2006 TOYOTA AVALON brake

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NORMAL DRIVING MODE
Leave the system on during the ordi-
nary driving so that it can operate
when needed.
You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment for a few seconds when the
engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This means that the trac-
tion control system is in the self−check
mode, but does not indicate a malfunction. When the traction control system is oper-
ating, the following conditions occur:
The system controls the spinning of the
front wheels. At this time, the slip indi-
cator light blinks.
You may feel vibration or noise in your
vehicle, caused by operation of the
brakes. This indicates the system is
functioning properly.
The slip indicator light comes on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is set at
ON. If the indicator light does not come
on when the ignition is turned on, contact
your Toyota dealer.
“VSC” warning light
This light warns that there is a problem
somewhere in the traction control system
or the vehicle stability control system.
The light will come on when the ignition
switch is set at ON and will go off after
a few seconds.
If the light comes on while driving, the
system does not work. However, as con-
ventional braking operates when applied,
there is no problem to continue your driv-
ing.

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In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer:
The warning light does not come on
after the ignition switch is set at ON.
The warning light remains on after the
ignition switch is set at ON.
The warning light comes on while driv-
ing.The vehicle stability control system
helps provide integrated control of the
systems such as antilock brake sys-
tem, traction control, engine control,
etc. This system automatically controls
the brakes and engine to help prevent
the vehicle from skidding when corner-
ing on a slippery road surface or oper-
ating steering wheel abruptly.
This system will activate when your ve-
hicle speed reaches or exceeds 15 km/h
(9 mph), and will deactivate when the ve-
hicle speed reduces to below 15 km/h (9
mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment for a few seconds when the
engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This means that the sys-
tem is in the self
−check mode but does
not indicate a malfunction.
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on the ve-
hicle stability control system. Even
if the vehicle stability control sys-
tem is operating, you must always
drive carefully and attentively to
avoid serious injury. Reckless driv-
ing will result in an unexpected ac-
cident. If the slip indicator light
flashes and an alarm sounds, spe-
cial care should be taken while
driving.
Only use tires of specified size. The
size, manufacture, brand and tread
pattern for all 4 tires should be the
same. If you use the tires other
than specified, different type or
size, the vehicle stability control
system may not function correctly.
When replacing the tires or wheels,
contact your Toyota dealer. (See
“Checking and replacing tires” on
page 357 in Section 72.)
In situations where the road surface
is covered with ice or snow, your
vehicle should be fitted with snow
tires or tire chains.
Vehicle stability control
system

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Ty p e A
Ty p e B
When parking, firmly apply the parking
brake to avoid inadvertent creeping.
To set: Fully depress the parking brake
pedal. For better holding power, first de-
press the brake pedal and hold it while
setting the parking brake.
To release: Depress the parking brake
pedal while depressing the brake pedal.
To remind you that the parking brake is
set, the parking brake reminder light in
the instrument panel remains on until you
release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure the parking
brake is fully released and the park-
ing brake reminder light is off.
The cruise control allows you to cruise
the vehicle at a desired speed over 40
km/h (25 mph) with your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained
although a slight speed change may occur
when driving up or down gradient, within
the limits of engine performance. On
steeper hills, a greater speed change will
occur so it is better to drive without the
cruise control.
CAUTION
To help maintain maximum control
of your vehicle, do not use the
cruise control when driving in
heavy or varying traffic, or on slip-
pery (rainy, icy or snowcovered) or
winding roads.
Parking brakeCruise control

