2003 TOYOTA AVALON Owners Manual

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To squirt washer fluid, pull the lever
toward you (position 4).
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 Section 73.
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
or may damage wiper blades.
The wiper blades retract under the hood
when the wipers are turned off.
In the following cases, the wipers should
be shifted from the retracted position
(position 2) to the rest position (position
1) above the hood level.
When cleaning the windshield
When inspecting or replacing the wip-
ers
When the retraction may be obstructed
by snow, etc., at the bottom of the
windshield
Other than the above cases, keep the
wipers in the retracted position.
SHIFTING TO THE REST POSITION
Hold the connection of the wiper arm
and wiper blade and pull it upward for
more than 10 cm (3.9 in.) along the
windshield glass with the force of
about 98 N (10 kgf, 22 lbf).
NOTICE
To prevent the wiper blades from be-
ing deformed, be sure to hold the
connection of the wiper arm and wip-
er blade securely.
Shifting the windshield wiper
position

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RETURNING TO THE RETRACTED
POSITION
Push the connection of the wiper arm
and wiper blade downward.
NOTICE
To prevent the wiper blades from be-
ing deformed, be sure to hold the
connection of the wiper arm and wip-
er blade securely.
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
Ty p e C
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.
Type C—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

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The system will automatically shut off af-
ter the defogger has operated about 15
minutes.
CAUTION
Type C—Since the mirror surfaces
can get hot, do not touch them when
the defogger switch is on.
Make sure you turn the defoggers off
when the surfaces are clear. Leaving the
defoggers on for a long time could cause
the battery to discharge, especially during
stopandgo driving. The defoggers are
not designed for drying rain water or for
melting snow.
On some models, if the outside rear view
mirrors are heavily coated with ice, use a
spray deicer before operating the switch.
NOTICE
When cleaning the inside of the rear
window, be careful not to scratch or
damage the heater wires or connec-
tors.

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OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Gauges, Meters and Service reminder indicators
Fuel gauge11 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine coolant temperature gauge11 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tachometer11 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Odometer and two trip meters11 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers11 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1 5

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The gauge indicates the approximate
quantity of the fuel remaining in the
tank when the ignition switch is on.
Nearly full—Needle at “F”
Nearly empty—Needle at “E”
It is a good idea to keep the tank over
1/4 full.
If the fuel level approaches “E” or the low
fuel level warning light comes on, fill the
fuel tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the fuel gauge
needle may fluctuate or the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual.If the fuel tank is completely empty, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Fill
the fuel tank immediately.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.The gauge indicates the engine coolant
temperature when the ignition switch is
on. The engine operating temperature
will vary with changes in weather and
engine load.
If the needle moves into the red zone,
your engine is too hot. If your vehicle
overheats, stop your vehicle and allow the
engine to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe
operating conditions, such as:
Driving up a long hill on a hot day.
Reducing speed or stopping after high
speed driving.
Fuel gaugeEngine coolant temperature
gauge

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Idling for a long period with the air
conditioning on in stopandgo traffic.
Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to con-
trol the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within
the specified operating range.
Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See “If your ve-
hicle overheats” in Section 4.
The tachometer indicates engine speed
in thousands of rpm (revolutions per
minute). Use it while driving to select
correct shift points and to prevent en-
gine lugging and overrevving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get
into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
Tachometer Odometer and two trip meters

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Ty p e C
This meter displays the odometer and
two trip meters when the ignition
switch is on.
1. Odometer—Shows the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
2. Two trip meters—Show two different
distances independently driven since
the last time each trip meter was set
to zero.
You can use one trip meter to calculate
the fuel economy and the other to
measure the distance on each trip. All
trip meter data is cancelled if the elec-
trical power source is disconnected.3. “ODO/TRIP” button—Resets the two
trip meters to zero, and also change
the meter display.
To change the meter display, quickly
push and release the button. The meter
display changes in the order from the
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter
B, then back to the odometer each
time you push.
To reset the trip meter A to zero, dis-
play the meter A reading, then push
and hold the button until the meter is
set to zero. The same process can be
applied for resetting the trip meter B.(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
outside
passenger ’s seat
belt.
Service reminder indicators
an d warn in g bu zzers