2003 TOYOTA AVALON automatic transmission

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)
22003 AVALON (OM41401U)
1. Side vents
2. Side defroster outlets
3. Instrument cluster and/or
multiinformation display
4. Garage door opener
5. Center vents
6. Auxiliary boxes
7. Front personal light, interior light and/or
electric moon roof switch
8. Power door lock switches
9. Power window switches
10. Glove box
11. Trunk opener main switch
12. Rear vents
13. Power outlet (115 VAC)
14. Power outlet (12 VDC)
15. Cup holder
16. Automatic transmission selector lever
17. Hood lock release lever
18. Parking brake pedal
19. Window lock switch
Instrument panel overview
With bucket front seat (view A)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)
52003 AVALON (OM41401U)
1. Side vents
2. Side defroster outlets
3. Instrument cluster and/or
multiinformation display
4. Automatic transmission selector lever
5. Garage door opener
6. Center vents
7. Auxiliary boxes
8. Front personal light, interior light and/or
electric moon roof switch
9. Power door lock switches
10. Power window switches
11 . G l o v e b o x
12. Cup holder
13. Trunk opener main switch
14. Hood lock release lever
15. Parking brake pedal
16. Window lock switch With bench type front seat (view A)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)
122003 AVALON (OM41401U)
∗
1: For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers” in Section 15.
∗
2: If this light flashes, see “Cruise control” in Section 16.
Turn signal indicator lights
Slip indicator light
Cruise control indicator light∗
2
Overdriveoff indicator light Automatic transmission indicator lights
Traction control system off indicator light

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452003 AVALON (OM41401U)
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maxi-
mum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the pas-
senger are sitting up straight and
well back in the seats. If you are
reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. In the event
of a frontal collision, the more the
seat is reclined, the greater the risk
of personal injury.
3. SEAT LUMBAR SUPPORT
ADJUSTING SWITCH
Push the switch on either side.
The amount of lumbar support will change
while the switch is pushed.The micro computer can memorize the
position of the driver’s seat and outside
rear view mirror. Two different driving
position profiles can be entered into
computer ’s memory.
Recording a driving position in the
computer’s memory can only be done
when the ignition key is in the “ON”
position and the automatic transmission
selector lever is in the “P” position.
SETTING THE DRIVING POSITION
1. Adjust the driver ’s seat and outside
rear view mirror to the desired posi-
tion.
2. While pushing the “SET” button,
push button “1” or “2” until the sig-
nal beeps.
The beep sound means that the positions
are recorded in the computer ’s memory.
By repeating these two steps and pressing
the remaining button, the driving position
for another driver can be recorded.
To set a new memorized position, select
the desired position and perform step 2.
The previous memory will be erased and
a new position will be set.
Driving position memory
system

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)
1232003 AVALON (OM41401U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction control system132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle skid control system135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control137 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1 6

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1252003 AVALON (OM41401U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of “P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in “ON” position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and
key removal
R:Reverse
N:Neutral
D:Normal driving (with overdrive on)
2:Stronger engine braking
L:Maximum engine braking
Automatic transmission
Floor shift type
Overdrive switch
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock
release button in. (The ignition
switch must be in “ON”
position.)
Shift while holding the lock
release button in.
Shift normally. Lock release button
To prevent misshiftingSelector lever

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(b) Overdrive switch
You can select either third gear (with
overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-
drive on) by pushing this switch.
To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.
The “O/D OFF” indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The “O/D OFF” indicator
light should go off.
Always drive your vehicle with the over-
drive on for better fuel economy and
quieter driving.
If the engine is turned off when the over-
drive is off and restarted, the overdrive
will automatically be on.When the cruise control is being used,
even if you downshift the transmission by
pushing and releasing the overdrive
switch, engine braking will not be enabled
because the cruise control is not can-
celled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” in this section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in “How
to start the engine” in Section 3. The
transmission must be in “P” or “N”.
2. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, shift the selector lever to “D”.
When the lever is in the “D” position, the
automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for running condi-
tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-
ing, hard towing, etc.
Always turn the overdrive on for better
fuel economy and quieter driving. If the
engine coolant temperature is low, the
transmission will not shift into the over-
drive gear even with the overdrive on.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
If the automatic locking operation linked
with the shift position is set, all doors are
automatically locked when the selector le-
ver is moved out of the “P” position after
the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”
position and all the doors are closed. For
details, see “—Automatic door locking and
unlocking functions” in Section 12.
(d) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Push the overdrive switch. The “O/D
OFF” indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to third
gear.
Shift into the “2” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to second gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 132 km/h (82 mph), and
stronger engine braking will be en-
abled.
Shift into the “L” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 59 km/h (36 mph), and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.

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1272003 AVALON (OM41401U)
When the cruise control is being used,
even if you downshift the transmission by
pushing and releasing the overdrive
switch, engine braking will not be enabled
because the cruise control is not can-
celled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” in this section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
(e) Using “2” and “L” positions
The “2” and “L” positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in “2” or “L”, you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in “D”.
With the selector lever in “2”, the vehicle
will start in first gear and automatically
shift to second gear.
With the selector lever in “L”, the trans-
mission is engaged in first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the en-
gine. Watch the tachometer to keep
engine rpm from going into the red
zone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
“2” 139 km/h (86 mph). . . . . . . . . . .
“L” 76 km/h (47 mph). . . . . . . . . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
“2” or “L” position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission dam-
age from overheating. To prevent
such damage, “D” position should
be used in hill climbing or hard
towing.
(f) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with
your foot, shift the selector lever to the
“R” position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(g) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal pressed down,
fully depress the parking brake pedal
to apply the parking brake securely.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down,
shift the selector lever to the “P” posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into “P” position under any cir-
cumstances while the vehicle is mov-
ing. Serious mechanical damage and
loss of vehicle control may result.
If the automatic unlocking operation linked
with the shift position is set, all doors are
automatically unlocked when the selector
lever is moved to the “P” position after
the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”
position. For details, see “—Automatic
door locking and unlocking functions” in
Section 12.