2006 TOYOTA AVALON stop start

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If the amber indicator light on the
“ENGINE START STOP” switch flashes
and the smart key system warning light
on the instrument cluster comes on,
there is a problem in the push button
start function or the steering lock func-
tion.
Contact your Toyota dealer and have
your vehicle and all keys inspected.
In addition to the above, there are
instances in which the smart key sys-
tem does not operate properly because
of the circumstances of use. For de-
tails, see “Smart key system” on page
27 in Section 1
−2.
In cases other than those described
above, it is possible that a problem has
occurred in an area other than the start
system. See “If your vehicle will not start”
on page 308 in Section 4. When the battery is disconnected or
run down,
the push button start function
memorizes the current mode. After you
reconnect, replace, or recharge the bat-
tery, the memorized mode is selected au-
tomatically. In any of these cases, turn off
the engine if the engine comes on.
Wait 10 seconds to start the engine after
the battery has been reconnected. The
engine may not start on the first try. This
does not indicate a malfunction.
NOTICE
 Do not race a cold engine.
 If the engine becomes difficult to
start or stalls frequently, have the
engine checked immediately.
TIPS FOR USING SMART KEY SYSTEM
When using the smart key system, it is
possible to start or stop the engine as
long as the key is on your person.
For this reason, it is possible that a pas-
senger may remove the key from the ve-
hicle without the driver being aware of the
fact. In such a case, it is not possible to
restart the engine after having turned it
off. In addition, it is possible that one may
get out of the vehicle without being aware
that the ignition switch has not been
turned off completely.
When driving or getting in or out of the
vehicle, drivers should make sure that
they are carrying the key.
CAUTION
Do not touch the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch (engine switch) while
driving.
If you have to make an emergency stop,
press and hold the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch for more than 3 seconds.
Driving and parking using
smart key system

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Smart key system warning light
SYSTEM FUNCTION REMINDERS
Follow the instructions described below if
any of the following warnings occur:(A) A warning buzzer sounds once from
the instrument cluster when the igni-
tion switch is turned on
This indicates that the driver has gotten
into the vehicle without the key. The smart
key system warning light on the instru-
ment panel will come on.
Operate the ignition switch only after tak-
ing care that the key is in the vehicle.
(B) A warning buzzer beeps repeatedly from the instrument cluster when
opening the driver ’s door
This indicates that the ignition switch is
not set at OFF although the transmission
selector lever has been set in the “P”
position.
Get out of the vehicle only after turning
off the engine by pressing the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch and checking that
the ignition switch indicator light has gone
off. (C) A warning buzzer sounds once from
the instrument cluster, accompanied
by three warning sounds from the
vehicle when the driver gets out of
the vehicle and closes the door
This indicates that the driver is attempting
to leave the vehicle carrying the key, ne-
glecting to follow the instructions for case
(B) above. In addition, the smart key sys-
tem warning light on the instrument panel
will come on.
Get out of the vehicle only after turning
off the engine by pressing the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch and checking that
the ignition switch indicator light has gone
off. If the driver returns to the vehicle
without carrying the key and begins driv-
ing, a warning buzzer will sound once
more.

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(D) A warning buzzer sounds from thevehicle for two seconds after locking
the door with the door handle switch
This indicates that the driver is attempting
to lock the doors while carrying the key,
neglecting to follow the instructions for
cases (B) and (C) above.
Lock the doors only after turning off the
engine by pressing the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch and checking that the igni-
tion switch indicator light has gone off.
A warning buzzer that sounds even though
the engine has been turned off indicates
that you are attempting to lock the vehicle
with the keys still in the vehicle.
Leave the vehicle only after making sure
that you are carrying the key. (E) A warning buzzer sounds continu-
ously from the instrument cluster
when opening the driver ’s door
This indicates that the transmission selec-
tor lever is in a position other than “P”
and that the ignition switch is not set at
OFF.
Get out of the vehicle only after setting
the transmission selector lever in the “P”
position, turning off the engine by pressing
the “ENGINE START STOP” switch and
checking that the ignition switch indicator
light has gone off. (F) A warning buzzer sounds continu-
ously from the instrument cluster
and from the vehicle when closing
the door after getting out of the ve-
hicle
This indicates that the driver is attempting
to leave the vehicle carrying the key, ne-
glecting to follow the instructions for case
(E) above. The smart key system warning
light on the instrument panel will come on.
Get out of the vehicle only after setting
the transmission selector lever in the “P”
position, turning off the engine by pressing
the “ENGINE START STOP” switch and
checking that the ignition switch indicator
light has gone off.

