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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
Important information about your Toyota
Hybrid system on your vehicle
Your vehicle is a hybrid vehicle. It has characteristics dif-
ferent from other conventional vehicles. You must under-
stand the characteristics of your vehicle very well and han-
dle it carefully. Read this manual and follow the instruc-
tions. Section 1−1 explains the characteristics of the hy-
brid system.
Occupant restraint systems
Toyota encourages you and your family to take the time to
read Section 1 −3 of this Owner ’s Manual carefully. In
terms of helping you understand how you can receive the
maximum benefit of the occupant restraint systems this
vehicle provides, Section 1 −3 of this Owner ’s Manual is
the most important Section for you and your family to
read.
Section 1 −3 describes the function and operation concern-
ing seats, seat belts, SRS airbags and child restraint sys-
tems of this vehicle and some potential hazards you
should be aware of. These systems work together along
with the overall structure of this vehicle in order to provide
occupant restraint in the event of a crash. The effect of
each system can be enhanced when it is used properly
and together with other systems. No single occupant re-
straint system can, by itself, provide you or your family
with the equal level of restraint which these systems can
provide when used together. That is why it is important for
you and your family to understand the purpose and proper
use of each of these systems and how they relate to each
other.
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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
Be sure to put the transmission in the
“P” position when parking.
In the “N” position, the traction battery
does not recharge, even if the gasoline
engine is operating. Leaving the transmis-
sion in the “N” position for an extended
period of time may discharge the traction
battery. The vehicle cannot run if the trac-
tion battery is discharged.
When you leave your vehicle, apply the
parking brake, put the transmission in
the “P” position, be sure to carry the
key with you and lock all the doors.
If you leave the ignition in “ACC” or “ON”,
the auxiliary battery will be discharged
and the hybrid system may not start.Because the vehicle is powered by
both the gasoline engine and the trac-
tion motor, you may hear a motor
sound coming from the engine compart-
ment. However, this does not indicate
any trouble.
When the hybrid system is started or
stopped, you may hear a sound coming
from the traction battery under the rear
seats. However, this does not indicate
any trouble.
When the hybrid system is started or
stopped, or while the vehicle is idling,
you may hear a sound coming from the
transmission. However, this does not
indicate any trouble.
When applying brakes, you may hear
a sound coming from the regenerative
brakes. However, this does not indicate
any trouble.
When the gasoline engine is started or
stopped with the hybrid system on, you
may feel a vibration. However, this
does not indicate any trouble.
If the “READY” light is on, you can
start even when the gasoline engine is
off.
When you put the transmission in the
“B” position and take your foot off the
accelerator pedal, engine braking will
be applied. However, during high speed
driving you may feel that engine brak-
ing is less effective than that of ordi-
nary vehicle.
High voltage parts and cables on the
hybrid vehicles emit approximately the
same amount of electromagnetic
waves as the conventional gasoline
powered vehicles or home electronic
appliances despite of their electro-
magnetic shieldings.
Unwanted noise may occur in the re-
ception of the mobile two way radio.
—The characteristics of the
hybrid vehicle
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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
Traction battery air vents
Air vents are located in the lower part
of the rear seats to cool the traction
battery. If the vents are covered, the
battery will overheat resulting in re-
duced output performance of the hybrid
system.
You may hear a noise of the cooling fans
from the air vents. For vehicle repairs or maintenance, be
sure to consult your Toyota dealer.
If your vehicle is beyond repair, contact
your Toyota dealer for assistance. Do
not attempt to dispose of your vehicle
by yourself.
CAUTION
Your vehicle contains a sealed Nick-
el Metal hydride battery. If disposed
of improperly, it is hazardous to the
environment and there is a risk of
severe burns and electrical shock that
may result in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
Do not put foreign objects over the
air vent. The traction battery may
be overheated and damaged.
Do not load a large amount of wa-
ter such as an aquarium into the
vehicle. If water spills over the trac-
tion battery, the battery may be
damaged.
