Page 3 of 500

3
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
9
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 142
Cargo and luggage............ 153
Vehicle load limits ............. 156
Trailer towing..................... 157
Dinghy towing.................... 158
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch .............................. 159
Automatic  transmission .................... 165
Turn signal lever................ 169
Parking brake .................... 170
Horn .................................. 171
4-3.  Operating the lights and  wipers
Headlight switch ................ 172
Automatic High Beam ....... 176
Fog light switch ................. 181
Windshield wipers and  washer ............................ 183
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 189 4-5.  Using the driving support 
systems
Cruise control .................... 194
Dynamic radar cruise  control.............................. 198
Driving mode select  switches........................... 213
Driving assist systems ....... 215
PCS (Pre-Collision  System) ........................... 220
BSM  (Blind Spot Monitor)......... 227
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 236
4Driving 
     
        
        Page 15 of 500

15Pictorial index
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)Windshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 183
Precautions against winter season  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 236
Precautions against car wash  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 304
Fuel filler door  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 189
Refueling method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 189
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 432
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 334
Tire size/inflation pressure  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 437
Winter tires/tire chain  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 236
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system . . . . . . . . . P. 334
Coping with flat tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 400
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 319
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 319
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 432
Coping with overheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 423
Headlights/parking lights/side marker lights/
daytime running lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 172
Fog lights
* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 181
Turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 169
Stop/tail lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 172
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 172
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 165
4
5
6
7
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P. 361, Wattages: P. 438)
*: If equipped
8
9
10
11
12
13 
     
        
        Page 141 of 500

141
Driving4
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 142
Cargo and luggage ........... 153
Vehicle load limits ............. 156
Trailer towing..................... 157
Dinghy towing ................... 158
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch .............................. 159
Automatic  transmission .................... 165
Turn signal lever................ 169
Parking brake .................... 170
Horn .................................. 171 4-3.  Operating the lights and 
wipers
Headlight switch ................ 172
Automatic High Beam ....... 176
Fog light switch ................. 181
Windshield wipers and  washer ............................ 183
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 189
4-5.  Using the driving  support systems
Cruise control .................... 194
Dynamic radar cruise  control ............................. 198
Driving mode select  switches .......................... 213
Driving assist systems ...... 215
PCS (Pre-Collision  System)........................... 220
BSM  (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 227
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 236 
     
        
        Page 189 of 500
189
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)
4-4. Refueling
●Close all the doors and windows, and turn the engine switch off.
● Confirm the type of fuel.
■Fuel types
Use unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 87 [Research Octane Number 91] or
higher)
Opening the fuel tank cap
Perform the following steps to  open the fuel tank cap: 
Before refueling the vehicle 
     
        
        Page 190 of 500

1904-4. Refueling
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)
CAUTION
■When refueling the vehicle
Observe the following precautions while refueling the vehicle. Failure to do
so may result in death or serious injury.
● After exiting the vehicle and before opening the fuel door, touch an
unpainted metal surface to discharge any static electricity. It is important to
discharge static electricity before refueling because sparks resulting from
static electricity can cause fuel vapors to ignite while refueling.
● Always hold the grips on the fuel tank cap and turn it slowly to remove it. 
A whooshing sound may be heard when the fuel tank cap is loosened.
Wait until the sound cannot be heard before fully removing the cap. In hot
weather, pressurized fuel may spray out the filler neck and cause injury.
● Do not allow anyone that has not discharged static electricity from their
body to come close to an open fuel tank.
● Do not inhale vaporized fuel.
Fuel contains substances that are harmful if inhaled.
● Do not smoke while refueling the vehicle.
Doing so may cause the fuel to ignite and cause a fire.
● Do not return to the vehicle or touch any person or object that is statically
charged.
This may cause static electricity to build up, resulting in a possible ignition
hazard.
■ When refueling
Observe the following precautions to prevent fuel overflowing from the fuel
tank:
● Securely insert the fuel nozzle into the fuel filler neck.
● Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off.
● Do not top off the fuel tank.
NOTICE
■Refueling
Do not spill fuel during refueling. 
Doing so may damage the vehicle, such as causing the emission control
system to operate abnormally or damaging fuel system components or the
vehicle’s painted surface. 
     
        
        Page 191 of 500
1914-4. Refueling
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)
With the doors unlocked, press
the center of the rear edge of
the fuel filler door.
Push until you hear a click and take
your hand away to slightly open the
fuel filler door. Then open the door
fully by hand.
Turn the fuel tank cap slowly to
open.
Hang the fuel tank cap on the
back of the fuel filler door.
Opening the fuel tank cap
1
2
3 
     
        
        Page 193 of 500
1934-4. Refueling
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)
After refueling, turn the fuel
tank cap until you hear a click.
Once the cap is released, it will
turn slightly in the opposite
direction.
Close the fuel filler door, and
press the center of the rear
edge of the fuel filler door until
you hear a click.
When you lock the doors, the fuel
filler door will lock also.
■Fuel filler door lock condition
The fuel filler door may not be locked even when the vehicle’s doors are
locked in the following conditions: 
●When operating the door lock button inside the vehicle
● When the automatic door locking system is operated ( P. 113)
● When the fuel filler door is closed after the vehicle’s doors are locked
Closing the fuel tank cap
1
2
CAUTION
■When replacing the fuel tank cap
Do not use anything but a genuine Toyota fuel tank cap designed for your
vehicle. Doing so may cause a fire  or other incident which may result in
death or serious injury. 
     
        
        Page 315 of 500

3156-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
AVALON (U)_(OM41456U)
The OBD system determines that a problem exists somewhere in the
emission control system. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test and
may need to be repaired. Contact your Toyota dealer to service the
vehicle.
● When the battery is disconnected or discharged
Readiness codes that are set duri ng ordinary driving are erased.
Also, depending on your driving  habits, the readiness codes may
not be completely set.
● When the fuel tank cap is loose
The malfunction indicator lamp comes on indicating a temporary
malfunction and your vehicle may not pass the I/M test.
The error code in the OBD system  will not be cleared unless the vehi-
cle is driven 40 or more times.
Contact your Toyota dealer to prepare the vehicle for re-testing.
Emission inspection an d maintenance (I/M) 
programs
Some states have vehicle emission inspection programs which
include OBD (On Board Diagnos tics) checks. The OBD system
monitors the operation of  the emission control system.
If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on
Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test in the following situations:
When the malfunction indicator lamp still remains on after sev-
eral driving trips
If your vehicle does not pass the I/M test