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SETTING AT A DESIRED SPEED
The transmission must be in the “D” posi-
tion or the shift range position must be “4”
(fourth range) or “5” (fifth range) in “S”
mode before you set the cruise control
speed.
Bring your vehicle to the desired speed,
push the lever down in the “− SET” direc-
tion and release it. This sets the vehicle
at that speed. If the speed is not satisfac-
tory, tap the lever up for a faster speed,
or tap it down for a slower speed. Each
tap changes the set speed by 1.6 km/h
(1.0 mph). You can now take your foot off
the accelerator pedal. If you need acceleration—for example,
when passing—depress the accelerator
pedal enough for the vehicle to exceed
the set speed. When you release it, the
vehicle will return to the speed set prior
to the acceleration.
CANCELLING THE PRESET SPEED
You can cancel the preset speed by:
a. Depressing the brake pedal.
b. Pulling the lever in the “CANCEL” direction.
c. Pressing the “ON −OFF” button.
In the following cases, the preset speed
automatically cancels out: a. The vehicle speed falls below about 40km/h (25 mph).
b. If the vehicle speed drops 16 km/h (10 mph) below the preset speed, the pre-
set speed will also automatically be
cancelled.
If the preset speed automatically cancels
out for other than the above reasons, do
not operate the cruise control. Although it
is no problem to continue driving, have
your vehicle checked by your Toyota deal-
er at the earliest opportunity. RESETTING TO A FASTER SPEED
Push the lever up in the “+ RES” direction
and hold it. Release the lever when the
desired speed is attained. While the lever
is held up, the vehicle will gradually gain
speed.
When the difference between the actual
vehicle speed and the set speed is less
than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can
be increased 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time
by pushing the lever up in the “+ RES”
direction quickly within 0.5 seconds.
However, a faster way to reset is to ac-
celerate the vehicle and then push the
lever down in the “− SET” direction.
RESETTING TO A SLOWER SPEED
Push the lever down in the “
− SET” direc-
tion and hold it. Release the lever when
the desired speed is attained. While the
lever is held down, the vehicle speed will
gradually decrease.
When the difference is 5 km/h (3 mph) or
more, the vehicle will cruise with its
actual speed. When the difference be-
tween the actual vehicle speed and the
set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph),
the set speed can be lowered 1.6 km/h (1
mph) each time by pushing the lever down
in the “ − SET” direction quickly within 0.5
seconds.

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However, a faster way to reset is to de-
press the brake pedal and then push the
lever down in the “− SET” direction.
Even if you downshift the transmission
from the “D” position or “5” (fifth range)
to “4” (fourth range) in sequential mode
with the cruise control on, engine braking
will not be enabled because the cruise
control is not cancelled. To decrease the
vehicle speed, reset to a slower speed
with the cruise control lever or depress
the brake pedal. If you use the brake
pedal, cruise control is cancelled.
RESUMING THE PRESET SPEED
If the preset speed is cancelled by pulling
the control lever or by depressing the
brake pedal, pushing the lever up in the
“+ RES” direction will restore the speed
set prior to cancellation.
If the preset speed is cancelled when ve-
hicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25
mph), the preset speed will be resumed
by pushing the control lever up in the “+
RES” direction when vehicle speed ex-
ceeds about 40 km/h (25 mph) again.CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE WARNING
If “CRUISE” indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when using the
cruise control, push “ON
−OFF” button to
turn the system off and then push it again
to turn it on.
If any of the following conditions then oc-
curs, there is some trouble in the cruise
control system.
The indicator light does not come on.
The indicator light flashes again.
The indicator light goes out after it
comes on.
If this is the case, contact your Toyota
dealer and have your vehicle inspected. Dynamic laser cruise control allows you
to drive at a selected cruising speed
over about 45 km/h (28 mph) with your
foot off the accelerator pedal, maintain-
ing an appropriate vehicletovehicle
distance.
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on dynamic
laser cruise control in order to avoid
serious injury or death, or to prevent
accidents or to control the vehicle’s
speed in emergency situations. Do
not use cruise control except in ap-
propriate road and traffic conditions.
Always drive carefully and attentively.
Before using dynamic laser cruise
control, read and understand the fol-
lowing instructions.
Dynamic laser cruise control—

