2015 Lexus GS450h Owner's Manual

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GS450h_OM_OM30F70U_(U)
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Lexus dealer or commercial towing service before towing.
●The hybrid warning message shows on the multi-information display
and the vehicle does not move.
●The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by
your Lexus dealer or commercial towing service, using a wheel-lift type
truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/provin-
cial and local laws.
Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing
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4977-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS450h_OM_OM30F70U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
Do not tow with a sling-type truck to
prevent body damage.
Towing with a sling-type truck
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck
XFrom the frontXFrom the rear
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels. Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
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4987-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS450h_OM_OM30F70U_(U)If your vehicle is transported by a
flatbed truck, it should be tied down
at the locations shown in the illustra-
tion.
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
shaded in black must be 45
°.
Do not overly tighten the tie downs
or the vehicle may be damaged.
If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be tempo-
rarily towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency towing eye-
lets. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads for short
distances at under 3 mph (5 km/h).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The vehi-
cle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condi-
tion.
Using a flatbed truck
Emergency towing
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4997-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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7
When trouble arises
Take out the towing eyelet. (→P. 542)
Remove the eyelet cover using a
flathead screwdriver.
To protect the bodywork, place a rag
between the screwdriver and the vehi-
cle body as shown in the illustration.
Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by hand.
Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut
wrench or hard metal bar.
Securely attach cables or chains to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
Enter the vehicle being towed and start the hybrid system.
If the hybrid system does not start, turn the power switch to ON mode.
Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted: →P. 5 5 6
Emergency towing procedure
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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5007-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS450h_OM_OM30F70U_(U)
■While towing
If the hybrid system is off, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not func-
tion, making steering and braking more difficult.
■Wheel nut wrench
Wheel nut wrench is installed in trunk. (→P. 5 4 2 )
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
■While towing
●When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. which place exces-
sive stress on the towing eyelets, cables or chains. The towing eyelets, cables or
chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit people, and cause serious
damage.
●Do not turn the power switch off.
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and cannot be operated.
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehicle
Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing.
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all four
wheels raised off the ground. If the vehicle is
towed with the tires contacting the ground,
the drivetrain and related parts may be dam-
aged, an accident may occur due to a
change in direction of the vehicle or electric-
ity generated by the operation of the motor
may cause a fire to occur depending on the
nature of the damage or malfunction.
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5017-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS450h_OM_OM30F70U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing using a wheel-lift type truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the rear when the power switch is off. The steering
lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheels straight.
●When raising the vehicle, 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.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.
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502
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7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If you think something is wrong
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle.
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
●Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
●Engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points higher
than normal.
●Changes in exhaust sound
●Excessive tire squeal when cornering
●Strange noises related to the suspension system
●Pinging or other noises related to the hybrid system
●Engine missing, stumbling or running roughly
●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, spongy feeling, pedal almost touches the
floor
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms
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503
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7
When trouble arises
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds
The following warning indicates a possible problem in the brake system.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights comes
on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then goes off, this does
not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the system. However, if this
continues to occur, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
Stop the vehicle immediately. Continuing to drive the vehicle may
be dangerous.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)Brake system warning light (warning buzzer) • Low brake fluid
• Malfunction in the electronically controlled brake system
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