2012 TOYOTA AVALON Owners Manual

4
Maintenance and care
433
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■Proper inflation is critical
to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions
may occur and result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resu lting from overheated tires
●Poor sealing of the tire bead
●Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
●A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or mo isture could get into the valve and
cause air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps have
been lost, replace them as soon as possible.

434
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be
replaced.
Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause loss of
handling control.
■Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that
they are equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter,
rim width, and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at your Toyota dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Toyota does not recommend using:
● Wheels of different sizes or types
● Used wheels
● Bent wheels that have been straightened
■ Aluminum wheel precautions
●Use only Toyota wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use
with your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
● Use only Toyota genuine balance weights or equivalent and a
plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

4
Maintenance and care
435
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your Toyota are equipped with tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters that allow the tire pressure warning system to
provide advanced warning in the event of a loss in tire inflation pressure.
Whenever wheels are replaced, the tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must be installed. (
P. 422)
CAUTION
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in
the Owner’s Manual, as this may re sult in loss of handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a
tubeless tire. Doing so may result in an accident, causing death or seri-
ous injury.
■ When installing the wheel nuts
●Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the wheel nuts to be excessively tightened,
leading to bolt or disc wheel damage. In addition, the oil or grease can
cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the wheel may fall off, causing an acci-
dent and resulting in death or serious injury. Remove any oil or grease
from the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
● Be sure to install the wheel nuts with
the tapered end facing inward. Install-
ing the nuts with the tapered end facing
outward can cause wheel to break and
eventually cause a wheel to come off
while driving, which could lead to an
accident resulting in death or serious
injury.Ta p e r e d
portion

436 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by your
Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop. In addition, make sure to
purchase your tire pressure warning valves and transmitters at your
Toyota dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine Toyota wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly
with non-genuine wheels.

437
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Air conditioning filter
The air conditioning filter must be changed regularly to maintain air
conditioning efficiency.
■ Removal method
Set the air conditioning system to recirculated mode.
The air conditioning filter case cannot be removed with the sys-
tem in the outside air mode.
Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch or the engine
switch OFF.
Open the glove box. Remove
the screw with a Phillips-head
screwdriver and slide off the
damper.
Push in each side of the glove
box to disconnect the claws.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

438 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Remove the filter cover while
pushing in both ends of the
cover.
Pull the filter out of the filter
outlet.STEP5
STEP6

4
Maintenance and care
439
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■
Checking interval
Inspect and replace the air conditioning filter according to the maintenance
schedule. In dusty areas or areas with heavy traffic flow, early replacement
may be required. (For scheduled maintenance information, refer to the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
■ If air flow from the vents decreases dramatically
The filter may be clogged. Check the filter and replace if necessary.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the system
When using the air conditioning system, make sure that a filter is always
installed.
■ Replacement method
Remove the air conditioning
filter from the filter case and
replace it with a new one.
The “UP” marks shown on
the filter and the filter case
should be pointing up.

440
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Key batter y
Replace the battery with a new one if it is discharged.
■You will need the following items:
●Flathead screwdriver (To prevent damage to the key, cover
the tip of the screwdriver with rag.)
● Small Phillips-hea d screwdriver
● Lithium battery CR1632 (vehicles with smart key system),
CR2016 (vehicles withou t smart key system)
■ Replacing the battery (vehicles with smart key system)
Take out the mechanical key.
Remove the cover.
STEP1
STEP2