2007 TOYOTA AVALON brakes

148
(a) Brake System Warning Light andBuzzer
This light comes on in the following cases
when the ignition switch is set at ON.
When the parking brake is applied...
This light comes on for a few seconds
when the ignition switch is set at ON even
after the parking brake is released.
If the vehicle speed rises above 5 km/h
(3 mph) with the parking brake applied for
1 seconds or more, a buzzer sounds.
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 switch is set at ON.
The light does not come on even if the
ignition switch is set at ON with the
parking 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 antilock
brake system will fail but also the
vehicle will become extremely un-
stable during braking.
(b) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
and Buzzer
The light and buzzer act as a reminder to
buckle up the driver’s seat belt.
Once the ignition switch is set at ON or
engine 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 continues flashing and
the buzzer sounds for about 6 seconds.
If the vehicle speed rises above 15 km/h
(9 mph) with the seat belt unfastened, the
buzzer will sound for about 10 seconds.
Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened,
the buzzer will sound in a different tone
for 20 seconds. Even if the vehicle speed
drops below 15 km/h (9 mph), the buzzer
will continue to sound. To stop the buzzer,
fasten the seat belt. If the buzzer still
sounds, make sure the front passenger ’s
seat belt is fastened.

166
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.

167
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 363 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

170
CAUTION
If the tire pressure warning light
comes on, be sure to observe the
following precautions. Failure to do
so could cause loss of vehicle control
and result in death or serious injury.
Stop your vehicle in a safe place as
soon as possible. Adjust the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
If the tire pressure warning light
comes on even after tire inflation
pressure adjustment, it is probable
that you have a flat tire. Check the
tires. If the tire is flat, change to
the spare tire and have the flat tire
repaired by the nearest Toyota deal-
er.
Avoid abrupt maneuvering and bra-
king. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the steer-
ing wheel or the brakes.
The tire pressure warning light may turn
on due to natural causes such as natural
air leaks or tire inflation pressure changes
caused by temperature. In this case, ad-
justing the tire inflation pressure will turn
off the light after a few minutes.Pushing the tire pressure warning reset
switch should not turn off the tire pressure
warning light. Adjusting the tire inflation
pressure will turn off the light.
The spare tire (except compact spare tire)
is also equipped with the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter. The tire
pressure warning light will turn on if the
tire inflation pressure of the spare tire is
low. If a tire goes flat, even though the
flat tire is replaced with the spare tire, the
warning light does not turn off. Replace
the spare tire with the repaired tire and
adjust the proper tire inflation pressure.
The tire pressure warning light will turn off
after a few minutes.
The compact spare tire is not equipped
with the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the warning
light will not turn off even though the flat
tire is replaced with the spare tire. Re-
place the spare tire with the repaired tire
and adjust the proper tire inflation pres-
sure. The tire pressure warning light will
turn off after a few minutes.
CAUTION
Each tire, including the spare (if pro-
vided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard
or tire inflation pressure label (tire
and load information label). (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label
(tire and load information label), you
should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires.)

181
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 185. 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 187.
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.

188
Select the vehicle−to −vehicle distance con-
sidering traffic conditions. The approximate
vehicle −to −vehicle distance based on time
interval when driving at 88 km/h (55 mph)
is shown below:
LONG about 75 m (245 ft.)
. . . . . . . . . . .
MIDDLE about 50 m (165 ft.)
. . . . . . . . . .
SHORT about 30 m (100 ft.)
. . . . . . . . . .
If the vehicle speed is slower than 88
km/h (55 mph), the distance will be short-
er than the above.
During long downhill driving, the vehicle −
to −vehicle distance will be shorter than
the selected distance.
BRAKING CONTROL
Dynamic laser cruise control is not a colli-
sion avoidance system. If the approach
warning is activated, depress the brake
pedal to decelerate to ensure an appropri-
ate vehicle− to−vehicle distance.
If you are getting closer to the vehicle
ahead at a relatively higher speed than
that of the vehicle ahead or if engine
braking cannot be applied properly, brak-
ing control is automatically activated. At
this time, the display flashes. Braking control is operating only when the
vehicle
−to −vehicle distance control mode
is selected and your vehicle speed ex-
ceeds about 40 km/h (25 mph). If the
speed decreases below about 40 km/h (25
mph), braking control will cease, requiring
the manual application of brakes.
CAUTION
Braking control will not ensure that
your vehicle will reduce speed ap-
propriately. You must depress the
brake pedal to slow down, ensuring
collision avoidance or that sufficient
vehicletovehicle distance is main-
tained.
APPROACH WARNING
While you are cruising in the vehicle −to −
vehicle distance control mode, if the ve-
hicle ahead decelerates abruptly or if
another vehicle cuts in ahead of you, in-
adequate braking will make your vehicle
become closer to the vehicle ahead of you
and the display will flash and beep.

272
Your engine is fitted with iridiumtipped
spark plugs.
NOTICE
Use only Toyota genuine iridium
tipped spark plugs and do not adjust
gaps for your engine performance and
smooth driveability.
For details about the spark plug type, see
“Service specifications” on page 383 in
Section 8. The tandem master cylinder brake system
is a hydraulic system with two separate
sub
−systems. If either sub −system s hould
fail, the other will still work. However, the
pedal will be harder to press, and your
stopping distance will increase. Also, the
brake system warning light may come on.
CAUTION
Do not drive your vehicle with only a
single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
BRAKE BOOSTER
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to
power −assist the brakes. If the engine
should quit while you are driving, you can
bring the vehicle to a stop with normal
pedal pressure. There is enough reserved
vacuum for one or two stops—but no
more!
CAUTION
Do not pump the brake pedal if the
engine stalls. Each push on the
pedal uses up your reserved vacu-
um.
Even if the power assist is com-
pletely lost, the brakes will still
work. But you will have to push the
pedal hard, much harder than nor-
mal. And your braking distance will
increase.
Iridiumtipped spark plugs Brake system

276
DRUMINDISC TYPE PARKING BRAKE
SYSTEM
Your vehicle has a drum−in −disc type
parking brake system. This type of brake
system n eeds bedding −down of the brake
shoes periodically or whenever the parking
brake shoes and/or drums are replaced.
Have your Toyota dealer perform the bed-
ding− down. BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM (vehicles with
vehicle stability control system)
When you slam the brakes on, the
brake assist system judges as an emer-
gency stop and provides more powerful
braking for a driver who cannot hold
down the brake pedal firmly.
When you slam the brakes on, more pow-
erful braking will be applied. At this time,
you may hear a sound in the engine
compartment and feel the vibration of the
brake pedal. This does not indicate a mal-
function.
The brake assist system becomes opera-
tive after the vehicle has accelerated to
a speed in excess of approximately 10
km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the
vehicle decelerates to a speed below
approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).
For an explanation of this system’s warn-
ing light, see “Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers” on page 145 in Sec-
tion 1
−6.
The brake pad wear limit indicators on
your disc brakes give a warning noise
when the brake pads are worn to where
replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise
while driving, have the brake pads
checked and replaced by your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. Expensive ro-
tor damage can result if the pads are not
replaced when necessary.
Brake pad wear limit
indicators