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(G) A warning buzzer sounds once fromthe instrument cluster and three
times from the vehicle when a pas-
senger is getting out of the vehicle
This indicates that the passenger is at-
tempting to leave the vehicle carrying the
key, without the ignition switch is not set
at OFF. The smart key system warning
light on the instrument panel will also
come on.
When passengers get out of the vehicle,
care should be taken to leave the key
with the driver. If the driver begins driving
after a passenger gets out of the vehicle
carrying the key, a warning buzzer will
sound once more.
(H) A warning buzzer sounds from the vehicle for two seconds when lock-
ing the vehicle from the outside with
the door handle switch
This indicates that the driver is attempting
to lock the door with the key still in the
vehicle.
Leave the vehicle only after making sure
that you are carrying the key. (I) A warning buzzer sounds once from
the instrument cluster when turning
off the ignition switch
This indicates that the key battery is low.
(This warning buzzer sounds only when
the engine has been on or the ignition
switch has been set at the ON for 20
minutes or more.)
Change the key battery ahead of time in
order to ensure that the smart key system
properly.
(J) A warning buzzer sounds continu- ously from the instrument cluster
when opening the driver’s door with
the ignition switch turned off.
This indicates that the steering wheel is
not locked. Turn the engine off and then
open the door in order to lock the steering
wheel. (K) The “ENGINE START STOP” switch
flashes green once every second.
This indicates that the steering lock is
stuck. To free it, rock the steering wheel
slightly while pressing the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch.
(L) The “ENGINE START STOP” switch flashes amber once every 2 seconds.
This indicates a problem with the push
button start function or the steering lock
function. Have your vehicle checked at a
Toyota dealer.

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Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has highspeed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are highspeed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a
longer stopping distance, and it
may pull to one side when the
brakes are applied. Also, the park-
ing brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.
Make sure you have a proper freeze
protection for engine coolant.
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
or similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non−silicate, non −amine, non −nitrite,
and non− borate coolant with long −life
hybrid organic acid technology. (Coolant
with long −life hybrid organic acid
technology is a combination of low
phosphates and organic acids.)
See “Checking the engine coolant level”
on page 352 in Section 7 −2 for details of
coolant type selection.
For the U.S.A.—“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and
50% deionized water. This coolant pro-
vides protection down to about −35 C
( − 31 F).
For Canada—“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and
45% deionized water. This coolant pro-
vides protection down to about −42 C
( − 44 F).
NOTICE
Do not use plain water alone.
Check the condition of the battery and
cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of
any battery, so it must be in top shape to
provide enough power for winter starting.
Section 7 −3 tells you how to visually in-
spect the battery. Your Toyota dealer and
most service stations will be pleased to
check the level of charge.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See page 351 in Section 7 −2 for recom-
mended viscosity. Leaving a heavy sum-
mer oil in your vehicle during winter
months may cause harder starting. If you
are not sure about which oil to use, call
your Toyota dealer—they will be pleased
to help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de −icer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing.
Use a washer fluid containing an anti-
freeze solution.
This product is available at your Toyota
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow
the manufacturer ’s directions for how
much to mix with water.
Winter driving tips

