2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Battery

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
325
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment when the brake pedal is de-
pressed with the hybrid system off. How-
ever, this does not indicate any trouble.
When the hybrid system is started or
stopped, you may hear a sound coming
from the hybrid 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 trans-
mission. 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 there is a problem somewhere in the
hybrid system, “CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM”
warning message will appear on the multi−
information display. Have your vehicle
checked by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible. If the hybrid system will not start...
See “If your vehicle will not start” on page
338 in Section 4.
CAUTION
Never start the hybrid system from
outside the vehicle, or an accident
may occur. Be sure to sit in the driv-
er seat, then start the system.
NOTICE

If any service reminder indicator
light comes on or warning message
appears on the multiinformation
display (see page 144 and page 155
for details) or the 12 volt battery is
disconnected, the hybrid system
may not start. In that case, turn the
ignition on again. If the “READY”
light does not come on, contact
your Toyota dealer.
 When you start the hybrid system
at a lower outside temperature, it
may take longer before the blinking
“READY” light changes to constant
on.
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
This will allow you much better control.
Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving
onto high, sharp− edged objects and
other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire damage such
as a tire burst.
Drive slowly when passing over bumps
or travelling on a bumpy road. Other-
wise, the impact could cause severe
damage to the tires and/or wheels.
When parking on a hill, turn the front
wheels until they touch the curb so
that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the
parking brake, and place the transmis-
sion in “P”. If necessary, block the
wheels.
Washing your vehicle or driving through
deep water may get the brakes wet. To
see whether they are wet, check that
there is no traffic near you, and then
press the pedal lightly. If you do not
feel a normal braking force, the brakes
are probably wet. To dry them, drive
the vehicle cautiously while lightly
pressing the brake pedal with the park-
ing brake applied. If they still do not
work safely, pull to the side of the road
and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.
Tips for driving in various
conditions

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
328
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
Take all necessary safety measures
to ensure that water damage to the
hybrid battery, hybrid system or
other components does not occur.
Water entering the engine compart-
ment may cause severe damage to
the hybrid system. Water entering
the interior may cause the hybrid
battery stowed under the rear seats
to short circuit.
Water can wash the grease from
wheel bearings, causing rusting and
premature failure, and may also en-
ter the transaxle case, reducing the
gear oil’s lubricating qualities.
 Sand and mud that has accumulated
in brake drums and around brake
discs may affect braking efficiency
and may damage brake system com-
ponents.
 Always perform a maintenance in-
spection after each day of offroad
driving that has taken you through
rough terrain, sand, mud, or water.
For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, refer to the “Scheduled Main-
tenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual
Supplement”.Make sure your coolant is properly pro-
tected against freezing.
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 coolant level” on page
388 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 status of the hybrid battery.
See page 4 for the status of the hybrid
battery. If the hybrid battery is discharged,
the hybrid system will not start up.
Check the condition of the 12 volt bat-
tery and cables.
Cold temperatures lower the performance
of the 12 volt battery, so it must be in top
shape to provide enough power for winter
starting. Section 7 −3 tells you how to
visually inspect the 12 volt battery. Your
Toyota dealer and most service stations
will be pleased to check the charge level.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See page 386 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.
Winter driving tips

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
335
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
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.
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
390 in Section 7 −2 for instructions.
Do not carry unnecessary weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts a
heavier load on the hybrid system,
causing greater fuel consumption.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts.
Avoid continuous changes of speed.
Stop −and− go driving wastes electric
power and 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.
When parking, be sure to put the
transmission into the “P” position. In
the “N” position, the gasoline engine
operates but electricity cannot be gen-
erated. The hybrid battery will be dis-
charged requiring unnecessary engine
power to recharge.
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 curbs and
slow down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire
wear but also puts an extra load on
the hybrid system, 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.
How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
338
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
Before making these checks, make sure
you have sufficient fuel and that you have
followed the correct starting procedure giv-
en in “How to start the hybrid system” on
page 324 in Section 3. If your vehicle is
equipped with the engine immobilizer sys-
tem, also check whether the other keys
will start the hybrid system. If they work,
your key may be broken. Have the key
checked at your Toyota dealer. If none of
your keys work, there may be a malfunc-
tion in the immobilizer system. Call your
Toyota dealer. (See “Keys (with engine
immobilizer system)” on page 22 in Sec-
tion 1−2.)
If the instrument cluster dims or the
instrument cluster display turns off
with the ignition on... 1. Check that the 12 volt battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the 12 volt battery terminals are O.K., the 12 volt battery is discharged.
You may try jump starting. See “(b)
Jump starting” on page 338 for further
instructions.
NOTICE
Hybrid vehicles cannot be push
started.
If the instrument cluster displays with
normal brightness levels with the igni-
tion on...
The hybrid system may be faulty. Contact
your Toyota dealer. If the 12 volt battery is discharged, the
hybrid system can be started by jump
starting. Depending on the vehicle con-
dition, however, the hybrid system may
not start.
To avoid serious injury and damage to
your vehicle which might result from an
explosion of the battery, acid burns,
electrical burns, or damaged electronic
components, follow instructions careful-
ly.
If you are unsure about how to follow this
procedure, we strongly recommend that
you seek the help of a competent me-
chanic or towing service.
CAUTION
Batteries contain sulfuric acid
which is poisonous and corrosive.
Wear protective safety glasses when
jump starting, and avoid spilling
acid on your skin, clothing, or ve-
hicle.
If your vehicle will not start—
(a) Simple checks
(b) Jump starting

