Page 74 of 311
’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
702002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
This SRS side airbag system has a
service reminder indicator to inform the
driver of operating problems. If either of
the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction of the airbags.
Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the “ACC” or
“ON” position, or the light remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
The SRS side airbags have been in-
flated.
The portion of the doors  (shaded  in the
illustration) were involved in an acci-
dent that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS side airbags to inflate.
The surface of the seats with the side
airbag (shaded in the illustration) is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables
before contacting your Toyota dealer. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 110 of 311
’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
1062002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Gauges, Meters and Service reminder indicators
Fuel gauge107
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . 
Engine coolant temperature gauge 107
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tachometer 108
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . 
Odometer and two trip meters 108
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Multi −information display 11 0
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers 11 9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
SECTION 1  5 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 123 of 311
’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
11 92002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
(a)If parking brake
is off, stop 
immediately and 
contact Toyota 
dealer.
(b) Fasten driver ’s 
seat belt.
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
(d) Stop and check. or
(indicator and buzzer)
(e) Stop and check.Do this.
(c) Fasten front 
passenger ’s seat 
belt.
(h) Take vehicle to 
Toyota dealer.
If brake system 
warning light is 
also on,  stop 
immediately and 
contact Toyota 
dealer.
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
(i) Close all doors.
(j) Replace bulb.
or
(g)
Fill up tank.
Do this.
(f) Take vehicle to
Toyota dealer.If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
(n) Remove key. Key reminder
buzzer
(m)
Add washer fluid.Do this.
(l) Take vehicle to 
Toyota dealer.
(k) Take vehicle to 
Toyota dealer
immediately.
Service reminder indicators
an d warn in g bu zzers 
         
        
        
     
        
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’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
1212002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
(d) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being
discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off  the air conditioning,
blower, radio, etc., and drive directly to
the nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine
drive belt is broken or loose.
(e) Low Engine Oil Pressure WarningLight
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair  shop for
assistance. The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may  come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light on—even for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(f) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the “ON” position and
goes off after  the engine starts. This
means that the warning light system is
operating properly.
If the lamp remains on, or the lamp
comes on while driving, first check the
followings.
Empty fuel tank
If the fuel tank is empty, refuel immedi-
ately.
Loose fuel tank capIf the fuel tank cap is loose, securely
tighten it.
These cases are temporary malfunctions.
The malfunction indicator  lamp will go off
after taking several driving trips.
If the lamp will not go off even after the
several trips, contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible.
If the fuel tank is not empty or the fuel
tank cap is not loose...
There is a problem somewhere in the
engine, emission control system, auto-
matic transmission electrical system or
warning light system itself.
Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible to service the vehicle.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
(I/M) programs
Your vehicle may not pass a state
emission inspection if the malfunction
indicator lamp remains on. Contact your
Toyota dealer to check your vehicle’s
emission control system and OBD
(On −Board Diagnostics) system before
taking your vehicle for the inspection.
For details, see “Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M) programs” in Section 6. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 128 of 311
’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
1242002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER
INDICATORS (except the low fuel level
warning light and low windshield
washer fluid level warning light)1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Open one of the doors. The open door warning light should
come on.
3. Close the door. The open door warning light  should go
off.
4. Turn the ignition key to “ACC”. The SRS warning light should come on.
It goes off after about 6 seconds.
5. Turn the ignition key to “ON”, but do not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex-
cept the open door warning light and
SRS warning light should come on. The
“ABS” and “VSC” warning lights and
the “VSC OFF” indicator light go off
after a few seconds.
If any service reminder indicator or warn-
ing buzzer does not function as described
above, have it checked by your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 178 of 311
’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
1742002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
“A/C” button
To turn on the air conditioning, press the
“A/C” button. The “A/C” button indicator
will come on. To turn the air conditioning
off, press  the button again.
If the “A/C” button indicator flashes, there
is a problem in the air conditioning system
and the air conditioning automatically
shuts off. If this happens, take your ve-
hicle to your Toyota dealer for service. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 185 of 311

’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
1812002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
For details about air flow selector settings,
see “—Air flow selector settings” de-
scribed below.
Air intake selector
Press the button to select the air source.
The air  intake mode which is being se-
lected is  shown on the display.1. Recirculate— Recirculates the air inside
the vehicle.
2. Fresh— Draws outside air into the sys-
tem.
To prevent fogging up of the windshield,
the air intake mode may  change automati-
cally to FRESH depending on the condi-
tion of the air conditioning system.
For example, when the ambient tempera-
ture is low, the air intake mode may
change automatically to FRESH. This is
not a malfunction. “A/C” button
To turn on the air conditioning, press the
“A/C” button. The “A/C” button indicator
will come on. To turn the air conditioning
off, press  the button again.
If the “A/C” button indicator flashes, there
is a problem in the air conditioning system
and the air conditioning automatically
shuts off. If this happens, take your ve-
hicle to your Toyota dealer for service. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 217 of 311

’02 AVALON U (L/O 0107)
2132002 MY AVALON_U (OM22493U)
“ABS” warning light
The light comes on when the ignition key
is turned to the “ON” position. If the anti−
lock brake system and the brake assist
system work properly, the light turns off
after a few seconds. Thereafter, if either
of the systems malfunctions, the light
comes on again.
When the “ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti −lock brake system, the brake assist
system, the traction control system and
the vehicle skid control system do not
operate, but the brake system still oper-
ates conventionally.
When the “ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti −lock brake system does not operate
so that the wheels  could lock up during
a sudden brake or braking on slippery
road surfaces.
If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction
somewhere in the parts monitored by
the warning light system. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion, or remains on.
The light comes on while you are driv-
ing.
A warning light turning on briefly during
operation does not indicate a problem.
CAUTION
If the “ABS” warning light remains on
together with the brake system warn-
ing light, immediately stop your ve-
hicle at a safe place and contact your
Toyota dealer.
In this case, not only the anti lock
brake system will fail but also the
vehicle will become extremely unsta-
ble during braking.
DRUM IN DISC TYPE PARKING BRAKE
SYSTEM
Your vehicle has a drum −in −disc type
parking brake system. This type of brake
system n eeds bedding −down of  the brake
shoes periodically or whenever the parking
brake shoes and/or drums are replaced.
Have your Toyota dealer perform the bed-
ding− down. BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM
When you slam the brakes on, the
brake assist system judges as an emer-
gency stop and provides more powerful
braking for a driver who cannot hold
down the brake pedal firmly.
When you slam the brakes on, more pow-
erful braking will be applied. At  this time,
you may hear a sound in the engine
compartment and feel the vibration of the
brake pedal. This does not indicate a mal-
function.
The brake assist system becomes opera-
tive after the vehicle has accelerated to
a speed in excess of approximately 10
km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the
vehicle decelerates to a speed below
approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).
For an explanation of this  system’s warn-
ing light, see “Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers” in Section 1
−5.