2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER tow

84 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Pull the lock release lever to
remove the second center seat.
Stow the second center seat in
the console box.
Make sure that the seat is se curely in place and close the
console box door.STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

85
1-3. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
Installing the second center seat
■ Before installing the second center seat
Take out the second center seat
from the console box.
Remove the side table, if used, from the second seat.
(  P. 369)
■ Installing the second center seat
Fully engage the front pins
with the hooks, and swing the
second center seat downward.
Push down on the second
center seat to engage the rear
pin locks.
Unfold the seatback and lock it.
Stow the side table in the console
box.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP1
STEP2

87
1
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
Head restraints
■Adjusting the head restraints
Front seats
Vertical adjustment
To raise: Pull the head
restraints up.
To lower: Push the head
restraints down while pressing
the lock release button.
Angle adjustment (if
equipped)
Second seats
Vertical adjustment
To raise: Pull the head
restraints up.
To lower: Push the head
restraints down while pressing
the lock release button.
When using the center seat,
raise the head restraint from
the stowed position.
■When using the third seat head restraints (vehicles with
third seats)
To u s e
To f o l d
Lock release button
Lock release buttons

94 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury in the event of
sudden braking or an accident.
Failing to do so may cause death or severe injury.
■Wearing a seat belt
●Ensure that all passengers wear a seat belt.
● Always wear a seat belt properly.
● Each seat belt should be used by one person only. Do not use a seat belt
for more than one person at once, including children.
● Toyota recommends that children be seated in the rear seat and always
use a seat belt and/or an appropriate child restraint system.
● Do not recline the seat any more than necessary to achieve a proper seat-
ing position. The seat belt is most effective when the occupants are sitting
up straight and well back in the seats.
● Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm.
● Always wear your seat belt low and snug across your hips.
■ 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.

129
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
● The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of
inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center
of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in. (250 mm)
away now, you can change your driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching thepedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in.
(250 mm) distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply by reclining the back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of
your seat makes it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a firm,
non-slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle has that feature\
.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air- bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still
maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the
instrument panel controls.

131
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
SRS airbag precautions
●Do not sit on the edge of the seat or
lean against the dashboard.
● Do not allow a child to sit on the knees
of a front passenger while the vehicle is
moving.
● Do not drive the vehicle while the driver
or passenger has items resting on their
knees.
● Do not lean against the door, the roof
side rail or the front, side and rear pil-
lars.
● Do not allow anyone to kneel on the
passenger seat toward the door or put
their head or hands outside the vehicle.

When driving2
155
2-1. Driving procedures ........ 156Driving the vehicle............ 156
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart
key system).................... 164
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart
key system).................... 168
Automatic Transmission... 171
Turn signal lever .............. 175
Parking brake ................... 176
2-2. Instrument cluster.......... 177 Gauges and meters ......... 177
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 179
Multi-information display............................ 183
2-3. Operating the lights and wipers ........................... 192
Headlight switch ............... 192
Fog light switch ................ 196
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 197
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 199 2-4. Using other driving
systems ........................ 200
Cruise control ................... 200
Rear view monitor system (vehicles with
multi-information
display) .......................... 203
Downhill Assist Control system
(4WD models only) ........ 207
Driving assist systems ..... 209
2-5. Driving information ........ 214 Off-road precautions ........ 214
Cargo and luggage .......... 219
Vehicle load limits ............ 223
Winter driving tips ............ 224
Trailer towing ................... 228
Dinghy towing .................. 238

194 2-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Turning on the high beam headlightsWith the headlights on, push
the lever forward to turn on the
high beams.
Pull the lever back to the center
position to turn the high beams
off.
Pull the lever toward you to
turn on the high beams.
Release the lever to turn them off.
You can flash the high beams
with the headlights on or off.
■Daytime running light system (if equipped)
To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, the headlights turn on
automatically (at a reduced intensity) whenever the engine is started and the
parking brake is released. Daytime running lights are not designed for use at
night.
U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the switch.
■ Headlight control sensor (if equipped)
The sensor may not function properly if
an object is placed on the sensor, or any-
thing that blocks the sensor is affixed to
the windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor
detecting the level of ambient light and
may cause the automatic headlight sys-
tem to malfunction.