157 1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components
Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifications
without consulting any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly
qualified and equipped professional.
The SRS airbags may malfunction or deploy (inflate) accidentally, causing
death or serious injury.
Installation, removal, disassembly and repair of the SRS airbags.
Repairs, modifications, removal or replacement of the steering wheel,
instrument panel, dashboard, seats or seat upholstery, front, center and
rear pillars or roof side rail.
Repairs or modifications of the front fender, front bumper, or side of the
occupant compartment.
Installation of a grille guard (bull bars, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow plows or
winches.
Modifications to the vehicle’s suspension system.
Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radio (RF-trans-
mitter) or CD players.
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184 2-1. Driving procedures
Starting on a steep uphill
Multidrive or automatic transmission
Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to “D” or
“M”.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
Manual transmission
With the parking brake set and the clutch pedal fully
depressed, shift the shift lever to “1”.
Lightly depress the accelerator pedal at the same time as
gradually releasing the clutch pedal.
Release the parking brake. (P. 225)
Hill-Start Assist Control
The hill-start assist control allows you to smoothly start off the vehicle on a
steep or slippery uphill incline. (P. 293)
Driving in the rain
Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially slippery.
Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road
surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
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187 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
When starting the vehicle (vehicles with a Multidrive or an automatic
transmission)
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine run-
ning. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
When driving the vehicle
Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident
that could result in death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi-
culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the
vehicle only slightly, allowing you to depress the brake and accelerator
pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. This may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
Vehicles with a Multidrive or an automatic transmission: Do not let the
vehicle roll backwards while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll
forward while the shift lever is in “R”.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake and steering
performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check that the back door is closed.
Large amounts of exhaust in the vehicle can cause driver drowsiness and
an accident, resulting in death or a serious health hazard. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly
qualified and equipped professional immediately.
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188 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
When driving the vehicle
On vehicles with a Multidrive or an automatic transmission, do not shift the
shift lever to “P” while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
Do not shift the shift lever to “R” while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
Do not shift the shift lever to “D” (Multidrive or automatic transmission) or
“1” (manual transmission) while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
Moving the shift lever to “N” while the vehicle is moving will disengage the
engine from the transmission. Engine braking is not available when “N” is
selected.
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. 595
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. 206, 212, 220)
When stopped on an inclined surface, use the brake pedal and parking
brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or forward and causing
an accident.
Do not adjust the position 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 that can cause accidents
that may result in death or serious injury.
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189 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
When driving the vehicle
Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of their bod-
ies are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
When driving on slippery road surfaces
Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-
shifting or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.
After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in
an accident.
When shifting the shift lever (vehicles with a Multidrive or an automatic
transmission)
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
When the vehicle is stopped
Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any shift positions other than “P” (Multidrive or automatic
transmission) or “N”, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and unexpect-
edly, and may cause an accident.
Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space
and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
Vehicles with a Multidrive or an automatic transmission: 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.
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194 2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for
an extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
Diesel engine only: Make sure to idle the engine immediately after high-
speed driving or hill climbing. Stop the engine only after the turbocharger
has cooled down.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the turbocharger.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by any authorized Toyota dealer
or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional, as soon as
possible.
The rotor damage can 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 that of the brake discs are exceeded.
If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
The vehicle will make abnormal sounds.
The vehicle will behave abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire. (P. 536, 552)
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197 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Manual transmission (diesel engine)
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in “N”.
Sit in the driver’s seat and firmly depress the clutch pedal.
Turn the engine switch to the “ON” position.
indicator light turns on.
After indicator light goes out, turn the engine switch
to the “START” position and start the engine.
Engine (ignition) switch
“LOCK”
The steering wheel is locked
and the key can be removed.
(Vehicles with a Multidrive or
an automatic transmission:
The key can be removed only
when the shift lever is in “P”.)
“ACC”
Some electrical components
such as the audio system can
be used.
“ON”
All electrical components can
be used.
“START”
For starting the engine.
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198 2-1. Driving procedures
When the steering lock cannot be released
If the engine does not start
The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (P. 124)
Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified
and equipped professional.
Key reminder function
A buzzer sounds if the driver’s door is opened, while the key is in the “LOCK”
or “ACC” position to remind you to remove the key.
CAUTION
When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not press the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
Caution while driving
Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position.
If in an emergency, you must turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the engine switch only to the “ACC” position. (P. 595)
When starting the engine, the engine
switch may seem stuck in the “LOCK”
position. To free it, turn the key while turn-
ing the steering wheel slightly in either
direction.
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