2006 LEXUS LX470 suspension

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LEXUS
vi
Accessories, spare parts and modification of
your Lexus
A wide variety of non−genuine spare parts and accessories for
Lexus vehicles are currently available in the market. You
should know that Toyota does not warrant these products and
is not responsible for their performance, repair, or
replacement, or for any damage they may cause to, or adverse
effect they may have on, your Lexus vehicle.
This vehicle should not be modified with non −genuine Lexus
products. Modification with non −genuine Lexus products
could af fect its performance, safety or durability, and may even
violate governmental regulations. In addition, damage or
performance problems resulting from the modification may not
be covered under warranty.
If you install any Genuine Accessories such as a bull−bar,
winch, etc., consult your Lexus dealer.
Spark ignition system of your Lexus
The spark ignition system in your Lexus meets all
requirements of the Canadian Interference− Causing
Equipment Standard.
Installation of a mobile twoway radio system
As the installation of a mobile two −way radio system in your
vehicle could affect electronic systems such as the multiport
fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system,
cruise control system, anti −lock brake system, active traction
control system, vehicle stability control system, active height
control system, adaptive variable suspension system, SRS
airbag system and seat belt pretensioner system, be sure to
check with your Lexus dealer for precautionary measures or
special instructions regarding installation.
Tires and loading on your Lexus
Underinflated or overinflated tire pressure and the
excess load may result in the deterioration of steering
ability and braking ability, leading to an accident. Check
the tire inflation pressure periodically and be sure to
keep the load limits given in this Owner’s Manual. For
details about tire inflation pressure and load limits, see
pages 424 and 328.
Scrapping of your Lexus
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your
Lexus contain explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped
with the airbags and seat belt pretensioners left as they are,
this may cause an accident such as a fire. Be sure to have the
systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner removed
and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your Lexus
dealer before you scrap your vehicle.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
132
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open the seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, airbag sensor or
surrounding area or wiring. Failure to follow these
instructions may prevent the seat belt pretensioners
from activating correctly, cause sudden operation of
the system or disable the system, which could result
in death or serious injury.
 Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacturer’s recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags and seat belt
pretensioners to inflate accidentally, resulting in
death or serious injury. For details, see “Checking
and replacing tires” on page 438.
 Do not place luggage heavier than specified on the
roof luggage carrier. Such luggage may cause the
curtain shield airbags and seat belt pretensioners to
inflate accidentally, resulting in death or serious
injury. For details, see “Roof luggage carrier” on
page 88.
 Do not modify or change the suspension system.
Such changes may cause the curtain shield airbags
to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or serious
injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer before
performing any repair and modification.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the seat belt
pretensioners in some cases.
 Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway radio, cassette tape player or CD player.
 Repairs on or near the seat belt retractor assemblies.
 Modification of the front end structure.
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment to
the front end.
 Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end
structure or console.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
154
16x512a
Do not attach a microphone or any other device or
object around the area where the curtain shield
airbag activates such as on the windshield glass,
side door glass, front, center and roof side garnish,
roof interior or assist grips. When the curtain shield
airbag inflates, the microphone or other device or
object will be thrown away with great force or the
curtain shield airbag may not activate correctly,
resulting in death or serious injury.
 Do not hook a hanger , heavy or sharp pointed objects
on the coat hook. If the curtain shield airbag inflates,
those items will be hurled away with great force or the
curtain shield airbag may not activate correctly,
which could result in death or serious injury. When
you hang clothes, hang them on the coat hook
directly.
 Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the side airbags inflate. Su ch accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly,
causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of
the seats with side airbags. Such changes may
prevent the side airbag system from activating
correctly disable the system or cause the side
airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or
serious injury.
 Do not disassemble or repair the front and rear pillars
and roof side rail containing the curtain shield
airbags. Such changes may disable the system or
cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or change the suspension system.
Such changes may cause the curtain shield airbags
to inflate accidentally, which could result in death or
serious injury.
 Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacturer’s recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate
accidentally, which could result in death or serious
injury. For details, see “Checking and replacing
tires” on page 438.
 Do not place luggage heavier than specified on the
roof luggage carrier. Such luggage may cause the
curtain shield airbags to inflate accidentally, which
could cause in death or serious injury. For details,
see “Roof luggage carrier” on page 88.