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
339
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
If you should accidentally get acid
on yourself or in your eyes, remove
any contaminated clothing and flush
the affected area with water im-
mediately. Then get immediate medi-
cal attention. If possible, continue
to apply water with a sponge or
cloth while en route to the medical
office.
The gas normally produced by a
battery will explode if a flame or
spark is brought near. Use only
standardized jumper cables and do
not smoke or light a match while
jump starting.
NOTICE
The battery used for boosting must
be 12 V. Do not jump start unless you
are sure that the booster battery is
correct.
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE1. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle, make sure the vehicles
are not touching. Turn off all unneces-
sary lights and accessories.
When boosting, use the battery of
matching or higher quality. Any other
battery may be difficult to jump start
with.
If jump starting is difficult, charge the
battery for several minutes.
2. If required, remove all the vent plugs from the booster and discharged batter-
ies. Lay a cloth over the open vents
on the batteries. (This helps reduce the
explosion hazard, personal injuries and
burns.)
3. If the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery is not running, start it
and let it run for a few minutes. During
jump starting, run the engine at about
2000 rpm with the accelerator pedal
lightly depressed.
Discharged
battery
Booster
battery
Positive
terminal
(“+” mark) Jumper cable Positive terminal
(“+”mark)
4. Make the cable connections in the or-
der a, b, c, d.
a. Connect the clamp of the positive
(red) jumper cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the discharged 12 volt bat-
tery.
b. Connect the clamp at the other end
of the positive (red) jumper cable to
the positive (+) terminal of the booster
battery.

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
340
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
Jumper cableBooster
battery
Discharged
battery
Negative terminal
(“− ”mark)
c. Connect the clamp of the negative
(black) jumper cable to the negative ( −)
terminal of the booster battery.
d. Connect the clamp at the other end
of the negative (black) cable to a solid,
stationary, unpainted metallic point
away from the 12 volt battery (such as
shown in the illustration). Do not con-
nect it to or near any part that may
move when the hybrid system is star-
ted.The recommended connecting points
are shown in the illustration.
CAUTION
When making the connections, to
avoid serious injury, do not lean over
the battery or accidentally let the
jumper cables or clamps touch any-
thing except the correct battery termi-
nals or the ground.
5. Start the hybrid system. Make sure the “READY” light is on.
If the “READY” light will not come on
and the hybrid system will not start
after you recharge the battery, perform
the following procedure. Turn the hybrid
system off. Open and close the driver’s
door. Then start the hybrid system.
If the hybrid battery warning light
comes on in the meter cluster, the hy-
brid battery is also discharged. In this
condition, the hybrid system will not
start. Contact your Toyota dealer.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order: the negative cable
and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover cloths—they may now contain sulfuric
acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of the 12 volt battery dis-
charging is not apparent (for example,
lights left on), have the battery checked
by your Toyota dealer.

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
341
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
If the first start attempt is not success-
ful...
Check that the clamp on the jumper
cables are tight. Recharge the discharged
battery with the jumper cables connected
for several minutes and restart the hybrid
system in the normal way.
If the another attempt is not successful,
the battery may be depleted. Have it ch-
ecked at your Toyota dealer.If your hybrid system stalls while driv-
ing...
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line. Move cautiously off the
road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Turn the ignition key to “ACC” or “LOCK”, and try starting the hybrid
system again.
If the hybrid system will not start, see “If
your vehicle will not start”.
CAUTION
When the hybrid system is not oper-
ating, the power assist for the brakes
and steering will not work, so steer-
ing and braking will be much more
difficult than usual.
Any of the following may indicate that
the hybrid system has overheated:
The engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating.
A “WATER TEMP” warning message
appears on the multiinformation
display.
A loss of power is experienced.
A loud knocking or pinging noise is
heard.
If the hybrid system overheats, follow
the procedures below: 1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve- hicle and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the hybrid transmission in
“P” and apply the parking brake. Turn
off the air conditioning if it is being
used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or reservoir, stop the hybrid
system. Wait until the steam subsides
before opening the hood. If there is no
coolant boiling over or steam, leave the
ignition turned on and make sure the
electric cooling fan is operating. If it is
not, turn the ignition off.
If your hybrid system stalls
while driving If your vehicle overheats

’07 HIGHLANDER HV_U (L/O 0608)
371
2007 HIGHLANDER HV from July ’06 Prod. (OM48685U)
If you are a skilled do−it−yourself mechan-
ic, the Toyota service manuals are recom-
mended. Please be aware that do −it−your-
self maintenance can affect your warranty
coverage. See “Owner ’s Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet” or “Owner ’s Manual Supple-
ment” for the details. Listed below are the general maintenance
items that should be performed as fre-
quently as specified. In addition to check-
ing the items listed, if you notice any
unusual noise, smell or vibration, you
should investigate the cause or take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer or a quali-
fied service shop immediately. It is recom-
mended that any problem you notice be
brought to the attention of your dealer or
the qualified service shop for their advice.
CAUTION
Make these checks only with ade-
quate ventilation if the hybrid system
is turned on.
IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Items listed below should be checked
from time to time, e.g. each time when
refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the
tank. See page 403 in Section 7
−3 for
additional information. Coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the “FULL” and “LOW” lines on the see
−
through reservoir when the hybrid system
is cold. See page 388 in Section 7 −2 for
additional information.
Radiator, condenser and hoses
Check that the front of the radiator and
condenser are clean and not blocked with
leaves, dirt or insects. See page 389 in
Section 7 −2 for additional information.
12 volt battery electrolyte level
Your Toyota has a maintenance free bat-
tery. You do not have to add distilled wa-
ter. For longer life of the battery, however,
see page 400 for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See page 390 in Section 7 −2 for addition-
al information.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the
hybrid system turned off and the vehicle
parked on a level spot. See page 386 in
Section 7 −2 for additional information.
General maintenance