Page 8 of 303
’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
22003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
1. Side defroster outlets
2. Instrument cluster
3. Garage door opener
4. Center vents
5. Electric moon roof switch and personal
light
6. Auxiliary boxes
7. Side vents
8. Power door lock switches
9. Power window switches
10. Glove box
11. Automatic transmission selector lever
12. Rear ashtray
13. Cup holder
14. Container
15. Front ashtray
16. Hood lock release lever
17. Parking brake pedal
18. Window lock switch
Instrument panel overview
Vehicles with rear console
Page 9 of 303
’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
32003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
1. Side defroster outlets
2. Instrument cluster
3. Garage door opener
4. Center vents
5. Electric moon roof switch and personal
light
6. Auxiliary boxes
7. Side vents
8. Power door lock switches
9. Power window switches
10. Glove box
11. Automatic transmission selector lever
12. Ashtray
13. Cup holders
14. Hood lock release lever
15. Parking brake pedal
16. Window lock switch
Vehicles without rear console
Page 96 of 303

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
902003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.
Position 1—Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights
Position 2—Headlights and all of the
above
Position 3 (“AUTO”)—Headlights and/or all
of the lights in position 1
They automatically turn on or off depend-
ing on the darkness of the surroundings.
Manually twist the knob to the position 2
to turn on the headlights if they are need-
ed immediately when entering a dark tun-
nel, parking structure, etc.The automatic light control sensor is on
the top of the driver’s side instrument
panel.
Do not place anything on the instrument
panel, and/or do not affix anything on the
windshield to block this sensor. The lights automatically turn off when the
driver ’s door is opened with the ignition
key in the “ACC” or “LOCK” position. To
turn them on again, turn the key to the
“ON” position or actuate the headlight
switch. If you are going to park for over
one week, make sure the headlight switch
is off.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not leave the lights on
for a long period when the engine is
not running.
Daytime running light system
(on some models)
The headlights turn on at reduced intensi-
ty when the parking brake is released with
the engine started, even with the light
switch in the “OFF” position. They will not
go off until the ignition switch is turned
off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and
instrument panel lights, twist the knob to
the position 1.
Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
the headlights to full intensity for driving
at night.
Headlights and turn signals
(with automatic light control
system)
Page 98 of 303

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
922003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not leave the lights on
for a long period when the engine is
not running.
Daytime running light system
(on some models)
The headlights turn on at reduced intensi-
ty when the parking brake is released with
the engine started, even with the light
switch in the “OFF” position. They will not
go off until the ignition switch is turned
off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and
instrument panel lights, twist the knob to
the position 1.
Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
the headlights to full intensity for driving
at night.
High Low beams—For high beams, turn
the headlights on and push the lever away
from you (position 1). Pull the lever to-
ward you (position 2) for low beams.
The headlight high beam indicator light
(blue light) on the instrument panel will
tell you that the high beams are on.
Flashing the high beam headlights
(position 3)—Pull the lever all the way
back. The high beam headlights turn off
when you release the lever.
You can flash the high beam headlights
with the knob turned to “OFF”.TURN SIGNALS
To signal a turn, push the headlight/
turn signal lever up or down to position
1.
The key must be in the “ON” position.
The lever automatically returns after you
make a turn, but you may have to return
it by hand after you change lanes.
To signal a lane change, move the lever
up or down to the pressure point (position
2) and hold it.
If the turn signal indicator lights (green
lights) on the instrument panel flash faster
than normal, a front or rear turn signal
bulb is burned out.
Page 111 of 303
’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
1052003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
If the indicator or buzzer comes on...Do this.
(a)orIf parking brake is off, stop immediately and contact Toyota dealer.
(b)
(indicator and buzzer)
Fasten driver ’s seat belt.
(c)Fasten front passenger ’s seat belt.
(d)Stop and check.
(e)Stop and check.
(f)orTake vehicle to Toyota dealer.
(g)Low fuel level warning lightFill up tank.
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
Page 113 of 303

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
1072003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light comes on in the following cases
when the ignition key is in the “ON” posi-
tion.
When the parking brake is applied...
This light comes on for a few seconds
when the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position even after the parking brake
is released.
When the brake fluid level is low...
CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level is
low.
Have your vehicle checked at your
Toyota dealer in the following cases:
The light does not come on even if the
parking brake is applied when the igni-
tion key is in the “ON” position.
The light does not come on even if the
ignition key is turned on with the park-
ing brake released. A warning light turning on briefly during
operation does not indicate a problem.
CAUTION
If either of the following conditions
occurs, immediately stop your vehicle
at a safe place and contact your
Toyota dealer.
The light does not turn off even
after the parking brake is released
while the engine is running.
In this case, the brakes may not
work properly and your stopping
distance will become longer. De-
press the brake pedal firmly and
bring the vehicle to an immediate
stop.
The brake system warning light re-
mains on together with the “ABS”
warning light.
In this case, not only the anti lock
brake system will fail but also the
vehicle will become extremely un-
stable during braking.
(b) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
and Buzzer
This light and buzzer remind you to
buckle up the driver’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to “ON” or
“START”, the reminder light flashes and
buzzer sounds if the driver ’s seat belt is
not fastened. Unless the driver fastens the
belt, the light keeps flashing and the
buzzer stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Front Passenger ’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
This light reminds you to buckle up the
front passenger ’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to “ON” or
“START”, the reminder light flashes if a
passenger sits in the front passenger seat
and does not fasten the seat belt. Howev-
er, if a front passenger uses an additional
seat cushion, the light may not flash even
when the seat belt is not buckled up.
If luggage load is placed on the front
passenger seat, depending on its weight
and how it is placed on the seat, built in
sensors in the seat cushion may detect
the pressure, causing the reminder light to
keep flashing.
Page 117 of 303
’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
1112003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
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 side doors or back door.
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 “ON”, but do not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex-
cept the open door warning light should
come on. The “ABS”, “VSC” warning
lights, “TRAC OFF” (two wheel drive
models) and slip indicator lights go off
after a few seconds. The SRS warning
light goes off after about 6 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 119 of 303
’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
11 32003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock 11 4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission 11 5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
Traction control system 11 9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Vehicle skid control system 123
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake 125
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 125
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1 6