2007 LEXUS LX470 Owners Manual

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2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
■Parking and stopping tips
●If you immediately stop the engine after off-road driving, or park the vehicle for
a long time, the vehicle height may gradually lower. When parking, make sure
there is nothing under the vehicle that may come in contact with the underbody.
The vehicle will return to the set height when the engine is started.
●The vehicle height may change as the temperature changes when the engine is
stopped. The vehicle will return to the set height when the engine is started.
■Propeller shaft noise
If the vehicle height is adjusted on a slop e, or with the selector lever in a position
other than “P” or “N” while the vehicle is stopped, you may hear a sound caused by
the expansion and contraction of the propel ler shaft. This does not indicate a mal-
function.
■Continued system operation
Even if the engine is stopped while the ve hicle height is being lowered, operation
will continue for up to 12 seconds.
■Active height control failure warning
●If a malfunction occurs in the AHC system, normal mode is automatically
selected.
The height control “ OFF” indicator will bl ink, and AHC cannot be activated until
the malfunction is corrected.
Stop the engine and start it again. If the height control “OFF” indicator light
turns off, the system is operating correc tly. If the indicator light continues to
blink, have the vehicle checked at your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
●If the height control “OFF” indicator light does not come on when the ignition
switch is turned on, there is a malfunction in the AHC system. You can continue
normal driving, however have the vehicle checked by your Lexus dealer as soon
as possible.
■Installing or removing heavy equipment
If the equipment exceeds 33 lb. (15 kg), the front torsion bar must be adjusted. See
your Lexus dealer.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
CAUTION
■Using the high and extra high modes
These modes should only be used for rough off-road conditions. Because the vehi-
cle's center of gravity is higher when in these modes, the vehicle may become
unstable when turning abruptly, resulting in an accident.
■When jacking up the vehicle or installing tire chains
Turn off the AHC and stop the engine, otherwise the vehicle height may change
due to the automatic leveling function, resulting in an accident.
■When driving through water deeper than 1.6 ft. (0.5 m)
Select the “HI” (high) mode and turn off AHC. Drive at 19 mph (30 km/h) or lower.
Otherwise the vehicle height may change due to the automatic leveling function,
resulting in an accident.
■If your vehicle must be towed
Put the vehicle height in the normal mode and turn off AHC, otherwise the vehicle
height may change due to the automatic le veling function, resulting in an accident.
■If your vehicle becomes stuck in a ditch
Turn off AHC, otherwise the vehicle height may change due to the automatic level-
ing function, resulting in an accident.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
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When driving
NOTICE
■To avoid damage to the vehicle
●If in the low mode, the vehicle automatically shifts to the normal mode when the
vehicle is started. Take care when overhead height is limited.
●After unloading, the vehicle height may be slightly higher than normal. Take care
when overhead height is limited.
●Before lowering the vehicle height, check that no-one is under the vehicle and
the area is free of obstructions. Also check that the underbody of the vehicle will
not touch the ground.
●Do not select the low mode when drivin g on bumpy roads, as the underbody of
the vehicle may contact the road surface.
■Avoid rapid changes to the vehicle height
As the pump may overheat. Leave at least a minute between selections when
changing the AHC mode.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
AVS (Adaptive Variable Suspension)
■Driving mode
●Mode is suitable for ordinary driving.
●Mode or is suitable for heavy load or driving on a unpaved road.
●With the four-wheel drive control lever at “L”, the damping effect suitable for off-
road driving will be provided.
AVS controls the suspension according to the road and driving conditions.
Selecting an optimum driving mode allows good riding comfort and stabil-
ity.
For driving on a bumpy road
For ordinary driving such as
in the city traffic
For moderate high speed
driving
For sporty type driving such
as on winding mountain
roads and high speed driving

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2-4. Using other driving systems
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When driving
Four-wheel drive system
■The four-wheel drive control lever can be operated when
●The shift lever is in the “N” position, and
●The vehicle is stopped completely.
Use the four-wheel drive control lever and center differential lock/unlock
switch to select following transfer and center differential modes.
Four-wheel drive control lever“H” (high speed position)
Normal driving on all types of
roads.
“N” (neutral position)
No power is delivered to the
wheels.
“L” (low speed position)
Driving requiring maximum
power and traction such as
climbing or descending steep
hills off-road driving and hard
pulling in sand or mud, etc.
Center differential lock/unlock switchLock the center differential
when your vehicle’s wheels get
stuck in a ditch or when you are
driving on a slippy or bumpy
surface.
After the wheels are out of the
ditch or off the slippy or bumpy
surface, unlock the center dif-
ferential.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
■Advice for driving on slippery roads in “L” (low speed position)
●If you shift the four-wheel drive control lever to “L” and the shift lever to “2” while
driving in steep off-road areas, the output of the brake can be controlled effec-
tively by the active traction control system, which assists the driver to control the
driving power of 4 wheels.
●Use the “L” position of the shift lever for maximum power and traction when
your wheels get stuck or when you drive down a steep incline. In the following
cases, the output of the brake can be co ntrolled by the active traction control
system if the engine speed is un der 3,000 rpm (normally under 3,000 rpm
when the wheels get unstuck).
• The four-wheel drive control lever in the “L” position and the shift lever in the
“L” position or the shift lever in the “D”, “4”, “3” or “2” with the transmission
downshifting to first gear.
• The four-wheel drive control lever in the “L” position and the shift lever in the
“R” position.
■The center differential lock/unlock button can be operated when
●The ignition key is in the “ON” position, and
●The four-wheel drive control lever is in the “H” or “L” position.
■Locking /unlocking the center differential
●When the center differential is locked, VSC (vehicle stability control) is auto-
matically turned off. (Center differenti al lock and “VSC OFF” indicator light
come on.)
●When the operation is not completed, th e center differential lock indicator
blinks. If the indicator light does not go off when unlocking the center differen-
tial, drive straight ahead while accelerating or decelerating, or drive in reverse.
●The center differential lock system operation is not completed within 5 seconds
while the cruise control system is set, cancel the cruise control system.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
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When driving
CAUTION
■While driving
Never move the four-wheel drive control lever if the wheels are slipping. Doing so
may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the center differential
●For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, unlock the center differential.
●Unlock the center differential after the wheels are out of the ditch or off the slip-
pery or bumpy surface.
●Do not push the center differential lock/unlock button when the vehicle is corner-
ing or when its wheels are spin ning freely off the ground.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
Driving assist systems
When the VSC system is operatingIf the vehicle is in danger of slip-
ping, the slip indicator light flashes
and buzzer sounds to indicate that
the VSC systems have been
engaged.
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following systems
operate automatically in response to various driving situations. Be aware,
however, that these systems are supplementary and should not be relied
upon too heavily when operating the vehicle.
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Restrains the vehicle from slipping when driving on slick road surfaces or
in the event of sudden braking.
■BA (Brake Assist)
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed, when the system detects a panic stop situation.
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning on
slippery road surfaces.
■ TRAC (Active Traction Control)
Maintains drive power and prevents the 4 wheels from spinning when
starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads.
■VGRS (Variable Gear Ratio Steering)
Adjusts the wheel turning angle in accordance with the vehicle speed and
steering wheel movement.