3
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6
5
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AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 138
Cargo and luggage............ 149
Vehicle load limits ............. 152
Trailer towing..................... 153
Dinghy towing.................... 154
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch ..... 155
Automatic transmission ..... 161
Turn signal lever................ 165
Parking brake .................... 166
Horn .................................. 167
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 168
Automatic High Beam ....... 172
Fog light switch ................. 177
Windshield wipers and washer ............................ 179
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 185 4-5. Using the driving
support systems
Cruise control .................... 190
Dynamic radar cruise control.............................. 194
Driving mode select switches........................... 209
Driving assist systems ....... 211
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ........................... 216
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)......... 223
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 232
4Driving
5
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8 7
6
5
4
3
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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
361-1. For safe use
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag
sensor assembly (ECU) controls airbag deployment based on infor-
mation obtained from the sensors et c. shown in the system compo-
nents diagram above. This informat ion includes crash severity and
occupant information. As the airbags deploy, a chemical reaction in
the inflators quickly fills the airbag s with non-toxic gas to help restrain
the motion of the occupants.
CAUTION
■ SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
● The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm)
of inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag pro-
vides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from
the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10
in. (250 mm) away now, you can change your driving position in several
ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the ped- als comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250
mm) distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, simply by
reclining the back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your
seat makes it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a firm, non-
slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air- bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
381-1. For safe use
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
● Do not allow a child to stand in front of
the SRS front passenger airbag unit or
sit on the knees of a front passenger.
● Do not allow the front seat occupants to
hold items on their knees.
● Do not lean against the door, the roof
side rail or the front, side and rear pil-
lars.
● Do not allow anyone to kneel on the
passenger seats toward the door or put
their head or hands outside the vehicle.
● Do not attach anything to or lean any-
thing against areas such as the dash-
board, steering wheel pad and lower
portion of the instrument panel.
These items can become projectiles
when the SRS driver, front passenger
and knee airbags deploy.
● Do not attach anything to areas such as
a door, windshield glass, side door
glass, front or rear pillar, roof side rail
and assist grip.
1003-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)■
Conditions affecting operation
The smart key system uses weak radio waves. In the following situations, the
communication between the electronic key and the vehicle may be affected,
preventing the smart key system, wireless remote control and engine immobi-
lizer system from operating properly. (Ways of coping: P. 415)
● When the electronic key battery is depleted
● Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large dis-
play, airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical
noise
● When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other
wireless communication device
● When the electronic key is in contact with, or is covered by the following
metallic objects
• Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• Cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
• Metallic wallets or bags
• Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
● When other wireless keys (that emit radio waves) are being used nearby
● When carrying the electronic key together with the following devices that
emit radio waves
• Another vehicle’s electronic key or a wireless key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
● If window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to the
rear window
1223-3. Adjusting the seats
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)■
Installing the head restraints
Front seats
Rear seats (except center seat)
■ Adjusting the height of the head restraints (except rear center seat)
■ Adjusting the rear seat head restraint (except center seat)
Always raise the head restraint one level from the stowed position when
using. Align the head restraint with the installa-
tion holes and push it down to the lock
position.
Press and hold the lock release button
when lowering the head restraint.
Align the head restraint with the installa-
tion holes and push it down to the lowest
lock position while pressing the lock
release button.
Make sure that the head restraints are
adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of your ears.
Lock release button
Lock release button
137
Driving4
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle............. 138
Cargo and luggage ........... 149
Vehicle load limits ............. 152
Trailer towing .................... 153
Dinghy towing ................... 154
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch ..... 155
Automatic transmission .................... 161
Turn signal lever ............... 165
Parking brake .................... 166
Horn .................................. 167
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 168
Automatic High Beam ....... 172
Fog light switch ................. 177
Windshield wipers and washer ............................ 179
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 185
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control .................... 190
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................. 194
Driving mode select switches .......................... 209
Driving assist systems ...... 211
PCS (Pre-Collision System)........................... 216
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 223
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 232
1494-1. Before driving
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41452U)
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capaci ty) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s
placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and lug- gage load capacity.
For example, if the “ XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in your v ehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 750 (5150) =
650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight ma y not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a tr ailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your
vehicle. ( P. 152)
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your
vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following information about storage precau-
tions, cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution