2011 TOYOTA AVALON brakes

139 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Starting on a steep incline
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 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 1000 miles (1600 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.
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. (P. 510)

141 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■When driving the vehicle
●If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check that the trunk is closed.
Large amounts of exhaust in the vehicle can cause driver drowsiness and
an accident, resulting in death or a serious health hazard. Have the cause
of the problem inspected immediately.
●Do not under any circumstances shift the shift lever to “P”, “R” or “N” while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can cause significant damage to the transmission and may result
in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to “N” while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause the engine brake not to operate properly and lead to
an accident.
●Do not turn the engine off while driving.
The power steering and brake booster 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. 158)
●Be careful when driving on slippery surfaces, as the vehicle may spin or
skid when downshifting, rapidly accelerating, braking or turning.

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.

146 2-1. Driving procedures
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■When braking the vehicle
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and may cause one
side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also the parking
brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
●If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other
vehicles closely and avoid downhill or sharp turns that require making.
In this case, braking is still possible, but it will require more force on the
pedal than usual. Braking distance may also increase.
●Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
●The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems: if one of the
systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and braking distance
becomes longer.
Do not drive your vehicle with only a single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
NOTICE
■While driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during
driving. If the brake pedal is depressed while driving with the accelerator
pedal depressed, driving torque may be restrained.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress accelerator and brake pedals
at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.

184 2-4. Using other driving systems
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in the “D” or range “4” or higher of “S” has been
selected.
●Vehicle speed is above approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
■Accelerating
The vehicle can be accelerated normally. After acceleration, the set speed
resumes.
■Canceling and resuming regular acceleration
Pulling the lever toward you
cancels the constant speed
control.
The speed setting is also can-
celed when the brakes are
applied.
Pushing the lever up
resumes the constant
speed control.
Resuming is available when
the vehicle speed is more than
approximately 25 mph (40
km/h).

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

208 2-5. Driving information
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Before driving the vehicle
Perform the following according to the driving conditions.
●Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is
frozen. Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice.
Wipe away the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.
●To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan,
remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents
in front of the windshield.
●Remove any ice that has accumulated on the vehicle chassis.
●Periodically check for and remove any excess ice or snow
that may have accumulated in the wheel well or on the
brakes.
■When driving the vehicle
Accelerate the vehicle slowly and drive at a reduced speed suit-
able to road conditions.
■When parking the vehicle
Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to “P” without setting
the parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing
it from being released. If necessary block the wheels to prevent
inadvertent sliding or creeping.

384 4-2. Maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal• Moves smoothly (without uneven pedal
effort or catching)?
Automatic transmission
“Park” mechanism• Can the vehicle be hold securely on an
incline with the shift lever in “P”?
Brake pedal• Moves smoothly?
• Does it have appropriate clearance and
correct amount of free play?
Brakes• Pulls to one side when applied?
• Loss of brake effectiveness?
• Spongy feeling brake pedal?
• Pedal almost touches floor?
Head restraints • Move smoothly and lock securely?
Indicators/buzzers • Function properly?
Lights• Do all the lights come on?
• Headlights aimed correctly? (P. 441)
Parking brake• Moves smoothly?
• Can hold the vehicle securely on an
incline?
Seat belts• Does the seat belt system operate
smoothly?
• Are the belts undamaged?
Seats • Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel• Moves smoothly?
• Has correct free play?
• No strange noises?