
88 1-7. 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 driver airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of infla-
tion, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) fr om 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.

When driving2
115
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 116
Engine (ignition) switch .... 125
Automatic
Transmission.... 128
Manual Transmission ....... 130
Turn signal lever .............. 131
Parking brake ................... 132
Horn ................................. 134
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 135
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 141
2-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ............... 145
Fog light switch ................ 147
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 148
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 151
2-4. Using other driving systems Cruise control ................... 152
Driving assist systems ..... 155 2-5. Driving information
Cargo and luggage .......... 157
Vehicle load limits ............ 160
Winter driving tips ............ 161
Trailer towing (except Canada) ............ 164
Trailer towing (Canada) ... 165
Dinghy towing (vehicles with an automatic
transmission) ................. 173
Dinghy towing (vehicles with a manual
transmission) ................. 174

119
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
When starting the vehicle
Vehicles with an automatic transmission, always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from
creeping.
■ When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the clutch, brake and
accelerator 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.
● Vehicles with an automatic transmission, do not let the vehicle roll back-
wards 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 to stall 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 back door is closed. Large amounts of exhaust in the vehi-
cle can cause driver drowsiness and an accident, resulting in death or a
serious health hazard. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
● Do not under any circumstances shift the shift lever to P, R or N (automatic
transmission) or R (manual transmission) while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can cause significant damage to the transmission system and
may result in a loss of vehicle control.

120 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not shift the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause the engine brake to not operate properly and lead to
an accident.
● Do not turn the engine off while driving.
The power steering and brake booster systems will not operate properly if
the engine is not running.
● Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( P. 128,130)
● When stopped on an inclined surface, use the brake pedal and parking
brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or forward and causing
an accident.
● Do not adjust the position of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or
outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control that can cause accidents
that may result in death or serious injury.
● Always check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their bod-
ies are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
● Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire
failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer
to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
● Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-
shifting or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.

121
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
When driving on slippery road surfaces
●After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in
an accident.
■ When shifting the shift lever
Vehicles with an automatic transmission, be careful not to shift the shift lever
with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
■ When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P (automatic transmission only) or
N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, and may cause
an accident.
● Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space
and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
● Vehicles with an automatic transmission, always keep a foot on the brake
pedal while the engine is running to prevent an accident caused by the
vehicle moving.
■ When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following.
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a
fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of eye glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehi-
cle's electrical components.

124 2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for a
long time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
● When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
■ If you hear a squealing or scrapin g noise while driving (brake pad wear
limit indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon
as possible.
The rotor damage can result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads
and/or that of the brake discs are exceeded.
■ If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
● The vehicle will make abnormal sounds.
● The vehicle will behave abnormally.
Replace a flat tire with a new one. ( P. 320)
■ When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle.
●Engine stalling
● Short in electrical components
● Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be
sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following.
● Brake function
● Changes in quantity and quality of eng ine oil, transaxle fluid, etc.
● Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possi-
ble) and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

139
2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
Vehicles without tachometer
Odometer
Trip meter A*
Trip meter B
*
*:Pushing and holding the buttonwill reset the trip meter.
Instrument panel light control
The brightness of the instrument panel lights can be adjusted.
Brighter
Darker
With the dial turned fully up, the
intensity of the instrument panel
lights will not be reduced even
when the tail lights/headlights are
turned on.

143
2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
■
Indicators
The indicators inform the driver of the operating state of the
vehicle’s various systems.
Turn signal indicator
(P. 131)
(vehicles with
tachometer)
Low fuel level indicator
Remaining fuel
•Flash (Approximately 1.6 gal.
[6.3 L, 1.3 lmp.gal.] or
less)
• Fast flash (Approximately 1.1 gal.
[4.2 L, 0.9 lmp.gal.] or
less)
Headlight high beam
indicator ( P. 145)
(vehicles
without
tachometer)
(except
Canada)
Headlight indicator
( P. 145)
(if equipped)
Cruise control main
indicator ( P. 152)
(Canada)
Tail light indicator
(P. 145)
(if equipped)
Cruise control set
indicator ( P. 152)
(if equipped)
Front fog light indicator
(P. 147)AIR BAG ON indicator
( P. 93)
(Automatic transmission vehicles)
Shift position and shift range indica-
tors ( P. 128)
AIR BAG OFF indicator
(P. 93)
Low engine coolant
temperature indicator
Indicates the engine
coolant temperature is
cool.