2009 TOYOTA AVALON Owners Manual

113
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
■
Booster seat
Place the booster seat on the
seat facing the front of the vehi-
cle.
Sit the child in the booster seat.
Fit the seat belt to the booster
seat according to the manufac-
turer’s instructions and insert the
plate into the buckle. Make sure
that the belt is not twisted.
Check that the shoulder belt is
correctly positioned over the
child’s shoulder, and that the lap
belt is as low as possible.
( P. 57)
Removing a child restraint installed with a seat belt
Push the buckle release button
and fully retract the seat belt.
STEP1
STEP2

114 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430U
Child restraint systems with a top tether strapSecure the child restraint using a
seat belt or LATCH anchors, and
lock the head restraint in place at
the lowest position.
Open the anchor bracket cover,
latch the hook onto the anchor
bracket and tighten the top tether
strap.
Make sure the top tether strap is
securely latched.
STEP1
STEP2
■Laws and regulations pertaining to anchorages
The LATCH system conforms to FMVSS225 or CMVSS210.2.
Child restraint systems conforming to FMVSS213 or CMVSS213 specifica-
tions can be used.
This vehicle is designed to conform to the SAE J1819.
CAUTION
■When installing a booster seat
Do not fully extend the shoulder belt to prevent the belt from going to ALR
lock mode: ( P. 59)
ALR mode causes the belt to tighten only which could cause injury or dis-
comfort to the child.

115
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
CAUTION
■
When installing a child restraint system
Follow the directions given in the child restraint system installation manual
and fix the child restraint system securely in place.
If the child restraint system is not correctly fixed in place, the child or other
passengers may be injured or even killed in the event of sudden braking or
an accident.
● When a booster seat is installed, always ensure that the shoulder belt is
positioned across the center of the child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from the child’s neck, but not so that it could fall off the child’s
shoulder. Failing to do so may result in death or serious injury in the event
of an accident or sudden braking.
● Ensure that the belt and tab are securely locked and the seat belt is not
twisted.
●If the driver’s seat interferes with the
child restraint system and prevents it
from being attached correctly, attach
the child restraint system to the right-
hand rear seat.
● Only put a forward-facing child seat on
the front seat when unavoidable. When
installing a forward-facing child restraint
on the front passenger seat, move the
seat as far back as possible even if
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illumi-
nated. Failing to do so may result in
death or serious injury if the airbags
deploy (inflate).

116 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430U
CAUTION
■When installing a child restraint system
● Push and pull the child restraint system from side to side and forward to be
sure it is secure.
● After securing a child restraint system, never adjust the seat.
● Follow all installation instructions provided by the child restraint system
manufacturer.
■ Do not use a seat belt extender
If a seat belt extender is used when installing a child restraint system, the
seat belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause
death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of a colli-
sion.
■ To correctly attach a child r estraint system to the anchors
When using the LATCH anchors, be sure that there are no foreign objects
around the anchors and that the seat belt is not caught behind the child seat.
Make sure the child restraint system is securely attached, or it may cause
death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of a sud-
den stop or accident.

When driving2
117
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2-1. Driving procedures ........ 118Driving the vehicle............ 118
Engine (ignition) switch (with smart key
system) .......................... 127
Engine (ignition) switch (without smart key
system) .......................... 131
Automatic transmission .... 134
Turn signal lever .............. 138
Parking brake ................... 139
Horn ................................. 140 2-2. Instrument cluster.......... 141
Gauges and meters ......... 141
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 144
Center display .................. 147
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers ........ 149
Headlight switch ............... 149
Fog light switch ................ 152
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 153
2-4. Using other driving systems ........................ 158
Cruise control ................... 158
Dynamic laser cruise control ............................ 161
Driving assist systems ..... 174
2-5. Driving information ........ 177 Cargo and luggage .......... 177
Vehicle load limits ............ 180
Winter driving tips ............ 181
Trailer towing ................... 186
Dinghy towing .................. 187

118
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2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle
Starting on a steep inclineFirmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to “D”.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driv-
ing.
■ Starting the engine
P. 127, 131
■ Driving
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to “D”. ( P. 134)
Release the parking brake. ( P. 139)
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently push the
accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■ Stopping
With the shift lever in “D”, push 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”. (
P. 134)
■Parking the vehicle
With the shift lever in “D”, push the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake. ( P. 139)
Shift the shift lever to “P”. ( P. 134)
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
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

119
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
■
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 1000 miles (1600 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.
■ Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P. 424)

120 2-1. Driving procedures
AVALON_U_OM41430U
CAUTION
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine run-
ning. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■ When driving the vehicle
● Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident
that could result in death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi- culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly, allowing you to depress the brake and accelerator
pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
● Do not drive the vehicle over or st op the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. This may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
● Do not let the vehicle roll backwards while the shift lever is in a driving
position, or roll forward while the shift lever is in “R”.
Doing so may cause the engine not to operate or lead to poor brake and
steering performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.\
● If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check that the trunk is closed.
Large amounts of exhaust in the vehicle can cause driver drowsiness and
an accident, resulting in death or a serious health hazard. Have the cause
of the problem inspected immediately.
● 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 and may result
in a loss of vehicle control.