2007 Lexus IS250 towing

168
2-5. Driving information
NOTICE
■Dinghy towing direction
■To prevent the steering from locking
Ensure the engine switch is in ACC mode.
Do not tow the vehicle backwards.
Doing so may cause serious damage.

328
5-1. Essential information
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towing
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Lexus dealer before towing.
●The engine is running, but the vehicle will not move.
●The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Emergency towing
If a tow truck is not available, in an emergency your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency towing
eyelet(s). This should only attempted on hard, surfaced roads for short
distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The vehi-
cle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condi-
tion.
Towing eyelets
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by your
Lexus dealer or a commercial towing service, using a lift-type truck or a flat
bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/provincial
and local laws.
If towing from the rear, the vehicle’s front wheels and axles must be in good
condition. (P. 332)
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flat bed truck.

5
When trouble arises
329
5-1. Essential information
■Emergency towing procedure
Release the parking brake.
Put the transmission in N.
Put the engine switch in ACC mode (engine off ) or IG-ON mode (engine
running).
CAUTION
■Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive stress on
the emergency towing eyelets and the cables or chains.
●If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not
function, making steering and braking more difficult.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
(for vehicles with an automatic transmission)
Never tow this vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage to the transmission.
■When towing a vehicle without using a towing dolly
(for vehicles with a manual transmission)
The engine switch must not be OFF.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

330
5-1. Essential information
Installing towing eyelets
Remove the eyelet cover using a
flat head screwdriver.
To protect the bodywork, place a
rag between the screwdriver and
the vehicle body, as shown in the
illustration.
Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by hand.
Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut wrench.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
■Location of the emergency towing eyelet
P. 3 5 8

5
When trouble arises
331
5-1. Essential information
Towing with a sling-type truck
CAUTION
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehicle
Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing. This may
lead to accidents that cause serious injury or even death.
NOTICE
■To prevent body damage
Do not tow with a sling type truck, either from the front or rear.

332
5-1. Essential information
Towing with a wheel lift-type truck
From front
Vehicles with an automatic trans-
mission: Use a towing dolly under
the rear wheels.
Vehicles with a manual transmis-
sions: We recommend to use a
towing dolly under the rear wheels.
When not using a towing dolly, turn
the engine switch to ACC mode
and shift the shift lever to N.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
(for vehicles with an automatic transmission)
Never tow this vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground.
■When towing a vehicle without using a towing dolly
(for vehicles with a manual transmission)
The engine switch must not be OFF.

5
When trouble arises
333
5-1. Essential information
Switch to ACC mode so that the
steering wheel is unlocked.
From the rear (2WD models)
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheel.
From the rear (AWD models)
NOTICE
■To prevent damaging the vehicle
●Do not tow the vehicle with the engine switch OFF.
The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheel
straight.
●When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at the
opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the vehicle
could be damaged while being towed.

358
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If you have a flat tire
Remove the flat tire and replace it with the spare provided.
■Before jacking up the vehicle
●Stop the vehicle on a hard, flat surface.
●Set the parking brake.
●Shift the shift lever to P (automatic) or R (manual).
●Stop the engine.
●Turn on the emergency flashers.
■Location of the spare tire, jack and tools
Tool bag
(including towing eyelet)Jack Jack handle
Spare tire
Ti g h t e n
Loosen