SECTION 3 – 1
253
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Three−way catalytic converters254
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Engine exhaust caution 255
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Before starting the engine 256
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Ignition switch 256
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Parking brake 258
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How to start the engine 258
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Automatic transmission 259
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Four−wheel drive system 266
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Rear view monitor system 269
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Lexus night view system 272
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Cruise control 275
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Active height control suspension (AHC) 279
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Adaptive variable suspension (AVS) 287
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Active traction control system 288
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Vehicle stability control system 290
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Variable gear ratio steering system 293
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Brake system 295
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Brake pad wear limit indicators 299
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Tire pressure warning system 299
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STARTING AND DRIVING
279
ACTIVE HEIGHT CONTROLSUSPENSION (AHC)
This active height control suspension controls the vehicle
height depending on the vehicle driving condition. Select
your desired height among the “HI” (high), “N” (normal)
and “LO” (low) modes with the height select switch.
31X600
(a) Vehicle height modes
 “HI” (high) mode
The vehicle height is about 40 mm (1.6 in.) higher at front
and about 50 mm (2.0 in.) higher at rear than the normal
mode height.
This mode is suitable when driving on bumpy roads and
through water.
This mode is available when the vehicle speed is under about
30 km/h (19 mph).
CAUTION
The “HI” (high) or “Extra high” mode should be used for
severe offroad driving condition only. Because the
vehicle’s center of gravity is higher in this setting, the
vehicle may become unstable when turning abruptly,
resulting in an accident.
When the four −wheel drive control lever is put at “L”, this mode
may change to the extra high mode automatically in
accordance with the driving condition.
When the vehicle exceeds the specified vehicle speed, the
vehicle height changes to the following:
With the fourwheel drive control lever at “H” and at the
vehicle speed of 30 km/h (19 mph) or over, the normal mode
is automatically selected.
With the fourwheel drive control lever at “L” and at the
vehicle speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) or over, the vehicle
height becomes automatically about 25 mm (1.0 in.) higher
than the normal mode height. If the vehicle speed is lowered
about 20 km/h (12 mph) or le ss after that, the high mode
automatically resumes.
Extra high mode
This mode is automatically selected from the high mode
with the fourwheel drive control lever placed in “L”
position depending on the vehicle driving condition.
If the vehicle becomes stuck, the vehicle height rises
automatically to the extra high mode (slightly higher or at about
70 mm (2.8 in.) higher than normal mode height).

STARTING AND DRIVING
281
Yes= The mode can be selected.
No = The mode cannot be selected.
Low
modeNormal modeHigh
mode
At vehicle
stoppageYe sYe sYe s
Under about 30
km/h (19 mph)NoYe sYe s
About 30 km/h
(19 mph) or overNoYe sNo
In the following cases the active height control
suspension does not operate even if the above conditions
are all met.
 The brake pedal has been depressed for longer than about
5 seconds with the vehicle stopped.
 The suspension fluid temperature is lower than −30 C
(−22 F). If the engine is warmed up, the suspension fluid
temperature will be raised as the inside of the engine
compartment becomes warmer. Then the active height
control suspension becomes operable.
 Driving on bumpy roads, which may cause the suspension
to fully elongate.
 The steering wheel is operated abruptly more than 3/4 turn
with center differential lock system activated.
(d) Vehicle height adjustment
31X049b
 1
Higher 2Lower
To change the mode, push the height select switch on
either side of “ ” and “
”.
The height control indicator light indicates which mode is
selected. (See page 284.)
NOTICE
 If you change the vehicle height frequently, the pump
may overheat. To prevent this, the active height
control suspension should be stopped temporarily
for a minute between selections. Operate it again.

STARTING AND DRIVING
282
Before you lower the vehicle height with the height
select switch, check under the vehicle to make sure
that nothing to damage the vehicle or no one to be
injured is there and the underbody of the vehicle
does not touch the ground.
 After unloading, the height of a vehicl e equipped with
the active height control suspension becomes
slightly higher than the normal vehicle height. Take
sufficient care where the overhead height is
restricted.
The vehicle height cannot be raised if the vehicle load
exceeds the following limits:
 Up to 4 occupants* plus about 300 kg (661 lb.) in the normal
mode
 Up to 4 occupants* plus about 170 kg (375 lb.) in the high
mode
*About 68 kg (150 lb.) for a person
If the above load capacity is exceeded, the desired vehicle
height may not be obtained even if the height select switch is
pushed. (If the vehicle height cannot be raised in the normal
mode and the height control indicator indicates “LO”, this is
because the vehicle is loaded too heavily. Under these
conditions, drive your vehicle with due care.)
If the vehicle height cannot be raised even after unloading,
push the height select switch on the “
” side and then on the
“ ” side. If this does not work, turn off the ignition once and
then turn on. Operate the select switch again. If the vehicle height is adjusted on the slope, or with the
selector lever in a position other than “P” or “N” while the\
vehicle is stopped, you may h
ear a sound caused by the
expansion and contraction of the propeller shaft.
 Selecting the high mode:
Push the height select switch on the “ ” side when the vehicle
speed is under about 30 km/h (19 mph).
To change the normal mode to high, push the switch once.
To change the low mode to high, push the switch twice. It
takes about 30 seconds until the low mode changes to the high
mode.
 Selecting the normal mode:
To change the high mode to normal, push the height select
switch on the “
” side once.
To change the low mode to normal, push the height select
switch on the “ ” side once.
 Selecting the low mode:
Push the height select switch on the “
” side while the vehicle
is stopped.
To change the high mode to low, push the switch twice.
To change the normal mode to low, push the switch once.

STARTING AND DRIVING
283
NOTICE
Do not select the low mode on bumpy roads. If the
underbody of the vehicle touches the rugged road
surface, the vehicle may be damaged.
Even if the engine is stopped while the vehicle height is
being lowered, the operation continues for up to 12
seconds.
(e) Turning off the active height controlsuspension
31X051d
To turn off the active height control suspension with the
vehicle stopped, push the height control switch. The
height control “OFF” 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 “OFF” indicator
light goes out and the active height control suspension is
turned on.