2014 TOYOTA AVALON engine overheat

5
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
9
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 302
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ........... 306
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 309
General maintenance ........ 311
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ......................... 315
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions ..................... 316
Hood.................................. 319
Positioning a floor jack ...... 320
Engine compartment ......... 322
Tires .................................. 334
Tire inflation pressure........ 342
Wheels .............................. 345
Air conditioning filter .......... 348
Electronic key battery ........ 350
Checking and replacing fuses ............................... 352
Light bulbs ......................... 361 7-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 380
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency....................... 381
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed .......................... 382
If you think something is wrong ........................... 385
Fuel pump shut off system ............................. 386
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ............................. 387
If a warning message is displayed ......................... 398
If you have a flat tire .......... 399
If the engine will not start ................................. 412
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ............. 414
If the electronic key does not operate properly ........ 415
If the vehicle battery is discharged ....................... 418
If your vehicle overheats......................... 422
If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................ 425
6Maintenance and care7When trouble arises

15Pictorial index
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)Windshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 179
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 232
Precautions against car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 304
Fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 185
Refueling method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 185
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 430
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 334
Tire size/inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 435
Winter tires/tire chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 232
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system . . . . . . . . . P. 334
Coping with flat tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 399
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 319
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 319
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 430
Coping with overheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 422
Headlights/parking lights/side marker lights/
daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 168
Fog lights
* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 177
Turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 165
Stop/tail lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 168
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 168
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 161
4
5
6
7
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P. 361, Wattages: P. 436)
*: If equipped
8
9
10
11
12
13

792. Instrument cluster
2
Instrument cluster
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
The brightness of the instrument panel lights can be adjusted.
Darker
Brighter
■ The meters and display illuminate when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ The brightness of the in strument panel lights
● When the headlight switch is turned to on, the brightness will be reduced
slightly unless the control knob is turned fully clockwise.
● When the knob is turned fully clockwise, the display audio/navigation sys-
tem screen will always be in day mode regardless of the headlight switch
position.
■ Customization
The instrument panel light auto dimmer control can be changed.
(Customizable feature: P. 453) 
Instrument panel light control
1
2
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the engine and its components
● Do not let the indicator needle of the tachometer enter the red zone, which
indicates the maximum engine speed.
● The engine may be overheating if the engine coolant temperature gauge is
in the red zone (H). In this case, immediately stop the vehicle in a safe
place, and check the engine after it has cooled completely. (P. 422)

1424-1. Before driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving the vehicle
● During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off
while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the
power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more difficult to
steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it
is safe to do so.
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible
to stop the vehicle in the normal way: P. 381
● Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( P. 161)
● Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or
outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.
● Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of their body
are not outside the vehicle.
● Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph ( 140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire
failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer
to determine whether the tires on y our vehicle are high-speed capability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.

1444-1. Before driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon
as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads
and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■ When the vehicle is stopped
● Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate
suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
● In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the
parking brake as necessary.
● If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake as needed.
● Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combusti\
ble
material is nearby.

1464-1. Before driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire
due to engine overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking
● When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause
one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other\
vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
● Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
● The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if one of the
systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will
increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.

1594-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)■
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.

2134-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
■Turning off both TRAC/VSC systems
To turn the TRAC/VSC systems off, press and hold the switch for more than 3
seconds while the vehicle is stopped.
The VSC OFF and “TRAC OFF” indica tor lights will come on and the mes-
sage will be shown on the multi-information display.
Press the switch again to turn the systems back on.
■ When the message is displayed on th e multi-information display show-
ing that TRAC has been disabled and “TRAC OFF” indicator light comes
on even if the TRAC/VSC OFF switch has not been pressed
TRAC cannot be operated. Contact your Toyota dealer.
■ Sounds and vibrations caused by the ABS, brake assist, VSC and TRAC
systems
● A sound may be heard from the engine compartment when the brake pedal
is depressed repeatedly, when the engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This sound does not indicate that a malfunction has
occurred in any of these systems.
● Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are
operating. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■ EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■ Automatic reactivation of TRAC and VSC systems
After turning the TRAC and VSC systems off, the systems will be automati-
cally re-enabled in the following situations:
● When the engine switch is turned off
● If only the TRAC system is turned off, the TRAC will turn on when vehicle
speed increases
If both the TRAC and VSC systems are turned off, automatic re-enabling will
not occur when vehicle speed increases.
■ Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system is reduced to prevent the system from
overheating when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of
time. The steering wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur, refrain
from excessive steering input or stop the vehicle and turn the engine off. The
effectiveness of the EPS system will be restored after a short while.