2008 TOYOTA AVALON belt

292 4-1. Maintenance and care
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
■Cleaning the inside of the rear window
Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause dam-
age to the rear window defogger heater wires. Use a cloth dampened with
lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the window in
strokes running parallel to the heater wires.
■ Caring for leather areas
Toyota recommends cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a year
to maintain the quality of the vehicle’s interior.
■ Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available. Use a
sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not apply
water. The excellent results are obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as
possible.
■ Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also
check the belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
CAUTION
■Water in the vehicle
● Be careful not to splash or spill liquid on the floor.
● Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior wet. 
( P. 8 3 ) 
Electrical malfunction may cause the airbags to deploy or not function
properly, resulting in death or serious injury.

297
4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal • Moves smoothly (without uneven pedal
effort or catching)?
Automatic transmission
“Park” mechanism • Can the vehicle be hold securely on an
incline with the shift lever in “P”?
Brake pedal • Moves smoothly?
• Does it have appropriate clearance and
correct amount of free play?
Brakes • Pulls to one side when applied?
• Loss of brake effectiveness?
• Spongy feeling brake pedal?
• Pedal almost touches floor?
Head restraints • Move smoothly and lock securely?
Indicators/buzzers • Function properly?
Lights • Do all the lights come on?
• Headlights aimed correctly? (
P. 353)
Parking brake • Moves smoothly?
• Can hold the vehicle securely on an
incline?
Seat belts • Does the seat belt system operate
smoothly?
• Are the belts undamaged?
Seats • Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel • Moves smoothly?
• Has correct free play?
• No strange noises?

4
Maintenance and care
301
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
The engine compartment contains many mechanisms and fluids that may
move suddenly, become hot, or become electrically energized. To avoid death
or serious injury, observe the following precautions.
■
When working on the engine compartment
● Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from the moving fan and engine
drive belt.
● Be careful not to touch the engine, radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right
after driving as they may be hot. Oil and other fluids may also be hot.
● Do not leave anything that may burn easily, such as paper or rags, in the
engine compartment.
● Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose an open flame to fuel or the bat-
tery. Fuel and battery fumes are flammable.
● Be extremely cautious when working on the battery. It contains poisonous
and corrosive sulfuric acid.
ItemsParts and tools
Fuses (P. 344)• Fuse with same amperage rating
as original
Headlight aim ( P. 353)• Phillips-head screwdriver
Power steering fluid level
( P. 316)
• Automatic transmission fluid
DEXRON® II or III
• Rag or paper towel
• Clean funnel
Radiator and condenser (P. 314)
Tire inflation pressure ( P. 331)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source
Washer fluid (P. 321)
• Water washer fluid containing anti-
freeze (for winter use)
• Funnel

4
Maintenance and care
329
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to
prevent accidents. Failure to do so
may cause damage to parts of the drive train, as well as dangerous han-
dling characteristics, which may le ad to fatal or injury accidents.
●Do not mix tires of different makes, models, tread patterns or tread-
wear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota.
●Do not mix radial, bias-belted, or bias-ply tires.
●Do not mix summer, all season and winter tires.
●Do not use tires that have been used on another vehicle. 
Do not use tires if you do not know how they were used previously.
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not push the tire pressure warnin g reset switch without first adjusting
the tire inflation pressure to the spec ified level. Otherwise, the tire pres-
sure warning light may not come on even if the tire inflation pressure is
low, or it may come on when the tire inflation pressure is actually normal.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels and tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters
When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter, contact your To yota dealer as the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
■To avoid damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters
Do not use liquid sealants on flat tire.

368
5-1. Essential information
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Event data recorder
In a crash or a near car crash eventThe SRS airbag sensor assembly contains the EDR. In a crash or a
near car crash event, this device may record some or all of the follow-
ing information:
● Engine speed
● Whether the brake pedal was applied or not
● Vehicle speed
● To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
● Position of the transmission shift lever
● Whether the driver and front passenger wore seat belts or not
● Driver’s seat position
● Front passenger’s occupant classification
● SRS airbag deployment data
● SRS airbag system diagnostic data
If your vehicle is equipped with a vehicle stability control (VSC) sys-
tem, its Electronic C ontrol Unit (ECU) may contain another EDR.
There are a variety of driving sit uations which include activating the
vehicle stability control (VSC) under which the VSC EDR will record
certain information. The VSC EDR may record some or all of the fol-
lowing information:
Your vehicle has computers that monitor and control certain aspects
of your vehicle. These computers assi st in driving and maintaining
optimal vehicle performance.
Besides storing data useful for tr oubleshooting, there is a system to
record data in a crash or a near car crash event. This is called an
Event Data Recorder (EDR).

5
When trouble arises
371
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Stop the vehicle immediately.
The following warning indicates the possibility of damage to the vehi-
cle that may lead to an accident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a
safe place and contact your Toyota dealer.
Have the vehicle inspected immediately.Failing to investigate the cause of the following warnings may lead to
the system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Charging system warning light Malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system.
Low engine oil pressure warning light Abnormal level of engine oil pressure. 
This warning light may turn on if the level of engine oil
declines. The light should turn off after checking the oil
and adding oil if necessary.
Warning lightWarning light/Details

(U.S.A.)

(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lampMalfunction in:
• The electronic engine control system;
• The electronic throttle control system; or
• The transmission control system.
SRS warning light Malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system;
• Front passenger occupant classification system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system.

5
When trouble arises
373
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Driver’s seat belt
reminder light (warning
buzzer)
*2
Warns the driver to fasten
his/her seat belt. Fasten the seat belt.
Front passenger’s seat
belt reminder light
(warning buzzer)
*2
Warns the front passen-
ger to fasten his/her seat
belt. Fasten the seat belt.
Tire pressure warning
light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure.
Adjust the tire inflation
pressure.
When the light stays on
after blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire
pressure warning system. Have the system checked
by your Toyota dealer.
Low washer fluid warning
light
Low level of washer fluid Fill the tank.

374 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
AVALON_U_(L/O_0802)
*1: Open door warning buzzer:
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven at a speed of approximately 3
mph (5 km/h) or more with any door open.
*2: Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder buzzer:
The driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts reminder sounds to alert the
driver and front passenger that his or her seat belt is not fastened. The
buzzer sounds intermittently for 10 seconds after the vehicle has reached a
speed of at least 9 mph (15 km/h). Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened,
the buzzer will continue to sound.
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure

(U.S.A.)
Engine oil replacement
reminder light
Illuminates for about 3 sec-
onds and then flasher for
about 15 seconds: 
Engine oil is scheduled to
be changed. Check and the engine oil,
and change if necessary.
Comes on and remains:
Engine oil should be
changed. Check and change the
engine oil.

(if equipped) Dynamic laser cruise con-
trol master warning light
Malfunction in the dynamic
laser cruise control sys-
tem. When the light comes
on, the alarm sounds and
the warning code will
appear on the display. P. 157