2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER suspension

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
289
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)
INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR
TOYOTA
Information before driving your Toyota
Off- road vehicle precautions290 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Break- in period291 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel291 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel pump shut off system293 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation in foreign countries294 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Three- way catalytic converters294 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust cautions295 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Facts about engine oil consumption296 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Iridium- tipped spark plugs297 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system297 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake pad wear limit indicators301 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Your Toyota's identification301 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft prevention labels302 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suspension and chassis303 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire information304 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle load limits312 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cargo and luggage313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of tires315 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 2

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
291
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)

Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. Because of its profile and
higher center of gravity, your ve-
hicle is more sensitive to side
winds than an ordinary passenger
car. Slowing down will allow you to
have better control.

When driving off- road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle's suspension and
chassis.

Do not drive horizontally across
steep slopes. Driving straight up or
straight down is preferred. Your ve-
hicle (or any similar off- road ve-
hicle) can tip over sideways much
more easily than forward or back-
ward.
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:

Avoid full throttle acceleration when
starting and driving.

Avoid racing the engine.

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 TYPE
Your new vehicle must use only un-
leaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mix- ups, your
Toyota has a smaller fuel tank opening.
The special nozzle on pumps with un-
leaded fuel will fit it, but the larger stan-
dard nozzle on pumps with leaded gas will
not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use
should meet the specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB 3.5- M93
in Canada.NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of
leaded 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.
Break- in period Fuel

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
303
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)
CAUTION
Do not modify the suspension/chassis
with lift kits, spacers, springs, etc. It
can cause dangerous handling charac-
teristics, resulting in loss of control.
Suspension and chassis

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
321
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)

In a rollover crash, an unbelted per-
son is significantly more likely to
die than a person wearing a seat
belt. Therefore, the driver and all
passengers should fasten their seat
belts whenever the vehicle is mo-
ving.

When driving off- road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle's suspension and
chassis.
NOTICE

If driving through water, such as
when crossing shallow streams,
first check the depth of the water
and the bottom of the river bed for
firmness. Drive slowly and avoid
deep water.

Take all necessary safety measures
to ensure that water damage to the
engine or other components does
not occur.
Water entering the engine air intake
will cause severe engine damage.
Water can wash the grease from
wheel bearings, causing rusting and
premature failure, and may also en-
ter the differentials, transmission
and transfer case, reducing the gear
oil's lubricating qualities.

Sand and mud that has accumulated
in brake drums and around brake
discs may affect braking efficiency
and may damage brake system com-
ponents.

Always perform a maintenance in-
spection after each day of off- road
driving that has taken you through
rough terrain, sand, mud, or water.
For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, refer to the Scheduled Main-
tenance Guideº or Owner's Manual
Supplementº.
Make sure your coolant is properly pro-
tected against freezing.
Only use Toyota Super Long Life Coolantº
or similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non- silicate, non- amine, non- nitrite,
and non- borate coolant with long- life
hybrid organic acid technology. (Coolant
with long- life hybrid organic acid
technology is a combination of low
phosphates and organic acids.)
See Checking the engine coolant levelº
on page 383 in Section 7- 2 for details of
coolant type selection.
For the U.S.A.ÐToyota Super Long Life
Coolantº is a mixture of 50% coolant and
50% deionized water. This coolant pro-
vides protection down to about -35C
(- 31F).
For CanadaÐToyota Super Long Life
Coolantº is a mixture of 55% coolant and
45% deionized water. This coolant pro-
vides protection down to about -42C
(- 44F).
NOTICE
Do not use plain water alone.
Winter driving tips

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
326
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)
TRAILER LIGHTS

Your vehicle is equipped with a wire
harness stored in the rear end under
body. Some models are fitted with a
socket for trailer lights under the rear
bumper. Use either of them to connect
and operate the trailer lights. However,
the trailer lights must comply with fed-
eral, state/provincial and local regula-
tions. See your local recreational ve-
hicle dealer or rental agency for the
correct type of wiring and relays for
your trailer. Check for correct operation
of the turn signals and stop lights each
time you hitch up. Direct splicing may
damage your vehicle's electrical system
and cause a malfunction of your lights.BREAK- IN SCHEDULE

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

If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will
require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. For this informa-
tion, please refer to the scheduled
maintenance information in the Sched-
uled Maintenance Guideº or Owner 's
Manual Supplementº.

Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately
1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.PRE- TOWING 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 suspension
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 regulations. If not,
install the rear view mirrors required
for towing purposes.
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, exces-
sive speed and improper trailer loading.
Keep these in mind when towing:

Before starting out, check operation of
the lights and all vehicle- trailer connec-
tions. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and con-
nections. Before actually towing a trail-
er, practice turning, stopping and back-
ing with a trailer in an area away from
traffic until you learn the feel.

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
369
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)
Tire inflation pressure
Check the pressure with a gauge ev-
ery two weeks, or at least once a
month. See page 385 in Section 7- 2
for additional information.
Tire surface and wheel nuts
Check the tires carefully for cuts,
damage or excessive wear. See page
388 in Section 7- 2 for additional in-
formation. When checking the tires,
make sure no nuts are missing, and
check the nuts for looseness. Tighten
them if necessary.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the
maintenance schedule. (For sched-
uled maintenance information, please
refer to the Scheduled Maintenance
Guideº or Owner 's Manual Supple-
mentº.) See page 390 in Section 7- 2
for additional information.Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip- offs that
indicate service is needed. Some impor-
tant clues are as follows:

Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging

Appreciable loss of power

Strange engine noises

A leak under the vehicle (however, wa-
ter dripping from the air conditioning
after use is normal.)

Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked im-
mediately.)

Flat- looking tire; excessive tire squeal
when cornering; uneven tire wear

Vehicle pulls to one side when driving
straight on a level road

Strange noises related to suspension
movement

Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy
feeling brake pedal; pedal almost
touches floor; vehicle pulls to one side
when braking

Engine coolant temperature continually
higher than normalIf you notice any of these clues, take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible. It probably needs adjustment or
repair.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving with the ve-
hicle unchecked. It could result in se-
rious vehicle damage and possibly
personal injury.
Does your vehicle need
repairing?

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
68
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)
The seat belt pretensioner system con-
sists mainly of the following components
and their locations are shown in the il-
lustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS warning light
3. Front passenger occupant classification
system (ECU and sensors)
4. Seat belt pretensioner assemblies
5. Front passenger 's seat belt buckle
switch
6. Airbag sensor assemblyThe seat belt pretensioners are controlled
by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag
sensor assembly consists of a safing sen-
sor and airbag sensor.
When the seat belt pretensioners are acti-
vated, an operating noise may be heard
and a small amount of non- toxic gas may
be released. This does not indicate that
a fire is occurring. This gas is normally
harmless.
Once the seat belt pretensioners have
been activated, the seat belt retractors
remain locked.CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open
the seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
airbag sensor or surrounding area or
wiring. Failure to follow these instruc-
tions may prevent the seat belt pre-
tensioners from activating correctly,
cause sudden operation of the system
or disable the system, which could
result in death or serious injury. Con-
sult your Toyota dealer about any re-
pair and modification.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
seat belt pretensioners in some
cases.

Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile two- way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player

Repairs on or near the front seat
belt retractor assemblies

Modification of the suspension sys-
tem

Modification of the front end struc-
ture

Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end

Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure or con-
sole

'05 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0409)
75
2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. '04 Prod. (OM48570U)
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
SRS front airbag system in some
cases.

Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile two- way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player

Modification of the suspension sys-
tem

Modification of the front end struc-
ture

Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end

Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure, con-
sole, steering column, steering
wheel or dashboard near the front
passenger airbag
This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ONº position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS front airbags are oper-
ating properly.This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, side and curtain shield airbag sen-
sors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driv-
er 's seat position sensor, driver 's seat belt
buckle switch, front passenger occupant
classification system, AIRBAG ONº indi-
cator light, AIRBAG OFFº indicator light,
front passenger 's seat belt buckle switch,
seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflat-
ors, warning light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources. (For details, see Ser-
vice reminder indicators and warning buzz-
ersº on page 135 in Section 1- 6.)
If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction of the airbags
or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ONº posi-
tion or remains on for more than 6
seconds or flashes.

The light comes on or starts flashing
while driving.