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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle............... 138
Engine (ignition) switch
(with smart key
system) ............................. 149
Engine (ignition) switch
(without smart key
system) ............................. 153
Automatic transmission ....... 156
Turn signal lever ................. 161
Parking brake ...................... 162
Horn .................................... 163
2-2. Instrument cluster
Gauges and meters ............ 164
Indicators and warning
lights ................................. 167
Multi-information display ..... 170
2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers
Headlight switch .................. 173
Fog light switch ................... 176
Windshield wipers and
washer .............................. 1772-4. Using other driving systems
Cruise control ..................... 182
Rear view monitor
system .............................. 186
Driving assist systems ........ 195
2-5. Driving information
Cargo and luggage ............. 200
Vehicle load limits............... 205
Winter driving tips ............... 207
Trailer towing ...................... 212
Dinghy towing ..................... 213
2When driving
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AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Pictorial indexInstrument panel
Headlight switch
Turn signal lever
Fog light switch P. 173
P. 161
P. 176
Gauges and meters P. 164
Windshield wipers and
washer switch
P. 177
Glove box P. 338
Telescopic lock release
lever
P. 73
Parking brake pedal
P. 162
Tilt lock release lever P. 73
Driving position
memory switches
P. 58
Tire pressure warning reset switch
(hidden under panel)
P. 410
Horn P. 163
Page 137 of 564

When driving2
137
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle............ 138
Engine (ignition) switch
(with smart key
system) .......................... 149
Engine (ignition) switch
(without smart key
system) .......................... 153
Automatic
transmission................... 156
Turn signal lever .............. 161
Parking brake ................... 162
Horn ................................. 1632-2. Instrument cluster
Gauges and meters ......... 164
Indicators and warning
lights .............................. 167
Multi-information
display............................ 170
2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers
Headlight switch ............... 173
Fog light switch ................ 176
Windshield wipers and
washer ........................... 177
2-4. Using other driving systems
Cruise control ................... 182
Rear view monitor
system ........................... 186
Driving assist systems ..... 195
2-5. Driving information
Cargo and luggage .......... 200
Vehicle load limits ............ 205
Winter driving tips ............ 207
Trailer towing ................... 212
Dinghy towing .................. 213
Page 140 of 564

140 2-1. Driving procedures
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine run-
ning. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator 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 stop 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.
●Do not let the vehicle roll backwards 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 not to operate or lead to poor brake and
steering performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
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142 2-1. Driving procedures
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■When driving the vehicle
●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.
●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.
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144 2-1. Driving procedures
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■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.
Failure to do 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.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to “P”, stop the engine
and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the engine is running or immediately
after turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
●Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build up, or where it
is snowing, or snow is expected to fall.
Exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to death or a
serious health hazard.
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174 2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Turning on the high beam headlights
With the headlights on, push
the lever forward to turn on the
high beams.
Pull the lever back to the center
position to turn the high beams
off.
Pull the lever toward you to
turn on the high beams.
Release to turn them off. You can
flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, the headlights turn on
automatically (at a reduced intensity) whenever the engine is started and
the parking brake is released. Daytime running lights are not designed for
use at night.
●Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system
offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help
improve fuel economy.
■Headlight control sensor
The sensor may not function properly if
an object is placed on the sensor, or any-
thing that blocks the sensor is affixed to
the windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor
detecting the level of ambient light and
may cause the automatic headlight con-
trol system to malfunction.
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195
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Driving assist systems
When the VSC/TRAC/TRC are operating
If the vehicle is in danger of slip-
ping, or if the front wheels spin,
the slip indicator light flashes to
indicate that the VSC/TRAC/
TRC have been engaged.
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following sys-
tems operate automatically in response to various driving situations.
Be aware, however, that these systems are supplementary and
should not be relied upon too heavily when operating the vehicle.
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if
the brakes are applied while driving on a slippery road surface.
■Brake assist
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed, when the system detects a panic stop situation.
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning
on slippery road surfaces.
■TRAC*1/TRC*2 (Traction Control)
Maintains drive power and prevents the front wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads.
*1: U.S.A.
*2:CANADA