Lexus GS 2013 User manual

Towing and
Road Service Guide
For
2013 Lexus GS
Quality and Education Services
AAA Automotive
1000 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746
March 5, 2012

Index
General Towing Information
Special Precautions 1
Car Carrier Loading and Transporting 2
Shifter Lock Override 6
Electronic Parking Brake Override 7
Wheel-Lift Towing Procedure 10
Emergency Road Service Information
Jacking 11
Tire Service 12
Out of Fuel 13
Jump-Start Procedures 14
Keyless Ignition Operation 15
Keyless Entry Operation 17

1
AAA Towing and Roadside Assistance Guide
for the 2013 Lexus GS Series
March 5, 2012
GENERAL TOWING INFORMATION
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
Lexus 2013 GS Series vehicles are sold in three configurations; a standard GS
350, a GS 350 F Sport and a GS 450h Hybrid. The GS 350 and 350 F Sport are
only available in both rear wheel drive and all wheel drive while the GS 450h
Hybrid is only available in rear wheel drive.
Wheel-lift or car carrier equipment are authorized methods of towing this vehicle.
A car carrier is the preferred method of transporting these vehicles; however,
when wheel-lift equipment is used, a dolly is recommended under the front axle
as trailing end clearances will be limited without. THERE IS NO APPROVED
PROCEDURE FOR THE USE OF SLING-TYPE EQUIPMENT ON THIS
VEHICLE.
When loading or pulling the 2013 Lexus GS Series, DO NOT USE HOOKS OF
ANY TYPE ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS OR ANY OTHER
STEERING OR SUSPENSION COMPONENT. Follow only the approved
loading procedures specified in the following pages.
In an emergency situation where the vehicle will not roll or must be moved for
towing access, wheel-jacking equipment, such as Go-Jacks are recommended.
When parking this vehicle ensure that the transmission is in “PARK” and the
parking brake is properly set. This vehicle does not use a conventional ignition
key or key cylinder so the vehicle can be shut off and the transponder/fob
removed from the car without putting the transmission into the “PARK” position.

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CAR CARRIER LOADING AND TRANSPORTING:
The use of car carrier equipment is the preferred method of transporting the 2013 Lexus
GS Series vehicles.
NOTE: The curb weights for the 2013 Lexus GS SERIES vehicle are:
GS 350 –RWD: 3,795lbs.; AWD: 3,970 lbs.
GS 350 F Sport –RWD: 3,795 lbs.; AWD 3,970 lbs.
GS 450h Hybrid –RWD: 4,190 lbs.
The 2013 Lexus GS Series has a standard ground clearance of 5.7 inches. Loading this
vehicle onto a conventional car carrier may require additional ramping in some
circumstances. However, clearance at the trailing end of the vehicle should always be
checked as it is loaded.
The towing eyelet should be used for front loading of these vehicles. The eyelet is
located in the tool kit in the center of the rear cargo area under the floor.
If the towing eyelet is missing or otherwise inaccessible, the tie-down slots on the
undercarriage can be used to load the vehicle. Eyelets are available for purchase through
any Lexus dealership parts department. Other towing and tie-down equipment shown in
this guide is available through AW Direct, a AAA preferred supplier.

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To install the eyelet correctly on this vehicle, start by carefully removing the eyelet
receiver cap from the front bumper. If a sharp, metal object like a screwdriver is used as
shown, use a cloth or piece of paper to protect the painted surfaces from scratches.
Although the receiver cap cover has a string type piece that holds it to the vehicle when it
is removed, it is always a good idea to remove the assembly completely from the bumper.
Stow the receiver cap in the vehicle either in the trunk, where the eyelet was stowed, or in
a cup holder in the center console, so that it does not blow off the vehicle or get lost
during transport.

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NOTE: The eyelets on these vehicles have RIGHT-HAND THREADS. Screw the eyelet
clockwise into the receiver in the bumper and attach the winch line to the eyelet with the
open side of the hook facing upward when possible.
Ensure the eyelet is secure in the receiver by tightening it using the wheel lug wrench.
Before loading, ensure that the transmission is in “Neutral” and the ignition switch is in
position to unlock the steering (operation of the keyless ignition switch is covered later
on in this guide). When loading, remember that the eyelet is designed for a straight ahead
pull within a 20 degree window, so stop the vehicle as the winch wire rope begins to pull
downward. To prevent too much downward pull you will need to keep the leading edge
of the vehicle about 3 feet from the winch drum.
AAA recommends that these vehicles be secured using nylon straps around the wheels as
these vehicles are available with Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with electronically
modulated dampening. Any downward pull on the vehicle while the ignition is on may
cause the suspension system to try and level out the vehicle, possibly causing damage.

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If nylon straps are not available, there are “T” hook slots in the unibody structure of the
vehicle that can be used to secure it during transport. The tow truck operator must
ensure that the ignition is not switched on at any time the vehicle is secured to the tow
truck using the “T” hook slots as this may activate the adaptive suspension system on
these vehicles.
After securing, return the bed to the transporting position, then slacken the winch wire
rope slightly to prevent downward pull on the towing eyelet as bumps are encountered
during transport. Make sure that the ignition is in the OFF position to avoid unnecessary
battery drain and to prevent the suspension from adjusting.

6
SHIFT INTERLOCK OVERRIDE
If there is a problem with the shifter the transmission can be shifted out of the park
position. This is accomplished by lifting out the small cover above the shifter “Park (P)”
indicator and depressing the button below the cover, allowing the shifter to be moved out
of the Park position.

7
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE OVERRIDE
The 2013 Lexus GS series vehicles are equipped with an electrically applied parking
brake. Power is needed in the vehicle to apply and release the parking brake which can
be set to function automatically when the vehicle is shifted in and out of PARK (P). In
the event that the battery is discharged or the switch, mounted in the dash to the lower
right of the steering wheel, will not release the parking brake, an override procedure is
incorporated into the system.
The first step is to ensure there is battery power in the vehicle so perform your normal
diagnostic procedure to ensure the battery is functioning. If there is any question as to
the state of charge of the battery, hook your jump starting system to the vehicle following
all the procedures outlined in the jump starting section of this service guide and follow all
normal jump starting precautions.

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If ensuring battery power does not release the parking brake, it will need to be manually
released using the following steps:
Shift the shift lever to PARK (P)
Turn the engine switch OFF by pressing the “ENGINE START STOP” button on
the dash
Check that the parking brake indicator, on the dash, is off.
Chock the tires as the vehicle may roll once the parking brake is manually
released.
Open the trunk, remove the parking brake release tool and screwdriver handle
from the tool kit.
The access hole to release the parking brake mechanism is in the spare tire well so
the removal of the spare tire is necessary.