2009 TOYOTA AVALON steering

66 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, steering wheel, mirrors)
AVALON_U_OM41430U
■To prevent sensor error (vehicles with auto anti-glare inside rear view
mirror)
CAUTION
■ While driving
Do not adjust the position of the mirror.
Doing so may lead to mishandling of the vehicle and an accident, or result-
ing in death or serious injury.
To ensure correct functioning of the sen-
sors, do not touch or cover the sensors.

67
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1-3. Adjustable components (seats, steering wheel, mirrors)
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
Outside rear view mirrors
■The outside rear view mirr ors can be operated when
Vehicles with smart key system
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in the ACCESSORY or IGNITION
ON mode.
Vehicles without smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ACC” or “ON” position.
■ When the mirrors are fogged up (veh icles with outside rear view mirror
defoggers)
Turn on the mirror heaters to defog the mirrors. (P. 200)
Mirror angle can be adju sted using the switch.
Select a mirror to adjust.
Left
Right
Adjust the mirror. Up
Right
Down
LeftSTEP1
STEP2

68 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, steering wheel, mirrors)
AVALON_U_OM41430U
■Auto anti-glare function (vehicles with auto anti-glare inside rear view
mirror)
When the anti-glare inside rear view mirror is set to auto mode, the outside
rear view mirrors will activate in conjunction with the anti-glare inside rear
view mirror to reduce reflected light. ( P. 65)
■ One touch power adjustment
You can store and recall power adjustments such as the driver’s seat and
the outside rear view mirrors. ( P. 51)
CAUTION
■While driving
Observe the following precautions.
Failing to do so may result in losing control of the vehicle and cause an acci-
dent, resulting in death or serious injury.
● Do not adjust the mirrors.
● Before driving, be sure to make an adjustment of the driver and passenger
side mirrors properly.
● Do not drive with the mirrors folded.
■ When the mirror heaters are operating (if equipped)
Do not touch the mirror surface as the mirror surface becomes hot.
NOTICE
■If ice should jam the mirror
Do not operate the control or scrape the mirror face. Use a spray de-icer to
free the mirror.

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1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
1-7. Safety information
Correct driving posture
Drive with a good posture as follows:
Sit upright and well back in
the seat.
Adjust the position of the
seat forward or backward to
ensure the pedals can be
reached and easily
depressed to the extent
required. (P. 46)
Adjust the seatback so that
the controls are easily oper-
able.
Adjust the tilt and telescopic
positions of the steering
wheel downward so the air-
bag is facing your chest.
(  P. 64)
Lock the head restraint in
place with the center of the
head restraint closest to the
top of your ears. ( P. 55)
Wear the seat belt correctly.
(  P. 57)

87
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
Your vehicle is equipped with “ADVANCED AIRBAGS” designed
based on US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The air-
bag system controls air
bag deployment power for the driver and front
passenger. The driver airbag system consists of the driver seat’s
position sensor etc. The front pass enger’s airbag system consists of
the front passenger occupant classification sensor etc.
In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag sys-
tem triggers the airbag inflators. A chemical reaction in the inflators
quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help rest rain the motion
of the occupants.
■ If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
● Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying
(inflating) SRS airbag.
● A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
● Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator)
as well as the seats, and parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side
rail, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
● The windshield may crack.

90 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430U
■When to contact your Toyota dealer
In the following cases, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible. Do
not disconnect the battery cables before contacting your Toyota dealer.
● Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
●The front of the vehicle is damaged or
deformed, or was involved in an acci-
dent that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS airbags to inflate.
● A portion of the doors is damaged or
deformed, or the vehicle was involved
in an accident that was not severe
enough to cause the SRS side airbags
and curtain shield airbags to inflate.
● The pad section of the steering wheel,
front passenger airbag cover or lower
portion of the instrument panel is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
● The surface of the seats with the side
airbag is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged.
● The portion of the front pillars, rear pil-
lars or roof side rail garnishes (padding)
containing the curtain shield airbags is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.

91
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
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 driver 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 cen-
ter 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 the
pedals 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, simply 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.

94 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430U
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
● Do not attach anything to or lean any-
thing against areas such as the dash-
board, steering wheel pad or lower
portion of the instrument panel. These
items can become projectiles when
SRS driver, front passenger and knee
airbags deploy.
● Do not attach anything to areas such as
the door, windshield glass, side door
glass, front and rear pillars, roof side
rail or assist grip.
● Do not hang coat hangers or other hard
objects on the coat hooks. All of these
items could become projectiles and
seriously injure or kill you, should the
SRS curtain shield airbag deploy.
● Vehicles without smart key system: Do
not attach any heavy, sharp or hard
objects such as keys or accessories to
the key. The objects may restrict the
SRS knee airbag inflation or be thrust
into the driver’s seat area by the force
of the deploying airbag, thus causing a
danger.