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DYNAMIC LASER CRUISE CONTROL
OPERATIONS
The dynamic laser cruise control func-
tion operates automatically and depend-
ing on whether a vehicle is detected
ahead may change the speed of your
vehicle as follows.
If no vehicle is running ahead of you—1. Cruising at a fixed speed: If there is
no vehicle detected ahead, your
cruising speed is maintained at the
preset speed from about 45 km/h (28
mph) to about 135 km/h (85 mph). The
preset speed is displayed in the
display. For the vehicle speed setting,
see “SETTING THE DESIRED SPEED”
on page 179. If a vehicle is detected ahead of you—
2. Deceleration cruising function: If a
slower moving vehicle is detected
ahead of you, your vehicle cruising
speed decreases within the range of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) to about 135
km/h (85 mph). The display shows the
preset speed, the detected vehicle
ahead and selected vehicle −to −vehicle
distance. If your vehicle gets closer to
the vehicle ahead because of insuffi-
cient automatic deceleration, then the
alarm warns you to also manually ap-
ply brakes.
3. Followup cruising function: After de-
celeration, your vehicle cruising speed
changes in proportion to the speed of
the vehicle ahead to maintain an ap-
propriate distance from your vehicle to
the vehicle ahead. The vehicle −to −ve-
hicle distance can be changed. For de-
tails, see “CHANGING VEHICLE −TO −
VEHICLE DISTANCE” on page 181.
4. Acceleration cruising function: If the
vehicle ahead changes lanes, your ve-
hicle cruising speed will be gradually
increased up to the preset speed, and
your vehicle resumes fixed −speed
cruising. This system operates by detecting pri-
marily the reflectors of the vehicle
ahead. The distance may not be accu-
rately or absolutely detected in the fol-
lowing cases:
The vehicle ahead has higher ground
clearance, which means that the
placement of the reflectors is in a
higher position.
The rear section of the vehicle ahead
is extremely dirty.
The vehicle ahead or other vehicles
around you are flinging up water or
snow.
Excessive exhaust gas (black smoke)
is coming from the vehicle ahead or
other vehicles around you, obscuring
your front view.
There is an obstruction (protective
film, sticker, etc.) on the reflectors
on the vehicle ahead, or reflectors
are not installed on the vehicle
ahead or are damaged.
Heavy luggage in the luggage
compartment or rear seats is caus-
ing the nose of your vehicle to tilt
up.

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CAUTION
To avoid accidents, always keep the
laser radar sensor glass clean and
never allow it to be covered with
icicle or any substance, so it can de-
tect the vehicle in front. (See “LASER
RADAR SENSOR” on page 183.)
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on dynamic
laser cruise control. Observe the fol-
lowing precautions in order to avoid
serious injury or death:
Under certain conditions where the
vehicle in front slows drastically, or
is stopped, the dynamic laser cruise
control will neither warn you nor
decelerate. You must depress the
brake pedal to slow down, ensuring
collision avoidance or that suffi-
cient vehicletovehicle distance is
maintained.
Do not use dynamic laser cruise
control in the following conditions:
In bad weather (such as rain, fog,
snow, sandstorms or direct sun-
light, or when raindrops or snow-
flakes get on the laser radar sensor
glass), the vehicletovehicle dis-
tance will not be measured accura-
tely.
When using the windshield wipers
at high or low speeds the dynamic
laser radar cruise control turns off.
On roads with heavy traffic or
sharp bends, an appropriate speed
cannot be maintained and an acci-
dent may occur.
On slippery road surfaces (icy or
snowcovered road surfaces), the
tires will race and you will be un-
able to control the vehicle.
When there is no vehicle detected
ahead on steep downhill slopes, the
preset speed will be easily exceed-
ed because of inefficient engine
braking. (In this case, automatic
braking will not work.) If there is a
vehicle detected ahead, the delay in
deceleration timing could cause se-
rious injury or death.
When the alarm sounds frequently
(because acceleration or decelera-
tion was repeated or sufficient ve-
hicletovehicle distance was not
maintained), an appropriate vehicle
speed cannot be attained and an
accident may occur.

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On roads with steep and short in-
clines and declines, failure to de-
tect the vehicle ahead will shorten
the distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle ahead and an acci-
dent may occur.
Deceleration cruising function and
approach warning do not operate
when the vehicle ahead is at a stop
or driving very slowly.
If the vehicle ahead of you deceler-
ates abruptly or if another vehicle
cuts in ahead of you, your vehicle
may collide with the vehicle ahead
unless you manually depress the
brake pedal to slow down your ve-
hicle.
Depending on the road configura-
tion (curved, left and right continu-
ous curved, the start or end of a
curve, or narrow driving lanes due
to road construction) or your ve-
hicle condition (steering wheel ma-
neuvering, position in the lane, or
unstable driving because of an acci-
dent or breakdown), vehicles in oth-
er lanes or surrounding objects
may be detected, resulting in a con-
trol failure or the approach warning
activation. This may also result in
a very close distance between vehi-
cles due to a failure to detect the
vehicle ahead.
Dynamic laser cruise control should not
be used in circumstances which are inap-
propriate for any cruise control, such as
entering free way on−ramps or off −ramps.
CAUTION
Do not use dynamic laser cruise
control when exiting from or when
entering or merging onto a freeway.
When you are following a slower
moving vehicle and exiting, the sen-
sor does not detect the vehicle and
will accelerate to the preset speed.