Lexus GS 450h 2006 User manual

Towing and
Road Service Guide
For
Lexus GS 450h
Quality and Education Services
AAA Automotive
1000 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746
July 12, 2006

Index
General Towing Information
Special Precautions 3
Car Carrier Loading and Transporting 4
ShifterLockOverride 7
Wheel-Lift Towing Procedure 8
Emergency Road Service Information
Jacking 9
TireService: 10
Out of Fuel 11
Jump-Start Procedures 13
Keyless Entry and Keyless Ignition Operation 14
2

AAA Towing and Roadside Assistance Guide for Lexus GS450h
July 10, 2006
GENERAL TOWING INFORMATION
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
•Lexus GS 450h is a hybrid vehicle equipped with both a gasoline and electric
power system. As with other hybrid powered vehicles, avoid contact with the
“ORANGE” colored wiring as this indicates it is part of the high voltage system.
•The layout of the high voltage power system is a follows:
•For complete Hybrid Safety information refer to the Lexus website
http://www.techinfo.toyota.com/public/main/gs450h.pdf
•Lexus GS 450h vehicles are currently sold only in a 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 Lexus GS450h, DO NOT USE HOOKS OF ANY
TYPE ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. 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 key removed from the
car without putting the transmission into the “PARK” position.
3

CAR CARRIER LOADING AND TRANSPORTING:
The use of car carrier equipment is the preferred method of transporting the new Lexus
GS450h vehicles.
CAUTION: The curb weight for the GS450h is 4,134lbs,
The Lexus GS450h has 5.1 inches of ground clearance. 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 monitored as it is
loaded.
The towing eye bolt should be used for front loading of the GS series vehicles. The eye
bolt is located in the tool kit located in the center under the floor in the rear cargo area.
If the towing eyebolt is missing or otherwise inaccessible, the tie-down slots on the
undercarriage can be used to load the vehicle. Eyebolts are available for purchase
through any Lexus dealership parts department. The part number for the eyebolt is
5196148202 as of the printing of this document. Other towing and tie-down equipment
shown in this guide is available through AW Direct, a preferred AAA supplier.
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NOTE: The eyebolt on this model has RIGHT-HAND THREADS. Screw the eye bolt
clockwise into the front pull point and attach the winch line to the eyebolt with the open
side of the hook facing upward when possible.
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 eye bolts are 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
Once loaded, set the parking brake and secure the vehicle onto the carrier.
NOTE: Lexus states that the four tie-downs slots in the frame can be used to secure the
vehicle. Slots are provided in the frame to take either “T” or “mini-J” type hooks. AAA
recommends the use of wheel strap style tie-downs around each wheel as a means of
securing the vehicle to the car carrier while reducing the risk of damaging under-body
and suspension components.
5

(front tie down slot right side)
(rear tie down slot right side)
After securing, return the bed to the transporting position, then slacken the winch wire
rope slightly to prevent downward pull on the towing eye bolt as bumps are encountered
during transport. Make sure that the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position to
avoid unnecessary battery drain.
6

SHIFTER LOCK OVERRIDE
If there is a problem with the shifter or if the ignition key is not available, 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 to allow the shifter to be moved out of the Park position.
(Shifter with access plug in place) (with access plug removed)
7

WHEEL-LIFT TOWING PROCEDURE:
If a wheel-lift is used, the procedures shown below must be used with no exceptions.
CAUTION: The 2007 Lexus GS 450h vehicles are currently available in a Rear
Wheel Drive configuration only and because of the hybrid drive train, the rear
wheels MUST be lifted during towing to prevent damage to the drive system on this
vehicle.
The 2007 Lexus GS series vehicles have limited clearance on the front valance under the
front bumper so it is recommended that a towing dolly should be installed under the
trailing wheels when towing these vehicles with a wheel lift.
To tow GS450h with a wheel-lift and dolly, observe the following:
•Secure the one set of wheels firmly to the wheel-lift and the other set of wheels
firmly to the dolly.
•After loading the GS450h onto the dolly and wheel-lift, place the transmission
selector in Park and set the parking brake.
•Use a steering wheel securing device to prevent possible excessive load on the
steering column lock.
•Attach safety chains and tow lights to the vehicle.
•Ensure that the ignition switch is turned OFF to prevent unnecessary battery
drain.
8

EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE PROCEDURES
JACKING:
The jack supplied with the 2007 Lexus GS 450h vehicles is located under the trunk floor
mat as shown in the figure below.
Jack
Spare tire location (if
equipped)
The approved lifting locations are on the pinch weld or rocker sills, located inboard of
the wheels.
Place the jack in its proper location. Observe all standard jacking precautions and ensure
that the vehicle is on firm, level ground. As the jack comes in contact with the vehicle
body, ensure that it is contacting the correct location on the vehicle. Continue lifting to
raise the vehicle high enough to change the tire.
9

TIRE SERVICE:
2007 Lexus GS 450h vehicles are available with tires of the “Run-Flat” construction
type. Consequently, the vehicle may not have a spare tire. The ones that do have a spare
tire are equipped with a compact size, temporary use spare tire stored in a well in the
trunk floor under trunk carpeting. See “Out of Fuel Service” for instructions on
accessing the power trunk release switch.
When installing the spare wheel, follow all recommended procedures including cleaning
of the hub and axle mating surfaces, tightening the lug nuts securely in a criss-cross
pattern and checking the spare for proper inflation. The recommended torque on the lug
nuts is 76 ft/lbs.
10

