2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER parking brake

TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex
2
1-1. Key information .................. 30Keys ..................................... 30
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors ............. 32
Smart key system................. 32
Wireless remote control ....... 53
Side doors ............................ 64
Back door ............................. 68
Glass hatch .......................... 73
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors,
steering wheel) ................. 75
Front seats ........................... 75
Rear seats ............................ 78
Head restraints ..................... 87
Seat belts ............................. 90
Steering wheel ..................... 96
Anti-glare inside rear view mirror .................................. 97
Outside rear view mirrors ..... 99
1-4. Opening and closing the windows and
moon roof ....................... 101
Power windows .................. 101
Moon roof ........................... 103
1-5. Refueling ........................... 106 Opening the fuel tank cap ................................... 106 1-6. Theft deterrent
system ............................. 110
Engine immobilizer system .............................. 110
Alarm .................................. 116
Theft prevention labels (U.S.A.)............................. 119
1-7. Safety information ............ 120 Correct driving posture ....... 120
SRS airbags ....................... 122
Front passenger occupant classification system ......... 134
Child restraint systems ....... 140
Installing child restraints ..... 144
2-1. Driving procedures........... 156 Driving 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
1Before driving
2When driving

16
Rear view monitor system 
Multi-information display

Clock

P. 203
P. 183
P. 373
Gauges and
meters
P. 177
Tilt and telescopic steering lock release
lever
P. 96
Glove box P. 359
Pictorial indexInstrument panel
Power back door
main switch

P. 68
VSC/TRAC off switch P. 210
Tire pressure warning reset switch P. 433
Parking brake pedal P. 176
Hood lock release lever P. 414
Auxiliary box P. 367
“ENGINE START STOP” switch
(vehicles with smart key system)
P. 164
Fog light switch 
Headlight switch
Turn signal lever P. 196
P. 192
P. 175
Windshield wipers and
washer switch
Rear window wiper and
washer switch
P. 197
P. 199

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

156
2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driv-
ing.
■ Starting the engine
P. 165, 168
■ Driving
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( P. 171)
Release the parking brake. ( P. 176)
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the
accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■ Stopping
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
When the vehicle is stopped for an extended period of time, shift
the shift lever to P or N. ( P. 171)
■Parking the vehicle
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake. ( P. 176)
Shift the shift lever to P. ( P. 171)
When parking on a hill, if necessary, block the wheels.
Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch or the engine
switch OFF and stop the engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the key on your
person.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP1
STEP2
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5

157
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Starting on a steep uphill
Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially slippery.
● Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road
surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended
to observe:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
● For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in the low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■ Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system.
This type of brake system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodi-
cally or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drums are replaced.
Have your Toyota dealer perform the bedding-down.
■ Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P. 528)
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

159
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
●
Do not under any circumstances shift the shift lever to P, R or N while the
vehicle is moving.
Doing so can cause significant damage to the transmission system and
may result in a loss of vehicle control.
● Do not shift the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause the engine brake to not operate properly and lead to
an accident.
● Do not turn the engine off while driving.
The power steering and brake booster systems will not operate properly if
the engine is not running.
● Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( P. 171)
● When stopped on an inclined surface, use the brake pedal and parking
brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or forward and causing
an accident.
● Do not adjust the position of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or
outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control that can cause accidents
that may result in death or serious injury.
● Always check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their bod-
ies are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
● Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire
failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer
to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.

161
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
●
Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the engine
and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
● Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the engine is running or immediately
after turning the engine OFF.
Doing so may cause burns.
● Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it
is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is
running, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. This may lead
to death or a serious health hazard.
■ Exhaust gases
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO) that is colorless and
odorless. Inhaling exhaust gases may lead to death or a serious health haz-
ard.
●If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area, stop the engine. In a closed
area, such as a garage, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle.
This may lead to death or a serious health hazard.
● The exhaust should be checked occasionally. If there is a hole or crack
caused by corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise, be
sure to have the vehicle inspected and repaired by your Toyota dealer.
Failure to do so may allow exhaust gases to enter the vehicle, resulting in
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, you may accidentally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal, which could cause an accident or fire
due to engine overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leadin\
g to
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking the vehicle
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and may cause one
side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also the parking
brake may not securely hold the vehicle.

163
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
NOTICE
■
When driving the vehicle
Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress accelerator and brake pedals
together to hold the vehicle on a hill.
■ When parking the vehicle
Always put the shift lever in P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to
move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed.
■ Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for a
long time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
● When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
■ When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle.
●Engine stalling
● Short in electrical components
● Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be
sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following.
● Brake function
● Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, tran-
saxle, transfer (4WD models), differential, etc.
● Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft (4WD models), bearings and
suspension joints (where possible) and the function of all joints, bearings,
etc.