2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID light

34 1-1. Hybrid system
●If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery) will not be
charged. When driving in heavy traffic, operate the vehicle with the shift
lever in D to avoid discharging the battery.
● To help prevent the 12-volt battery from becoming discharged, drive the
vehicle at least once a month, and operate the accessories only when
the “READY” indicator is on. When parking the vehicle, make sure the
doors is closed and all lights are turned off.
■ Charging the 12-volt battery
P. 560
■ After the 12-volt battery has di scharged or has been changed or
removed
The gasoline engine may not stop even if the vehicle is running on the hybrid
battery (traction battery). If this continues for a few days, contact your Toyota
dealer.
■ Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
There may be no engine sounds or vibration even though the vehicle is able
to move. Always shift the shift lever to P when parked.
The following sounds or vibrations may occur when the hybrid system is
operating, and are not a malfunction:
●Motor sounds may be heard from the engine compartment.
● Sounds may be heard from the hybrid battery (traction battery) under the
rear seat when the hybrid system starts or stops.
● Sounds from the hybrid system may be heard when the back door is
open.
● Sounds may be heard from the hybrid transmission when the engine is
started or stopped, or while the engine is idling.
● Engine sounds may be heard when accelerating sharply.
● Sounds may be heard due to regenerative braking when the brake pedal
is depressed or accelerator is loosened.
● Vibration may be felt when the gasoline engine starts or stops.
● Cooling fan sounds may be heard from the air intake vents under the rear
seat.

36 1-1. Hybrid system
■Hybrid battery air vents
There are air intake vents under
the second seats to cool the
hybrid battery (traction battery).
If the vents become blocked, the
hybrid battery may overheat,
leading to a reduction in hybrid
battery output.
Emergency shut off system
The emergency shut off system blocks off the high voltage current
and stops the fuel pump to minimize the risk of electrocution and fuel
leakage when a certain level of impact is detected by the impact sen-
sor. If the emergency shut off syste m activates, your vehicle will not
restart. To restart the hybrid system, contact your Toyota dealer.
Energy monitor/consumption screen
You can view the status of your
hybrid system on the multi-infor-
mation display (P. 37) and the
navigation system screen ( P.
37, 39). The following images
are examples only, and may vary
slightly from actual conditions.

40 1-1. Hybrid system
Hybrid warning messageA message is automatically displayed when a malfunction occurs in
the hybrid system or an impr oper operation is attempted.
If a warning message is shown
on the multi-information display,
read the message and follow the
instructions. ( P. 538)
■If a warning light comes on or a wa rning message is displayed, or the
12-volt battery is disconnected
The hybrid system may not start. In that case, try to start the system again. If
the “READY” indicator does not come on, contact your Toyota dealer.
■ When refueling, the fuel filler door may take a few moments to open
As part of emission system operation, it may take up to 10 seconds for the
fuel filler door to automatically rel ease after the opener switch is pressed.
Before refueling is possible, a message will be shown on the multi-informa-
tion display. ( P. 1 1 8 )
■ Running out of fuel
When the vehicle has run out of fuel and the hybrid system cannot be
started, refuel the vehicle with at least enough gasoline to make the low fuel
level warning light ( P. 531) go off. If there is only a small amount of fuel,
the hybrid system may not be able to start. (The minimum amount of fuel to
add to make the low fuel level warning light go out is about 2.5 gal. [9.8 L,
2.1 Imp. gal.], when the vehicle is on a level surface. This value may vary
when the vehicle is on a slope.)
■ If the master warning light comes on when the shift lever is in R
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and shift the shift lever out of R
to display the message.

45
1-2. Key information
1
Before driving
■
When required to leave a key to th e vehicle with a parking attendant
Lock the glove box as circumstances demand. ( P. 405)
Vehicles without smart key system: Carry the master key for your own use
and provide the attendant with the valet key.
Vehicles with smart key system: Remove the mechanical key for your own
use and provide the attendant with the electronic key only.
■ Key number plate
Keep the plate in a safe place such as your wallet, not in the vehicle. In the
event that a key is lost, a new key can be made by your Toyota dealer using
the key number plate. ( P. 555)
■ When riding in an aircraft (vehicles with smart key system)
When bringing an electronic key onto an aircraft, make sure you do not
press any buttons on the electronic key while inside the aircraft cabin. If you
are carrying a electronic key in your bag etc., ensure that the buttons are not
likely to be pressed accidentally. Pressing a button may cause the electronic
key to emit radio waves that could interfere with the operation of the a\
ircraft.
NOTICE
■To prevent key damage
●Do not subject the keys to strong shocks, expose them to high tempera-
tures by placing them in direct sunlight, or get them wet.
● Do not expose the keys to electromagnetic materials or attach any mate-
rial that blocks electromagnetic waves to the key surface.
● Do not disassemble the electronic key.

