2012 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER tow

90 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do not sit on the edge of the seat or
lean against the dashboard.
● Do not allow a child to stand in front of
the SRS front passenger airbag unit or
sit on the knees of a front passenger.
● Do not drive the vehicle while the driver
or passenger has items resting on their
knees.
● Do not lean against the door, the roof
side rail or the front, side and rear pil-
lars.
● Do not allow anyone to kneel on the
passenger seat toward the door or put
their head or hands outside the vehicle.

When driving2
115
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 116
Engine (ignition) switch .... 127
Automatic Transmission... 130
Manual Transmission ....... 132
Turn signal lever .............. 134
Parking brake ................... 135
Horn ................................. 137
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 138
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 141
Accessory meter .............. 144
2-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ............... 146
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 148
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 150
2-4. Using other driving systems Cruise control ................... 151
Intuitive parking assist...... 155
Rear view monitor system ........................... 160 Four-wheel drive system
(4WD models with
a manual
transmission) ................. 164
Four-wheel drive system (4WD models with
an automatic
transmission) ................. 167
Active traction control system ........................... 170
AUTO LSD system (2WD models) ................ 172
Rear differential lock system ........................... 174
Clutch start cancel switch (vehicles with a manual
transmission) ................. 177
Driving assist systems ..... 178
2-5. Driving information Off-road precautions ........ 183
Cargo and luggage .......... 188
Vehicle load limits ............ 192
Winter driving tips ............ 193
Trailer towing ................... 196
Dinghy towing .................. 214

118 2-1. Driving procedures
Lightly depress the accelerator pedal at the same time as
gradually releasing the clutch 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 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
● 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.
■ Drum-in disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of
brake system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or when-
ever the parking brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Toyota
dealer perform the bedding down.
■ Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P. 484)

146
2-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch
Turning on the high beam headlightsWith 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 the lever to turn them off.
You can flash the high beams
with the headlights on or off.
The headlights can be operated manually.
Vehicles with daytime
running light system:
The daytime running
lights turn on.
The side marker, park-
ing, tail, license plate,
outside rear view mir-
ror illumination (if
equipped), daytime
running lights (if
equipped) and instru-
ment panel lights turn
on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above
(except daytime run-
ning lights) turn on.

149
2-3. Operating the lights and wipers
2
When driving
■
The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The engine switch must be in the ON position.
■ If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked and if there is washer fluid in
the windshield washer fluid reservoir.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■ When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be caused if the lever is pulled
toward you and held continually.
■ When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact your Toyota dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
Washer/wiper dual opera-
tion
Wipers will automatically oper-
ate a couple of times after the
washer squirts.

153
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
■Cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in the D or range 4 (vehicles with an automatic transmis-
sion).
● Vehicle speed is above approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
■ Accelerating after setting the vehicle speed
●The vehicle can be accelerated normally. After acceleration, the set
speed resumes.
● Even without canceling the cruise control, the set speed can be
increased by first accelerating the vehicle to the desired speed and then
pushing the lever down to set the new speed.
■ Canceling and resuming the constant speed control
Pulling the lever toward you
cancels the constant speed
control.
The speed setting is also can-
celed when the brakes are
applied or the clutch pedal
(manual transmission only) is
depressed.
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).

154 2-4. Using other driving systems
■Automatic cruise control cancelation
Cruise control will stop maintaining the vehicle speed in any of the following
situations.
●Actual vehicle speed falls more than approximately 10 mph (16 km/h)
below the preset vehicle speed.
At this time, the memorized set speed is not retained.
● Actual vehicle speed is below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
● VSC is activated.
■ If the cruise control indicator light flashes
Press the ON-OFF button once to deactivate the system, and then press the
button again to reactivate the system.
If the cruise control speed cannot be set or if the cruise control cancels
immediately after being activated, there may be a malfunction in the cruise
control system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
■To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the ON-OFF button when not in use.
■ Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
●In heavy traffic
● On roads with sharp bends
● On winding roads
● On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
● On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
● When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing

158 2-4. Using other driving systems
■The intuitive parking assist system can be operated when
●The engine switch is at the ON position.
● The shift lever is in R.
■ Sensor detection information
●Certain vehicle conditions and the surrounding environment may affect
the ability of a sensor to correctly detect an obstacle. Particular instances
where this may occur are listed below.
• There is dirt, snow or ice on a sensor.
• A sensor is frozen.
• A sensor is covered in any way.
• The vehicle is leaning considerably to one side.
• On an extremely bumpy road, on an incline, on gravel, or on grass.
• The vicinity of the vehicle is noisy due to vehicle horns, motorcycle
engines, air brakes of large vehicles, or other loud noises producing
ultrasonic waves.
• There is another vehicle equipped with parking assist sensors in the vicinity.
• A sensor is coated with a sheet of spray or heavy rain.
• The vehicle is equipped with a fender pole or radio antenna.
• A bumper or sensor receives a strong impact.
• The vehicle is approaching a tall or right-angled curb.
• In harsh sunlight or intense cold weather.
• The area directly under the bumpers is not detected. Objects lower than the sensors or thin stakes etc. may be detected ini-
tially, but as they draw closer, they may cease to be detected.
• A towing hitch is mounted to the vehicle.
• A non-genuine Toyota suspension (lowered suspension etc.) is installed.
• When attaching a two-way radio antenna.
• When a towing eyelet is mounted on your vehicle.
• When the bumper is damaged.
In addition to the examples above, there are instances in which, because of
their shapes, signs and other objects may be judged by a sensor to be closer
than they are.