1504-1. Before driving
CAUTION
■If you hear a squealing or scrapi ng noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon
as possible.
Rotor damage may 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 those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■ When the vehicle is stopped
● Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate
suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
● 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.
● Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combusti\
ble
material is nearby.
■ When the vehicle is parked
● Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a
fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may rupture, causing the contents to spray over the
interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s
electrical components.
● Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
● Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not place
containers such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard.
Adhesive discs or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehi-
cle.
1514-1. Before driving
4
Driving
CAUTION
●Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a
metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause
the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
● Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the engine
and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the parking brake is not
set, the vehicle may start to move, possibly leading to an accident.
● Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the engine is running or immediately
after turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
● 4WD models: If the shift lever is moved before the “4LO” indicator turns
on/off, the transfer mode may not be shifted completely. The transfer mode
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain and
allows the vehicle to move regardless of the shift position. (At this time, the
indicator blinks and the buzzer sounds.)
Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the automatic transmission is in
P. You or someone else could be seriously injured. You must complete the
shifting of the transfer mode. ( →P. 230)
■ When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire
due to engine overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking
● When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause
one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other\
vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
● Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
● The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if one of the
systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will\
increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
1734-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Hitch receiver pin hole position:
46.4 in. (1179 mm)
Use the wire harness stored in the rear end of the vehicle.
■ Service connector for towing brake controllers (vehicles without an
installed trailer brake controller)
Positions for towing hitch receiver
1
Connecting trailer lights
Vehicles without towing pack-
ageVehicles with towing package
Your vehicle is equipped with a service
connector for supplemental trailer brake
controllers.
Please consult your dealer on how to
access the service connector.
1774-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Trailer brake controller
→P. 242
■ Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■ Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( →P. 526)
● Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recommen-
dation.
● All trailer lights work as required by law.
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trailer.
● The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for improper tongue weight,
overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
● The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for tow-
ing purposes.
● Depress TOW/HAUL button (if equipped). ( →P. 187)
● The manual headlight leveling dial is correctly adjusted. ( →P. 194)
No matter which class of tow hitch
applies, for a more safe trailer hookup,
the trailer ball setup must be the proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball
1
2
1804-1. Before driving
CAUTION
■Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the
hitch manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of
towing a higher weight, the operator must determine the maximum weight
rating of the particular hitch assembly and never exceed the maximum
weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight
rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause an accident resulting
in death or serious personal injuries.
■ When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
● If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.
● Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both
the trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Toyota dealer. Do not install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing trailer lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.
■ When towing a fifth wheel trailer
Be careful not to hit the cabin or bed with
the trailer while making a sharp turn.
1954-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■Daytime running light system
●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 brighter than the parking lights.) Daytime
running lights are not designed for use at night.
● 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 (vehicl es with automatic headlight system)
■ Automatic light off system
●When the headlights come on: The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 sec-
onds after a door is opened and closed if the engine switch is turned to the
“ACC” or “LOCK” position. (The lights turn off immediately if the button
on the key is pressed after all the doors are locked.)
● When only the tail lights come on: The tail lights turn off automatically if the
engine switch is tuned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position and the driver’s door
is opened.
Vehicles with automatic headlight system: If any of the doors is kept open, the
lights automatically turn off after 20 minutes.
To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to the “ON” position, or turn
the light switch off once and then back to or .
■ Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the key is removed from the engine switch and the
driver’s door is opened while the lights are turned on.
■ Customization that can be co nfigured at Toyota dealer
Settings (automatic light off system) can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P. 543)
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.
NOTICE
■
To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than necessary when the engine is not
running.
2104-5. Using the driving support systems
■The intuitive parking assist can be operated when
●Front corner sensors:
• The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
• The shift lever is in R.
• The shift lever is not in P or R and vehicle speed is less than about 6 mph
(10 km/h).
● Rear corner and rear center sensors:
• The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
• The shift lever is in R.
■ Sensor detection information
●The sensor’s detection areas are limited to the areas around the vehicle’s
front corner and rear bumpers.
● Certain vehicle conditions and the surrounding environment may affect the
ability of the sensor to correctly detect obstacles. Particular instances where
this may occur are listed below.
• There is dirt, snow or ice on the sensor. (Wiping the sensors will resolve
this problem.)
• The sensor is frozen. (Thawing the area will resolve this problem.)
• The sensor is covered in any way.
• The vehicle is leaning considerably to one side.
• On an extremely bumpy road, on an incline, on gravel, or on grass.
• The vicinity of the vehicle is noisy due to vehicle horns, motorcycle
engines, air brakes of large vehicles, or other loud noises producing ultra-
sonic waves.
• There is another vehicle equipped with parking assist sensors in the
vicinity.
• The sensor is coated with a sheet of spray or heavy rain.
• The vehicle is equipped with a fender pole or radio antenna.
• The bumper or sensor receives a strong impact.
• The vehicle is approaching a tall or curved curb.
• In harsh sunlight or intense cold weather.
• The area directly under the bumpers is not detected.
• If obstacles draw too close to the sensor.
• A non-genuine Toyota suspension (lowered suspension, etc.) is installed.
• People may not be detected if they are wearing certain types of clothing.
In addition to the examples above, there are instances in which, because of
their shape, signs and other objects may be judged by the sensor to be closer
than they are.
2394-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
If the vehicle gets stuck in fresh snow or mud, A-TRAC system may
reduce power from the engine to the wheels. You may need to turn
the system off to enable you to rock the vehicle in order to free it.Stop the vehicle completely,
and press the VSC off switch
for more than 3 seconds.
The “TRACTION CONTROL
OFF” will be shown on the dis-
play.
Press the switch again to turn
the system back on.
■When the “TRAC OFF” indicator light comes on or the message is dis-
played on the multi-information disp lay showing that “TRACTION CON-
TROL OFF” has been disabled even if the VSC off switch has not been
pressed
TRAC cannot be operated. Contact your Toyota dealer.
■ Sounds and vibrations caused by the ABS, brake assist, VSC, TRAC, A-
TRAC and Trailer Sway Control systems
●A sound may be heard from the engine compartment when the brake pedal
is depressed repeatedly, when the engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This sound does not indicate that a malfunction has
occurred in any of these systems.
● Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are
operating. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
Disabling the A-TRAC system (4L mode on 4WD models)