Page 201 of 914
197
4 4-1. Before driving
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
NOTICE
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 any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly quali-
fied and equipped professional check the following:
Brake function
Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, trans-
mission, transfer (AWD models), differential, etc.
Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints
(where possible), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.
Page 212 of 914

2084-1. Before driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
If the engine overheats
Towing a loaded trailer up a long, steep incline in temperatures
exceeding 30C (85F) may result in the engine overheating. If
the engine coolant temperature gauge indicates that the engine is
overheating, turn the air conditioning off immediately, leave the
road and stop the vehicle in a safe place. (P. 829)
When parking the vehicle
Always place wheel chocks under the wheels of both the vehicle
and trailer. Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever
to P.
CAUTION
To avoid accident or injury
Do not tow a trailer when the compact spare tire is installed on your vehi-
cle.
Do not tow the vehicle when the tire installed is repaired with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit.
Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds for trailer towing.
Before descending hills or long declines
Reduce speed and downshift. However, never downshift suddenly while
descending steep or long downhill grades.
Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal depressed often or for long periods of time.
Doing so may result in the brake overheating or reduce braking effects.
NOTICE
For vehicles with an emergency tire puncture repair kit (if equipped)
Do not tow anything if a tire that has been repaired using the emergency tire
puncture repair kit is installed. The load on the tire may cause unexpected
damage to the tire.
Page 217 of 914

2114-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minutes or
IGNITION ON mode (the engine is not running) for more than an hour with
the shift lever in P, the engine switch will automatically turn off. However,
this function cannot entirely prevent battery discharge. Do not leave the vehi-
cle with the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode for long
periods of time when the engine is not running.
Electronic key battery depletion
P. 1 3 4
Conditions affecting operation
P. 1 3 0
Notes for the entry function
P. 1 3 1
If the engine does not start
The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (P. 8 0 )
Contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified
and equipped professional.
Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The engine may not start if the
shift lever is displaced out of P. “Shift to P position to Start” will be dis-
played on the multi-information display.
Steering lock
After turning the engine switch off and opening and closing the doors, the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
engine switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
Page 301 of 914

2944-5. Using the driving support
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Lexus parking assist-sensor display
When an obstacle is detected while the rear view monitor system, is in use,
the warning indicator will appear in the top right of the screen even if the dis-
play setting has been set to off.
Sensor detection information
The sensor’s detection areas are limited to the areas around the vehicle’s
front corner and rear bumpers.
Certain vehicle conditions and the surrounding environment may affect the
ability of the sensor to correctly detect obstacles. Particular instances where
this may occur are listed below.
• There is dirt, snow or ice on the sensor. (Wiping the sensors will resolve
this problem.)
• The sensor is frozen. (Thawing the area will resolve this problem.)
In especially cold weather, if a sensor is frozen the screen may show an
abnormal display, or obstacles may not be detected.
• The sensor is covered in any way.
• The vehicle is leaning considerably to one side.
• On an extremely bumpy road, on an incline, on gravel, or on grass.
• The vicinity of the vehicle is noisy due to vehicle horns, motorcycle
engines, air brakes of large vehicles, or other loud noises producing
ultrasonic waves.
• There is another vehicle equipped with parking assist sensors in the
vicinity.
• The sensor is coated with a sheet of spray or heavy rain.
• The vehicle is equipped with a fender pole or wireless antenna.
• Towing eyelets are installed.
• The bumper or sensor receives a strong impact.
• The vehicle is approaching a tall or curved curb.
• In harsh sunlight or intense cold weather.
• The area directly under the bumpers is not detected.
• If obstacles draw too close to the sensor.
• A non-genuine Lexus suspension (lowered suspension etc.) is installed.
• People may not be detected if they are wearing certain types of clothing.
In addition to the examples above, there are instances in which, because of
their shape, signs and other objects may be judged by the sensor to be closer
than they are.
Page 302 of 914

2954-5. Using the driving support
4
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
The shape of the obstacle may prevent the sensor from detecting it. Pay par-
ticular attention to the following obstacles:
• Wires, fences, ropes, etc.
• Cotton, snow and other materials that absorb sound waves
• Sharply-angled objects
•Low obstacles
• Tall obstacles with upper sections projecting outwards in the direction of
your vehicle
The following situations may occur during use.
• Depending on the shape of the obstacle and other factors, the detection
distance may shorten, or detection may be impossible.
• Obstacles may not be detected if they are too close to the sensor.
• There will be a short delay between obstacle detection and display. Even
at slow speeds, there is a possibility that the obstacle will come within
the sensor’s detection areas before the display is shown and the warning
beep sounds.
• Thin posts or objects lower than the sensor may not be detected for colli-
sion when approached, even if they have been detected once.
• It might be difficult to hear beeps due to the volume of audio system or
air flow noise of air conditioning system.
If a message is displayed on the multi-information display
P. 760, 766
Page 328 of 914

3214-5. Using the driving support
4
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, refer to the likely
cause and the solution, and re-check.
If the symptom is not resolved by the solution, have the vehicle
inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another
duly qualified and equipped professional.
Things you should know
SymptomLikely causeSolution
The image is difficult
to see
• The vehicle is in a
dark area
• The temperature
around the lens is
either high or low
• The outside tempera-
ture is low
• There are water drop-
lets on the camera
• It is raining or humid
• Foreign matter (mud
etc.) is adhering to
the camera
• There are scratches
on the camera
• Sunlight or head-
lights are shining
directly into the cam-
era
• The vehicle is under
fluorescent lights,
sodium lights, mer-
cury lights etc.
If this happens due to
these causes, it does
not indicate a malfunc-
tion.
Back up while visually
checking the vehicle’s
surroundings. (Use the
monitor again once
conditions have been
improved.)
To adjust the image on
the parking assist mon-
itor screen. (P. 3 7 2 )
Page 339 of 914
3324-5. Using the driving support
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Operation of the air conditioning system in Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode controls the heating/cooling operations and fan speed of the
air conditioning system to enhance fuel efficiency (P. 409). To improve air
conditioning performance, adjust the fan speed or turn off Eco drive mode.
Automatic operation of the seat heater during Eco drive mode
If the driving mode select switch is switched to Eco drive mode in cold tem-
peratures, the seat heater will be automatically operated to assist heating per-
formance.
Sport mode automatic deactivation
Sport mode is automatically deactivated if the engine switch is turned off
after driving in sport mode.
Page 344 of 914

3374-5. Using the driving support
4
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
When the message is displayed on the multi-information display showing that
TRC has been disabled even if the VSC OFF switch has not been pressed
TRC cannot be operated. Contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Sounds and vibrations caused by the ABS, brake assist, VSC and TRC sys-
tems
A sound may be heard from the engine compartment when the engine is
started or just after the vehicle begins to move. This sound does not indicate
that a malfunction has occurred in any of these systems.
Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are
operating. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
Reactivation of the TRC/VSC systems
Even after the TRC/VSC systems have been turned off, turning the engine
off and then on again will automatically reactivate the TRC/VSC systems.