OUT OF FUEL SERVICE:
There are no special precautions needed to refuel a new Lexus GS series vehicle,
although it is important to take care not to damage the vehicle’s finish during refueling.
The fuel filler is located on the left-hand (driver’s) side of the vehicle on the rear quarter
panel and is covered by a locking door. A button that is labeled “PUSH”, located on the
lower left side of the dash, below the left A/C vent opens to reveal a control panel that
operates items like the fuel filler door, remote mirror controls, power trunk release, back
up obstruction alarm, as well as other seldom used switches and controls.
If the fuel filler door is inoperative due to a discharged battery or other trouble, there is
an override pull cable in the luggage compartment on the left side behind a trim piece.
Trunk access can be obtained by depressing the trunk release button on either the key fob
or the button on the hide-away control panel in the image above. If the trunk does not
open when the button is depressed, check the position of the power trunk release
override switch in the glove box. This switch can disable the power trunk release feature
on this vehicle. If the trunk still does not open there is a key cylinder in the trunk lid
above the rear license plate mounting location
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The manual override pull for the fuel door is not visible although it is accessible from
inside the trunk. There is a removable cover over the left rear wheel well area of the
trunk liner. Remove this cover and insert your hand inside the opening in the trunk liner
toward the upper inside corner of the opening and feel for the release lever for the fuel
door.
Fuel door over ride lever located
a
pp
roximatel
y
here
As with other Lexus hybrid models, when the fuel door release button is pressed, the
display in the center of the speedometer may read “Please Wait” and the fuel door is
delayed in opening. This is a normal operation as the fuel vapor collection system is
opening and closing the appropriate valves during this time. If the fuel warning stays on
for an extended period, there may be a problem with the vapor collection system and the
fuel door may not open. You can manually open the door using the method above, but
the amount of fuel the vehicle will take may be limited. Instruct the vehicle operator to
take the vehicle to the nearest dealer to have the system evaluated.
12

JUMP-STARTING:
The Lexus GS450h has a 12 volt auxiliary battery, used to close the circuits for the high
voltage system which allows the vehicle to start. If this battery gets discharged the
vehicle will not start. This 12 volt battery is located in the trunk on the driver’s side
under a removable cover.
The following jump-starting procedures should be followed when rendering assistance to
a 2007 Lexus GS 450h. Pay special attention as these vehicles may have a second
battery located in the trunk in the position where you would expect to see a spare tire. If
the vehicle you are servicing has battery in the center well in the trunk, do not jump start
this battery as it is for the Active Stabilizer Suspension System.
Never use jump-starting equipment that can exceed normal 12-volt charging
system voltage.
•Ensure that all electrical accessories and the ignition switch are turned OFF
before connecting jumper cables or a jumper box to the discharged vehicle.
•If using jumper cables, make connections in the following order:
1. Connect the positive (+) jumper cable to the positive battery terminal of the
discharged vehicle and to the positive (+) battery terminal of the donor vehicle
or jumper box.
2. Connect the negative (-) jumper cable to the negative battery terminal of the
donor vehicle. (Skip this step if using a jumper box.)
3. Connect the negative (-) cable to negative battery terminal of the discharged
vehicle.
•Get into the vehicle and close all doors before attempting to turn the ignition on.
•Depress the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to the “IG-ON” mode then start
the vehicle’s hybrid system, making sure the “READY” light illuminates on the
dash.
•Once the hybrid system starts, remove the jumper system in the reverse order
and instruct the operator to take the vehicle to the nearest Lexus dealer for
service.
13

KEYLESS ENTRY AND KEYLESS IGNITION OPERATION:
The 2006 Lexus GS series vehicles do not require the operator to insert a key into a key
cylinder to unlock a door or start the vehicle. These vehicles “sense” the proximity of the
key and will unlock the door(s) with the key close to the vehicle and when contact is
made with the outside door release handle. Once the keys are inside the vehicle the
operator can now use the push button start/stop feature of this vehicle. When the on-
board computer sense that proper key is in the vehicle, the green LED in the “ENGINE
START STOP” button will illuminate. To turn the ignition to the accessory position,
depress the button once and items like the radio or on-board navigation system will
become active. A second press of the button will turn the vehicle to the “ON” position
where items like the instrument gauges will operate. To start the vehicle, the operator
needs to depress the brake pedal then press “ENGINE START STOP” button until the
engine starts. To shut the engine off, depress the “ENGINE START STOP” button
again.
Figure 15
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If there is a problem with the transponder or the battery in the key fob a display should
appear in the middle of the instrument panel like the one shown in Figure 16.
Figure 16
If this is occurring on a vehicle you encounter, ensure the vehicle is in “PARK”, hold the
key fob against the chrome ring around the “ENGINE START STOP” button, depress the
brake pedal then depress the “ENGINE START STOP” button to start the vehicle. If the
vehicle starts, ensure the operator knows to hold the key fob against the chrome ring to
start the vehicle and then direct the operator to take the vehicle to the closest Lexus dealer
to have the problem repaired.
If there is a problem with the keyless entry system, there is a key cylinder in the driver’s
side door to insert the removable metal key from the end of the key fob into to unlock the
vehicle.
The design of the key proximity sensor system with this vehicle makes it virtually
impossible to lock your keys in the vehicle. After extensive attempts to lock keys inside
this vehicle we found the only way to do so was to have a dead battery in the key fob,
turn off the valet switch in the glove box for the power trunk release, then open the trunk
with the metal key and place the key inside the trunk. If someone actually locks their
keys in a 2006 Lexus GS series vehicle, the recommended entry method would be to
carefully wedge the upper rear corner of the right front door away from the body and
using a long reach tool, unlock the door.
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