1997 TOYOTA AVALON ESP

94SCAN (for radio)
Types 1-2 and 1-3
You can either scan all the frequencies on
a band or scan only the preset stations for
that band.
To scan the preset stations: Quickly push
and release SCANº. If you hear a beep,
you held the button too long, and the radio
will scan all the frequencies. The radio will
tune in the next preset station up the
band, stay there for a few seconds, and
then move to the next preset station. To
select a station, push SCANº a second
time.
To scan all the frequencies: Push SCANº
until you hear a beep. The radio will find
the next station up the station band, stay
there for a few seconds, and then scan
again. To select a station, push SCANº a
second time.
SCAN (for cassette player)
Type 1-3 only
The cassette player scan feature is similar
to the radio scan feature and uses the
same button.
Push SCANº. SCANº will appear on the
display. The player will fast forward to the
next cassette track,
play it for 12 seconds,
and then scan again. To select a track,
push SCANº a second time. If the player
reaches the end of one side of a cassette
tape, it will continue scanning on the other
side.
SKIP
Type 1-3 only
The skip feature allows you to fast forward
past long stretches off blank tape. This is
especially useful at the end of cassettes.
Push SKIPº. SKIPº will appear on the dis-
play. The cassette player will keep track of
how much blank space it plays. Any time
it has played about 10 seconds of blank
tape, it will automatically fast forward to
the next track and begin to play.
Push the button a second time to turn off
the skip feature. ST (Stereo reception) display
Your radio automatically changes to ste-
reo reception when a stereo broadcast is
received. STº appears on the display. If
the signal becomes weak, the radio re-
duces the amount of channel separation
to prevent the weak signal from creating
noise. If the signal becomes extremely
weak, the radio switches from stereo to
mono reception.
TAPE
Push TAPEº to switch from radio opera-
tion to cassette operation. If the audio
system is off,
you can turn on the cassette
player by pushing TAPEº. In both cases,
a cassette must already be loaded in the
player.
TREB (Treble)
This knob lets you adjust treble level.
Push BASS/TREBº so that it pops out of
its retracted position. Pull out the knob.
Turn the knob to adjust the treble. Push
the knob back into its retracted position.ProCarManuals.com

101
SCAN
Radio
You can either scan all the frequencies on
a band or scan only the preset stations for
that band.
To scan the preset stations: Quickly push
and release SCANº. If you hear a beep,
you held the button too long, and the radio
will scan all the frequencies. The radio will
tune in the next preset station up the
band, stay there for a few seconds, and
then move to the next preset station. To
select a station, push SCANº a second
time.
To scan all the frequencies: Push SCANº
until you hear a beep. The radio will find
the next station up the station band, stay
there for a few seconds, and then scan
again. To select a station, push SCANº a
second time.
Cassette player
The cassette player scan feature is similar
to the radio scan feature and uses the
same button.
Push SCANº. SCANº will appear on the
display. The player will fast forward to the
next cassette track,
play it for 12 seconds,
and then scan again. To select a track,
push SCANº a second time. If the player
reaches the end of one side of a cassette
tape, it will continue scanning on the other
side.
Compact disc player
The compact disc player scan feature is
similar to the radio scan feature.
Push SCANº. SCANº will appear on the
display. The compact disc player will play
the next track for 10 seconds, then scan
to the next disc. To select a disc, push
SCANº a second time. If the player has
scanned all the discs, it will stop scanning.
SKIP
The skip feature allows you to fast forward
past long stretches of blank tape. This is
especially useful at the end of cassettes. Push SKIPº. SKIPº will appear on the
display. The cassette player will keep
track of how much blank space it plays.
Any time it has played about 10 seconds
of blank tape, it will automatically fast for-
ward to the next track and begin to play.
Push the button a second time to turn off
the skip feature.
ST (Stereo reception) display
Your radio automatically changes to ste-
reo reception when a stereo broadcast is
received. STº appears on the display. If
the signal becomes weak, the radio re-
duces the amount of channel separation
to prevent the weak signal from creating
noise. If the signal becomes extremely
weak, the radio switches from stereo to
mono reception.
TAPE
Push Tapeº to switch from radio opera-
tion to cassette operation. If the audio
system is off,
you can turn on the cassette
player by pushing TAPEº. In both cases,
a cassette must already be loaded in the
player.ProCarManuals.com

