Page 159 of 496

1594-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)■
When the steering lock cannot be released
■ Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, the motor may be sus-
pended if the engine is turned on and off repeatedly in a short period of time.
In this case, refrain from operating the engine. After about 10 seconds, the
steering lock motor will resume functioning.
■ When a message requesting the smart key system be inspected is dis-
played on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 350
■ Operation of the engine switch
●When operating the engine switch, one short, firm press is enough. If the
switch is pressed improperly, the engine may not start or the engine switch
mode may not change. It is not necessary to press and hold the switch.
● If attempting to restart the engine immediately after turning the engine
switch off, the engine may not start in some cases. After turning the engine
switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the engine.
■ If the smart key system has been deactivated in a customized setting
P. 415
■ Customization
The time elapsed before the engine switch related messages on the multi-
information display turn off can be changed.
(Customizable features: P. 453)
A message informing the driver that the
steering wheel is locked will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press
the engine switch while turning the steer-
ing wheel left and right.
Page 163 of 496
1634-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
To drive using temporary shift range selection, operate the “-” paddle
shift switch. The shift range can then be selected by operating the “-”
and “+” paddle shift switches. Changing the shift range allows restric-
tion of the highest gear, preventing upshifting and enabling the level of
engine braking force to be selected.Upshifting
Downshifting
The selected shift range, from “1”
to “5”, or D will be displayed in the
meter.
To return to normal D position
driving, the “+” paddle shift switch
must be held down for a period of
time.
When a shift range higher than “5”
is selected, the shift range will
return to the normal D position.
When the vehicle comes to a stop,
the shift range will return to the
normal D position.
Selecting shift ranges in the D position (vehicles with paddle
shift switches)
1
2
Page 164 of 496

1644-2. Driving procedures
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
■S mode
●When the shift range is “4” or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets
the shift range to “6”.
● To prevent the engine from over-revving, upshifting may automatically
occur.
● To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automati-
cally shifts to the top range when the temperature is too hot.
■ AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver input and
the driving situation.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D position.
(Shifting the shift lever to the S position or paddle shifting cancels the func-
tion.)
■ When driving with cruise control or radar cruise control activated
When downshifting to 5 or 4 by shifting the shift lever to the S position or pad-
dle shifting, cruise control or radar cruise control will not be canceled.
( P. 190, 194)
■ If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
P. 414
■ If the “S” indicator does not come on or the “D” indicator is displayed
even after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when
the shift lever is in D.)
■ Downshift restriction warning buzze r (S mode or paddle shifting)
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may
sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be
possible even when the shift lever or paddle shift switches are operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)
CAUTION
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this could result in
the vehicle skidding to the side or spinning.
Page 190 of 496
190
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Use the cruise control to maintain a set speed without depressing the
accelerator pedal.
Display
Indicators
Cruise control switch
Press the “ON-OFF” button to
activate the cruise control.
Cruise control indicator will be dis-
played.
Press the button again to deacti-
vate the cruise control.
Accelerate or decelerate the
vehicle to the desired speed,
and push the lever down to set
the speed.
“SET” indicator will be displayed.
The vehicle speed at the moment
the lever is released becomes the
set speed.
Cruise control
: If equipped
Summary of functions
1
2
3
Setting the vehicle speed
1
2
Page 192 of 496

1924-5. Using the driving support systems
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
■Cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in D or range 4 or higher of S has been selected.
● Range 4 or higher of D has been selected by using the paddle shift. (vehi-
cles with paddle shift switches)
● 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.
■ Automatic cruise co ntrol 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 warning message for the crui se control is shown on the multi-
information display
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 imme-
diately after being activated, there may be a malfunction in the cruise control
system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
Page 194 of 496
1944-5. Using the driving support systems
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
Dynamic radar cruise control supple ments conventional cruise control
with a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. In vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance control mode, the vehicle automatically accelerates or deceler-
ates in order to maintain a set fo llowing distance from vehicles ahead.
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance but-
ton
Display
Indicators
Set speed
Cruise control switch
Dynamic radar cruise control
: If equipped
Summary of functions
1
2
3
4
5
Page 195 of 496
1954-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
Press the “ON-OFF” button to
activate the cruise control.
Radar cruise control indicator will
be displayed.
Press the button again to deacti-
vate the cruise control.
Accelerate or decelerate the
vehicle to the desired speed,
and push the lever down to set
the speed.
“SET” indicator will be displayed.
The vehicle speed at the moment
the lever is released becomes the
set speed.
Setting the vehicle speed (vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode)
1
2
Page 196 of 496

1964-5. Using the driving support systems
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
To change the set speed, operate the lever until the desired set speed
is displayed.
Increases the speed
Decreases the speed
Fine adjustment: Momentarily
move the lever in the desired direc-
tion.
Large adjustment: Hold the lever in
the desired direction.
In the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode, the set speed will be
increased or decreased as follows:• When the set speed is shown in “MPH”
Fine adjustment: By approximately 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each time the lever
is operated
Large adjustment: By approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) for each 0.75 sec-
onds the lever is held
• When the set speed is shown in “km/h”
Fine adjustment: By approximately 0.6 mph (1 km/h) each time the lever
is operated
Large adjustment: By approximately 3.1 mph (5 km/h) for each 0.75
seconds the lever is held
In the constant speed control mode ( P. 201), the set speed will be
increased or decreased as follows:
Fine adjustment: By approximately 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each time the lever is
operated
Large adjustment: The set speed can be increased or decreased continu-
ally until the lever is released.
Adjusting the set speed
1
2