2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER tow

88 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
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

89
1-3. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
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. 386)
■ 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

91
1
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
Head restraints
■Adjusting the head restraints
Front seats
Vertical adjustment
Up
Pull the head restraints up.
Down
Push the head restraint down
while pushing the lock release
button.
Angle adjustment (if equipped)
Second seats Up
Pull the head restraints 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 button

98 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
CAUTION
●Do not recline the seat any more than necessary to achieve a proper seat-
ing position. The seat belt is most effective when the occupants are sitting
up straight and well back in the seats.
● Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm.
● Always wear your seat belt low and snug across your hips.
■ Adjustable shoulder anchor
Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned across the center of your
shoulder. The belt should be kept away from your neck, but not falling off
your shoulder. Failure to do so could reduce the amount of protection in an
accident and cause death or serious injuries in a collision. ( →P. 95)
■ 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.

135
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
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.

137
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
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
163
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 164
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart
key system).................... 173
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart
key system).................... 177
Automatic Transmission ................. 180
Turn signal lever .............. 185
Parking brake ................... 186
Horn ................................. 187
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 188
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 190
Multi-information display............................ 194 2-3. Operating the lights and
wipers
Headlight switch ............... 203
Fog light switch ................ 207
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 208
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 210
2-4. Using other driving systems Cruise control ................... 211
Rear view monitor system (vehicles with multi-
information display) ........ 214
Driving assist systems ..... 218
Hill-start assist control ...... 223
Downhill assist control system
(4WD models
only)......... 225
2-5. Driving information Off-road precautions ........ 228
Cargo and luggage .......... 233
Vehicle load limits ............ 237
Winter driving tips ............ 238
Trailer towing ................... 242
Dinghy towing .................. 252

165
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.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3