2000 TOYOTA AVALON tow

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If following another vehicle on a dusty
road, or driving in windy and dusty
conditions, it is recommended that the
air intake selector be temporarily set to
RECIRCULATE, which will close off the
outside passage and prevent outside
air and dust from entering the vehicle
interior.
Heating
For best results, set controls to:
ÐFor automatic operation
Press in the AUTOº button.
TemperatureÐ To the desired
temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air conditioningÐOFF
ÐFor manual operation
Fan speedÐ To the desired fan speed
TemperatureÐ To w a r d s high temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐFLOOR
Air conditioningÐOFF

For quick heating, select recirculated
air for a few minutes. To keep the
windows from fogging, select fresh af-
ter the vehicle interior has been
warmed.

Press the A/Cº button on for dehumidi-
fied heating.

Choose floor/windshield air flow to heat
the vehicle interior while defrosting or
defogging the windshield. Air conditioning
For best results, set controls to:
ÐFor automatic operation
Press in the AUTOº button .
TemperatureÐ To the desired
temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air conditioningÐON
ÐFor manual operation
Fan speedÐ To the desired fan speed
TemperatureÐ Towards low temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐPANEL
Air conditioningÐON

For quick cooling, select recirculated
air for a few minutes.
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Ventilation
For best results, set controls to:
ÐFor automatic operationPress in the AUTOº button .
TemperatureÐ Towards low temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air conditioningÐOFF
ÐFor manual operation
Fan speedÐ To the desired fan speed
TemperatureÐ Towards low temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐPANEL
Air conditioningÐOFF
Defogging and defrosting
ÐThe inside of the windshield
For best results, set controls to:
ÐFor automatic operation
TemperatureÐ To w a r d s high temperature
to heat; low temperature
to cool
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐWINDSHIELD
ÐFor manual operation
Fan speedÐ To the desired fan speed
TemperatureÐ To w a r d s high temperature
to heat; low temperature
to cool
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐWINDSHIELD
Pressing the windshield air flow button
turns on the defogging function with the
purpose of clearing the front view.
When pressing the windshield air flow but-
ton, the air intake selects FRESH auto-
matically. This is to clean up the front
view more quickly.
If you want to return the setting to RE-
CIRCULATE mode, press the air intake
selector button once again. Press the A/Cº button for dehumidified
heating or cooling. This setting clears the
front view more quickly.

On humid days, do not blow cold air
on the windshieldÐthe difference be-
tween the outside and inside tempera-
tures could make the fogging worse.
ÐThe outside of the windshield
For best results, set controls to:
ÐFor automatic operation
TemperatureÐ Towards high temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐWINDSHIELD
ÐFor manual operation
Fan speedÐ To the desired fan speed
TemperatureÐ Towards high temperature
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐWINDSHIELD
Pressing the windshield air flow button
turns on the defrosting function with the
purpose of clearing the front view.
When pressing the windshield air flow but-
ton, the air intake selects FRESH auto-
matically. This is to clean up the front
view more quickly.
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INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR
TOYOTA
Break- in period229
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Fuel 229
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Operation in foreign countries 231
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Three- way catalytic converters 231
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Engine exhaust cautions 232
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Facts about engine oil consumption 233
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Iridium- tipped spark plugs 234
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Brake system 234
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Brake pad wear limit indicators 237
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Luggage stowage precautions 238
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Your Toyota's identification 238
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Theft prevention labels 239
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Suspension and chassis 240
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Types of tires 240
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SECTION 2
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Break- in period
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break- in. But following a few simple tips
for the first 1600 km (1000 miles) can add
to the future economy and long life of
your vehicle:

Do not drive over 88 km/h (55 mph).

Run the engine at moderate speed be-
tween 2000 and 4000 rpm.

Avoid full- throttle starts.

Try to avoid hard stops during the first
300 km (200 miles).

Do not drive for a long time at any
single speed, either fast or slow.

