2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Owners Manual

65
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
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.

66 1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
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.

67
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
CAUTION
●
Do not attach any accessories other than genuine Toyota parts to the back
door. Such additional weight on the back door may cause the back door to
fall closed again after it is opened.
■ Back door closer (vehicl es with power back door)
● Use caution when using the back door closer as it still operates when the
power back door system is canceled.
■ Power back door
Observe the following precautions when operating the power back door.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●Check the safety of the surrounding area to make sure there are no obsta-
cles or anything that could cause any of your belongings to get caught.
● 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.
● If the power back door main switch is turned off while the back door is
operating during automatic operation, the back door stops operating. Take
extra care when on an incline, as the back door may open or close sud-
denly.
●In the event that the back door is left
slightly open, the back door closer will
automatically close it to the fully closed
position. It takes several seconds
before the back door closer begins to
operate. Be careful not to catch fingers
or anything else in the back door, as
this may cause bone fractures or other
serious injuries.

68 1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
CAUTION
●On an incline, the back door may fall after it opens automatically. Make
sure the back door is fully open and secure.
● In the following situations, the power back door may detect an abnormali\
ty
and automatic operation may be stopped. In this case, the back door has
to be operated manually. Take extra care in this situation, as the stopped
back door may suddenly fall, causing an accident.
• When the back door contacts an obstacle
• Vehicles without smart key system: When the battery voltage suddenly
drops, such as when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position or
the engine is started during automatic operation
• Vehicles with smart key system: When the battery voltage suddenly drops, such as when the “ENGINE START STOP” switch is turned to
IGNITION ON mode or the engine is started during automatic opera-
tion
● Do not attach any accessories other than genuine Toyota parts to the back
door. The power back door may not operate, causing itself to malfunction,
or the back door may fall closed again after it is opened.
■ Jam protection function (vehicles with power back door)
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection
function.
● The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just
before the back door fully closes. Be careful not to catch fingers or any-
thing else.
● The jam protection function may not work depending on the shape of the
object that is caught. Be careful not to catch fingers or anything else.

69
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
NOTICE
■
Back door damper stays
The back door is equipped with damper stays that hold the back door in
place.
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the back door damper stay, resulting
in malfunction.
■ To prevent back door closer malfunction
Do not apply excessive force to the back door while the back door closer is
operating.
■ To prevent damage to the power back door
●Make sure that there is no ice between the back door and frame that
would prevent movement of the back door. Operating the power back door
when excessive load is present on the back door may cause a malfunc-
tion.
● Do not apply excessive force to the back door while the power back door
is operating.
● Take care not to damage the sensors (installed on the right and left edges
of the power back door) with a knife or other sharp object. If the sensor is
disconnected, the power back door will not operate in automatic operation.
● Do not attach any foreign objects, such
as stickers, plastic sheets, or adhesives
to the damper stay rod.
● Do not touch the damper stay rod with
gloves or other fabric items.
● Do not attach any accessories other
than genuine Toyota parts to the back
door.
● Do not place your hand on the damper
stay or apply lateral forces to it.

70
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
Glass hatch
■Opening and closing the glass hatch
●Make sure that the rear wiper is switched off.
● Do not rotate the rear wiper arm while the glass hatch is opening. (If the
rear wiper arm is rotated, close the glass hatch as it is then switch on the
wiper. The rear wiper arm will return to the correct position automatically
after wiping.)
● Make sure that the back door is closed before closing the glass hatch.
The glass hatch can be opened using the glass hatch opener or wire-
less remote control.
■ Wireless remote control (veh icles without smart key sys-
tem)
 P. 4 8
■ Entry function (vehicles with smart key system)
P. 3 6
■ Glass hatch opener
Press and hold the button to
pop up the glass hatch.
Raise
The glass hatch can be
opened only when the back
door is closed.
: If equipped

71
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
While driving
●Keep the glass hatch closed while driving.
If the glass hatch is left open, it may hit near-by objects while driving or
luggage 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 glass hatch before driving.
● Before driving the vehicle, make sure that the glass hatch is fully closed. If
the glass hatch is not fully closed, it may open unexpectedly while driving,
causing an accident.
■ When children are in the vehicle
Do not allow a child to open or close the glass hatch.
Doing so may cause the glass hatch to operate unexpectedly, or cause the
child's hands, head, or neck to be caught by the closing glass hatch.
■ Operating the glass hatch
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 glass hatch
before opening it. Failure to do so may cause the glass hatch fall closed
again after it is opened.
● When opening or closing the glass hatch, 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 glass hatch is about to open or close.
● Use caution when opening or closing the glass hatch in windy weather as
it may move abruptly in strong wind.

72 1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
CAUTION
●Do not pull on the glass hatch damper stay to close the glass hatch, and
do not hang on the glass hatch damper stay.
Doing so may cause hands to be caught or the glass hatch damper stay to
break, causing an accident.
● Do not attach any accessories other than genuine Toyota parts to the
glass hatch. Such additional weight on the glass hatch may cause the
glass hatch to fall closed again after it is opened, resulting in death or seri-
ous injury.
● Do not open the glass hatch while the rear wiper is switched on. (If the rear
wiper is switched on while the glass hatch is opening, the wiper motor
drive disc is swinging at the door panel.)
●The glass hatch may fall if it is not
opened fully. It is more difficult to open
or close the glass hatch on an incline
than on a level surface, so beware of
the glass hatch unexpectedly opening
or closing by itself. Make sure that the
glass hatch is fully open and secure
before using the luggage compart-
ment. Also pay attention to your per-
sonal belongings such as bags and
ties.
● When closing the glass hatch, take
extra care to prevent your fingers etc.
from being caught. Also pay attention to
your personal belongings such as bags
and ties.
● When closing the glass hatch, make
sure to press it lightly on its outer sur-
face.