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4-2. Driving procedures
WARNING
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress 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
If the vehicle begins to slide due to engine failure or other circumstances, do
not  lock  or  open  the  doors  until  the  vehicle  reaches  a  safe  and  complete
stop.  Activation  of  the  steering  lock  in  this  circumstance  may  lead  to  an
accident, resulting in death or serious injury.
■ Stopping the engine in an emergency
If  you  want  to  stop  the  engine  in  an  emergency  while  driving  the  vehicle,
press and hold the engine switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly
3 times or more in succession. ( P. 537)
However,  do  not  touch  the  engine  switch  while  driving  except  in  an  emer-
gency. 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.
NOTICE
■ To prevent battery discharge
●Do  not  leave  the  engine  switch  in  ACCESSORY  or  IGNITION  ON  mode
for long periods of time without the engine running.
● If the indicator on the engine switch is illuminated, the engine switch is not
off. When exiting the vehicle, always check that the engine switch is off.
● Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If
the engine is stopped in another shift lever position, the engine switch will
not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If the vehi-
cle is left in ACCESSORY mode, battery discharge may occur.
■ When starting the engine
●Do not race a cold engine.
● If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the engine
checked immediately.
■ Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. 
Contact your Toyota dealer immediately. 
     
        
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4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Automatic transaxle
While the engine switch is in the “ON” position (vehicles without a
smart key system) or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with a smart
key  system),  move  the  shift  lever  with  the  brake  pedal
depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehi-
cle is completely stopped.
Shifting the shift lever 
     
        
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SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2374-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■S mode
●When the shift range is 7 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the
shift range to 8.
● To  prevent  excessive  engine  speed,  a  function  was  adopted  that  automati-
cally selects a higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
● To  protect  the  automatic  transaxle,  a  function  is  adopted  that  automatically
selects a higher shift range when the fluid temperature is high.
■ Downshift restriction wa rning buzzer (S mode)
To  help  ensure  safety  and  driving  performance,  downshifting  operation  may
sometimes  be  restricted.  In  some  circumstances,  downshifting  may  not  be
possible even when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■ Deactivation of power mode
Power mode will be canceled if the engine is turned off after driving in power
mode.
■ When driving with the cr uise control or dynamic radar cruise control
activated (if equipped)
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine
braking,  engine  braking  will  not  activate  because  cruise  control  or  dynamic
radar cruise control will not be canceled.
● While driving in S mode, downshifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4. ( P. 236)
● When switching the driving mode to power mode while driving in D. 
(P. 234)
■ Shift lock system
The shift  lock  system  is a  system  to prevent accidental  operation of  the shift
lever in starting.
The  shift  lever  can  be  shifted  from  P  only  when  the  engine  switch  is  in  the
“ON”  position  (vehicles  without  a  smart  key  system)  or  IGNITION  ON  mode
(vehicles with a smart key system) and the brake pedal is being depressed. 
     
        
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4-2. Driving procedures
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
●First, check whether the brake pedal is being depressed.
If  the  shift  lever  cannot  be  shifted  with  your  foot  on  the  brake  pedal,  there
may be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the vehicle inspected by
your Toyota dealer immediately.
The following steps may be used as an emergency measure to ensure that
the shift lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake.
Turn  the  engine  switch  to  the  “LOCK”  position  (vehicles  without  a  smart
key system) or off (vehicles with a smart key system).
Depress the brake pedal.
● Vehicles  with  AUTO  ACCESS  SEAT:  If  the  AUTO  ACCESS  SEAT  has  not
been  locked  in  place  after  being  stowed,  the  shift  lever  cannot  be  shifted
from P. 
For details, refer to “AUTO A CCESS SEAT OWNER’S MANUAL”.
Pry  the  cover  up  with  a  flathead
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To  prevent  damage  to  the  cover,
cover the tip of the screwdriver with a
rag.
Press the shift lock override button.
The  shift  lever  can  be  shifted  while
the button is pressed.
1
2
3
4
5 
     
        
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SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2394-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■If the beep sounds continuously when  the shift lever is shifted from P
(vehicles with an AUTO ACCESS SEAT)
The AUTO ACCESS SEAT may not be locked in place. 
For details, refer to “AUTO ACCESS SEAT OWNER’S MANUAL”.
■ If “S” does not come on even afte r shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transaxle system. Have the
vehicle  inspected  by  your  Toyota  dealer  immediately.  (In  this  situation,  the
transaxle will operate in the same manner as when the shift lever is in D.)
■ AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT  automatically  selects  the  suitable  gear  according  to  driver  perfor-
mance and driving conditions. 
AI-SHIFT  automatically  operates  when  the  shift  lever  is  in  the  D  position.
(Shifting the shift lever to the S position cancels the function.)
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly. 
Sudden  changes  in  engine  braking  may  cause  the  vehicle  to  spin  or  skid,
resulting in an accident.
■ To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override button, make sure to set the parking
brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of the brake pedal
when  the  shift  lock  override  button  is  pressed  and  the  shift  lever  is  shifted
out  of  P,  the  vehicle  may  suddenly  start,  possibly  leading  to  an  accident
resulting in death or serious injury. 
     
        
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4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Parking brake
To  set  the  parking  brake,  fully
depress  the  parking  brake  pedal
with  your  left  foot  while  depress-
ing the brake pedal with your right
foot.
(Depressing  the  pedal  again
releases the parking brake.)
■Parking the vehicle
P. 194
■ Usage in winter time
P. 317
Operating instructions
U.S.A.Canada
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components
overheating,  which  may  affect  braking  performance  and  increase  brake
wear. 
     
        
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SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2454-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■Daytime running light system (if equipped)
●Bulb type: To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime
driving,  the  daytime  running  lights  turn  on  automatically  whenever  the
engine is started and the parking brake is released with the headlight switch
off  or  in  the  “AUTO”  position.  (illuminate  dimmer  than  the  headlights)  Day-
time running lights are not designed for use at night. 
For  the  U.S.A.:  Daytime  running  lights  can  be  turned  off  by  operating  the
headlight switch.
LED type: To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime
driving,  the  daytime  running  lights  turn  on  automatically  whenever  the
engine  is  started  and  the  parking  brake  is  released  with  the  headlight
switch off. Daytime running lights are not designed for use at night.
For  the  U.S.A.:  Daytime  running  lights  can  be  turned  off  by  operating  the
headlight switch.
● Compared  to  turning  on  the  headlights,  the  daytime  running  light  system
offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve
fuel economy.
■ Headlight control sensor
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
that  blocks  the  sensor  is  affixed  to  the
windshield.
Doing  so  interferes  with  the  sensor
detecting  the  level  of  ambient  light  and
may  cause  the  automatic  headlight  sys-
tem to malfunction. 
     
        
        Page 263 of 672
SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2634-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
To change the set speed, operate the lever until the desired set speed
is obtained.
Increases the speed
Decreases the speed
Fine  adjustment:  Momentarily
move the lever in the desired direc-
tion.
Large adjustment: Hold the lever in
the desired direction.
The set speed will be increase d or decreased as follows: 
Fine  adjustment:  By  approximately  1  mph  (1.6  km/h)  each  time  the
lever is operated. 
Large adjustment: The set speed can be increased or decreased con-
tinually until the lever is released.
Pulling  the  lever  toward  you
cancels  the  constant  speed
control.
The speed setting is also canceled
when the brakes are applied.
Pushing  the  lever  up  resumes
the constant speed control.
Resuming  is  available  when  the
vehicle speed is more than approx-
imately 25 mph (40 km/h).
Adjusting the set speed
1
2
Canceling and resuming the constant speed control
1
2