2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID service

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4-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior............ 442
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior............. 445
4-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ..................... 448
General maintenance.......... 450
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs........................... 453
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions ....................... 454
Hood ................................... 458
Positioning a floor jack ........ 460
Engine compartment ........... 462
12-volt battery ..................... 473
Tires .................................... 477
Tire inflation pressure ......... 485
Wheels ................................ 488
Air conditioning filter............ 491
Wireless remote control/ electronic key battery ........ 494
Checking and replacing fuses ................................. 497
Light bulbs........................... 510 5-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers............ 520
If your vehicle needs to be towed........................... 521
If you think something is wrong ............................ 527
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds... .......................... 528
If a warning message is displayed .......................... 538
If you have a flat tire ........... 539
If the hybrid system will not start ............................ 552
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ................... 554
If you lose your keys/ wireless remote control
transmitter ........................ 555
If the electronic key does not operate properly ......... 556
If the 12-volt battery is discharged........................ 558
If your vehicle overheats .... 562
If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................. 566
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ....................... 567
4Maintenance and care5When trouble arises

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Installation of a mobile two-way radio system
The installation of a mobile two-way radio system in your vehicle could affect
electronic systems such as:
●Multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system
●Cruise control system
●Anti-lock brake system
●SRS airbag system
●Seat belt pretensioner system
Be sure to check with your Toyota dealer for precautionary measures or spe-
cial instructions regarding installation of a mobile two-way radio system.
High voltage parts and cables on the hybrid vehicles emit approximately the
same amount of electromagnetic waves as the conventional gasoline pow-
ered vehicles or home electronic appliances despite their electromagnetic
shielding.
Unwanted noise may occur in the reception of the mobile two-way radio.
Scrapping of your Toyota
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your Toyota contain
explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbags and seat belt
pretensioners left as they are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be
sure to have the systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner
removed and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your Toyota
dealer before you scrap your vehicle.
Perchlorate Material
Special handling may apply, See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Your vehicle has components that may contain perchlorate. These compo-
nents may include airbag, seat belt pretensioners, and wireless remote con-
trol batteries.

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CAUTION
■General precautions while driving
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehi-
cle. Alcohol and certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and
reduce coordination, which could lead to an accident that could result in
death or serious injury.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other
drivers or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full attention to driving. Anything that dis-
tracts the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a cellular phone or
reading can result in a collision with resulting death or serious injury to you,
your occupants or others.
■ General precaution regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to
have or use the key.
Children may be able to start the vehicle or shift the vehicle into neutral.
There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing with
the windows, the moon roof, or other features of the vehicle. In addition, heat
build-up or extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can be fatal to
children.
■ Disposal of the hybrid battery (traction battery)
If your vehicle is disposed of without the hybrid battery having been
removed, there is a danger of serious electric shock if high voltage parts,
cables and their connectors are touched. In the event of that your vehicle
must be disposed of, the hybrid battery must be disposed of your Toyota
dealer or a qualified service shop. If the hybrid battery is not disposed of
properly, they may cause electric shock that can result in death or serious
injury.

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1-1. Hybrid system
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Before driving
High voltage components
Take care when handling the hybrid sy stem, as it contains a high volt-
age system (about 650 V at maximum) as well as parts that become
extremely hot when the hybrid system is operating. Obey the caution
labels attached to the vehicle.
■ Maintenance, repair, recycling, and disposal
Contact your Toyota dealer regarding maintenance, repair, recycling and
disposal. Do not dispose of the vehicle yourself.
Air conditioning compressor
Power control unit and DC/
DC converter
Hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery)
Rear electric motor (traction
motor) Service plug
High voltage cables
Front electric motor (traction
motor), transaxle and motor
generator
Caution label

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1-1. Hybrid system
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Before driving
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Hybrid battery (traction battery)
The hybrid battery (traction battery) has a limited service life. The lifespan of
the hybrid battery (traction battery) can change in accordance with driving
style and driving conditions.
CAUTION
■High voltage precautions
The vehicle has high voltage DC and AC systems as well as a 12-volt sys-
tem. DC and AC high voltage is very dangerous and can cause severe burns
and electric shock that may result in death or serious injury.
●Never touch, disassemble, remove or replace the high voltage parts,
cables and their connectors.
● The hybrid system will become hot after starting as the system uses high
voltage. Be careful of both the high voltage and the high temperature, and
always obey the caution labels attached to the vehicle.
●Never try to open the service plug
access hole located on the left-hand
side of the second seat base. The ser-
vice plug is used only when the vehicle
is serviced and is subject to high volt-
age.

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2-5. Driving information
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When driving
Off-road driving
Your vehicle is not designed to be driven off-road. However, in the
event that off-road driving cannot be avoided, please observe the fol-
lowing precautions to help avoid the areas prohibited to vehicles.
● Drive your vehicle only in areas wh ere off-road vehicles are permit-
ted to travel.
● Respect private property. Get owner’s permission before entering
private property.
● Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers and signs
that restrict travel.
● Stay on established roads. When conditions are wet, driving tech-
niques should be changed or trav el delayed to prevent damage to
roads.
● Avoid driving on very steep, sl ippery roads and other surfaces,
such as sand, where the tires are liable to lose traction. Your vehi-
cle may not perform as well as conventional AWD on-road vehicles
on these surfaces.
■ Additional information for off-road driving
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining to driving your vehicle off-road,
consult the following organizations.
● State and Local Parks and Recreation Departments
● State Motor Vehicle Bureau
● Recreational Vehicle Clubs
● U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management

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2-5. Driving information
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When driving
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving
the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropri-
ate to the prevailing weather conditions.
■ Pre-winter preparations
●Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tem-
peratures.
• Engine oil
• Engine/power control unit coolant
• Washer fluid
● Have a service technician inspect the level and specific grav-
ity of battery electrolyte.
● Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set
of tire chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains
match the size of the tires.
■Before driving the vehicle
Observe 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 th e 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 accumu lated 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.

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2-5. Driving information
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When driving
Weight limits
● The gross trailer weight must never exceed the TWR described in
the table. ( P. 260)
● The gross combination weight must never exceed the GCWR
described in the table. ( P. 260)
●The gross vehicle weight must
never exceed the GVWR indi-
cated on the Certification
Label.
● The gross axle weight on each
axle must never exceed the
GAWR indicated on the Certi-
fication Label.
● If the gross trailer weight is over the unbraked TWR, trailer service
brakes are required.
● If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control
device with sufficient capacity is required.