Do not tow a trailer during the first 800
km (500 miles).
Fuel
FUEL TYPE
Your new vehicle must use only un-
leaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mix- ups, your
Toyota has a new smaller fuel tank open-
ing. The special nozzle on pumps with
unleaded fuel will fit it, but the larger
standard nozzle on pumps with leaded gas
will not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use
should meet specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB 3.5- M93
in Canada.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use ofleaded gasoline will cause the three-way catalytic converter to lose its ef-fectiveness and the emission control
system to function improperly. Also,this can increase maintenance costs.
OCTANE RATING
Select Octane Rating 87 (Research Oc-
tane Number 91) or higher. For im-
proved vehicle performance, the use of
premium unleaded gasoline with an Oc-
tane Rating of 91 (Research Octane
Number 96) or higher is recommended.
Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating or research octane number lower
than stated above will cause persistent
heavy knocking. If it is severe, this will
lead to engine damage.
If your engine knocks...
If you detect heavy knocking even when
using the recommended fuel, or if you
hear steady knocking while holding a
steady speed on level roads, consult your
Toyota dealer.
However, now and then, you may notice
light knocking for a short time while accel-
erating or driving up hills. This is no need
of concern.
GASOLINES CONTAINING DETERGENT
ADDITIVES
Toyota recommends use of gasolines
that contain detergent additives to
avoid build- up of engine deposits.
For further details, ask your Toyota dealer
or a local gasoline retailer.
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Luggage stowage precautions
When stowing luggage or cargo in the
vehicle, observe the following:

Put luggage or cargo in the trunk when
at all possible. Be sure all items are
secured in place.

Be careful to keep the vehicle bal-
anced. Locating the weight as far for-
ward as possible helps maintain bal-
ance.

For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded weight.
CAUTION

Do not place anything on the filler
panel behind the rear seatback.
Such items may be thrown about
and possibly injure people in the
vehicle during sudden braking or an
accident.

Do not drive with objects left on
top of the instrument panel. They
may interfere with the driver's field
of view. Or they may move during
sharp vehicle acceleration or turn-
ing, and impair the driver's control
of the vehicle. In an accident they
may injure the vehicle occupants.
NOTICE
Do not load the vehicle beyond the
vehicle capacity weight specified inSection 8.
The vehicle identification number (VIN)
is the legal identifier for your vehicle.
This number is on the left top of the
instrument panel, and can be seen
through the windshield from outside.
This is the primary identification number
for your Toyota. It is used in registering
the ownership of your vehicle.
Your Toyota's identificationÐ
ÐVehicle identification
number
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STARTING AND DRIVING
Before starting the engine243
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How to start the engine 243
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Tips for driving in various conditions 244
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Winter driving tips 245
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Trailer towing 246
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How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer, too 251
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SECTION 3
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Do not use your parking brake when
there is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
Pº and block the rear wheels. Do not use
the parking brake, or snow or water accu-
mulated in and around the parking brake
mechanism may freeze, making it hard to
release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating
under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders
can make steering difficult. During bad
winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving,
we recommend you carry some emer-
gency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a
passenger- carrying vehicle. Towing a
trailer will have an adverse effect on
handling, performance, braking, durability
and driving economy (fuel consumption,
etc.). Your safety and satisfaction depend
on the proper use of correct equipment
and cautious driving habits. For your
safety and the safety of others, you must
not overload your vehicle or trailer. Toyota
warranties do not apply to damage or
malfunction caused by towing a trailer for
commercial purposes. Ask your local
Toyota dealer for further details before
towing.
NOTICE
When towing a trailer, be sure to con-
sult your Toyota dealer for further in-formation on additional requirementssuch as a towing kit, etc.
WEIGHT LIMITS
Before towing, make sure the total trail-
er weight, gross vehicle weight, gross
axle weight and trailer tongue load are
all within the limits.
The total trailer weight and tongue load
can be measured with platform scales
found at a highway weighing station, build-
ing supply company, trucking company,
junk yard, etc.
CAUTION

The total trailer weight (trailer
weight plus its cargo load) must
not exceed 907 kg (2000 lb.). Ex-
ceeding this weight is dangerous.
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Trailer hitch assemblies have differ-
ent weight capacities established by
the hitch manufacturer. Even though
the vehicle may be physically capa-
ble of towing a higher weight, the
operator must determine the maxi-
mum weight rating of the particular
hitch assembly and never exceed
the maximum weight rating speci-
fied for the trailer- hitch. Exceeding
the maximum weight rating set by
the trailer hitch manufacturer can
cause an accident resulting in seri-
ous personal injuries.

The gross vehicle weight must not
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) indicated on the
Certification Label. The gross ve-
hicle weight is the sum of weights
of the unloaded vehicle, driver, pas-
sengers, luggage, hitch and trailer
tongue load. It also includes the
weight of any special equipment
installed on your vehicle.

The load on either the front or rear
axle resulting from distribution of
the gross vehicle weight on both
axles must not exceed the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed
on the Certification Label.
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