LEXUS GS 300, GS 350 (2019 year). Instruction

184

3-5. Opening, closing the windows and moon roof

Moon roof

Opens the moon roof

The moon roof stops slightly before the

fully open position to reduce wind noise.
Press the switch again to fully open the

moon roof.

Closes the moon roof

: Lightly press either way of the moon

roof switch to stop the moon roof part-
way.

Tilts the moon roof up

Tilts the moon roof down

: Lightly press either way of the moon

roof switch to stop the moon roof part-
way.

■

The moon roof can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.

■

Operating the moon roof after turning the engine off
The moon roof can be operated for approximately 45 seconds after the engine switch is

turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned off. It cannot, however, be operated once either

front door is opened.

Use the overhead switches to open and close the moon roof and tilt it up and
down.

Opening and closing

Tilting up and down

185

3-5. Opening, closing the windows and moon roof

Op
era
tio

n of
ea

■

Jam protection function
If an object is detected between the moon roof and the frame while the moon roof is clos-

ing or tilting down, travel is stopped and the moon roof opens slightly.

■

Sunshade
The sunshade can be opened and closed manually. However, the sunshade will open

automatically when the moon roof is opened.

■

Door lock linked moon roof operation

●

The moon roof can be opened and closed using the mechanical key.

(

P. 504)

●

The moon roof can be opened using the wireless remote control.

(

P. 143)

: These settings must be customized at your Lexus dealer.

■

When the moon roof does not close normally
Perform the following procedure:

●

If the moon roof closes but then re-opens slightly

Stop the vehicle.
Press and hold the “CLOSE” switch.

The moon roof will close, reopen and pause for approximately 10 seconds.

Then it

will close again, tilt up and pause for approximately 1 second. Finally, it will tilt down,

open and close.
Check to make sure that the moon roof is completely closed and then release the

switch.

●

If the moon roof tilts down but then tilts back up

Stop the vehicle.
Press and hold the “UP” switch

until the moon roof moves into the tilt up position

and stops.
Release the “UP” switch once and then press and hold the “UP” switch again.

The moon roof will pause for approximately 10 seconds in the tilt up position.

Then it will adjust slightly and pause for approximately 1 second. Finally, it will tilt

down, open and close.
Check to make sure that the moon roof is completely closed and then release the

switch.

: If the switch is released at the incorrect time, the procedure will have to be per-

formed again from the beginning.

: If the switch is released after the above mentioned 10 second pause, automatic

operation will be disabled. In that case, press and hold the “CLOSE” or “UP” switch,
and the moon roof will tilt up and pause for approximately 1 second. Then it will tilt
down, open and close. Check to make sure that the moon roof is completely closed
and then release the switch.

If the moon roof does not fully close even after performing the above procedure cor-

rectly, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.

186

3-5. Opening, closing the windows and moon roof

■

Moon roof open warning buzzer
The buzzer sounds and a message is shown on the multi-information display in the instru-

ment cluster when the engine switch is turned off and the driver’s door is opened with the

moon roof open.

■

Customization
Settings (e.g. linked door lock operation) can be changed.

(Customizable features:

P. 549)

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.

■

Opening the moon roof

●

Do not allow any passengers to put their hands or heads outside the vehicle while it is

moving.

●

Do not sit on top of the moon roof.

■

Closing the moon roof

●

The driver is responsible for moon roof opening and closing operations.

In order to prevent accidental operation, especially by a child, do not let a child oper-

ate the moon roof. It is possible for children and other passengers to have body parts

caught in the moon roof.

●

Check to make sure that all passengers do not have any part of their body in a posi-

tion where it could be caught when the moon roof is being operated.

●

When using the mechanical key and operating the moon roof, operate the moon roof

after checking to make sure that there is no possibility of any passenger having any of

their body parts caught in the moon roof. Also, do not let a child operate moon roof

by the mechanical key. It is possible for children and other passengers to get caught in

the moon roof.

●

When exiting the vehicle, turn the engine switch off, carry the key and exit the vehicle

along with the child. There may be accidental operation, due to mischief, etc., that

may possibly lead to an accident.

■

Jam protection function

●

Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection function.

●

The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just before the

moon roof fully closes.

