2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID tow

95
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
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 securely locked in position and
close the console box door.STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

96 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
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. 384)
■ 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

98
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Head restraints
■Adjusting the head restraints
Front seats
Vertical adjustment
Up
Down
Push the head restraint down
while pushing the lock release
button.
Angle adjustment
Second seats Up
Down
Push the head restraint down
while pushing the lock release
button.
When using the center seat,
raise the head restraint from
the stowed position.
Lock release button
Lock release buttons

106 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
CAUTION
■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.
■ Child restraint lock function belt precaution
Do not allow children to play with the child restraint lock function belt. If the
belt becomes twisted around a child’s neck, it will not be possible to pull the
belt out leading to choking or other serious injuries that could result in death.
If this occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be used
to cut the belt.
■ Seat belt damage and wear
●Do not damage the seat belts by allowing the belt, plate, or buckle to be
jammed in the door.
● Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Do not use a damaged seat belt until it is replaced. Damaged seat
belts cannot protect an occupant from death or serious injury.
● Ensure that the belt and tab are locked and the belt is not twisted.
If the seat belt does not function correctly, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer.
● Replace the seat assembly, including the belts, if your vehicle has been
involved in a serious accident, even if there is no obvious damage.
● Do not attempt to install, remove, modify, disassemble or dispose of the
seat belts. Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Toyota dealer.
Inappropriate handling of the pretensioner may prevent it from operating
properly resulting in death or serious injury.

140 1-8. Safety information
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.

142 1-8. Safety information
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do not sit on the edge of the seat or
lean against the dashboard.
● Do not allow a child to stand in front of
the SRS front passenger airbag unit or
sit on the knees of a front passenger.
● 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
167
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 168
Power (ignition) switch ............................. 178
EV-Drive Mode................. 182
Transmission..................... 184
Turn signal lever .............. 186
Parking brake ................... 187
Horn ................................. 188
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 189
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 191
Multi-information display............................ 195
2-3.
Operating the lights and
wipers
Headlight swi

tch ............... 205
Fog light switch ................ 209
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 210
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 212 2-4. Using other drivin
g
s

ystems
Cruise control ................... 213
Rear view monitor system ........................... 216
Driving assist systems ..... 220
Hill-start assist control ...... 224
2-5. Driving information Utility vehicle precautions .................... 226
Cargo and luggage .......... 231
Vehicle load limits ............ 235
Winter driving tips ............ 236
Trailer towing ................... 240
Dinghy towing .................. 250

169
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 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
● 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.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3