11 2RADIO RECEPTION
Usually, a problem with radio reception
does not mean there is a problem with
your radio-it is just the normal result of
conditions outside the vehicle.
For example, nearby buildings and terrain
can interfere with FM reception. Power
lines or telephone wires can interfere with
AM signals. And of course, radio signals
have a limited range, and the farther you
are from a station, the weaker its signal
will be. In addition, reception conditions
change
constantly as your vehicle moves.
Here are some common reception prob-
lems that probably do not indicate a prob-
lem with your radio:
FM
Fading and drifing stationsÐGenerally,
the effective range of FM is about 40 km
(25 miles). Once outside this range, you
may notice fading and drifting, which in-
crease with the distance from the radio
transmitter. They are often accompanied
by distortion.
Multi-pathÐFM signals are reflective,
making it possible for two signals to reach
your antenna at the same time. If this hap-
pens, the signals will cancel each other
out, causing a momentary flutter or loss of
reception. Static and flutteringÐThese occur when
signals are blocked by buildings, trees, or
other large objects. Increasing the bass
level may reduce static and fluttering.
Station swappingÐIf the FM signal you
are listening to is interrupted or weak-
ened, and there is another strong station
nearby on the FM band, your radio may
tune in the second station until the original
signal can be picked up again.
AM
FadingÐAM broadcasts are reflected by
the upper atmosphere-especially at
night. These reflected signals can inter-
fere with those received directly from the
radio station, causing the radio station to
sound alternately strong and weak.
Station interferenceÐWhen a reflected
signal and a signal received directly from
a radio station are very nearly the same
frequency, they can interfere with each
other,
making it difficult to hear the broad-
cast.
StaticÐAM is easily affected by external
sources of electrical noise, such as high
tension power lines, lightening, or electri-
cal motors. This results in static. CARING
FOR YOUR CASSETTE PLAY-
ER AND TAPES
For high performance from your cassette
player and tapes:
Clean the tape head and other parts regu-
larly.
 A dirty tape head or tape path can de-
crease sound quality and tangle your
cassette tapes. The easiest way to
clean them is by using a cleaning tape.
Use high-quality cassettes.
 Low-quality cassette tapes can cause
many problems, including poor sound,
inconsistent playing speed, and
constant auto-reversing. They can
also get stuck or tangled in the cas-
sette player.
 Do not use a cassette if it has been
damaged or tangled or if its label is
peeling off.
 Do not leave a cassette in the player if
you are not listening to it, especially if
it is hot outside.
 Store cassettes in their cases and out
of direct sunlight.ProCarManuals.com

11 3

Avoid using cassettes with a total play-
ing time longer than 100 minutes (50
minutes per side). The tape used in
these cassettes is thin and could get
stuck or tangled in the cassette player.
CARING FOR YOUR COMPACT DISC
PLAYER AND DISCS
 Use only compact discs labeled as
shown.
 Extremely high temperatures can
keep your compact disc player from
working. On hot days, use the air con-
ditioning to cool the vehicle interior be-
fore you listen to a disc.
 Bumpy roads or other vibrations may
make your compact disc player skip. 
If moisture gets into your compact disc
player, you may not hear any sound
even though your compact disc player
appears to be working. Remove the
disc from the player and wait until it
dries.
 Handle compact discs carefully, espe-
cially when you are inserting them.
Hold them on the edge and do not
bend them. Avoid getting fingerprints
on them, particularly on the shiny side.
 Dirt, scrapes, warping, pin holes, or
other disc damage could cause the
player to skip or to repeat a section of
a track. (To see a pin hole, hold the disc
up to the light.)
 Remove discs from the compact disc
player when you are not listening to
them. S tore them in their plastic cases
away from moisture, heat, and direct
sunlight.
To clean a compact disc: Wipe it with a
soft, lint-free cloth that has been damp-
ened with water. Wipe in a straight line
from the center to the edge of the disc (not
in circles). Dry it with another soft, lint-
free cloth. Do not use a conventional re-
cord cleaner or anti-static device.
ProCarManuals.com

126The cup holder is designed for holding
cups or drinkÐcans fit snugly in its
holes.
To use the cup holder, open the armrest
lid, p
ull out the cup holder. Then close the
armrest lid.

