
9
Tire
●Rotation
● Replacement
● Inflation pressure
● Information
P. 421
P. 491
P. 526
P. 532
Tail lights P. 178
Side marker light P. 178
Trunk P. 54
Rear window defogger P. 237
Door P. 47
Fuel filler door P. 92
Turn signal light P. 166
: If equipped
Back-up light
Tail/stop light
P. 178

386
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
■Automatic car washes
●Fold the mirrors back before washing the vehicle.
● Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface
and harm your vehicle’s paint.
■ High pressure car washes
Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity \
of
the windows. Before car wash, check that the fuel filler door is closed.\
■ Aluminum wheels
●Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use
hard brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical
cleaners. Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.
● Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after
driving for long distance in the hot weather.
● Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use.
■ Bumpers and side moldings
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in prime
condition.
● Working from top to bottom, liber ally apply water to the vehicle
body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any
dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a cham-
ois.
● For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thor-
oughly with water.
● Wipe away any water.
● Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehicle
body is cool.

432 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
.
■Tire inflation pressure check interval
You should check tire inflation pressure every two weeks, or at least
once a month.
Do not forget to check the spare.
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure ma y result in the following:
●Reduced fuel efficiency
●Reduced driving comfort and tire life
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent re filling, have it checked by your Toyota dealer.
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours and has not been
driven for more than 1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold
tire inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be mi sleading. In addition, tire infla-
tion pressures that are even just a few pounds off can degrade ride
and handling.
●Do not bleed or reduce tire inflation pressure after driving. It is normal
for the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle
is balanced.
![TOYOTA AVALON 2012 XX40 / 4.G Owners Manual 482 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Low fuel level warning
light Remaining fuel
(Approximately 2.6 gal. [10
L, 2.2 Imp.gal.] or less) Refuel TOYOTA AVALON 2012 XX40 / 4.G Owners Manual 482 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Low fuel level warning
light Remaining fuel
(Approximately 2.6 gal. [10
L, 2.2 Imp.gal.] or less) Refuel](/manual-img/14/6170/w960_6170-481.png)
482 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Low fuel level warning
light Remaining fuel
(Approximately 2.6 gal. [10
L, 2.2 Imp.gal.] or less) Refuel the vehicle.
Driver’s seat belt
reminder light (warning
buzzer)
*2
Warns the driver to fasten
his/her seat belt. Fasten the seat belt.
Front passenger’s seat
belt reminder light
(warning buzzer)
*2
Warns the front passen-
ger to fasten his/her seat
belt. Fasten the seat belt.
Tire pressure warning
light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure
such as
• Natural causes (
P. 488)
• Flat tire ( P. 491)
Adjust the tire inflation
pressure to the specified
level.
The light will turn off after a
few minutes. In case the
light does not turn off even
if the tire inflation pressure
is adjusted, have the sys-
tem checked by your Toy-
ota dealer.
When the light comes on
after blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire
pressure warning system.
( P. 488)
Have the system checked
by your Toyota dealer.

486 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving
First check the following:
● Is your vehicle low on gas?
If it is, refuel the vehicle immediately.
● Is the fuel tank cap loose?
If it is, tighten it securely.
The light will go off after taking several driving trips.
If the light does not go off even after several trips, contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible.
■ SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the following:
●The airbag sensor assembly
● Front airbag sensors
● The curtain shield airbag sensors
● The side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
● The driver’s seat position sensor
● Driver’s seat belt buckle switch
● The front passenger occupant classification ECU
● The pressure sensor
● The belt tension sensor
● “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BA G OFF” indicator lights
● Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
● The inflators
● The warning light
● The interconnecting wiring and power sources
■ Front passenger detect ion sensor and passenger seat belt reminder
If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger detec-
tion sensor may cause the warning light to flash, even if a passenger is not
sitting in the seat.

5
When trouble arises
489
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as
soon as possible. Adjust the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment, it is pr obable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.
If the tire is flat, change to the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired
by the nearest Toyota dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning syste m may not activate immediately.
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a differ-
ent size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pr essure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS-ti re pressure warning system) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltal e (tire pressure warning light) when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pre ssure warning light) illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi ciency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.

538 6-1. Specifications
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation
pressure Tire pressure when the vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more, or has not
been driven more than 1 mile or 1.5 km under
that condition
Maximum inflation
pressure The maximum cold inflated
pressure to which a
tire may be inflated, s hown on the sidewall of
the tire
Recommended
inflation pressure Cold tire inflation pressure recommended by a
manufacturer.
Accessory weight The combined weight (in excess of those stan-
dard items which may be replaced) of trans-
mission, power steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, radio and heater, to the
extent that these items are available as factory-
installed equipment (whether installed or not)
Curb weight The weight of a motor vehicle with standard
equipment, including the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil and coolant, and if so equipped, air
conditioning and additional weight optional
engine
Maximum loaded
vehicle weight The sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight
(d) Production options weight
Normal occupant
weight 150 lb. (68 kg) times the number of occupants
specified in the second column of Table 1
* that
follows

575
Alphabetical index
Tires
Chains .................................. 221
Checking .............................. 421
If you have a flat tire ............. 491
Inflation pressure .................. 526
Information ........................... 532
Replacing ............................. 491
Rotating tires ........................ 421
Size ...................................... 526
Snow tires............................. 222
Tire pressure warning
system........................ 422, 482
Tools......................................... 491
Total load capacity .................. 217
Towing Dinghy towing ....................... 225
Trailer towing ........................ 224
TRAC ........................................ 207
Trip information....................... 175
Trunk Extending a space ................ 371
Opener ................................... 54
Wattage ................................ 527
Turn signal lights Replacing light bulbs ............ 455
Switch ................................... 166
Wattage ................................ 527
Vanity lights Vanity lights .......................... 358
Wattage ................................ 527
Vanity mirrors .......................... 358
Vehicle identification number................................... 521
Vehicle data recording.............. 20
Vehicle load limits ................... 217
VSC ........................................... 207 Warning buzzers
Brake system ........................479
Downshifting..........................164
Open door ............................481
Seat belt reminder .................482
Warning lights Anti-lock brake system ..........481
Automatic heading light leveling system .... ...............481
Brake system ........................479
Charging system .... ...............480
Low fuel level ........................482
Malfunction indicator lamp ....480
Open door .............................481
Seat belt reminder light .........482
SRS airbags ..........................481
Tire pressure warning light .....................................482
Vehicle stability control..........481
Washer
Checking ...............................420
Preparing and checking before winter .......................219
Switch....................................189
Washing and waxing ...............386
Weight Cargo capacity ......................212
Load limits .............................217
Weight ...................................520
Wheels ......................................434
Window glasses ........................85
Window lock switch ...................85
Windows Power windows .......................85
Rear window defogger ..........237
Washer ..................................189
Windshield wipers ...................189
Winter driving tips ...................219
Wireless remote control key Locking/Unlocking ...................42
Replacing the battery ............440
WMA disc ..................................259
V
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