Do not wet the air vent. This may
adversely affect or damage the trac-
tion battery.
Clean the air vent regularly to pre-
vent the traction battery from over-
heating.
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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Occupant restraint systems
Seats 50
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Front seats 50
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Rear seats 54
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Flattening seatbacks 63
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Seat heaters 66
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Head restraints 67
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Armrests 68
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Seat belts 68
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SRS airbags 80
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Child restraint 101
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SECTION 1 3
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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow any passengers to sit on
top of a folded down seatback, or
in the luggage compartment or car-
go area. Persons not properly
seated and/or not properly re-
strained by seat belts can be se-
verely injured in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow any
passengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Otherwise,
severe injuries can occur in the
event of emergency braking or a
collision.
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with
considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if
the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag
is the first 50—75 mm (2—3 in.) of
inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10
in.) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety.
This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your
breastbone. If you sit less than 250
mm (10 in.) away now, you can
change your driving position in sever-
al ways:
Move your seat to the rear as far
as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
Slightly recline the back of the
seat. Although vehicle designs vary,
many drivers can achieve the 250
mm (10 in.) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply by reclining the back of the
seat somewhat. If reclining the back
of your seat makes it hard to see
the road, raise yourself by using a
firm, non slippery cushion, or raise
the seat if your vehicle has that
feature.
If your steering wheel is adjustable,
tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as rec-
ommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
Seats Front seats—
—Front seat precautions
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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
Front passenger seat
CAUTION
The SRS front passenger airbag also
deploys with considerable force, and
can cause death or serious injury es-
pecially if the front passenger is very
close to the airbag. The front passen-
ger seat should be as far from the
airbag as possible with the seatback
adjusted, so the front passenger sits
upright.
Front seats (with SRS side airbags)
CAUTION
The SRS side airbags are installed in
the driver and front passenger seats.
Observe the following precautions.
Do not lean against the front door
when the vehicle is in use, since
the side airbag inflates with consid-
erable speed and force. Otherwise,
you may be killed or seriously in-
jured.
Do not use seat accessories which
cover the area where the side air-
bags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from acti-
vating correctly, causing death or
serious injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats
or upholstery of the seats equipped
with side airbags. Such change may
prevent the side airbag system from
activating correctly, disable the sys-
tem or cause the side airbag sys-
tem to inflate accidentally, resulting
in death or serious injury.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving as the seat may
unexpectedly move and cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
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.
Do not put objects under the seats.
Otherwise, the objects may interfere
with the seat lock mechanism or
unexpectedly push up the seat posi-
tion adjusting lever and the seat
may suddenly move, causing the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
—Seat adjustment precautions
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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
While adjusting the seat, do not put
your hands under the seat or near
the moving parts. Otherwise, your
hands or fingers may be caught and
injured.1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
2. SEAT CUSHION ANGLE ADJUSTING KNOB
To change the angle of the seat cush-
ion on the front side, turn the knob
either way.
3. SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER
To change the height of the seat, pull
up or push down the lever.
4. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.
—Adjusting front seats
(manual seat)
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2006 HIGHLANDER (Hybrid) from Mar. ’05 Prod. (OM48530U)
CAUTION
Avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts pro-
vide maximum protection in a frontal
or rear collision when the driver and
the front passenger are sitting up
straight and well back in the seats. If
you are reclined, the lap belt may
slide past your hips and apply re-
straint forces directly to the abdomen
or your neck may contact the shoul-
der belt. In the event of a frontal
collision, the more the seat is re-
clined, the greater the risk of death
or personal injury.
1. SEAT POSITION, SEAT CUSHION
ANGLE AND SEAT HEIGHT
ADJUSTING SWITCH
Move the adjusting switch in the de-
sired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat at
that position.
Do not place anything under the front
seats, as this might interfere with the seat
movement. 2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING SWITCH
Move the adjusting switch in the de-
sired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat-
back at that position.
—Adjusting front seats (power
seat)