2008 TOYOTA AVALON Owners Manual

25
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Locking and unlocking the doors
Press the lock button to lock the
door.
Grip the handle to unlock the
door.
Make sure to touch the sensor on
the back of the handle.
The door cannot be unlocked for
3 seconds after the door is
locked.
Unlocking the trunkPress the button to unlock the
trunk.

26 1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Antenna location and effective range
■ Antenna location
Antennas outside cabin
Antenna outside trunk
Antenna inside trunk
Antennas inside cabin

27
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■
Effective range (areas within which the electronic key is
detected)
When locking or unlocking
the doors
The system can be operated
when the electronic key is
within about 3 ft. (1 m) of an
outside door handles. (Only
the doors detecting the key
can be operated.)
When starting the engine or
changing “ENGINE START
STOP” switch modes
The system can be operated
when the electronic key is
inside the vehicle.
When unlocking the trunk
The system can be operated
when the electronic key is
within about 3 ft. (1 m) of the
trunk release button.

28 1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■Operation signals
A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors
have been locked/unlocked. (Locked: Once; Unlocked: Twice)
■ Door lock buzzer
If a door is not fully closed, a buzzer sounds continuously if an attempt to
lock the door is made. Fully close the door to stop the buzzer, and lock the
vehicle once more.
■ Conditions affecting operation
The smart key system uses weak radio waves. In the following situations,
the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle may be
affected, preventing the smart key system and wireless remote control from
operating properly. (Way of coping:
P. 395)
● When the electronic key battery is depleted
● Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large dis-
play, airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electri-
cal noise
● When carrying a portable radio, ce llular phone, cordless phone or other
wireless communication devices
● When the electronic key has come into contact with, or is covered by a
metallic object
● When multiple electronic keys are in the vicinity
● When carrying or using the electronic key together with the following
devices that emit radio waves
• Another vehicle’s electronic key
• A wireless key that emits radio waves
• Personal computer
● If window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to
the rear window

29
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■
Switching the door unlock function
It is possible to set which doors the entry function unlocks.
Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch off.
When the indicator on the key surface is turned off, push and hold , , or for approximately 5 seconds while pushing the
button on the key.
The setting changes each time an operation is performed, as shown below.
(Wait for at least 5 seconds after each operation to continue an operation.)
Unlock the doors using the wireless remote control and open one of
the doors. 
If a door is not opened within 60 second after is pressed, the
doors will be locked again and the alarm will automatically be set. 
In case that the alarm is triggered, immediately stop the alarm. 
( P. 77)
STEP1
STEP2
Relevant doorsUnlocking doorsBeep
Hold the driver’s door handle to
unlock only the driver’s door Beeps twice
Hold a passenger’s door handle
to unlock all the doors
Hold a door handle to unlock all
doors Beeps twice
STEP3

30 1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■Battery-saving function
In the following circumstances, the entry function is disabled in order to pre-
vent the vehicle and electronic key batteries from discharging.
● When the entry function has not been used for 2 weeks or more
● When the electronic key has been left within approximately 3 ft. (1 m) of
the vehicle for 10 minutes or more
The system will resume operation when...
● The vehicle is locked using the door handle lock switch
● The vehicle is locked/unlocked using the wireless remote control function 
( P. 35) or the mechanical key ( P. 395)
■ Electronic key battery depletion
● The standard battery life is 1 to 2 years. (The battery becomes depleted
even if the electronic key is not used.) If the smart key system or the
wireless remote control function does not operate, or the detection area
becomes smaller, the battery may be depleted. Replace the battery when
necessary. (  P. 340)
● To avoid serious deterioration, do not leave the electronic key within 3 ft.
(1 m) of the following electrical appliances that produce a magnetic field.
•TVs
• Personal computers
• Recharging cellular phones or cordless phones
• Table lamps
■ To operate the system properly
Make sure to carry the electronic key when operating the system. Do not get
the electronic key too close to the vehicle when operating the system from
the outside of the vehicle.
Depending on the position and holding condition of the electronic key, the
key may not be detected correctly and the system may not operate properly.
(The alarm may go off accidentally, or the door lock prevention may not func-
tion.)

31
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■
Note for the smart key system
● Even when the electronic key is within the effective range (detection
areas), the system may not operate properly in the following cases.
• The electronic key is too close to the window or outside door handle,
near the ground, or in a high place when the doors are locked or
unlocked.
• The electronic key is near the ground or in a high place, or too close to the rear bumper center when the trunk is unlocked.
• The electronic key is on the instrument panel, rear package tray or floor, or in the glove box when the engine is started or “ENGINE
START STOP” switch modes are changed.
● As long as the electronic key is within the effective range, the doors may
be locked or unlocked by anyone.
● Even if the electronic key is not inside the vehicle, it may be possible to
start the engine if the electronic key is near the window.
● The doors may unlock if a large amount of water splashes on the door
handle, such as in the rain or in a car wash when the electronic key is
within the effective range. (The doors will automatically be locked after
approximately 60 seconds if the doors are not opened and closed.)
● Gripping the door handle when wearing a glove may not unlock the door.
● If the wireless remote control is used to lock the doors when the elec-
tronic key is near the vehicle, there is a possibility that the door may not
be unlocked by the entry function. (Use the wireless remote control to
unlock the doors.)
● A sudden approach to the effective range or door handle operation may
prevent the doors from being unlocked. In this case, return the door han-
dle to the original position and check that the doors unlock before pulling
the door handle again.
■ When the vehicle is not dr iven for extended periods
To prevent theft of the vehicle, do not leave the electronic key within 6 ft. (2
m) of the vehicle.
■ Security feature
If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is
unlocked, the theft deterrent system automatically locks the vehicle again.

32 1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■Alarms and warning indicators
A combination of exterior and interior alarms are used to prevent theft of the
vehicle and unforeseeable accidents resulting from erroneous operation.
Take appropriate measures according to which warning light comes on. 
( P. 370)
The following table describes circumstances and correction procedures
when only alarms are sounded.
AlarmSituationCorrection procedure
Exterior alarm
sounds once for
2 seconds Tried to lock the doors
using the entry function
while the electronic key is
still inside the passenger
compartment
Retrieve the elec-
tronic key from the
passenger compart-
ment and lock the
doors again.
Tried to exit the vehicle
with the electronic key and
lock the doors without first
turning the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch off Turn the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch
off and lock the doors
again.
Closed the trunk while the
electronic key is still inside
and all doors are locked Retrieve the elec-
tronic key from the
trunk and close the
trunk lid.
Exterior alarm
sounds once for
10 seconds Tried to lock the vehicle
using the entry function
while a door is open Close all of the doors
and lock the doors
again.
Interior alarm
sounds once The electronic key battery
is low. Replace the battery.
(
 P. 340)
Interior alarm
sounds continu-
ously Tried to open the door and
exit the vehicle without
shifting the shift lever to
“P”
Shift the shift lever to
“P”.