192
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)4-1. Before driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering
may cause tire slippage and reduce your
ability to control the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes in engine speed
could cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle , lightly depress the brake pedal to make sure that the
brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from func-
tioning properly. If the brakes on only on e side are wet and not functioning properly,
steering control may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll
forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake and steering perfor-
mance, resulting in an accide nt or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a driving position while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the engine from
the transmission. Engine braking is not available when N is selected.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed. Shifting the
shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of
the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators) (GS350/
GS300)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
Front brakes of F SPORT models: Moderate levels of brake pad and disc wear allow
enhanced front braking power. As a result, the discs may wear more quickly than con-
ventional brake discs. Therefore, when replacing the brake pads, Lexus recommends
that you also have the thic kness of the discs measured.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those
of the brake discs are exceeded.
194
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)4-1. Before driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, sp
ray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle
when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cau se the plastic lenses and plastic mate-
rial of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circui t in the vehicle’s electrical components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a place such as
the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the
seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the windsh ield or windows. Do not place containers
such as air fresheners on th e instrument panel or dashboard. Adhesive discs or con-
tainers may act as lenses, ca using a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if th e curved glass is coated with a metallized
film such as a silver-colored one. Reflecte d sunlight may cause the glass to act as a
lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the engine and lock the
vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattend ed while the engine is running.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift leve r in P but the parking brake is not set, the
vehicle may start to move, possibly leading to an accident.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the engine is running or immediately after turn-
ing the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift lever or
depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire due to engine over-
heating. Additionally, if the ve hicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases
may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.
218
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■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.
●In situations such as when parking on a steep slope*, the maximum amount of braking
force can be used by pressing the parking brake switch with the parking brake already
set.
*: Use wheel chocks when parking on a steep slope.
■Parking brake operation sound
When the parking brake operates, a motor so und (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 unt il 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 indi-
cator light will stay on for about 15 seconds. This does not in dicate a malfunction.
■When there is a malfunction in the system
Warning lights and/or warning message will turn on or flash. ( P. 439, 445)
Depending on the condition, the park ing brake indicator light may flash.
■Parking the vehicle
P. 188
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
P. 448
■Usage in winter time
P. 305
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. 502)
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake se t will lead to brake components overheat-
ing, which may affect braking performance and increase brake wear.
219
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Brake Hold
Turns the brake hold system on
The brake hold standby indicator
(green) comes on. Wh
ile the system is
holding the brake, the brake hold oper-
ated indicator (yellow) comes on.
■Brake hold system operating conditions
The brake hold system cannot be turn ed on in the following conditions:
●The driver’s door is not closed.
●The driver is not wearing the seat belt.
●“EPB Activation Stopped Incompletely” or “Electronic Parking Brake Malfunction Visit
Your Dealer” is displayed on the multi-information display.
If any of the conditions above are detected when the brake hold system is enabled, the
system will turn off and the brake hold standby in dicator light will go off. In addition, if any
of the conditions are detected while the sy stem is holding the brake, a warning buzzer
will sound and a message will be shown on th e multi-information display. The parking
brake will then be set automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a pe riod of about 3 minutes after the system has
started holding the brake, the parking brake will be set automatically. In this case, a
warning buzzer sounds and a message is shown on the multi-information display.
●To turn the system off while the system is holding the brake, firmly depress the brake
pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep incline.
In this situation, it may be necessary for the driver to apply the brakes. A warning
buzzer will sound and the mult i-information display will inform the driver of this situa-
tion. ( P. 444)
The brake hold system keeps the brake a pplied when the shift lever is in D, M
or N with the system on and the brake pedal has been depressed to stop the
vehicle. The system releases the brake when the accelerator pedal is
depressed with the shif t lever in D or M to allow smooth start off.
220
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■When the parking brake is set automatically
while the system is holding the brakes
The parking brake will not be released automatically. Perform one of the following proce-
dures to release the parking brake and conf irm that the parking brake indicator light
turns off. ( P. 217)
●With the brake pedal depressed, operate the parking brake switch.
●Fasten your seat belt, check th at the shift lever is in either D or R and slowly depress the
accelerator pedal.
■Warning message and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution. ( P. 444)
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep incline
When using the brake hold system on a steep incline exercise caution. The brake hold
function may not hold the vehicle in such a situation.
■When stopped on a slippery road
The system cannot stop the vehicle when the gripping ability of the tires has been
exceeded. Do not use the system when stopped on a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not designed for use when parking the vehicle for a long
period of time. Turning the engine switch of f while the system is holding the brake may
release the brake, which would cause the vehicle to move. When operating the engine
switch, depress the brake pedal, set the pa rking brake and shift the shift lever to P.
225
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
Automatic High Beam
Push the lever away from you with
the headlight switch in the or
position.
Press the Automatic High Beam
switch.
The Automatic High Beam indicator will
come on when the headlights are turned
on automatically to indicate that the sys-
tem is active.
: If equipped
The Automatic High Beam uses an in-vehicle camera sensor to assess the
brightness of streetlights, the lights of vehicles ahead, etc., and automatically
turns the high beam on or off as necessary.
WARNING
■Limitations of the Automatic High Beam
Do not rely on the Automatic High Beam. Al ways drive safely, taking care to observe
your surroundings and turning the high be am on or off manually if necessary.
■To prevent incorrect operation of the Automatic High Beam system
Do not overload the vehicle.
Activating the Automatic High Beam system
1
2
228
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Temporarily lowering sensor sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.
Turn the engine switch off while the following conditions are met.
• The headlight switch is in or .
• The headlight switch lever is in high beam position.
• Automatic High Beam switch is on.
Turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode.
Within 30 seconds after , repeat pulling th e headlight switch lever to the original
position then pushing it to the high beam position quickly 10 times, then leave the lever
in high beam position.
If the sensitivity is changed, the Automatic High Beam indicator is turn on and off 3
times.
Automatic High Beam (head lights) may turn on even the vehicle is stopped.
■Warning message
Warning messages are used to indicate a syst em malfunction or to inform the driver of
the need for caution. ( P. 444)
1
2
32
4
GS350_300_OM_OM30G96U_(U)
2334-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■When the windshield wipers are in temporary operation
AUTO mode cannot be activated even if is pressed.
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked if there is washer fluid in the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
WARNING
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in AUTO mode
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the wind-
shield is subject to vibration in AUTO mode. Take care that your fingers or anything
else do not become caught in the windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the washer fl uid until the windshield becomes warm. The
fluid may freeze on the windshield and cause lo w visibility. This may lead to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be cau sed if the lever is pulled toward you and
held continually.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact your Lexus dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
■When standing the windshield wipers up
Raise the wipers in line with the windshield. ( P. 307)
Failure to do so may result in dama ge to the wipers and/or the hood.