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Avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers 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 or
your neck may contact the shoulder
belt. In the event of a frontal colli-
sion, the more the seat is reclined,
the greater the risk of death or per-
sonal injury.
After adjusting the seat position, re-
lease the lever and try sliding the
seat forward and backward to make
sure it is locked in position.
After adjusting the seatback, push
your body back against the seat to
make sure the seat is locked in
position.
NOTICE
Do not fold the second seat seatback
forward with the luggage cover hooks
attached.
For easy access to the third seat:
1. Lift the lever on the side of the seat- back and fold the seatback.
The seat will slide forward.
2. Move the seat to the front −most posi-
tion.
After passengers are in, lift up the seat-
back and return the seat until it locks.
CAUTION
After putting back the seat, try push-
ing the seat forward and rearward to
make sure it is secured in place.
To fold down the second seat after it has
been moved to access the third seat,
push the seatback up slightly and then
pull the seatback adjusting lever before
folding the seatback down. (See “—Fold-
ing down second seats” described below
for instructions about folding down the
second seat.)
—Moving second seat for
third seat access
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2005 HIGHLANDER from Nov. ’04 Prod. (OM48570U)
Vehicles with third seat
Vehicles without third seat
BEFORE FOLDING DOWN SECOND
SEATS
1. Stow the center seat belt buckle of the second seat as shown in the il-
lustration.
NOTICE
The seat belt buckle must be stowed
before you fold the second seat.
2. Make sure the outer seat beltspasses through the hangers when
folding the second seat.
This prevents the shoulder belt from being
damaged.
CAUTION
The seat belt must be removed from
the hangers when they are in use.
—Folding down second seats
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FOLDING DOWN SECOND SEATS
(vehicles without third seat)
Pull the seatback angle adjusting lever
to unlock the seatback and fold the
seatback down until it locks.
The seat position returns to the rear −most
position when the seatback is folded
down.
CAUTION
Be careful that the seat does not hit
a passenger or luggage.
NOTICE
Do not fold the second seat seatback
forward with the luggage cover hooks
attached.
Folding down the second seats will en-
large the luggage compartment. See
“—Stowage precautions” on page 313 in
Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
CAUTION
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the follow-
ing precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or sud-
den stop:
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
FOLDING DOWN SECOND SEATS
(vehicles with third seat)
Pull the seatback angle adjusting lever
to unlock the seatback and fold the
seatback down until it locks.
Right side seat: The seat remains in posi-
tion when pushing the seat cushion back-
wards while folding down the seatback.
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CAUTION
Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
After folding down the right side
seat, try pushing the seat forward
and rearward to make sure it is se-
cured in place.
NOTICE
Do not fold the second seat seatback
forward with the luggage cover hooks
attached.
Folding down the second seats will en-
large the luggage compartment.
If there is space between the second seat
and the folded third seat seatback, slide
the folded second seat to the rear −most
position.
CAUTION
After sliding the seat, try pushing the
seat forward and rearward to make
sure it is secured in place.
See “—Stowage precautions” on page 313
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
CAUTION
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the follow-
ing precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or sud-
den stop:
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
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From front
From rear1. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
STRAP
Lean forward and pull the strap toward
you. Then lean back to the desired
angle and release the strap.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING LEVER
Pull down the lever, then adjust the
seatback to the desired angle and re-
lease the lever.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving.
Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
Avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers 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 or
your neck may contact the shoulder
belt. In the event of a frontal colli-
sion, the more the seat is reclined,
the greater the risk of death or per-
sonal injury.
After adjusting the seatback, push
your body back against the seat to
make sure the seat is locked in
position.
—Adjusting third seat
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To turn on the seat heater, push the
switches (“L” switch for the left front
seat and “R” switch for the right front
seat). At this time, the indicator light
will illuminate to indicate the seat heat-
er is operating.
To turn off the seat heater, push the
switch once again.
The key must be in the “ON” position to
operate seat heaters.
CAUTION
Occupants must use caution when op-
erating the seat heater because it
may make them feel too hot or cause
burns at low temperatures (erythema,
varicella). Use extra caution for;
Babies, small children, elderly per-
sons, sick persons or persons with
physical disabilities
Persons who have delicate skin
Persons who are exhausted
Persons who have taken alcohol or
drugs which induce sleep (sleeping
drug, cold remedy, etc.)
To prevent the seat overheating, do
not use the seat heater with a blan-
ket, cushion, or other insulating ob-
jects which cover the seat.
NOTICE
Do not put unevenly weighed ob-
jects on the seat and do not stick
sharp objects (needles, nails, etc.)
into the seat.
When cleaning the seats, do not
use organic substances (paint thin-
ner, benzine, alcohol, gasoline,
etc.). They may damage the heater
and seat surface.
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, turn the switch off
when the engine is not running.
Seat heaters
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Front seats
Second seats
Third seats
For your safety and comfort, adjust the
head restraint before driving.
To raise: Pull it up.
To lower: Push it down while pressing the
lock release button.
Front head restraints only—On some mod-
els, you can also move the front head
restraint forward or backward. If such ad-
justment is desired, pull or push the base
of the head restraint. Second and third seat head restraints—
When an occupant sits in the second or
third seat, always raise the head restraint
to the lock position.
The head restraint is most effective when
it is close to your head. Therefore, using
a cushion on the seatback is not recom-
mended.
CAUTION
Adjust the center of the head re-
straint so that it is closest to the
top of your ears.
After adjusting the head restraint,
make sure it is locked in position.
Do not drive with the head re-
straints removed.
Head restraints
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Front seats
Second seat
To use the armrest, pull it down as
shown in the illustrations.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the armrest,
avoid putting heavy loads on it.
Toyota strongly urges that the driver and
passengers in the vehicle be properly re-
strained at all times with the seat belts
provided. Failure to do so could increase
the chance of injury and/or the severity of
injury in accidents.
The seat belts provided for your vehicle
are designed for people of adult size,
large enough to properly wear them.
Child. Use a child restraint system ap-
propriate for the child until the child be-
comes large enough to properly wear the
vehicle’s seat belts. See “Child restraint”
on page 91 in this Section for details.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child s hould sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when properly
restrained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
If a child must sit in the front seat, the
seat belts should be worn properly. If an
accident occurs and the seat belts are not
worn properly, the force of the rapid infla-
tion of the airbag may cause death or
serious injury to the child.
Armrests Seat belts—
—Seat belt precautions