2008 Lexus GX470 check engine

117
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
NOTICE
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for a long
time.
Doing so may damage the power steering pump.
●When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damag-
ing the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
Have your Lexus dealer check and replace the brake pads as soon as possible.
The rotor damage can result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds.
●The vehicle will behave abnormally.
Replace a flat tire with a new one. ( →P. 3 9 1 )
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause the
following serious damage to the vehicle.
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to
have your Lexus dealer check the following.
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, transmission,
transfer, differentials, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints (where
possible) and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

118
2-1. Driving procedures
Engine (ignition) switch
■Turning the key from “ACC” to “LOCK”
■Engine (ignition) switch
“LOCK”:
The steering wheel is locked
and the key can be removed.
“A C C ” :
Some electrical components
such as the audio system can be
used.
“ON”:
All electrical components can
be used.
“START”:
For starting the engine.
■Starting the engine
Check that the parking brake is set.
Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
Check that the shift lever is set in “P”.
Sit in the driver’s seat and firmly depress the brake pedal.
Turn the engine switch to the “START” position to start the
engine.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5
Shift the shift lever to “P”.
Push in the key and turn to the
“LOCK” position.STEP1
STEP2

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2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not press the accelera-
tor pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position.
If in an emergency, you must turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, turn the
key to only to the “ACC” position.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the engine switch in the “ACC” or “ON” position for long periods with-
out the engine running.
■When starting the engine
●Do not race the cold engine.
●If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the engine
checked immediately.

124
2-1. Driving procedures
Turn signal lever
■Turn signals can be operated when
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
■If the indicators flash faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned out.
Left turn
Right turn
Move and hold the lever part-
way to signal a lane change
The left hand signal will flash
until you release the lever.
Move and hold the lever part-
way to signal a lane change
The right hand signal will flash
until you release the lever.

128
2-2. Instrument cluster
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the engine and its components
●Do not let the indicator needle of the tachometer enter the red zone, which indi-
cates the maximum engine speed.
●The engine may be overheating if the engine coolant temperature gauge is in the
red zone (“H”). In this case, immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place, and
check the engine after it has cooled completely. ( →P. 4 0 8 )

131
2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
CAUTION
■If a safety system warning light does not come on
Should a safety system light such as ABS and the SRS airbag warning light not
come on when you turn the engine switch to the “ON” position, this could mean
that these systems are not available to help protect you in an accident, which could
result in death or serious injury. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately if this occurs.
■Warning lights
Warning lights inform the driver of malfunctions in the indicated
vehicle’s systems. ( →P. 381)
*: These lights turn on when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion to indicate that a system check is being performed. They will turn off
after the engine is running, or afte r a few seconds. There may be a mal-
function in a system if the lights do not come on, or turn off. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
(U.S.A.)(Canada)(U.S.A.)(Canada)
(if equipped)(U.S.A.)(Canada)
*******
*****
**

139
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
2
When driving
■The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
■Dripping prevention wiper sweep
After washing and wiping operation several times, the wipers operate one more
time after a short delay to prevent dripping.
However, the last sweep will not happen if the vehicle is traveling above 106 mph
(170 km/h).
■Effects of vehicle speed on wiper operation
Vehicle speed affects the following even when the wipers are not in “AUTO” mode.
●Intermittent wiper interval (“INT” mode)
●Wiper operation when the washer is being used (delay until drip prevention
wiper sweep occurs)
With “LO” selected, wiper operation will be switched from low speed to intermit-
tent wiper operation only when the vehicle is stationary.
■Rain drop sensor (vehicles equipped with the rain-sensing windshield wipers)
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked if there is washer fluid in the wind-
shield washer fluid reservoir.
■In extremely hot or cold weather
The system will turn off if the windshield gets extremely hot (more than 194 °F
[90 °C]) or cold (less than 14 °F [-10 °C]).The sensor judges the amount of raindrops.

153
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
■If the vehicle height does not change
If the area around the rear suspension is coated with ice, or the undercarriage has
come into contact with the road surface, the rear height control suspension will not
operate. In this case, the indicator lights will change as follows:
●The current mode indicator light will turn off, and the target mode indicator light
will begin flashing.
●The target mode indicator light will turn off, and the original mode indicator light
will be lit once more. (The vehicle height does not change.)
If the rear height control air suspension cannot be operated even after removing
the ice or progressing to a smooth driving surface, turn off and restart the engine.
■ 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.
■When lowering the vehicle
Even if the engine is stopped while the vehicle height is being lowered, operation
will continue for up to 25 seconds. If any of the side doors or the back door is
opened within this 25 seconds, operation will continue for a further 15 seconds.
■ Rear height control failure warning
●If a malfunction occurs in the rear height control air suspension, normal mode is
automatically selected.
The height control “OFF” indicator will blink, and the vehicle height control can-
not be activated until the malfunction is corrected. Have the vehicle checked at
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
●If the height control “OFF” indicator lig ht does not come on when the engine
switch is turned to the “ON” position, there is a malfunction in the rear height
control air suspension. You can continue normal driving, however have the vehi-
cle checked by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.