59
1-3. Adjustable components (seat
s, steering wheel, mirrors)
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■Seat belt pretensioners
● Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger’s seat.
Doing so will disperse the passenger’s weight, which prevents the sensor
from detecting the passenger’s weight properly. As a result, the seat belt
pretensioner for the front passenger’s seat may not activate in the event of
a collision.
● If the pretensioner has activated, the seat belt becomes locked: it cannot
be further extended, nor will it return to the stowed position. The seat belt
cannot be used again and must be replaced at your Toyota dealer.
■ Seat belt damage and wear
● Do not damage the seat belts by allowing the belt, plate or buckle to be
jammed in the door.
● Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Do not use a damaged seat belt until it is replaced. Damaged seat
belts cannot protect an occupant from injury.
● Ensure that the belt and tab are locked and the belt is not twisted. If the
seat belt does not function correctly, immediately contact your Toyota
dealer.
● Replace the seat assembly, including the belts, if your vehicle has been
involved in a serious accident, even if there is no obvious damage.
● Do not attempt to install, remove, modify, disassemble or dispose of a seat
belt. Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Toyota dealer. Inap-
propriate handling of the pretensioner may cause it to activate or operate
improperly and may cause death or serious injury.
97
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■
Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding front passenger occupant clas-
sification system.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Wear the seat belt properly.
● Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not been left inserted
into the buckle before someone sits in the front passenger seat.
● Make sure the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is not illuminated when using
the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue from the seat
belt buckle, then reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender
after making sure the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated. If you
use the seat belt extender while the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illumi-
nated, the front passenger airbag, side airbag on the front passenger side
may not activate correctly, which could cause death or serious injury in the
event of collision.
● Do not put weight on the front passenger seat by putting your hands or
feet on the front passenger seatback from the rear passenger seat.
● Do not let a rear passenger lift the front passenger seat with their feet or
press on the seatback with their legs.
● Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.
● Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear
seat. This may cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not deploy in the event of
a severe accident. If the seatback touches the rear seat, return the seat-
back to a position where it does not touch the rear seat. Keep the front\
passenger seatback as upright as possible when the vehicle is moving.
Reclining the seatback excessively may lessen the effectiveness of the
seat belt system.
● If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the “AIR BAG ON” indicator
light is illuminated, If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator is illuminated, ask the
passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and
with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator still
remain illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or if
that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward.
166
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
2-5. Driving information
Cargo and luggage
Capacity and distributionCargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) – (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit—
(1) Locate the statement “The comb ined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehi-
cle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 – 750 (5
150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
Take notice of the following information about storage precau-
tions, cargo capacity and load.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk whenever possible. Be
sure all items are secured in place.
● Be careful to keep the vehicle le vel. Placing the weight as far
forward as possible helps maintain vehicle balance.
● For better fuel economy, do no t carry unnecessary weight.
167
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a tr
ailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle. C onsult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity
of your vehicle. ( P. 169)
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your
vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.
Example on your vehicle
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity
When 2 people with the combined weight of 366 lb. (166 kg) are
riding in your vehicle, which has a total load capacity of 870 lb. (395
kg), the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity will be
as follows:
870 lb. – 366 lb. = 504 lb. (395 kg –166 kg = 229 kg)
In this condition, if 3 more pass engers with the combined weight of
388 lb. (176 kg) get on , the available cargo and luggage load will be
reduced as follows:
504 lb. – 388 lb. = 116 lb. (229 kg – 176 kg = 53 kg)
As shown in the above example, if the number of occupants
increases, the cargo and luggage l oad equaling the combined weight
of the occupants who got on later, by an amount. In other words, if an
increase in the number of occupants causes an excess of the total
load capacity (combined weight of occupants plus cargo and luggage
load), you must reduce the carg o and luggage on your vehicle.
168 2-5. Driving information
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■Storage precautions
●Do not place anything on the package tray behind the rear seatback.
Such items may be thrown about and possibly injure people in the
vehicle during sudden braking or in an accident.
●Do not drive with objects on top of the instrument panel.
They may interfere with the driver’s field of view or move during sharp
acceleration or turning, thus impairing the driver’s control of the vehi-
cle. In an accident they may injure the vehicle occupants.
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment, as they may shift and
injure someone during an accident or sudden braking.
■Weight of the load
●Improper loading may cause deterioration of steering or braking con-
trol resulting in an accident which may cause death or serious injury.
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight rating or the total vehicle
weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less
than the total load capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. Improper
loading may cause deterioration of steering or braking control which
may cause death or serious injury.
169
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Vehicle load limits
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information
label. (P. 331)
CAUTION
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the ti res, but also degrade steering and
braking ability, resulting in an accident.
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capacity.
■ Total load capacity: 870 lb. (395 kg)
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants,
cargo and luggage.
■ Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the ma ximum number of occupants
whose estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
Even if the number of occupants are within the seating capacity,
do not exceed the total load capacity.
■ Towing capacity
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
■ Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the
weight and the number of occupants.
4
Maintenance and care
323
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, ti re pressure warning valves and
transmitters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are
installed, new tire pressure warn ing valve and transmitter ID codes
must be registered in the tire pr essure warning computer and tire
pressure warning system must be initialized. Have tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter ID codes registered by your Toyota
dealer.
Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■ The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the fol-
lowing circumstances:
●When rotating the tires on vehicles differing with front and rear
tire inflation pressures.
● When changing the tire inflation pressure by changing traveling
speed or load weight, etc.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current
tire inflation pressure is set as the pressure benchmark.
■ The tire pressure warning system
Your Toyota is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that
uses tire pressure warning valves and transmitters to detect low
tire inflation pressure before serious problems arise.
( P. 373)
326 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of the replaced tire is greater than 1/2 of
the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) of either the front axle or the
rear axle, whichever is greater.
As for the maximum load of the tire, see the load limit at maximum cold
tire inflation pressure mentioned on the sidewall of the tire, and as for the
Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) , see the Certification Label.
(
P. 331, 417)
■Tire types
1 Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same
traction performance as snow tire s, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy ro ads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When
installing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
2 All season tires All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions, as well as for use
year round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also,
all season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performance
compared with summer tires in highway driving.
3Snow tires For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load capacity as the or iginally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for possible restriction. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels. ( P. 170)
■Initializing the tire pressure warning system
Initialize the tires with the tire inflati on pressure adjusted to the specified
level.