187

Driving

4-1. Before driving

Driving the vehicle......................188
Cargo and luggage.................... 197
Vehicle load limits..................... 200
Trailer towing................................201
Dinghy towing .............................202

4-2. Driving procedures

Engine (ignition) switch .......... 203
Automatic transmission.......... 208
Turn signal lever........................... 216
Parking brake ............................... 217
Brake Hold..................................... 219
ASC (Active Sound Control)

(GS F) ........................................... 221

4-3. Operating the lights

and wipers

Headlight switch.........................222
Automatic High Beam.............225
Windshield wipers

and washer.................................229

4-4. Refueling

Opening the fuel tank cap .....234

4-5. Using the driving support

systems

Lexus Safety System +.............239
PCS (Pre-Collision

System)........................................245

LKA (Lane-Keeping

Assist) ..........................................256

Dynamic radar cruise control

with full-speed range.............266

Cruise control .............................278
Driving mode select

switch ............................................ 281

BSM

(Blind Spot Monitor)..............286
• The Blind Spot Monitor

function ....................................289

• The Rear Cross Traffic

Alert function.......................... 291

TVD (Torque Vectoring

Differential) (GS F) ................294

Driving assist systems ..............296

4-6. Driving tips

Winter driving tips.....................304

188

4-1. Before driving

Driving the vehicle

P. 203

With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. (

P. 208)

If the parking brake is in manual mode, release the parking brake. (

P. 217)

Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal
to accelerate the vehicle.

With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.

If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift lever to P or

N. (

P. 208)

With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake (

P. 217), and shift the shift lever to P. (P. 208)

Press the engine switch to stop the engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on your person.

If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.

Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.

The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving:

Starting the engine

Driving

Stopping

Parking the vehicle

Starting off on a steep uphill

2
3

2
3
4

2
3

189

4-1. Before driving

iving

■

When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control is available. (

P. 296)

■

Driving in the rain

●

Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows may

become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.

●

Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be especially slip-

pery.

●

Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because there may

be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the steering and

brakes from operating properly.

■

Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving. This is due

to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to meet driving condi-

tions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.

●

The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill

●

When the accelerator pedal is released

●

When the brake pedal is depressed while sport mode is selected (

P. 281)

■

Restraining engine output (Brake Override System)

●

When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, the engine

output may be restrained.

●

A warning message is displayed on the multi-information display while the system is

operating. (

P. 464)

■

Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)

●

When the following unusual operation is performed, the engine output may be

restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D

includes M) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on

the multi-information display. (

P. 449)

• When the accelerator pedal is depressed too much while the vehicle is in reverse.

●

While Drive-Start Control is being activated, your vehicle may have trouble escaping

from the mud or fresh snow. In such case, deactivate TRAC (

P. 298) to cancel Drive-

Start Control so that the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh

snow.

■

Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:

●

For the first 186 miles (300 km):

Avoid sudden stops.

●

For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.

• Avoid sudden acceleration.

• Do not drive continuously in low gears.

• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

190

4-1. Before driving

■

Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of brake system

needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or whenever the parking brake

shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Lexus dealer perform the bedding down

operation.

■

Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability of the cor-

rect fuel. (

P. 525)

■

Brake pads and discs

●

F SPORT models of GS350/GS300, and GS F: The brake pads and discs are

designed for use under high load conditions. Therefore, brake noise may be generated

depending on the vehicle speed, braking force and vehicle environment (temperature,

humidity, etc.).

●

GS F: In order to achieve steady braking performance even during high-load sporty

driving, brake pads that include a large amount of iron are used. As a result, rust may

form if the vehicle is parked for a long time with wet brake pads or disc rotors, causing

them to stick. When parts are stuck, abnormal noise or vibration may occur during

driving, so lightly depress the accelerator pedal and drive slowly. (Before parking the

vehicle after it is washed, drive slowly and apply the brakes several times to dry the

parts.)

■

Idling time before engine stop (GS300)
To prevent damage to the turbocharger, allow the engine to idle immediately after high-

load driving.

Driving condition

Idling time

Normal city driving or high-speed driving (at the high-

way speed limit or recommended speed)

Not necessary

Steep hill driving or continuous driving (race track driv-

ing etc.)

Approximately 1 minute

191

4-1. Before driving

iving

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine running. This

prevents the vehicle from creeping.

■

When driving the vehicle

●

Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator ped-

als to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will

result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.

• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in oper-

ating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.

• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only

slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and accelerator pedals properly.

• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using

your left foot may delay response in an emergency, resulting in an accident.

●

Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.

The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may

cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.

●

During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off while driving

will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems

will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over

and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the

vehicle in the normal way:

P. 427

●

Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep

hill.

Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose effective-

ness. (

P. 208)

●

Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rear

view mirrors while driving.

Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.

●

Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of their body are not

outside the vehicle.

●

Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits it, do not

drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-speed capability tires.

Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire failure, loss of control and possible

injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle

are high-speed capability tires or not before driving at such speeds.

192

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 one 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 accident 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 thickness 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.

