2019 LEXUS LS500 Owners Manual

4097-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 7
When trouble arises 7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be
towed If towing is ne cessary, we recom-
mend 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/pro-
vincial and local laws. WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury. ■
When towing the vehicle 
2WD models
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 driv etrain and related
parts may be damaged or an accident
may occur due to a change in direction
of the vehicle. 
AWD models
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 driv etrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehicle may
fly off the truck.
■
While towing ●
When towing using cables or chains,
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets,
cables or chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people,
and cause serious damage.
●
Make sure to disable all functions of
the vehicle height control of the elec-
tronically modulated air suspension.
Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change and part of your body may be
caught under the vehicle, possibly
causing injury. (  P.293)
●
Do not turn the engine switch off.
This may lead to an accident as the
rear wheels will be locked by the park-
ing lock.
Also, there is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and cannot be
operated.

410 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 In the following situations, it is not pos-
sible to be towed by another vehicle
using cables or chains, as the rear
wheels may be locked due to the park-
ing lock. Contact your Lexus dealer or
commercial towing service.
 There is a malfunction in the shift control system. (  P.167, 425)
 There is a malfunction in the engine
immobilizer system. (  P.63)
 There is a malfunction in the smart
access system with push-button
start. (  P.433)
 The battery is discharged.
(  P.435)
The following may indicate a problem
with your transmission. Contact your
Lexus dealer or commercial towing
service before towing.
 The engine is running but the vehi-
cle does not move.
 The vehicle makes an abnormal
sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck to
prevent body damage.WARNING■
Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets
may come loose during towing.
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 engine switch is off. The
steering lock mechanism is not strong
enough to hold the front wheels
straight.●
When raising the vehicle, ensure ade-
quate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle.
Without adequate clearance, the vehi-
cle 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.
Situations when it is not possible
to be towed by another vehicle Situations when it is necessary to
contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck

4117-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 7
When trouble arises 
From the front
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels. 
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
If your vehicle is transported by a flat-
bed truck, it should be tied down at the
locations shown in the illustration. 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.
Make sure to disable all functions of
the vehicle height control of the elec-
tronically modulated air suspension.
Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change and the vehicle may be dam-
aged. (  P.293)
If a tow truck is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be tem-
porarily 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 18 mph (30 km/h).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer
and operate the brakes. The vehicle’s Towing with a wheel-lift type
truck
Using a flatbed truck
Emergency towing

412 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 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

4137-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 7
When trouble arises  Fluid leaks under the vehicle.
(Water dripping from the air condi-
tioning 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 corner-
ing
 Strange noises related to the sus-
pension system
 Pinging or other noises related to
the engine
 Engine missing, stumbling or run-
ning 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 think something is
wrong If you notice any of the following
symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Con-
tact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms

414 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 Follow the procedure below to restart
the engine after the system is activated.
1 Turn the engine switch to ACCES-
SORY mode or turn it off.
2 Restart the engine.Fuel pump shut off system To minimize the risk of fuel leakage
when the engine stalls or when an
airbag inflates upon collision, the
fuel pump shut off system stops the
supply of fuel to the engine.
Restarting the engine
NOTICE■
Before starting the engine
Inspect the ground under the vehicle.
If you find that fuel has leaked onto the
ground, the fuel system has been dam-
aged and is in need of repair. Do not
restart the engine.

4157-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 7
When trouble arises ■
Brake system warning light (warning buzzer)
■
Brake system warning light (warning buzzer)
■
High coolant temperature warning light *
(warning buzzer)
*
: This light illuminates on the multi-information display.If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer soundsCalmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights comes on or
flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, bu t then goes off, this does not necessar-
ily indicate a malfunction in the system. However, if this continues to occur,
have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
Actions to the warning lights or warning buzzers Warning light Details/Actions(U.S.A.)
or (red)
(Canada) Indicates that:
 The brake fluid level is low; or
 The brake system is malfunctioning
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
Indicates that the brake pads are worn out (only the right-side pads can
be detected)
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
Warning light Details/Actions
(yellow) Indicates a malfunction in:
 The electronically controlled brake sy stem (vehicles with Lexus Safety
System + A); or
 The parking brake system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Warning light Details/Actions
Indicates that the engine coolant temperature is too high
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Handling method (  P.440)

416 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 ■
Charging system warning light *
(warning buzzer)*
: This light illuminates on the multi-information display. ■
Low engine oil pressure warning light *
(warning buzzer)*
: This light illuminates on the multi-information display. ■
Malfunction indicator lamp (warning buzzer)
■
SRS warning light (warning buzzer) Warning light Details/Actions
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
Warning light Details/Actions
Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
Warning light Details/Actions
(U.S.A.)
or
(Canada) Indicates a malfunction in:
 The electronic engine control system;
 The electronic throttle control system; or
 The electronic automatic transmission control system
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
Warning light Details/Actions
Indicates a malfunction in:
 The SRS airbag system;
 The front passenger occupant classification system; or
 The seat belt pr etensioner system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.