54 1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
●As long as the electronic key is within the effective range, the doors may
be locked or unlocked by anyone.
● Even if the electronic key is not inside the vehicle, it may be possible to
start the hybrid system if the electronic key is near the window.
● The doors may unlock if a large amount of water splashes on the door
handle, such as in the rain or in a car wash. (The doors will automatically
be locked after approximately 60 seconds if the doors are not opened
and closed.)
● Gripping the door handle when wearing a glove may not unlock the door.
● If the wireless remote control is used to lock the doors when the elec-
tronic key is near the vehicle, there is a possibility that the door may not
be unlocked by the entry function. (Use the wireless remote control to
unlock the doors.)
■ When the vehicle is not driven for extended periods
To prevent theft of the vehicle, do not leave the electronic key within 6 ft. (2
m) of the vehicle.
■ Security feature
If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again.
■ Alarms and warning indicators
A combination of exterior and interior alarms as well as warning lights and
warning messages shown on the multi-information display are used to
reduce the chance of vehicle theft and accidents resulting from erroneous
operation.
●When any warning lights come on:
Take appropriate measures according to which warning light comes on.
( P. 528)
● When a warning message is shown on the multi-information display:
Take appropriate measures according to the warning message on the
multi-information display. ( P. 538)

61
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
■
Operation signals
Doors: A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that
the doors have been locked/unlocked. (Locked: Once; Unlocked:
Twice)
Back door: A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash twice to indicate that the back door has been opened/closed.
■ Panic mode
Vehicles without smart key system
Vehicles with smart key system
■ Door lock buzzer
If a door is not fully closed, a buzzer sounds continuously if an attempt to
lock the door is made. Fully close the door to stop the buzzer, and lock the
vehicle once more.
When is pushed for longer than
about one second, an alarm will sound for
about 60 seconds and the vehicle lights
will flash to deter any person from trying
to break into or damage your vehicle.
To stop the alarm, push any button on the
wireless remote control.
When is pushed for longer than
about one second, an alarm will sound for
about 60 seconds and the vehicle lights
will flash to deter any person from trying
to break into or damage your vehicle.
To stop the alarm, push any button on the
wireless remote control.

74 1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
■Back door closer (vehicl es with power back door)
In the event that the back door is left slightly open, the back door closer will
automatically close it to the fully closed position.
■ Fall-down protection f unction (vehicles with power back door)
If excessive force is applied to the back door while it is opening automati-
cally, the power back door will stop at that positions, preventing itself from
falling down.
■ Customization that can be co nfigured at Toyota dealer
Settings (e.g. wireless remote control) can be changed.
(Customizable features P. 599)
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
●Keep the back door closed while driving.
If the back door is left open, it may hit near-by objects while driving or lug-
gage may be unexpectedly thrown out, causing an accident.
In addition, exhaust gases may enter the vehicle, causing death or a seri-
ous health hazard. Make sure to close the back door before driving.
● Before driving the vehicle, make sure that the back door is fully closed. If
the back door is not fully closed, it may open unexpectedly while driving,
causing an accident.
● Never let anyone sit in the luggage compartment. In the event of sudden
braking or a collision, they are susceptible to death or serious injury.
■ When children are in the vehicle
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
●Do not leave children alone in the luggage compartment.
If a child is accidentally locked in the luggage compartment, they could
have heat exhaustion.
● Do not allow a child to open or close the back door.
Doing so may cause the back door to operate unexpectedly, or cause the
child’s hands, head, or neck to be caught by the closing back door.

75
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
Operating the back door
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause parts of the body to be caught, resulting in death
or serious injury.
●Remove any heavy loads, such as snow and ice, from the back door
before opening it. Failure to do so may cause the back door to fall closed
again after it is opened.
● When opening or closing the back door, thoroughly check to make sure
the surrounding area is safe.
● If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that
the back door is about to open or close.
● Use caution when opening or closing the back door in windy weather as it
may move abruptly in strong wind.
● Do not pull on the back door damper stay to close the back door, and do
not hang on the back door damper stay.
Doing so may cause hands to be caught or the back door damper stay to
break, causing an accident.
●The back door may fall if it is not
opened fully. It is more difficult to open
or close the back door on an incline
than on a level surface, so beware of
the back door unexpectedly opening or
closing by itself. Make sure that the
back door is fully open and secure
before using the luggage compartment.
● When closing the back door, take extra
care to prevent your fingers etc. from
being caught.
● When closing the back door, make sure
to press it lightly on its outer surface. If
the back door strap is used to fully
close the back door, it may result in
hands or arms being caught.