193

4-1. Before driving

iving

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

If a brake pad wear warning message is displayed (GS F)
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.

Moderate levels of the brake pad and disc wear allow enhanced braking power. As a

result, the discs may wear more quickly than conventional brake discs. Therefore, when

replacing the brake pads, Lexus recommends that you also have the thickness 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.

■

When the vehicle is stopped

●

Do not race the engine.

If the vehicle is any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and

unexpectedly, causing an accident.

●

In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing

the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the parking brake as neces-

sary.

●

If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the

vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely

apply the parking brake as needed.

●

Avoid revving or racing the engine.

Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust

system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is nearby.

194

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, spray 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 cause 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 circuit 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 windshield or windows. Do not place containers

such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard. Adhesive discs or con-

tainers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.

●

Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a metallized

film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected 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 unattended while the engine is running.

If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever 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 vehicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases

may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.

195

4-1. Before driving

iving

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

When braking

●

When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.

Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side of

the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may not

securely hold the vehicle.

●

If the brake booster device does not operate, do not follow other vehicles closely and

avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.

In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more

firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed

immediately.

●

Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.

Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted brakes.

●

The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if one of the systems fails,

the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed more

firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed imme-

diately.

■

If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is

stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline components or propel the vehi-

cle forward or backward, causing an accident.

NOTICE

■

When driving the vehicle

●

Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during driving, as

this may restrain the engine output.

●

Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the

same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.

■

When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause

the vehicle to move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is

accidentally depressed.

■

Avoiding damage to vehicle parts

●

Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for an

extended period of time.

Doing so may damage the power steering motor.

●

When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damaging

the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.

●

GS300: Make sure to idle the engine immediately after high-load driving. Stop the

engine only after the turbocharger has cooled down. (

P. 190)

Failure to do so may cause damage to the turbocharger.

196

4-1. Before driving

NOTICE

■

If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering wheel

firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.

●

It may be difficult to control your vehicle.

●

The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.

●

The vehicle will lean abnormally.

Information on what to do in case of a flat tire (

P. 475, 486)

■

When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause the

following serious damage to the vehicle:

●

Engine stalling

●

Short in electrical components

●

Engine damage caused by water immersion

In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to have

your Lexus dealer check the following:

●

Brake function

●

Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, transmission,

transfer (AWD models), differential, etc.

●

Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints (where

possible), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

197

4-1. Before driving

iving

Cargo and luggage

Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit —

(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should

never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.

(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be rid-

ing in your vehicle.

(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or

XXX lbs.

(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load

capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150
lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs. (1400

 750 (5150) = 650 lbs.)

(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the

vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.

(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred

to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. (

P. 200)

Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your vehicle is not

designed for trailer towing.

Take notice of the following information about storage precautions, cargo
capacity and load:

Capacity and distribution

198

4-1. Before driving

Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle capacity
weight) (

P. 522)

When 2 people with the combined weight of A lb. (kg) are riding in your vehicle,
which has a total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight) of B lb. (kg), the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage load capacity will be C lb. (kg) as follows:
B

lb. (kg) - A

lb. (kg) = C

lb. (kg)

: A = Weight of people

: B = Total load capacity

: C = Available cargo and luggage load

In this condition, if 3 more passengers with the combined weight of D lb. (kg) get on,

the available cargo and luggage load will be reduced E lb. (kg) as follows:

C lb. (kg) - D

lb. (kg) = E

lb. (kg)

: D = Additional weight of people

: E = Available cargo and luggage load

As shown in the example above, if the number of occupants increases, the cargo
and luggage load will be reduced by an amount that equals the increased weight
due to the additional occupants. In other words, if an increase in the number of
occupants causes an excess of the total load capacity (combined weight of occu-
pants plus cargo and luggage load), you must reduce the cargo and luggage on
your vehicle.

Calculation formula for your vehicle

199

4-1. Before driving

iving

WARNING

■

Things that must not be carried in the trunk
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the trunk:

●

Receptacles containing gasoline

●

Aerosol cans

■

Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may prevent the pedals from being depressed properly, may block the

driver’s vision, or may result in items hitting the driver or passengers, possibly causing

an accident.

●

Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk whenever possible.

●

Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver

• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)

• On the package tray

• On the instrument panel

• On the dashboard

• In front of the Remote Touch screen

●

Secure all items in the occupant compartment.

■

Capacity and distribution

●

Do not exceed the maximum axle weight rating or the total vehicle weight rating.

●

Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less than the total load

capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. Improper loading may cause deterioration

of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.

LEXUS GS 300, GS 350 (2019 year). Instruction - part 12