2064-1. Before driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire due to hybrid systemoverheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust
gases may collect and enter the vehicle, lead ing to death or a serious health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may notsecurely hold the vehicle.
●If the electronically controlled brake system does not operate, do not follow othervehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking. In this case, braking is st ill possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more
firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
●The brake system consists of 2 or more indi vidual hydraulic systems; if one of the sys-
tems fails, the other(s) will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
■If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline components or propel the vehi-
cle forward or backward, causing an accident.
2084-1. Before driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following information about storage precautions, cargo
capacity and load:
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the trunk
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals fr om being depressed properly, may block the driver’s vision, or may result in items hitting the driver or passengers, possibly causingan accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk whenever possible.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items) • On the package tray• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard • In front of the Remote Touch screen
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment.
■Load and distribution
●Do not overload your vehicle.
●Do not apply loads unevenly. Improper loading may cause deterioration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.
2134-1. Before driving
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Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
■Tire information
●Increase the tire inflation pressure to 20.0 kPa (0.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi) greater than the recommended value when towing. ( P. 555)
●Increase the air pressure of the trailer tires in accordance with the total trailer weight
and according to the values recommended by the manufacturer of your trailer.
■Trailer lights
●Please consult any authorized Lexus retailer or Lexus authorized repairer, or any reli-
able repairer when installing trailer lights, as incorrect installation may cause damage to the vehicle’s lights. Please take care to comply with your state’s laws when installingtrailer lights.
●Check that the turn signal lights and stoplights are operating correctly every time youhitch up the trailer. Directly wiring up to your vehicle may damage the electrical systemand stop the lights from functioning correctly.
■Break-in schedule
Lexus recommends that vehicles fitted with new power train components should not be used for towing trailers for the first 800 km (500 miles).
■Safety checks before towing
●Check that the maximum load limit for the towing hitch/bracket and hitch ball is not exceeded. Bear in mind that the coupling weight of the trailer will add to the load
exerted on the vehicle. Also make sure that the total load exerted on the vehicle is within the range of the weight limits. ( P. 211)
●Ensure that the trailer load is secure.
●Supplementary outside rear view mirrors should be added to the vehicle if the traffic behind cannot be clearly seen with standard mirrors. Adjust the extending arms ofthese mirrors on both sides of the vehicle so that they always provide maximum visibility
of the road behind.
■Maintenance
●Maintenance must be performed more frequently when using the vehicle for towing
due to the greater weight burden placed on the vehicle compared to normal driving.
●Retighten all bolts securing the hitching ball and bracket after towing for approximately 1000 km (600 miles).
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 damage. Apply a rust inhib-
itor to parts that will come in co ntact when attaching a steel bracket.
2144-1. Before driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. In order to avoid acci-
dent, 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 an d 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 counter-
clockwise 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.
■Increasing vehicle-to-vehicle distance
At a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph), the distance to the vehicle running ahead of
you should be equivalent to or greater than the combined length of your vehi-
cle and trailer. Avoid sudden braking that may cause skidding. Otherwise, the
vehicle may spin out of control. This is especially true when driving on wet or
slippery road surfaces.
■Sudden acceleration/steering input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing may result in the trailer colliding with your
vehicle. Decelerate well in advance when approaching turns and take them
slowly and carefully to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding turning
The wheels of the trailer will travel closer to the inside of the curve than the
wheels of the vehicle. To make allowance for this, take the turns wider than you
would normally do.
■Important points regarding stability
Vehicle movement resulting from uneven road surfaces and strong cross-
winds will affect handling. The vehicle may also be rocked by passing buses or
large trucks. Frequently check behind when moving alongside such vehicles.
As soon as such vehicle movement occurs, immediately start to decelerate
smoothly by slowly applying the brakes. Always steer the vehicle straight
ahead while braking.
Guidance
2154-1. Before driving
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Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
■Passing other vehicles
Consider the total combined length of your vehicle and trailer and ensure that
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is sufficient before executing lane changes.
■Transmission information
To maintain engine braking efficiency, when using engine braking, when driv-
ing on a long steep downgrade, do not use the transmission in D. (P. 227)
■If the engine overheats
Towing a loaded trailer up a long, steep incline in temperatures exceeding
30 C (85F) may result in the engine overheating. If the engine coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is overheating, turn the air condition-
ing off immediately, leave the road and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
( P. 535)
■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.
WARNING
Follow all the instructions described in this se ction. Failure to do so could cause an acci- dent resulting in death or serious injury.
■Trailer towing precautions
When towing, make sure that none of the weight limits are exceeded. ( P. 211)
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not tow a trailer when the compact spare tire is installed on your vehicle.
●Do not tow a trailer when the tire installed is repaired with the emergency tire punc- ture repair kit.
●Do not use cruise control (if equipped) or dynamic radar cruise control with full-
speed range (if equipped) when trailer towing.
■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 ov erheating or reduce braking effects.
2194-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
If the hybrid system is stopped with the shift lever in a position other than P, the
power switch will not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY
mode. Perform the following procedure to turn the switch off:
Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” is displayed on the multi-information display
and then press the power switch once.
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on the multi-information display is off.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minutes or ON mode (the
hybrid system is not operating) for more than an hour with the shift lever in P, the power switch will automatically turn off. However, this function cannot entirely prevent 12-voltbattery discharge. Do not leave the vehicle with the power switch in ACCESSORY or
ON mode for long periods of time when the hybrid system is not operating.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
P. 79
■Electronic key battery depletion
P. 136
■When the ambient temperature is low, such as during winter driving conditions
When starting the hybrid system, the flashing time of the “READY” indicator may be long. Leave the vehicle as it is until the “REA DY” indicator is steady on, as steady means the vehicle is able to move.
■Conditions affecting operation
P. 155
■Notes for the push-start function
P. 157
■If the hybrid system does not start
●The immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (P. 85)
Contact any authorized Lexus retailer or Le xus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
●Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The hybrid system may not start if the shift
lever is displaced out of P. “Shift to P posi tion to Start” will be displayed on the multi- information display.
■Steering lock
After turning the power switch off and opening and closing the doors, the steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock func tion. Operating the power switch again auto- matically cancels the steering lock.
When stopping the hybrid system with the shift lever in a position other
than P
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2394-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) secures excellent visibility at intersections
and on curves by automatically adjusting the direction of the light axis of the
headlights according to vehicle speed and the degree of the tire’s angle as con-
trolled by steering input.
AFS operates at speeds of 10 km/h (6 mph) or higher.
■Deactivating AFS
Settings can be changed from on the multi-information display
( P. 111).
Press or on the meter control switch and select “AFS”.
Press on the meter control
switch and select “Off”.
The indicator turns on when the AFS is deactivated.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighti ng System) (if equipped)
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2504-3. Operating the lights and wipers
GS450h_300h_OM_OM30F92E_(EE)
Fog light switch
Turns the front and rear fog
lights off
Turns the front fog lights on
Turns both front and rear fog
lights on
Releasing the switch ring returns it to
.
Operating the switch ring again turns
only the rear fog light off.
■Fog lights can be used when
Front fog lights: The headlights or the front position lights are turned on. Rear fog light: The front fog lights are turned on.
The fog lights secure excellent visibility in difficult driving conditions, such as
in rain and fog.
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