Do not leave the armrest lid open
especailly when the cup holder
holds a scalding hot drink. If the lid
is forcibly pulled up, the drink may
spill over the seat occupants.

When the cup holder is in use, the
armrest lid must be securely
closed with the lock engaged.

Do not place anything else on the
cup holder, as such items may be
thrown about and possible injure
people in the vehicle during sud-
den braking or accident.

Keep the cup holder shut when not
in use.

Do not lift the armrest upright
when the cup holder is pulled out.
CAUTION!
Slip indicator light
TRAC OFFº indicator/warning light AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL
SYSTEM
The traction control system automati-
cally controls the spinning of
the front
wheels which may occur when accel-
erating on slippery road surfaces, thus
assisting driver to control the driving
power of the front wheels. When you
turn the ignition switch on, the trac-
tion control system always turns on
automatically, and the slip indicator
light and TRAC OFFº indicator/warn-
ing light will come on. The indicator
lights will go off after about 3 seconds.
Leave the system on during ordinary
driving so that it can operate when
needed. When traction control is ap-
plied, the slip indicator light blinks.
You may hear a slight clicking noise in the
engine compartment when the engine is
started. This means that the traction con-
trol system is in the self-check mode, and
does not indicate malfunction. When the
traction control system is operating, you
may feel vibration or noise of your vehicle,
caused by operation of brakes. This indi-
cates the system is functioning properly.
Traction control system
ProCarManuals.com

146HITCHES


Use only a hitch which is recom-
mended by the hitch manufacturer and
conforms to the total trailer weight re-
quirment.

Follow the directions supplied by the
hitch manufacturer, and bolt the hitch
securely to the rear bumper. Lubricate
the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.

Toyota recommends removing the
trailer hitch whenever you are not tow-
ing a trailer to reduce the possibility of
additional damage caused by the hitch
if your vehicle is struck from behind.
After removing the hitch, seal any
mounting holes in the vehicle body to
prevent entry of pollutants such as ex-
haust fumes, dirt, water, etc.
Do not use axle-mounting hitches
they can cause damage to the axle
housing, wheel bearings, wheels ortires. Also, never install a hitchwhich may interfere with the normalfunction of an Energy AbsorbingBumper.
NOTICE
BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS

Toyota recommends trailers with
brakes that conform to any applicable
federal and state/provincial regula-
tions.

A safety chain must always be used
between the towing vehicle and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the
chain for turns. The chain should cross
under the trailer tongue to prevent the
tongue from dropping to the ground in
case it becomes damaged or seper-
ated. For correct safety chain proce-
dures, follow the hitch or trailer
manufacturer 's recommendations.
CAUTION

If the total trailer weight exceeds
453 kg (1000 lb.), trailer brakes are
required.

Never tap into your vehicle's hy-
draulic system as it would lower its
braking effectiveness.!

Never tow a trailer without using a
safety chain securely attached to
both the trailer and the vehicle. If
damage occurs to the coupling
unit or hitch ball, there is danger of
the trailer wandering over into
another lane.
TIRES

Ensure that your vehicle's tires are
properly inflated. See Chapter 7-2 for
instructions.

