Page 551 of 732
5517-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
HIGHLANDER_U
●Flathead screwdriver
● Small flathead screwdriver
● Lithium  battery  CR2016  (vehicles  without  a  smart  key  system),  o r
CR2032 (vehicles with a smart key system)
Vehicles without a smart key system
Remove the cover.
To  prevent  damage  to  the  key,
cover the tip of the flathead screw-
driver with a rag.
To  prevent  the  buttons  from  being
disassembled,  face  the  button  sur-
face downward.
Remove the module.
Wireless remote control/electronic key 
batter y
Replace the battery with a n ew one if it is depleted.
You will need the following items:
Replacing the battery
1
2 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 553 of 732

5537-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
HIGHLANDER_U
■Use a CR2016 (vehicles without  a smart key system) or CR2032 (v ehicles
with a smart key system) lithium battery
● Batteries can be purchased at your Toyota dealer, local electri cal appliance
shops or camera stores.
● Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manu-
facturer.
● Dispose of used batteries according to local laws.
■ If the key battery is depleted 
The following symptoms may occur:
●The  smart  key  system  (if  equipped)  and  wireless  remote  control  will  not
function properly.
● The operational range will be reduced.
WARNING
■Removed battery a nd other parts
These parts are small and if swallowed by a child, they can cause choking.
Keep  away  from  children.  Failure  to  do  so  could  result  in  death  or  serious
injury.
NOTICE
■ For normal operation after replacing the battery
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents:
● Always work with dry hands.
Moisture may cause the battery to rust.
● Do not touch or move any other component inside the remote cont rol.
● Do not bend either of the battery terminals. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 637 of 732

6378-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U
Use the mechanical key (P.   1 1 6 )
in  order  to  perform  the  following
operations:
Locks all the doors
Models  available  with  one
touch  opening/closing  on  the
front side windows: 
Closes  the  front  side  windows
and  moon  roof
*1 (turn and
hold)
*2 (  P. 180, 183)
Models  available  with  one  touch  opening/closing  on  all  side  win -
dows: 
Closes all side windows and moon roof
*1 (turn and hold)*2 
(  P. 180, 183)
Unlocks the door
Turning  the  key  rearward  unlocks  the  driver’s  door.  Turning  the   key  once
again within 5 seconds unlocks the other doors.
Models  available  with  one  touch  opening/closing  on  the  front  si de
windows: 
Opens the front side windows and moon roof
*1 (turn and hold)*2 
(  P. 180, 183)
Models  available  with  one  touch  opening/closing  on  all  side  win -
dows: 
Opens all side windows and moon roof
*1 (turn and hold)*2 
(  P. 180, 183)
*1: If equipped
*2: This setting must be customized at your Toyota dealer.
If  the electronic key does not operate prop-
erly (vehicles with a smar t key system)
If  communication  between  the  electronic  key  and  vehicle  is
interrupted  ( P.  150)  or  the  electronic  key  cannot  be  used
because the battery is depleted, the smart key system and wire-
less  remote  control  cannot  be  used.  In  such  cases,  the  doors
can  be  opened  and  the  engine  c an  be  started  by  following  the
procedure below.
Locking and unlocking the door s and key linked functions
1
2
3
4 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 644 of 732

