2018 LEXUS LS500 power steering

294 4-5. Using the driving support systems
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) ■
ECB (Electronically Controlled
Brake System) (if equipped)
The electronically controlled system
generates braking force correspond-
ing to the brake operation ■
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the
brakes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while driving on a
slippery road surface ■
Brake assist
Generates an increased level of brak-
ing force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a
panic stop situation ■
VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding
when swerving sudden ly or turning on
slippery road surfaces. ■
Secondary Collision Brake
When the airbag sensor detects a colli-
sion, the brakes and brake lights are
automatically controlled to reduce the vehicle speed and that helps reduce
the possibility of further damage due to
a secondary collision. ■
TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pre-
vent the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerat-
ing on slippery roads ■
Hill-start assist control
Helps to reduce the backward move-
ment of the vehicle when starting on an
uphill ■
VGRS (Variable Gear Ratio Steer-
ing) (if equipped)
Adjusts the front wheel turning angle in
accordance with the vehicle speed and
steering wheel movement ■
DRS (Dynamic Rear Steering) (if
equipped)
Contributes to the turning characteris-
tics and responsiveness of the vehicle
by adjusting the rear wheel angle of the
vehicle in accordance with steering
wheel movement. ■
EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce
the amount of effort needed to turn the
steering wheel. ■
Active stabilizer suspension sys-
tem (if equipped)
Reduces sway when cornering accord-
ing to steering wheel movement in
order to maintain a stable vehicle pos-
ture.Driving assist systems To keep driving safety and perfor-
mance, the following systems oper-
ate automatically in response to
various driving situations. Be aware,
however, that these systems are
supplementary and should not be
relied upon too heavily when oper-
ating the vehicle.
Summary of the driving assist
systems

2954-5. Using the driving support systems
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving ■
Adaptive Variable Suspension Sys-
tem (if equipped)
By independently controlling the
damping force of the shock absorbers
for each of the 4 wheels according to
the road and driving conditions, this
system helps riding comfort with supe-
rior vehicle stabilit y, and helps good
vehicle posture.
Also, the damping force changes
depending on the selected driving
mode. ( → P.289)■
LDH (Lexus Dynamic Handling
system) (if equipped)
Provides integrated control of the
VGRS, DRS and EPS. Contributes to
turning characteristics at low speeds,
responsiveness at medium speeds and
safety at high speeds by controlling the
steering angle of the front and rear
wheels in accordance with the steering
wheel operation and vehicle speed. ■
VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Inte-
grated Management)
Provides integrated control of the
ABS, brake assist, TRAC, VSC,
hill-start assist control, EPS, VGRS (if
equipped), DRS (if equipped), active
stabilizer suspension system (if
equipped) and Adaptive Variable Sus-
pension System (if equipped)
Helps to maintain vehicle stability when
swerving on slippery road surfaces by
controlling the brakes, engine output,
steering assist, and steering ratio ■
When the TRAC/VSC systems are
operating (vehicles without Lexus
Safety System+A)
The slip indicator light will flash while the
TRAC/VSC systems are operating.
■
When the TRAC/VSC/ABS systems are
operating (vehicles with Lexus Safety
System+A)
The slip indicator light will flash while the
TRAC/VSC/ABS systems are operating.
■
Disabling the TRAC system
If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, dirt or snow,
the TRAC system may reduce power from
the engine to the wheels. Pressing the
switch to turn the system off may make it
easier for you to rock the vehicle in order to
free it.
To turn the TRAC system off, quickly press
and release the switch.
The “Traction Co ntrol Turned Off” will be
shown on the multi-information display.
Press the switch ag ain to turn the sys-
tem back on.

4117-1. Essential information
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises seconds or more, or press it briefly
3 times or more in succession.
5 Stop the vehicle in a safe place by
the road. WARNING■
If the engine has to be turned off while
driving
Power assist for the steering wheel will
be lost, making th e steering wheel
heavier to turn. Decelerate as much as
possible before turning off the engine.

