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LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 2014-1. Before driving
4
Driving ■
Driving mode select switch
The suspension can be switched fo r improvement in driveability. ( → P. 284)■
Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components (such as an
engine, transmission, differen tial or wheel bearing), Lexus recommends that you do not
tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can start towing.
However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a speed of less than
50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full throttle acceleration.■
Maintenance ●
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will requir e more frequent maintenance due to the addi-
tional load. (See “Owner’s Guide”, “Warranty and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual
Supplement” or “Warranty Booklet”.) ●
Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ba ll and bracket after approximately 600 miles
(1000 km) of trailer towing. ■
If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing ve hicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability. ●
If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wh eel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer sway ing by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal im mediately but very gradually to reduce
speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the st eering or brakes, your vehicle and trailer
should stabilize. ●
After the trailer sw aying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not ov erloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred is beyond
the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the towing vehi-
cle-trailer increases as speed increases.
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202
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-1. Before driving
WARNING ■
Trailer towing precautions ●
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care an d drive the vehicle in accordance with the
trailer’s characteristics and operating condit ions. Failure to do so could cause an acci-
dent resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle stability and braking performance are
affected by trailer st ability, brake setting and performanc e, and the hitch. Your vehicle
will handle differently when towing a trailer. ●
Set the vehicle height to the “LO” mode and turn off the 4-Wheel AHC when you
connect a trailer, otherwise the vehicle height may change due to the automatic level-
ing function, and you may catch part of your body in the vehicle, resulting in an acci-
dent. ( → P. 295)■
To avoid accident or injury ●
Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR. ●
If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device with suffi-
cient capacity is required. ●
If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight distributing hitch with
sufficient capacity is required. ●
Adjust the tongue weight within the approp riate range. Place heavier loads as close
to the trailer axle as possible. ●
Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the speed limit
for your trailer as set forth in your trai ler owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Slow
down sufficiently before making a turn, in crosswinds, on wet or slippery surface, etc.
to help avoid an accident. If you experien ce a vehicle-trailer in stability from reducing
a certain speed, slow down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the
speed of which you expe rience the instability.●
Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns. ●
Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you ma y skid, resulting in jackknifing and loss of
vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces.●
Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue weight capacities. ●
Do not use cruise control (if equipped) or dynamic radar cruise control with full-
speed range (if equipped) when trailer towing. ●
Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do not
make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long downhill grades. ●
Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely on steep long down hills. Before descending
steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do not make sudden down-
shifts when descending steep or long do wnhill grades. Avoid ho lding the brake pedal
down too long or applying the brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to
overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.
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LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 2034-1. Before driving
4
Driving WARNING ■
Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the hitch manu-
facturer. Even though the vehicle may be phys ically capable of towing a higher weight,
the operator must determine the maximum weight rating of the particular hitch assem-
bly and never exceed the maximum weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch.
Exceeding the maximum weight rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause
an accident resulting in death or serious personal injuries. ■
When towing a trailer
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations. ●
If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are required. Lexus
recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable federal and state/pro-
vincial regulations. ●
Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s braking
effectiveness. ●
Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer
and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the co upling unit or hitch ball, there is danger of
the trailer wandering into another lane.
NOTICE ■
When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the trailer
hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage. ■
Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splic e trailer lights. Directly splicin g trailer lights may damage your
vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.
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204
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-1. Before driving
Dinghy towing Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on the ground)
behind a motor home.
NOTICE ■
To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
Page 205 of 628
205
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Engine (ignition) switch Pull the parking brake switch to check that the parking brake is set. ( → P. 218)Parking brake indicator will come on.
Check that the shift lever is set in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal. and a message will be displayed on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, th e engine cannot be started.
Press the engine switch shortly and
firmly. When operating the engine switch, one
short, firm press is enough.
It is not necessary to press and hold the
switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for
up to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal
until the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any
engine switch mode.Performing the following operations wh en carrying the electronic key on your
person starts the engine or changes engine switch modes.
Starting the engine 1
2
3
4
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206
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-2. Driving procedures
Stop the vehicle.
Set the parking brake ( → P. 219), and shift the shift lever to P.
Press the engine switch.
Release the brake pedal and check that the display on the instrument cluster is
off.
Modes can be changed by pressing the en gine switch with brake pedal released.
(The mode changes each time the switch is pressed.)
Off
* The emergency flashers can be used.
ACCESSORY mode Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
IGNITION ON mode All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
* : If the shift lever is in a position other than
P when turning off the engine, the
engine switch will be turned to ACCES-
SORY mode, not to off.Stopping the engine
Changing engine switch modes 1
2
3
4
1
2
3
Page 207 of 628

LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 2074-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving If the engine is stopped with the shift le ver in a position other than P, the engine
switch will not be turned off but inst ead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. Per-
form 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 disp layed on the multi-information display
and then press the engine switch once.
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on th e multi-information display is off.■
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 vehicle with the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNI-
TION ON mode for long periods of ti me when the engine is not running.■
Operation of the engine switch ●
If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the engine switch mode may not change
or the engine may not start. ●
If attempting to restart the engine immediately after turning the engine switch off, the
engine may not start in some cases. After turning the engine off, please wait a few sec-
onds before restarting the engine. ■
Electronic key battery depletion
→ P. 112 ■
Conditions affe cting operation
→ P. 134 ■
Note for the entry function
→ P. 135 ■
If the engine does not start ●
The engine immobilizer system ma y not have been deactivated. ( → P. 75)
Contact your Lexus dealer. ●
Check that the shift lever is se curely set in P. The engine ma y not start if the shift lever is
displaced out of P.
A message will be displayed 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 func tion. Operating the engine switch again auto-
matically cancels the steering lock.When stopping the engine with the shift lever in a position other than P1
2
3
4
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208
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-2. Driving procedures■
When the steering lock cannot be released
■
Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from over heating, the motor may be suspended if the
engine is turned on and off re peatedly in a short period of time. In this case, refrain from
running the engine. After about 10 seconds, the steering lock motor will resume func-
tioning. ■
When “Smart Access System Malfunction See Owner’s Manual” is displayed on the
multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have th e vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer,
immediately. ■
If the electronic key battery is depleted
→ P. 503 ■
If the smart access system with push-button start has been deactivated in a customized
setting
→ P. 546A message will be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press the
engine switch while turn ing the steering wheel
left and right.
WARNING ■
When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the accelerator
pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resu lting in death or serious injury.■
Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lock or open the doors until
the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activation of the steering lock in this cir-
cumstance may lead to an accident, re sulting in death or serious injury.■
Stopping the engine in an emergency ●
If you want to stop the engine in an em ergency while driving th e vehicle, press and
hold the engine switch for more than 2 seco nds, or press it briefly 3 times or more in
succession. ( → P. 511)
However, do not touch the engine switch wh ile driving except in an emergency. Turn-
ing the engine off while drivin g will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but
the power assist to these systems will be lost . This will make it more difficult to steer
and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. ●
If the engine switch is operated while the vehicle is running, a warning message will be
shown on the multi-information display and a buzzer sounds. ●
When restarting the engine after it was turn ed off while driving, shift the shift lever to
N and press the engine switch.