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1293-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
Impact detection door lock release system
In the event that the vehicle is subject to a strong impact, all the doors are
unlocked. Depending on the force of the impact or the type of accident, how-
ever, the system may not operate.
■ Using the mechanical key
The doors can also be locked and unlocked with the mechanical key.
(→P. 623)
■ Conditions affecting the operation of the smart key system or wireless
remote control
→P. 149
■ Customization
Settings (e.g. unlocking function using a key) can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P. 666)
WARNING
■To prevent an accident
Observe the following precautions while driving the vehicle.
Failure to do so may result in a door opening and an occupant falling out of
the vehicle, resulting in death or serious injury.
● Ensure that all doors are properly closed and locked.
● Do not pull the inside handle of the doors while driving.
Be especially careful for the front doors, as the doors may be opened even
if the inside lock buttons are in locked position.
● Set the rear door child-protector locks when children are seated in the rear
seats.
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1313-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
◆Back door opener
Vehicles without a power
back door
Raise the back door while
pressing up the back door
opener switch.
Vehicles with a power back
door
When the back door is
unlocked: Press the back door
opener switch.
When the back door is locked: While carrying the electronic key on
your person, press and hold the back door opener switch.
Pressing the switch while the back door is opening/closing stops the
operation.
◆Wireless remote control (vehicles with a power back door)
Opens and closes the power
back door (press and hold)
Pressing the button while the
back door is opening/closing
stops the operation.
To operate the back door again,
press and hold the button. The
back door will then move in the
opposite direction.
Opening the back door from outside the vehicle
Page 142 of 716

1423-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
The glass hatch can be opened using the glass hatch opener.When the back door is
unlocked: Press the button to
pop up the glass hatch.
When the back door is locked:
While carrying the electronic
key on your person, press the
button to pop up the glass
hatch.
Raise the glass hatch using the
knob
■Luggage compartment light
→P. 134
■ The glass hatch can be opened when
The back door is closed.
■ Opening and closing the glass hatch
●Open the glass hatch slowly and carefully.
● Make sure that the rear window wiper is switched off.
● Do not rotate the rear wiper arm when the glass hatch is open. (If the rear
wiper arm is rotated, turn the wiper switch on after closing the glass hatch.
The rear wiper arm will return to the correct position automatically after
operating once.)
● Make sure that the back door is closed before closing the glass hatch.
■ After closing the glass hatch
Check that the glass hatch is firmly closed. If it is not firmly closed, the rear
window wiper and washer will not operate correctly.
Glass hatch∗
∗: If equipped
Opening the glass hatch
1
2
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1433-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
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Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
Function to prevent the glass hatc h being locked with the electronic key
● When all doors are locked, closing the glass hatch with the electronic key
left inside the luggage compartment will sound an alarm.
In this case, the glass hatch can be opened by pressing the glass hatch
opener.
● If the spare electronic key is put in the luggage compartment with all the
doors locked, the key confinement prevention function will activate and the
glass hatch can be opened. In order to prevent theft, take all electronic keys
with you when leaving the vehicle.
● If the electronic key is put in the luggage compartment with all the doors
locked, the key may not be detected depending on the location of the key
and the surrounding radio wave conditions. In this case, the key confine-
ment prevention function cannot be activated, causing the doors to lock
when the glass hatch is closed. Make sure to check where the key is before
closing the glass hatch.
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■Before driving
● Make sure that the glass hatch is fully closed. If the glass hatch is not fully
closed, it may open unexpectedly while driving and hit near-by objects or
luggage in the luggage compartment may be thrown out, causing an acci-
dent.
● Do not allow a child to open or close the glass hatch.
Doing so may cause the glass hatch to move unexpectedly, or cause the
child’s hands, head, or neck to be caught by the closing glass hatch.
■ Operating the glass hatch
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause parts of the body to be caught, resulting in death
or serious injury.
● Remove any heavy loads, such as snow and ice, from the glass hatch
before opening it. Failure to do so may cause the glass hatch to suddenly
shut again after it is opened.
● When opening or closing the glass hatch, thoroughly check to make sure
the surrounding area is safe.
● If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that
the glass hatch is about to open or close.
● Use caution when opening or closing the glass hatch in windy weather as
it may move abruptly in strong wind.
Page 146 of 716
1463-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
●Locking and unlocking the doors ( →P. 124)
● Opening the back door (vehicles with a power back door) ( →P. 131)
● Opening the glass hatch (if equipped) ( →P. 142)
● Starting the hybrid system ( →P. 225)
■Antenna location
Smart key system
The following operations can be performed simply by carrying
the electronic key on your person, for example in your pocket.
The driver should always carry the electronic key.
Antennas outside the cabin
Antennas inside the cabin
Antenna outside the luggage compart-
ment1
2
3
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1473-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
Effective range (areas within whic h the electronic key is detected)
■ Alarms and warning indicators
An alarm sounds and warning messages are displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display are used to protect against unexpected accidents or theft of the
vehicle resulting from erroneous operation. When a warning message is dis-
played, take appropriate measures based on the displayed message.
(→P. 577)
When only an alarm sounds, circumstances and correction procedures are as
follows:
*: Vehicles with a glass hatch When locking or unlocking the doors
The system can be operated when
the electronic key is within about 2.3
ft. (0.7 m) of an outside front door
handle. (Only the doors detecting the
key can be operated.)
When starting the hybrid system or changing power switch modes
The system can be operated when the electronic key is inside the
vehicle.
When opening the glass hatch (if equipped) and locking or unlocking
the doors
This system can be operated when the electronic key is within about
2.3 ft. (0.7 m) of the back door opener switch.
AlarmSituationCorrection procedure
Exterior alarm sounds
once for 5 seconds
The glass hatch was
closed while the elec-
tronic key was still
inside the vehicle and
all the doors were
locked.
*
Retrieve the electronic
key from the vehicle
and close the glass
hatch.
*
An attempt was made
to lock the vehicle while
a door was open.Close all of the doors
and lock the doors
again.
Interior alarm sounds
continuously
The power switch was
turned to ACCESSORY
mode while the driver’s
door was open (or the
driver’s door was
opened while the
power switch was in
ACCESSORY mode).
Turn the power switch
off and close the
driver’s door.
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1483-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
Battery-saving function
The battery-saving function will be activated in order to prevent the electronic
key battery and the 12-volt battery from being discharged while the vehicle is
not in operation for a long time.
●In the following situations, the smart key system may take some time to
unlock the doors.
• The electronic key has been left in an area of approximately 6 ft. (2 m) of
the outside of the vehicle for 10 minutes or longer.
• The smart key system has not been used for 5 days or longer.
● If the smart key system has not been used for 14 days or longer, the doors
cannot be unlocked at any doors except the driver’s door. In this case, take
hold of the driver’s door handle, or use the wireless remote control or the
mechanical key, to unlock the doors.
■ Electronic key battery-saving function
When battery-saving mode is set, battery depletion is minimized by stop-
ping the electronic key from receiving radio waves.
Press twice while pressing and
holding . Confirm that the electronic
key indicator flashes 4 times.
While the battery-saving mode is set, the
smart key system cannot be used. To
cancel the function, press any of the elec-
tronic key buttons.
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1493-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
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 immobilizer
system from operating properly. (Ways of coping: →P. 623)
● 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 devices
● 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
● When the electronic key is placed near a battery charger or electronic
devices