. Insert the end of the jack handle extension into the
lowering screw and turn it counterclockwise with the
handle, making sure the handle remains firmly fitted
onto the jack handle extension.
3. After the tire is lowered completely to the ground,
remove the holding bracket.
When storing the spare tire, put it in place with the outer
side of the wheel facing up. Then secure the tire, taking
care that the tire goes straight up without catching on any
other part, to prevent it fr om flying forward during a
collision or sudden braking.
40X004g
2. Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire to
keep the vehicle from rolling when it is jacked up.
When blocking a wheel, place a wheel block in front of
the front wheels or behind the rear wheels.
Page 365 of 493
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
343
40X005d
Paper for protecting surface
3. Remove the wheel ornament.
Pry off the wheel ornament, using the beveled end of the
wheel ornament remover as shown.
CAUTION
Do not try to pull off the ornament by hand. Take
due care in handling the ornament to avoid
unexpected personal injury.
40X006c
4.Loosen all the wheel nuts.
Always loosen the wheel nuts before raising the vehicle.
Turn the wheel nuts counterclockwise to loosen them.
To get maximum leverage, fit the wrench to the nut so
that the handle is on the right side, as shown above.
Grab the wrench near the end of the handle and pull up
on the handle. Be careful that the wrench does not slip
off the nut.
Do not remove the nuts yet − just unscrew them about
one−half turn.
CAUTION
Never use oil or grease on the bolts or nuts. The
nuts may loosen and the wheels may fall off, which
could cause a serious accident.