The trailer tires should be inflated to
the pressure recommended by the
trailer manufacturer in respect to the
total trailer weight.
TRAILER LIGHTS

Trailer lights must comply with federal,
state/provincial and local regulations.
See your local recreational vehicle
dealer or rental agency for the correct
type of wiring and relays for your trail-
er. Check for correct operation of the
turn signals and stop lights each time
you hitch up. Direct splicing may dam-
age your vehicle's electrical system
and cause a malfunction of your lights.
ProCarManuals.com

147
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE


Toyota recommends that you do not
tow a trailer with a new vehicle or a ve-
hicle with any new power train compo-
nent (engine, transmission, differen-
tial, wheel bearing, etc.) for the first
800 km (500 miles) of driving.
MAINTENANCE

If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will re-
quire more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. For this informa-
tion, please refer to the scheduled
maintenance information in the Own-
er 's Manual Supplement/Maintenance
Scheduleº.

Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately
1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.
PRE-T OWING SAFETY CHECK

Check that your vehicle remains level
when a loaded or unloaded trailer is
hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has
an abnormal nose-up or nose-down
condition, and check for improper
tongue load, overload, worn suspen-
sion or other possible causes.

Make sure the trailer cargo is securely
loaded so that it cannot shift.

Check that your rear view mirrors con-
form to any applicable federal, state/
provincial or local regulation. If not,
install the rear view mirrors required
for towing purpose.
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will
handle differently than when not tow-
ing. The three main causes of vehicle
trailer accidents are driver error, ex-
cessive speed and improper trailer
loading. Keep these in mind when tow-
ing:

Before starting out, check operation of
the lights and all vehicle-trailer con-
nections. After driving a short dis-
tance, stop and recheck the lights and
connections. Before actually towing a
trailer, practice turning, stopping and
backing with a trailer in an area away
from traffic until you learn the feel.

Backing w ith a trailer is difficult and re-
quires practice. Grip the bottom of the
steering wheel and move your hand to
the left to move the trailer to the left.
Move your hand to the right to move
the trailer to the right. (This procedure
is generally opposite to that when
backing without a trailer). Also, just
turn the steering wheel a little at a time,
avoiding sharp or prolonged turning.
Have someone guide you when back-
ing to reduce the risk of an accident.

Because stopping distance may be in-
creased, vehicle-to-vehicle distance
should be increased when towing a
trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and
trailer length between you and the ve-
hicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as
you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.

Avoid jerky starts or sudden accelera-
tion.ProCarManuals.com

Part 5Protecting your Toyota from
corrosion
169
CORROSION
PREVENTION AND
APPEARANCE
CARE

Protecting your Toyota from
corrosion

Washing and waxing your
Toyota

Cleaning the interior
Toyota, through its diligent research, de-
sign and use of the most advanced
technology available, has done its part to
help prevent corrosion and has provided
you with the finest quality vehicle
construction. Now, it is up to you. Proper
care of your T oyota can help ensure long-
term corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corro-
sion to your vehicle are:

The accumulation of road salt, dirt and
moisture in hard-to-reach areas un-
der the vehicle.

Chipping of paint, or undercoating
caused by minor accidents or by
stones and gravel.
Care is especially important if you live
in particular areas or operate your ve-
hicle under certain environmental
conditions:

Road salt or dust control chemicals will
accelerate corrosion, as will the pres-
ence of salt in the air near the sea-
coast or in areas of industrial pollution.

High humidity accelerates corrosion
especially when temperatures range
just above the freezing point.

Wetness or dampness to certain parts
of your vehicle for an extended period
of time, may cause corrosion even
though other parts of the vehicle may
be dry.

High temperatures will cause corro-
sion to those components of the ve-
hicle which are prevented from quick-
drying due to lack of proper ventilation.
The above signifies the necessity to keep
your vehicle, particularly the underside,
as clean as possible and to repair any
damage to paint or protective coatings as
soon as possible.
To help prevent corrosion on your
Toyota, follow these guidelines:
Wash your vehicle frequently: It is, of
course, necessary to keep your vehicle
clean by regular washing, but to prevent
corrosion, the following points should be
observed:

If you drive on salted roads in the win-
ter or if you live near the ocean, you
should hose off the undercarriage at
least once a month to minimize corro-
sion.
ProCarManuals.com