2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Owners Manual

4096-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)
6
Maintenance and care
■Installing the 12-volt battery coverInstall the clamp cover.
Install the 12-volt battery
cover.
Install the side deck board.
■Before recharging
When recharging, the 12-volt battery produces hydrogen gas which is flam-
mable and explosive. Therefore, before recharging:
●If recharging with the 12-volt battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to dis-
connect the ground cable.
● Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and dis-
connecting the charger cables to the 12-volt battery.
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4106-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)■
After recharging/reconnect ing the 12-volt battery
● The hybrid system may not start. Follow the procedure below to initialize the
system.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Open and close any of the doors.
Restart the hybrid system.
● Unlocking the doors using the smart key system may not be possible imme-
diately after reconnecting the 12-volt battery. If this happens, use the wire-
less remote control or the mechanical key to lock/unlock the doors.
● Start the hybrid system with the power switch in ACCESSORY mode. The
hybrid system may not start with the power switch turned off. However, the
hybrid system will operate normally from the second attempt.
● The power switch mode is recorded by the vehicle. If the 12-volt battery is
disconnected and reconnected, the vehicle will return the power switch
mode to the status it was in before the 12-volt battery was disconnected.
Make sure to turn off the power switch before disconnecting the 12-volt bat-
tery. Take extra care when connecting the 12-volt battery if the power switch
mode prior to the battery being disconnected is unknown.
If the system will not start even after multiple attempts, contact your Toyota
dealer.
WARNING
■ Chemicals in the 12-volt battery
The 12-volt battery contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid and may
produce hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. To reduce the risk
of death or serious injury, take the following precautions while working on or
near the 12-volt battery:
● Do not cause sparks by touching the 12-volt battery terminals with tools.
● Do not smoke or light a match near the 12-volt battery.
● Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothes.
● Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.
● Wear protective safety glasses when working near the 12-volt battery.
● Keep children away from the 12-volt battery.
■ Where to safely charge the 12-volt battery
Always charge the 12-volt battery in an open area. Do not charge the 12-
volt battery in a garage or closed room where there is not sufficient ventila-
tion.
■ How to recharge th e 12-volt battery
Only perform a slow charge (5 A or less). The 12-volt battery may explode if
charged at a quicker rate.
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4116-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)
6
Maintenance and care
WARNING
■Emergency measures regarding electrolyte
● If electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immedi-
ate medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with a sponge or
cloth while traveling to the nearest medical facility.
● If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thoroughly. If you feel pain or burning, get medical
attention immediately.
● If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to your skin. Immediately take off the cloth-
ing and follow the procedure above if necessary.
● If you accidentally swallow electrolyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk. Get emergency medical attention
immediately.
■ When replacing the 12-volt battery
Use a 12-volt battery designed for the vehicle. Failure to do so may cause
gas (hydrogen) to enter the passenger compartment, causing a fire or
explosion.
For replacement of the 12-volt battery, contact your Toyota dealer.
NOTICE
■When recharging the 12-volt battery
Never recharge the 12-volt battery while the hybrid system is operating.
Also, be sure all accessories are turned off.

4126-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)
New tread
Treadwear indicator
Worn tread
The location of treadwear indica-
tors is shown by the “TWI” or “”
marks, etc., molded on the side-
wall of each tire.
Check spare tire condition and
pressure if not rotated.
Rotate the tires in the order shown.
Do not fail to initialize the tire pre ssure warning system after tire rota-
tion.
To equalize tire wear and extend ti re life, Toyota recommends that tire
rotation is carried out at the sa me interval as tire inspection.
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in acco rdance with maintenance sched-
ules and treadwear.
Checking tires
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Tire rotation
Vehicles with compact spare
tireVehicles with full-size spare
tire
FrontFront

4136-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)
6
Maintenance and care
Your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses
tire pressure warning valves and tr ansmitters to detect low tire infla-
tion pressure before serious problems arise.
If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is
warned by a warning light. ( P. 459)
◆Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are
installed, new ID codes must be registered in the tire pressure
warning computer and the tire pr essure warning system must be
initialized. Have tire pressure warning valve and transmitter ID
codes registered by your Toyota dealer. ( P. 415)
◆Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the fol-
lowing circumstances:
● When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when chang-
ing traveling speed or load weight.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire
inflation pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.
Tire pressure warning system

4146-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)■
How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
Park the vehicle in a safe place and turn the power switch to off.
Initialization cannot be performed while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire inflation
pressure level. ( P. 536)
Make sure to adjust the tire pressu re to the specified cold tire infla-
tion pressure level. The tire pressure warning system will operate
based on this pressure level.
Turn the power switch to the ON mode.
Press and hold the tire pres-
sure warning reset switch
until the tire pressure warn-
ing light blinks slowly 3 times.
Wait for a few minutes with the power switch in ON mode and
then turn the power switch off.
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4156-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)
6
Maintenance and care
◆Registering ID codes
The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a
unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code. Have the ID code
registered by your Toyota dealer.
■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, and 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 your Toyota dealer.
■Replacing tires and wheels
If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not reg-
istered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. After driv-
ing for about 20 minutes, the tire pressure warning light blinks for 1
minute and stays on to indicate a system malfunction.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even
if it has seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
■Proper storage of the spare tire
As an improperly stored spare tire may cause damage to the wire cable
that holds it, check that the spare tire is stored properly on a daily basis.
• If the spare tire is slanted, the ho ist assembly may be stuck in the
wheel opening. If the spare tire rattles while driving, it may not be fully
raised. Lower the spare tire to the ground and make sure that the
hoist assembly is perpendic ular to the wheel opening.
• Raise the tire slowly and steadily until a click is heard and the jack
handle skips.
• If the spare tire cannot be lowered, the wire cable may be severed. Have the vehicle inspected at your Toyota dealer.
●If the stored spare tire is slanted or
causes a rattle while driving, properly
store the spare tire by following the
tire change procedure correctly
(  P. 486).

4166-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F02U)■
Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of
your routine of daily vehicle checks.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the number given by dividing the maximum load by 1.10 of the
replacement tire is greater than 1/
2 of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GAWR) of either the front axle or the rear axle, whichever is greater.
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same
traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy ro ads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
●All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions as well as for use
year-round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also, all
season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performance com-
pared with summer tires in highway driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load capacity as the or iginally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations fo r possible restrictions. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels. ( P. 316)
■If the tread on snow tires wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tire s as snow tires is lost.
For the GAWR, see the Certification
Label. For the maximum load of the tire,
see the load limit at maximum cold tire
inflation pressure mentioned on the
sidewall of the tire. (
P. 543)