4157-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises wheels, drive train, axles, steering and
brakes must be in good condition.
To have your vehicle towed by another
vehicle, the towing eyelet must be
installed to your vehicle. Install the tow-
ing eyelet using the following proce-
dure.
1 Take out the phillips-head screw-
driver and towing eyelet.
Phillips-head screwdriver
Towing eyelet
2 Remove the eyelet cover using a
flathead screwdriver.To protect the bodywork, place a rag
between the screwdriver and the vehicle
body as shown in the illustration. 3 Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by hand.
4 Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a phillips-head
screwdriver or hard metal bar.
5 Securely attach cables or chains to
the towing eyelet. Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
6 Enter the vehicle being towed and
start the engine. If the engine does not start, turn the engine
switch to IGNITION ON mode.
7 Shift the shift position to N and
release the parking brake. ■
While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist
for the brakes and steering will not function,
making steering and braking more difficult.Emergency towing procedure
A
B

4217-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises ■
Electric power steering system warning light (warning buzzer)
■
Low fuel level warning light
■
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light (warning buzzer) *
*
: Driver’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The driver’s seat belt warning buzzer sounds to al ert the driver that his or her seat belt is not
fastened. Once the engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode, the buzzer sounds for
6 seconds. If the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer sounds once. If
the seat belt is still unfastened after 24 seconds, the buzzer will sound intermittently for 6
seconds. Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, th e buzzer will sound in a different tone for
90 more seconds.
Front passenger’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The front passenger’s seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert the front passenger that his
or her seat belt is not fastened. The buzzer sounds once if the vehicle reaches a speed of 12
mph (20 km/h). If the seat belt is still unfastened after 24 seconds, the buzzer will sound
intermittently for 6 seconds. Th en, if the seat belt is still un fastened, the buzzer will sound in
a different tone for 90 more seconds. Warning light Details/Actions(red)
or (yellow)
Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steering) system
→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Warning light Details/Actions
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 3.4 gal. (13 L, 2.8 Imp.
gal.) or less
→ Refuel the vehicle.
Warning light Details/Actions
Warns the driver and/or front pass enger to fasten their seat belts
→ Fasten the seat belt.
If the front passenger’s seat is occupied, the front passenger’s seat
belt also needs to be fastened to make the warning light (warning
buzzer) turn off.

426 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) If it is, tighten it securely.
The light will go off after several driving
trips.
If the light does not go off even after several
trips, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible. ■
Electric power steering system warning
light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes insuffi-
cient or the voltage temporarily drops, the
electric power steeri ng system warning
light may come on and the warning buzzer
may sound. ■
When the tire pressure warning light
comes on
Inspect the tires to check if a tire is punc-
tured.
If a tire is punctured: → P.432
If none of the tires are punctured:
Turn the engine switch off then turn it to
IGNITION ON mode. Check if the tire
pressure warning light comes on or blinks. 
If the tire pressure wa rning light blinks for
approximately 1 minute then stays on
There may be a malfunction in the tire
pressure warning syst em. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately. 
If the tire pressure warning light comes
on
1 After the temperature of the tires has
lowered sufficiently, check the inflation
pressure of each tire and adjust them to
the specified level.
2 If the warning light does not turn off
even after several minutes have
elapsed, check that the inflation pres-
sure of each tire is at the specified level
and perform initialization. ( → P.392)
■
The tire pressure warning light may
come on due to natural causes
The tire pressure wa rning light may come
on due to natural causes such as natural air
leaks and tire inflation pressure changes
caused by temperature. In this case, adjust-
ing the tire inflation pressure will turn off the
warning light (after a few minutes). ■
Conditions that the tire pressure warn-
ing system may not function properly
→ P.389
WARNING■
If both the ABS and the brake system
warning lights remain on
Stop your vehicle in a safe place immedi-
ately and contact your Lexus dealer.
The vehicle will become extremely
unstable during br aking, and the ABS
system may fail, which could cause an
accident resulting in death or serious
injury. ■
When the electric power steering
system warning light comes on
When the light comes on yellow, the
assist to the power st eering is restricted.
When the light comes on red, the assist
to the power steering is lost and handling
operations of the steering wheel become
extremely heavy.
When steering wheel operations are
heavier than usual, grip the steering
wheel firmly and operate it using more
force than usual. ■
If the tire pressure warning light
comes on
Be sure to observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so could cause a loss of
vehicle control and result in death or
serious injury.
●
Decelerate to the lowest appropriate
speed as soon as possible. Do not
drive over 50 mph (80 km/h).
●
Check and adjust the tire inflation
pressure immediately.
●
If the tire pressure warning light comes
on even after tire inflation pressure
adjustment, it is prob able that you have
a flat tire. Have the flat tire replaced by
the nearest Lexus dealer.

