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2054-1. Before driving
4
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. In order
to avoid accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in
mind when towing:
Checking connections between trailer and lights
Stop the vehicle and check the operation of the connection
between the trailer and lights after driving for a brief period as
well as before starting off.
Practicing driving with a coupled trailer
Get the feel for turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer
coupled by practicing in an area with no or light traffic.
When reversing with a coupled trailer, hold the section of the
steering wheel nearest to you and rotate clockwise to turn the
trailer left or counterclockwise to turn it right. Always rotate a
little at a time to prevent steering error. Have someone guide
you when reversing to lessen the risk of an accident.
NOTICE
When the rear bumper strengthening material is aluminum
Ensure the steel bracket part does not come directly in contact with that
area.
When steel and aluminum come into contact, there is a reaction similar to
corrosion, which will weaken the section concerned and may result in dam-
age. Apply a rust inhibitor to parts that will come in contact when attaching
a steel bracket.
Guidance
Page 220 of 914

2144-2. Driving procedures
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
NOTICE
To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode
for long periods of time without the engine running.
If “POWER ON” is displayed on the multi-information display, the
engine switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the engine switch
off.
Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If
the engine is stopped in another shift lever position, the engine switch will
not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If the vehi-
cle is left in ACCESSORY mode, battery discharge may occur.
When starting the engine
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehi-
cle checked by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly
qualified and equipped professional immediately.
Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact
any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional immediately.
Page 230 of 914
2244-2. Driving procedures
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Turn signals can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned
out.
If the turn signals stop flashing before a lane change has been performed
Operate the lever again.
Customization
The number of times the turn signals flash during a lane change can be
changed.
(Customizable feature P. 855)
Page 231 of 914
2254-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Parking brake
Sets the parking brake
The parking brake indicator light
will come on. (P. 226)
Press and hold the parking brake
switch if an emergency occurs and
it is necessary to operate the park-
ing brake while driving.
Releases the parking brake
Operate the parking brake switch
while depressing the brake pedal.
Make sure that the parking brake
indicator light goes off.
A selections can be made as desired from the following modes.
Manual mode
1
2
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2264-2. Driving procedures
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)The parking brake is set or released automatically according to shift
lever operation.
Turns automatic mode on/off
When the shift lever is moved
out of P, the parking brake will
be released.
When the shift lever is moved
into P, the parking brake will
be set.
Operate the shift lever with the
brake pedal depressed.
Parking brake operation
When the engine switch is not in IGNITION ON mode, the parking brake
cannot be released using the parking brake switch.
When the engine switch is not in IGNITION ON mode, automatic mode
(automatic brake setting and releasing) is not available.
If the parking brake is operated repeatedly over a short period of time, the
system may restrict operation to prevent overheating. If this happens,
refrain from operating the parking brake. Normal operation will return after
about 1 minute.
Parking brake operation sound
When the parking brake operates, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
Parking brake indicator light
Depending on the engine switch mode, the parking brake indicator light
will come on and stay on as described below:
IGNITION ON mode: Comes on until the parking brake is released.
Not in IGNITION ON mode: Stays on for approximately 15 seconds.
When the engine switch is turned off with the parking brake set, the parking
brake indicator light will stay on for about 15 seconds. This does not indi-
cate a malfunction.
Automatic mode
Page 233 of 914
227
4 4-2. Driving procedures
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
When there is a malfunction in the system
Warning lights and/or warning message will turn on or flash. (P. 749, 757)
Depending on the condition, the parking brake indicator light may flash.
Usage in winter time
P. 3 5 9
NOTICE
When parking the vehicle
Before you leave the vehicle, set the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P
and make sure that the vehicle does not move.
When the system malfunctions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and check the warning messages.
When the parking brake cannot be released due to a malfunction
Use the parking brake release tool to manually release the parking brake.
(P. 818)
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake compo-
nents overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase
brake wear.
Page 235 of 914
2284-3. Operating the lights and wipers
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Headlight switch
Turning the end of the lever turns on the lights as follows:
The front position, tail,
license plate and instru-
ment panel lights turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above turn
on.
The headlights, daytime
running lights and all the
lights listed above turn on
and off automatically.
(When the engine switch
is in IGNITION ON
mode.)
The daytime running
lights turn on.
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
Operating instructions
1
2
3
4
Page 236 of 914
2294-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)With the headlights on, push
the lever away from you to
turn on the high beams.
Pull the lever toward you to the
center position to turn the high
beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and
release it to flash the high
beams once.
You can flash the high beams with
the headlights on or off.
This system allows the headlights and front position lights to be
turned on for 30 seconds when the engine switch is off.
Pull the lever toward you and
release it with the light switch is
in or after turning the
engine switch off.
Pull the lever toward you and
release it again to turn off the
lights.
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2
Follow me home system