6448-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U
■Starting the engine when t he battery is discharged 
The engine cannot be started by push-starting.
■ To prevent battery discharge
●Turn  off  the  headlights  and  the  audio  system  while  the  engine  i s  stopped.
(Vehicles  with  Stop  &  Start  system:  except  when  the  engine  is  s topped  by
the Stop & Start system.)
● Turn off any unnecessary electrical components when the vehicle  is running
at a low speed for an extended period, such as in heavy traffic .
■ When recharging or replacing the battery
●Vehicles with a smart key system: In some cases, it may not be  possible to
unlock  the  doors  using  the  smart  key  system  when  the  battery  is dis-
charged.  Use  the  wireless  remote  control  or  the  mechanical  key  to  lock  or
unlock the doors.
● Vehicles  with  a  smart  key  system:  The  engine  may  not  start  on  t he  first
attempt after the battery has recharged but will start normally  after the sec-
ond attempt. This is not a malfunction.
● Vehicles with a smart key system: The engine switch mode is memorized by
the  vehicle.  When  the  battery  is  reconnected,  the  system  will  r eturn  to  the
mode it was in before the battery was discharged. Before disconnecting the
battery, turn the engine switch off. 
If you are unsure what mode the engine switch was in before the  battery dis-
charged, be especially careful when reconnecting the battery.
● Vehicle  with  power  back  door:  The  power  back  door  must  be  initi alized.
( P. 694)
● Vehicles with Stop & Start system: After the battery terminals  have been dis-
connected  then  reconnected  or  the  battery  has  been  replaced,  th e  Stop  &
Start  system  may  not  automatically  stop  the  engine  for  approximately  5  to
60 minutes.
■ Charging the battery
The  electricity  stored  in  the  battery  will  discharge  gradually  even  when  the
vehicle is not in use, due to natural discharge and the draining effects of cer-
tain electrical appliances. If the vehicle is left for a long t ime, the battery may
discharge,  and  the  engine  may  be  unable  to  start.  (The  battery  recharges
automatically during driving.)
■ When exchanging the battery (vehicles with Stop & Start system)
Use  a  genuine  battery  specifically  designed  for  use  with  a  Stop  & Start sys-
tem  or  equivalent.  If  an  unsupported  battery  is  used,  Stop  &  Start  system
functions  may  be  restricted  to  protect  the  battery. Also,  battery  performance
may decrease and the engine may not be able to restart. Contact your Toyota
dealer for details. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 687 of 732
6879-2. Customization
9
Vehicle specifications
HIGHLANDER_U■
Door lock (
P. 121, 129, 637)
■Smart key system* and wireless remote control ( P. 121, 129)
*: If equipped
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-
ting
Unlocking using a key
Driver’s door 
unlocked in one  step, all doors 
unlocked in two  steps
All doors 
unlocked in one 
step
——O
Automatic door lock
Shifting the shift lever to position  other than P
Off
O—OVehicle speed is 
approximately 12 
mph (20 km/h) or  higher
Automatic door unlockShifting the shift lever to POff
O—ODriver’s door is  opened
123
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-
ting
Operation  buzzer  vol-
umeLevel 5OffO—OLevel 1 to 7
Operation signal 
(Emergency flashers)OnOffO—O
Time  elapsed  before
automatic  door  lock
function  is  activated  if
door  is  not  opened  after
being unlocked
60 seconds
Off
O—O30 seconds
120 seconds
Open  door  warning
buzzerOnOff——O
123 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 688 of 732
6889-2. Customization
HIGHLANDER_U■
Smart key system* (
 P. 121, 129, 147)
*: If equipped
■
Wireless remote control ( P. 114, 121, 129)
*: Vehicles without smart key system
■
Power back door* (  P. 129)
*: If equipped
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-
ting
Smart key systemOnOff——O
Number  of  consecutive
door lock operations2 timesAs many as 
desired——O
123
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set- ting
Wireless remote controlOnOff——O
Unlocking operation
Driver’s door 
unlocked in one  step, all doors 
unlocked in two 
steps
All doors 
unlocked in one  step
O—O
Reservation lock*OnOffO—O
Alarm (panic mode)OnOff——O
123
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-
ting
Power  back  door  open-
ing angleOpening angle 5Opening angle 1  to 4O—O
123 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 689 of 732
6899-2. Customization
9
Vehicle specifications
HIGHLANDER_U■
Driving position memory* (
 P. 164)
*: If equipped
■
Power windows and moon roof*(  P. 178, 182)
*: If equipped
■
Power windows ( P. 178) 
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-
ting
Selecting  the  door  link-
ing driving position mem-
ory  with  door  unlock
operation
Driver’s doorAll doors——O
123
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-ting
Key linked operationOffOn——O
Wireless  remote  control
linked  operation  (open
only)
OffOn——O
Wireless  remote  control
linked  operation  signal
(buzzer)
OnOff——O
123
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-ting
One-touch  close  opera-
tion using the power win-
dow  switches  on  the
front  passenger  door
and each rear door
OnOff——O
One-touch  front  passen-
ger  window  or  rear  side
window  close  operation
using  the  power  window
switch  on  the  driver’s
door
OnOff——O
123 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 690 of 732
6909-2. Customization
HIGHLANDER_U■
Moon roof* (
 P. 182)
*: If equipped
■
Turn signal lever ( P. 239)
*1: After flashing the turn signal lights when turning left or rig ht while this func-
tion is off and the turn signal lever is moved to the first pos ition in the direc-
tion of the flashing light, the turn signal lights can be selected to be flashing
or off.
*2: The turn signal lights will be off if the turn signal lever is moved to the first position in the direction of flashing light.
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set- ting
Linked operation of com-
ponents  when  mechani-
cal  key  is  used  (open
only)
Slide onlyTilt only——O
Linked operation of com-
ponents  when  wireless
remote control is used
Slide onlyTilt only——O
123
FunctionDefault settingCustomized set-ting
The  number  of  times  the
turn  signal  lights  flash
automatically  when  the
turn  signal  lever  is
moved  to  the  first  posi-
tion  during  a  lane
change
*1
3
Off*2
——O4 to 7
123