430 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U)  In some situations, the master warning light and warning buzzer may not oper-
ate as specified. In this case, follow the instructions displayed in the warning
message.
 If a warning light comes on or flashes at the same time that a warning message is
displayed, take corrective actio n according to the warning light. ( → P.418)*
: A buzzer sounds the first time a message is shown on the multi-information display.
■
Warning messages
The warning messages explained below
may differ from the actual messages
according to operation conditions and vehi-
cle specifications. ■
Warning buzzer
In some cases, the bu zzer may not be heard
due to being in a noisy location or audio
sound. ■
If “Engine Oil Level Low Add or
Replace” is displayed
The engine oil level is low. Check the level
of the engine oil, and add if necessary.
This message may appear if the vehicle is
stopped on a slope. Move the vehicle to a
level surface and check to see if the mes-
sage disappears.
■
If “Engine Stoppe d Steering Power
Low” is displayed
This message is displa yed if the engine is
stopped while driving.
When steering wheel operations are
heavier than usual, grip the steering wheel
firmly and operate it using more force than
usual. ■
If “Auto Power Off to Conserve Battery”
is displayed
Power was turned off due to the automatic
power off function. Next time when starting
the engine, increase the engine speed
slightly and maintain that level for approxi-
mately 5 minutes to recharge the battery. ■
If “Headlight System Malfunction Visit
Your Dealer” is displayed
The following systems may be malfunction-
ing. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer immediately. ●
The LED headlight system ●
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) ●
The automatic headlight leveling system ●
AHB (Automatic High Beam)
■
If “Front Camera Unav ailable” or “Front
Camera Unavailable Remove Debris
On Windshield” is displayed
The following systems may be suspended
until the problem shown in the message is
resolved. ( → P.210, 217, 424)
●
PCS (Pre-Collision system)
●
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) (if equipped)
●
LKA (Lane Keeping Assist) (if equipped)
●
Dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed rangeComes on Does not sound Indicates a condition, such as malfunction of electri-
cal components, their cond ition, or indicates the
need for maintenance
Flashes Does not sound Indicates a situation, such as when an operation has
been performed incorrectly, or indicates how to
perform an operation correctlyWarning buzzer *
Warning

462 8-1. Specifications
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) ■
Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C, and they
represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on braking (straight
ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction. ■
Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudd en tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Fede ral Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades of a tire
assume that it is prop erly inflated and not
overloaded.
Excessive speed, unde rinflation, or exces-
sive loading, either separately or in combi-
nation, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Glossary of tire terminology Tire related term Meaning
Cold tire inflation pressure Tire pressure when the vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more, or has not been driven more
than 1 mile or 1.5 km under that condition
Maximum inflation pressure The maximum cold inflated pressure to which a tire
may be inflated, shown on the sidewall of the tire
Recommended inflation pressure Cold tire inflation pressure recommended by a
manufacturer
Accessory weight The combined weight (in excess of those standard
items which may be replaced) of automatic trans-
mission, power steering, power brakes, power win-
dows, power seats, radio and heater, to the extent
that these items are available as factory-installed
equipment (whether installed or not)