2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER wheel

398
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
■Automatic car washes
●Before washing the vehicle, do the following.
• Fold the mirrors back.
• Remove the antenna. (mast type only)
• Turn the power back door system off.
● Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface
and harm your vehicle’s paint.
■ High pressure car washes
●Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity
of the windows.
● Before car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is closed
properly.
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in prime
condition.
● Working from top to bottom, liber ally apply water to the vehicle
body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any
dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
● For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thor-
oughly with water.
● Wipe away any water.
● Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehicle
body is cool.

399
4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
■
Aluminum wheels
Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use hard
brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical cleaners.
Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.
■ Bumpers and side moldings
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
■ To prevent deteriorati on and body corrosion
● Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If you see coal tar or tree sap on the paint surface
• If you see dead insects or insect droppings on the paint
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust,
iron powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled in dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
● If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.
CAUTION
■Caution about the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe until it has cooled
sufficiently, as touching a hot exhaust pipe can cause burns.

407
4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
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 clear-
ance and correct amount of free
play?
Brakes • Not pull 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?
Parking brake • Moves smoothly?
• Can hold the vehicle securely on
an incline?
Seat belts • Does the seat belt system oper-
ate smoothly?
• Are the belts undamaged?
Seats • Do the seat controls operate
properly?
Steering wheel • Moves smoothly?
• Has correct free play?
• No strange noises?

408 4-2. Maintenance
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Door • Operate smoothly?
Engine hood • The lock system works properly?
Fluid leaks • Is there any leakage after park-
ing?
Tire • Inflation pressure is correct?
• Tire surfaces not worn or dam-
aged?
• Tires rotated according to the maintenance schedule?
• Wheel nuts are not loose?
CAUTION
■ If the engine is running
Turn the engine off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.

435
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must also be installed. Tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters can be installed in any of the following three ways:
● Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters can be removed
from the old wheels and installed on the new wheels.
● When replacing only the tire, the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter already installed on the wheel does not need to be
replaced.
● Replacing both a wheel and its tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are installed,
new tire pressure warning valve and transmitter ID codes must be regis-
tered in the computer and tire pressure warning system must be initial-
ized.
Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■ The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the fol-
lowing circumstances:
● When tire pressure warning valv es and transmitters are replaced.
● When driving with the tires inflated to a higher than standard tire
pressure.
When the tire pressure warning syst em is initialized, the current tire
pressure is set as the pressure benchmark.
■ How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
Park the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the engine.
While the vehicle is moving, in itialization is not performed.
Adjust the tire pressure to the specified pressure. (P. 534)
STEP1
STEP2

438 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■When the tire pressure warning valves and transmitter are removed
from the wheel on occasions such as when replacing tires
The tire inflation pressure data updated before servicing is retained.
■Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of
your routine of daily vehicle checks.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of the re placed 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. 443, 542).

439
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
■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 roads. 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. 224)
■Initializing the tire pressure warning system
Initialize the tires with the tire inflat ion pressure adjusted to the specified
level.

442 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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 Toyota dealer as the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter may be damaged if not handled cor-
rectly.
●When replacing tires, make sure also to replace the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter grommets.
■Do not use puncture sealant sprays to repair flats
Puncture sealant sprays may damage tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters.
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot-
holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing
the cushioning ability of the tires. In addition driving on rough roads may
cause damage to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle's wheels
and body.
■If tire inflation pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.