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Make sure the trailer cargo is securely
loaded so that it can not shift.
Check that your rear view mirrors con-
form to any applicable federal, state/
provincial or local regulations. If not,
install the rear view mirrors required
for towing purpose.
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will
handle differently than when not tow-
ing. The three main causes of vehicle
trailer accidents are driver error, exces-
sive speed and improper trailer loading.
Keep these in mind when towing:
Before starting out, check operation of
the lights and all vehicle −trailer connec-
tions. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and con-
nections. Before actually towing a trail-
er, practice turning, stopping and back-
ing with a trailer in an area away from
traffic until you learn the feel.
Backing with a trailer is difficult and
requires practice. Grip the bottom of
the steering wheel and move your hand
to the left to move the trailer to the
left. Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to the right. (This pro-
cedure is generally opposite to that
when backing without a trailer.) Also,
just turn the steering wheel a little at
a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged
turning. Have someone guide you when
backing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
Because stopping distance may be in-
creased, vehicle −to −vehicle distance
should be increased when towing a
trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and
trailer length between you and the ve-
hicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as
you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.
Avoid jerky starts or sudden accelera-
tion.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns.
The trailer could hit your vehicle in a
tight turn. Slow down before making a
turn to avoid the necessity of sudden
braking.
Remember that when making a turn,
the trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Therefore, compensate for this by
making a larger than normal turning
radius with your vehicle.
Crosswinds and rough roads will ad-
versely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing sway. Pay attention
to the rear from time to time to pre-
pare yourself for being passed by large
trucks or buses, which may cause your
vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering wheel
and reduce speed immediately but
gradually. Never increase speed. Steer
straight ahead. If you make no extreme
correction with the steering or brakes,
the vehicle and trailer will stabilize.

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Be careful when passing other ve-
hicles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer and
be sure you have plenty of room be-
fore changing lanes.
In order to maintain engine braking effi-
ciency do not use overdrive.
Because of the added load of the trail-
er, your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
30
C [85 F]) when going up a long or
steep grade with a trailer. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the air
conditioning (if in use), pull off the road
and stop in a safe spot. Refer to “If
your vehicle overheats” in Section 4.
Always place wheel blocks under both
the vehicle and trailer wheels when
parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.
Put the transmission in “P”. Avoid park-
ing on a slope with a trailer, but if it
cannot be avoided, do so only after
performing the following: 1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-
der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into “P” and turn off the engine. When restarting out after parking on a
slope:
1. With the transmission in “P” position, start the engine. Be sure to keep the
brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal and slowly pull or back away
from the wheel blo cks. Stop and apply
your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blo cks.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or
the posted towing speed limit,
whichever is lower. Because insta-
bility (swaying) of a towing vehicle
trailer combination usually in-
creases as the speed increases, ex-
ceeding 72 km/h (45 mph) may
cause loss of control.
Slow down and downshift before
descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden down-
shifts.
Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This
could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking effi-
ciency.

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Improving fuel economy is easy—just take
it easy. It will help make your vehicle last
longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and
repairs:
Keep your tires inflated at the cor-
rect pressure. Underinflation causes
tire wear and wastes fuel. See page
355 in Section 7 −2 for instructions.
Do not carry unneeded weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts a
heavier load on the engine, causing
greater fuel consumption.
Avoid lengthy warmup idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving—but gently. Remember, howev-
er, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.
Put the selector lever into the “D”
when engine braking is not required.
Driving without the “D” position will re-
duce the fuel economy. (For details,
see “Automatic transmission” on page
161 in Section 1 −7.)
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts.
Avoid long engine idling. If you have
a long wait and you are not in traffic,
it is better to turn off the engine and
start again later.
Avoid engine lugging or overrev-
ving. Use a gear position suitable for
the road on which you are travelling.
Avoid continuous speeding up and
slowing down. Stop−and− go driving
wastes fuel.
Avoid unnecessary stopping and
braking. Maintain a steady pace. Try
to time the traffic signals so you only
need to stop as little as possible or
take advantage of through streets to
avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper dis-
tance from other vehicles to avoid sud-
den braking. This will also reduce wear
on your brakes.
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams
whenever possible.
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal. This causes premature wear,
overheating and poor fuel economy.
Maintain a moderate speed on high-
ways. The faster you drive, the greater
the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel con-
sumption.
Keep the front wheels in proper
alignment. Avoid hitting the curb and
slow down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire
wear but also puts an extra load on
the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.
Keep the bottom of your vehicle free
from mud, etc. This not only lessens
weight but also helps prevent corro-
sion.
Keep your vehicle tunedup and in
top shape. A dirty air cleaner, improp-
er valve clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil
and grease, brakes not adjusted, etc.
all lower engine performance and con-
tribute to poor fuel economy. For longer
life of all parts and lower operating
costs, keep all maintenance work on
schedule, and if you often drive under
severe conditions, see that your vehicle
receives more frequent maintenance.
(For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, please refer to the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” or “Owner ’s Manu-
al Supplement”.)
How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer