2008 Lexus IS F engine

When trouble arises5
339
5-1. Essential information..... 340If your vehicle needs to be towed................................ 340
If you think something is wrong .................................. 346
Fuel pump shut off system.... 347
Event data recorder ............. 348 5-2. Steps to take in an
emergency ................... 350
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds... ................................. 350
If a warning message is displayed................................ 360
If you have a flat tire................ 374
If the engine will not start .... 383
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ....................... 384
If you lose your keys .............. 385
If the electronic key does not operate properly.......... 386
If the vehicle battery is discharged ............................ 389
If your vehicle overheats ..... 392
If the vehicle becomes stuck........................................ 395

340
5-1. Essential information
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towingThe 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. This should only be attempted on hard, surfaced roads for short
distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to s teer and operate the brakes. The vehi-
cle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condi-
tion.
Towing eyelet
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by your
Lexus dealer or a commercial towing se rvice, using a lift-type truck or a flat
bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towi ng, 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. 344)
If they are damaged, use a to wing dolly or flat bed truck.

5
When trouble arises
341
5-1. Essential information
■Emergency towing procedureRelease the parking brake.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Put the “ENGINE START STOP” switch in ACCESSORY mode (engine
off) or IGNITION 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 eyelet and the cables or chains.
●If the engine is not running, the power assi st for the brakes and steering will not
function, making steering and braking more difficult.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the rear with four wheels on the ground. This may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

344
5-1. Essential information
Towing with a wheel lift-type truckFrom the front Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
From the rear Turn the “ENGINE START STOP”
switch to the ACCESSORY mode
so that the steering wheel is
unlocked.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground.
■To prevent damaging the vehicle
●Do not tow the vehicle from the rear with the “ENGINE START STOP” switch
OFF.
The steering lock mechanism is not st rong enough to hold the front wheel
straight.
●When raising the vehicle from the rear, 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 from the rear.

346
5-1. Essential information
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably needs
adjustment or repair. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
■Visible symptoms
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temper ature gauge needle continually points
higher than normal
■ Audible symptoms
●Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the engine
■ Operational symptoms
●Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, sp ongy feeling, pedal almost touches
the floor

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347
5-1. Essential information
Fuel pump shut off system
NOTICE
■Before starting the engine
Inspect the ground under the vehicle.
If you find that fuel has leaked on to the ground, the fuel system has been damaged
and is in need of repair. Do not restart the engine.
To minimize the risk of fuel leakage when the engine stalls or an airbag
inflates upon collision, the fuel pump shut off system stops supplying fuel to
the engine.
Follow the procedure below to rest art the engine after the system is
activated.
Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to the ACCESSORY
mode or OFF.
Restart the engine.
STEP1
STEP2

348
5-1. Essential information
Event data recorder
In a crash or a near car crash eventThe SRS airbag sensor assembly cont ains the EDR. In a crash or a near
car crash event, this devic e may record some or all of the following infor-
mation:
● Engine speed
● Whether the brake pedal was applied or not
● Vehicle speed
● To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
● Position of the transmission shift lever
● Whether the driver and front passenger wore seat belts or not
● Driver's seat position
● Front passenger’s occupant classification
● SRS airbag deployment data
● SRS airbag system diagnostic data
The information abov e is intended to be used for the purpose of improv-
ing vehicle safety performance. Unlike general da ta recorders, the EDR
does not record sound data such as conversation between passengers.
Your vehicle has computers that monitor and control certain aspects of
your vehicle. These computers assist in driving and maintaining optimal
vehicle performance.
Besides storing data usef ul for troubleshooting, there is an event data
recorder (EDR) that records data in a crash or a near car crash event.

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When trouble arises
351
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Stop the vehicle immediately.The following warning indicates the po ssibility of damage to the vehicle
that may lead to an ac cident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place
and contact your Lexus dealer.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Failing to investigate the cause of the following warnings may lead to the
system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Charging system warning light
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
(U.S.A.)

(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lampIndicates a malfunction in:
• The electronic engine control system;
• The electronic throttle control system; or
• The electronic automatic transmission control system.
SRS warning lightIndicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system.