Page 75 of 233

’98 AVALON (USA/CANADA)−U
75
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS
AND CONTROLS—
Chapter 1 −4
Lights, Wipers and
Defogger
Headlights and turn signals
Emergency flashers
Instrument panel light control
Front fog lights
Interior light
Front personal lights
Rear personal lights
Ignition switch light
Windshield wipers and washer
Headlight cleaner
Rear window and outside rear
view mirror defoggers
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.
Position 1—Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights
Position 2—Headlights and all of the
above
Position 3 (”AUTO”)—Headlights and/or all
of the above
They automatically turn on or off depend-
ing on the darkness of the surroundings.
Manually twist the knob to the position 2
to turn on the headlights if they are need-
ed immediately when entering a dark tun-
nel, parking structure, etc.The automatic light control sensor is on
the top of the driver’s side instrument
panel.
Do not place anything on the instrument
panel, and/or do not affix anything on the
windshield to block this sensor.
If you feel that the automatic light control
comes into operation too early or too late,
have the sensor adjusted by your Toyota
dealer.
Headlights and turn signals
(with automatic light control
system)
ProCarManuals.com
Page 81 of 233
’98 AVALON (USA/CANADA)−U
81
Rear personal lights
To turn on the rear personal light, push
the switch. To turn the light off, push
the switch once again.
Ignition switch light
For easy access to the ignition switch,
the ignition switch light comes on when
any of the doors are opened.
The light remains on for some time after
all the doors are closed.
Windshield wipers and washer
To turn on the windshield wipers, move
the lever to the desired setting.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
Lever position
Speed setting
Position 1Intermittent
Position 2Slow
Position 3Fast
The ”INT TIME” band lets you adjust the
wiping time interval when the wiper lever
is in the intermittent position (position 1).
Twist the band upward to increase the
time between sweeps, and downward to
decrease it.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 82 of 233

’98 AVALON (USA/CANADA)−U
82
To squirt washer fluid, pull the lever
toward you.
If the windshield wipers are off, they will
operate a couple of times after the washer
squirts.
For instructions on adding washer fluid,
see ”Adding washer fluid” in Chapter 7 −3.
In freezing weather, warm the windshield
with the defroster before using the washer.
This will help prevent the washer fluid
from freezing on your windshield, which
can block your vision.
NOTICE
Do not operate the wipers if the wind-
shield is dry. It may scratch the
glass.
Headlight cleaner
To spray fluid on the headlights, turn
the headlights on and push the switch.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
Check the fluid level of the see −through
headlight cleaner tank every so often.
Use washer fluid for replenishment. For
information on adding fluid, see ”Adding
washer fluid” in Chapter 7 −3.
NOTICE
Do not turn the headlight cleaner on
with the tank empty. It may cause the
cleaner motor to overheat.
To defog or defrost the rear window,
push the switch.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
The thin heater wires on the inside of the
rear window will quickly clear the surface.
An indicator light will illuminate to indicate
the defogger is operating.
On some models, the heater panels in the
outside rear view mirrors will also quickly
clear the surfaces. Keep your hands off
the mirror faces when the switch is on.
Push the switch once again to turn the
defoggers off.
Rear window and outside rear
view mirror defoggers
ProCarManuals.com
Page 228 of 233

’98 AVALON (USA/CANADA)−U
228
Engine compartment
10. HEAD HI (LH) 15 A: Left−hand head-
light (high beam)
11. HEAD HI (RH) 15 A: Right−hand head-
light (high beam)
12. ALT −S 5 A: Charging system
13. AM2 30 A: Gauge and meters, SRS
airbag system, seat belt pretensioners,
Multiport fuel injection system/sequen-
tial multiport fuel injection system,
starter system
14. ECU −B 5A: Cruise control system, air
conditioning system
15. SPARE 15 A: Spare fuse
16. SPARE 30 A: Spare fuse
Engine compartment (for Canada)
17. TEL 15 A: No circuit
18. HEAD LO (LH) 10 A: Left−hand head-
light (low beam)
19. HEAD LO (RH) 10 A: Right−hand
headlight (low beam)
20. RAD NO.1 15 A: Car audio system
21. FOG 15 A: Front fog lights
22. DRL 5 A: Daytime running light system
23. A/F 25 A: Air/fuel heater
24. SRS 5 A: SRS airbag system, seat
belt pretensioners
Engine compartment (for California)
25. IGN 5 A: Gauge and meters, SRS air-
bag system, seat belt pretensioners,
multiport fuel injection system/sequen-
tial multiport fuel injection system
26. SEAT HEATER 20 A: Seat heater
27. TURN 7.5 A: Turn signal lights, emer-
gency flasher
28. ECU −IG 10 A: Cruise control system,
anti −lock brake system, shift lock sys-
tem, power door lock system, electric
cooling fans
29. WIPER 20 A: Windshield wipers and
washer, headlight cleaner
ProCarManuals.com