2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID light

244 2-5. Driving information
HitchTrailer hitch assemblies have diff erent weight capacities established
by the hitch manufacturer. Even th ough the vehicle may be rated for
towing a higher weight, the operator must never exceed the maxi-
mum weight rating specified for the trailer hitch.
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. The 3 main
causes of vehicle-trailer accident s are driver error, excessive speed
and improper trailer loading. Keep the following in mind when towing.
● Before starting out, check the trailer lights and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle.
● Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the traile r to the left. Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least o ne vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak-
ing turns.

246 2-5. Driving information
●When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in the P position, start the hybrid sys-
tem. Be sure to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into D or the R position (if reversing).
Release the parking brake and brake pedal and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
■ Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●The vehicle's tires are properly inflated. ( →P. 547)
● Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer's recom-
mendation.
● All trailer lights work.
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded trailer is hitched.
Do not drive if the vehicle is not level, and check for improper tongue
load, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
● The rear view mirrors conform to al l applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.
■ Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components
(such as an engine, transmission, differential and wheel bearing), Toyota
recommends that you do not tow a trailer until it has been driven for over 500
miles (800 km).
However, avoid full throttle acceleration.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

248 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■Hitches
●If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Toyota dealer.
● Use only a hitch that conforms to the gross trailer weight requirement.
● The towing capacity of 3500 lb. (1500 kg) can only be guaranteed when
using a genuine Toyota hitch assembly or equivalent.
● Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
● Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.
● Remove the trailer hitch whenever you are not towing a trailer. After
removing the hitch, seal any mounting hole in the vehicle body to prevent
entry of any substances into the vehicle.
■ When towing a trailer
●If the gross trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb. (453 kg), trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap into your vehicle's hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle's braking effectiveness.
● Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both
the trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.

249
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
NOTICE
■
When installing a trailer hitch
●Use only the position recommended by your Toyota dealer. Do not install
the trailer hitch on the bumper as this may cause body damage.
● Do not use axle-mounted hitches, as they can cause damage to the axle
housing, wheel bearings, wheels or tires.
■ Safety chain
A safety chain must always be used between the towing vehicle and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns. The chain should cross
under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground in
the case that it becomes damaged or separated. For the correct safety chain
installation procedure, ask your Toyota dealer.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle's electrical system
and cause a malfunction.

Interior features3
253
3-4. Using the hands-free phone system
(for cellular phone)
Hands-free phone system (for cellular phone)
features .......................... 338
Using the hands-free phone system ................ 342
Making a phone call ......... 350
Setting a cellular phone ............................. 354
Security and system setup .............................. 359
Using the phone book ...... 362
3-5. Using the interior lights Interior lights list ............... 369
• Personal/interior light main switch ..................... 370
• Personal/interior lights .... 370
• Interior light ..................... 371 3-6. Using the storage features
List of storage features .......................... 372
• Glove box........................ 373
• Console box .................... 374
• Overhead console ........... 375
• Cup holders .................... 376
• Bottle holders .................. 380
• Auxiliary boxes................ 381
• Side table ........................ 384
3-7. Other interior features Sun visors ........................ 386
Vanity mirrors ................... 387
Conversation mirror ......... 388
Power outlet ..................... 389
Seat heaters..................... 392
Armrests........................... 394
Floor mat .......................... 395
Luggage compartment features .......................... 396
Garage door opener......... 402
Compass .......................... 407

275
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
3
Interior features
Rear window and outside rear view mirror defoggers
Clear the rear window using the defogger.
Vehicles with manual air conditioning system
On/off
Press the button to turn on the
rear window defogger. The
indicator light will come on.
The defoggers will automati-
cally turn off after 15 to 60 min-
utes. The operation time
changes according to the
ambient temperature and vehi-
cle speed. Pressing the button
again also turns the defogger
off.
Vehicles without outside rear view mirror defoggers
Vehicles with outside rear view mirror defoggers
Vehicles with automatic air conditioning systemOn/off
Press the button to turn on the
rear window defogger. The
indicator light will come on.
The defoggers will automati-
cally turn off after 15 to 60 min-
utes. The operation time
changes according to the
ambient temperature and vehi-
cle speed. Pressing the button
again also turns the defogger
off.

277
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
3
Interior features
Windshield wiper de-icer∗
■The de-icer can be operated when
The “POWER” switch is in ON mode.
CAUTION
■When the windshield wiper de-icer is on
Do not touch the glass at the lower part of the windshield or to the side of the
front pillars as the surfaces can become very hot and burn you.
This feature is used to prevent ice from building up on the wind-
shield and wiper blades.
On/off
Press the button to turn on the
windshield wiper de-icer. The
indicator light will come on.
The windshield wiper de-icer
will automatically turn off after
approximately 15 minutes.
∗: If equipped

294 3-2. Using the audio system
NOTICE
■CD player precautions
Failure to follow the precautions below may result in serious damage to the
CDs or the player itself.
●Do not insert anything other than CDs into the CD slot.
● Do not apply oil to the CD player.
● Store CDs away from direct sunlight.
● Never try to disassemble any part of the CD player.
●Do not insert more than one CD at a
time.