Page 553 of 772
553 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric or bulges indicating internal damage
A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size
or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even if
they have seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
If the tread wears down 4 mm (0.16 in.) or more on snow tires
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.
Vehicles with a spare tire of same wheel type as the installed
tires
Front
Page 555 of 772

555 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
NOTICE
Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing the
cushioning ability of the tires. In addition driving on rough roads may cause
damage to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels and body.
Low profile tires (225/45R18 tires)
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the wheel when
receiving impact from the road surface. Therefore pay attention to the follow-
ing:
Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated, they
may be damaged more severely.
Avoid pot holes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards. Failure
to do so can lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
Extra Load tires (225/45R18 95W tires)
2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV engines: Vehicles fitted with 18 inch tires have
Extra Load capacity (95W) due to front axle weight. When replacing the tires
in after market, the customer should select tires with same load index.
If tire inflation pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.
Page 556 of 772

556
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
Tire inflation pressure
Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure may result in the following:
Reduced fuel efficiency
Reduced driving comfort and tire life
Reduced safety
Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent refilling, have it checked by any authorized Toyota
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours and has not been
driven for more than 1.5 km or 1 mile, you will get an accurate cold tire
inflation pressure reading.
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be misleading. In addition, tire inflation
pressures that are even just a few pounds off can degrade ride and han-
dling.
Do not bleed or reduce tire inflation pressure after driving. It is normal for
the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving.
Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is
balanced.
Make sure to maintain the proper tire inflation pressure. Tire inflation
pressure should be checked at least once per month. However,
Toyota recommends that tire inflation pressure be checked once
every two weeks. (P. 739)
Page 557 of 772
557 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
CAUTION
Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions may
occur and result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
Excessive wear
Uneven wear
Poor handling
Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
Poor sealing of the tire bead
Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or moisture could get into the valve and cause
air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps have been lost,
replace them as soon as possible.
Page 603 of 772

5When trouble arises
603
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
5-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers .......... 604
If your vehicle needs
to be towed ..................... 605
If you think something
is wrong .......................... 615
Fuel pump shut off
system (gasoline
engine) ........................... 616
5-2. Steps to take in an
emergency
If a warning light turns
on or a warning buzzer
sounds... ........................ 617
If a warning message
is displayed ..................... 624If you have a flat tire
(vehicles with a spare
tire for sedan) ................. 648
If you have a flat tire
(vehicles with a spare
tire for wagon)................. 662
If you have a flat tire
(vehicles without a
spare tire) ....................... 676
If the engine will
not start........................... 689
If the shift lever cannot
be shifted from “P” .......... 692
If the parking brake
cannot be released ......... 693
If you lose your keys ......... 699
If you cannot operate
the trunk opener
(sedan) ........................... 700
If you cannot operate
the back door opener
(wagon)........................... 701
If the electronic key
does not operate
properly........................... 702
If the battery is
discharged ...................... 705
If your vehicle
overheats ........................ 710
If you run out of fuel and
the engine stalls
(diesel engine) ................ 713
If the vehicle becomes
stuck ............................... 714
If your vehicle has to be
stopped in an
emergency ...................... 716
Page 615 of 772

5
615
5-1. Essential information
When trouble arises
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional, as
soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
Engine coolant temperature gauge indicates that the tempera-
ture is higher than normal
Audible symptoms
Changes in exhaust sound
Excessive tire squeal when cornering
Strange noises related to the suspension system
Pinging or other noises related to the engine
Operational symptoms
Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
Appreciable loss of power
Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost
touches the floor
Page 648 of 772
648
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
If you have a flat tire (vehicles with a spare tire for sedan)
Remove the flat tire and replace it with the spare provided.
Before jacking up the vehicle
Stop the vehicle on a hard, flat surface.
Set the parking brake.
Shift the shift lever to “P” (Multidrive or automatic transmis-
sion) or “R” (manual transmission).
Stop the engine.
Turn on the emergency flashers. (P. 604)
Location of the spare tire, jack and tools
Vehicles with a compact spare tire
Parking brake
release tool
Towing eyeletWheel nut wrench
Spare tire
Jack
Jack handle
Page 652 of 772
652 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
AVENSIS_EE (OM20B44E)
Replacing a flat tire
Chock the tires.
Vehicles with a steel wheel,
remove the wheel ornament
using the wrench.
To protect the wheel ornament,
place a rag between the wrench
and the wheel ornament, as
shown in the illustration.
STEP1STEP1
Flat tireWheel chock positions
FrontLeft-hand side Behind the rear right-hand side tire
Right-hand side Behind the rear left-hand side tire
RearLeft-hand side In front of the front right-hand side tire
Right-hand side In front of the front left-hand side tire
STEP2