2021 Lexus GX460 differential

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GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
Four-wheel drive system
H4 (high speed position)
Normal driving on all types of roads.
L4 (low speed position)
Driving requiring maximum power and
traction such as climbing or descending
steep hills, off-road driving, and hard
pulling in sand or mud, etc.
The low speed four-wheel drive indica-
tor will come on.
Use the four-wheel drive control switch
and center differential lock/unlock
switch to select the following transfer and center differential modes.
Four-wheel drive control switch
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GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)
3454-5. Using the driving support systems
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Driving
Lock the center differential when your
vehicle’s wheels get stuck in a ditch or
when driving on a slippery or bumpy
surface.
The center differential lock indicator will
come on.
Unlock the center differential after the
wheels have been freed, or after moving
to a flat, non-slippery surface.
To unlock the center differential, push the switch again.
■Shifting from H4 to L4Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal held down.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and shift the four-wheel drive control switch to L4.
Maintain this condition until the low sp eed four-wheel drive indicator turns on.
■Shifting from L4 to H4
Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal held down.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and shift the four-wheel drive control switch to H4.
Maintain this condition until the low sp eed four-wheel drive indicator turns off.
Center differential lock/unlock switch
Shifting between H4 and L4
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GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
■When the four-wheel drive control switch can be operated
●The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
●The shift lever is in the N position.
●The vehicle is stopped completely.
■The low speed four-wheel drive indicator
●The indicator blinks while sw
itching between H4 and L4.
●If the low speed four-wheel drive indicator continues to blink when you operate the
four-wheel drive control switch to the H4 or L4 position, stop the vehicle completely,
shift the shift lever securely into N and then operate the switch again.
●If the shift lever is moved before the low speed four-wheel drive indicator turns on/off,
the transfer mode may not be shifted completely. The transfer mode disengages both
the front and rear drive shafts from the powertrain and allows the vehicle to move
regardless of the shift position. (At this time , the indicator blinks and the buzzer sounds.)
Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the shift lever is in P. You or someone else
could be seriously injured. You must comple te the shifting of the transfer mode and
confirm that the indicator has turned off (H4) or turned on (L4).
●If the engine coolant temperature is too low, the four-wheel drive control system may
not be able to shift. When the engine is warmer operate the switch again.
If the indicator continue to blink even if doing so, have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four-wheel drive system.
■When the transfer mode is switched to L4
VSC is automatically turned off. (T he VSC OFF indicator will come on.)
■When the center differential lock/unlock switch can be operated
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■The center differential lock indicator
●The indicator blinks while locking/unlocking the center differential.
●If the center differential lock indicator b links and the buzzer sounds when the center
differential is locked, stop the slipping or spinning and push the switch again.
If the indicator continue to blink even if doing so, have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four-wheel drive system.

GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)
3474-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■Locking/unlocking the center differential
●If the operation is not completed, the center di fferential lock indicator blinks. If the indi-
cator does not turn off when unlocking the center differential, drive straight ahead
while accelerating or decelera ting, or drive in reverse.
●Avoid turning suddenly while the center differ ential is locked. If you do turn suddenly,
the difference in turning speeds between the front and rear wheels may have a similar
effect to braking, thus making driving difficult.
WARNING
■While driving
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may cause an accident resulting in
death or serious injury.
●Never move the four-wheel drive control switch if the wheels have lost traction.
●Do not operate the center differential lock/unlock when the vehicle is turning or
when its wheels are spinning freely off the ground.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the center differential
●For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, unlock the center differential.
●Unlock the center differential after the wheels are out of the ditch or off the slippery
or bumpy surface.

GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)
3814-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
NOTICE
■To prevent the water damage
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the engine or other
components does not occur.
●Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe engine damage.
●Water entering the automatic transmission will cause deterioration in shift quality,
locking up of your transmission accompanied by vibration, and ultimately damage.
●Water can wash the grease from wheel be arings, causing rusting and premature fail-
ure, and may also enter the differentials, tr ansmission and transfer case, reducing the
gear oil’s lubricating qualities.
■When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when cro ssing shallow streams, first check the depth of
the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and avoid deep
water.
■Inspection after off-road driving
●Sand and mud that has accumulated in brake drums and around brake discs may
affect braking efficiency and may damage brake system components.
●Always perform a maintenance inspection afte r each day of off-road driving that has
taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance
information, refer to the “Warranty and Se rvices Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.

5137-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)
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When trouble arises
Securely attach cables or chains to
the towing hooks.
Take care not to damage the vehicle
body.
Enter the vehicle being towed and start the engine.
If the engine does not start, turn th e engine switch to IGNITION ON mode.
Set the four-wheel drive control switch in H4 and push the center differential
lock/unlock switch to unlock the center differential. (P. 344)
For models with the rear height cont rol air suspension: Change the vehicle
height to N (normal) mode and end th e vehicle height control operation.
( P. 339)
Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted: P. 209
■While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not function,
making steering and br aking more difficult.
Emergency towing procedure
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5207-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)
(Flashes)
Low speed four-wheel drive indicator lightIndicates a malfunction in the four -wheel drive system if the light
continues flashing. ( P. 344)
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(Flashes)
Center differential lock indicator light
Indicates a malfunction in the four -wheel drive system if the light
continues flashing. ( P. 344)
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*2
Indicates that a hood, door or th e glass hatch is not fully closed
 Check that all the doors and the glass hatch are closed.
Low fuel level warning light
Indicates that remaining fuel is a pproximately 3.5 gal. (13.1 L, 2.9
Imp. gal.) or less
 Refuel the vehicle.
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light (warning
buzzer)
*3
Warns the driver and/or front passenger 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.
Tire pressure warning light
Indicates that:
•Flat tire
• Natural causes
• The tire pressure warnin g system is malfunctioning
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Handling method( P. 523)
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions

5237-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GX460_OM_OM60T19U_(U)
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When trouble arises
■If the low speed four-wheel driv e indicator light or the center differential lock indicator
light blinks
Take the specified steps. ( P. 346)
■When the tire pressure warning light comes on
Inspect the tires to check if a tire is punctured.
If a tire is punctured:  P. 531
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 flashes.
If the tire pressure warning light comes on
After the temperature of the tires has lowere d sufficiently, check the inflation pressure
of each tire and adjust th em to the specified level.
If the warning light does not turn off even after several minutes have elapsed, check
that the inflation pressure of each tire is at the specified level and perform initialization.
(  P. 474)
If the warning light does not turn off even after several minutes have elapsed, have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
If the tire pressure wa rning light flashes for 1 minute then stay on
There may be a malfunction in the tire pressure warning system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
■The tire pressure warning light may turn on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may turn on du e to natural causes such as natural air leaks
or tire inflation pressure changes caused by temperature. In this case, adjusting the tire
inflation pressure will turn off the warning light (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with a spare tire
The tire pressure warning light wi ll turn on if the tire inflation pressure of the spare tire is
low. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warn ing light will not turn off even though the flat
tire has been replaced with the spare tire.
■Conditions that the tire pressure wa rning system may not function properly
 P. 478
■If the tire pressure warning light freque ntly comes on after blinking for 1 minute
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute when the
engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mo de, have it checked by your Lexus dealer.
■Warning buzzer
In some cases, the buzzer may not be heard due to being in a noisy location or audio
sound.
■Customization
The vehicle speed linked seat belt reminder buzzer can be disabled.
(Customizable features: P. 584)
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