Page 431 of 572

4316-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
6
Maintenance and care
sure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are
cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for
at least 3 hours or has not been
driven for more tha n 1 mile or 1.5
km, you will get an accurate cold
tire inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
It is difficult to judge if a tire is
properly inflated based only on its
appearance.
●It is normal for th e tire inflation
pressure to be higher after driving
as heat is generated in the tire. Do
not reduce tire inflation pressure
after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity
weight.
Passengers and luggage weight
should be placed so that the vehi-
cle is balanced.
WA R N I N G
■Proper inflation is critical to
save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly
inflated, the following conditions
may occur which could lead to an
accident resulting in death or seri-
ous injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting
from overheated tires
●Air leaking from between tire
and wheel
●Wheel deformation and/or tire
damage
●Greater possibilit y of tire dam-
age while driving (due to road
hazards, expansion joints,
sharp edges in the road, etc.)
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjust-
ing tire infla tion pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps
back on.
If a valve cap is no t installed, dirt
or moisture may get into the valve
and cause an air leak, resulting in
decreased tire inflation pressure.
Page 432 of 572

4326-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
When replacing wheels, care
should be taken to ensure that
they are equivalent to those
removed in load capacity, diam-
eter, rim width and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are avail-
able at your Toyota dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as off- set.
Toyota does not recommend
using the following:
Wheels of different sizes or
types
Used wheels
Bent wheels that have been
straightened
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are
equipped with tire pressure warning
valves and transmit ters that allow
the tire pressure warning system to
provide advance warning in the
event of a loss in tire inflation pres-
sure. Whenever wheels are
replaced, tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters must be
installed. ( P.423)
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or
heavily corroded, it should
be replaced. Otherwise, the
tire may separate from the
wheel or cause a loss of
handling control.
Wheel selection
WA R N I N G
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a dif-
ferent size from those recom-
mended in the Owner’s Manual,
as this may result in a loss of
handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a
leaking wheel which is designed
for a tubeless tire.
Doing so may result in an acci-
dent, causing death or serious
injury.
■When installing the wheel
nuts
Never use oil or grease on the
wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the
wheel nuts to be excessively tight-
ened, leading to bolt or disc wheel
damage. In addition, the oil or
grease can cause the wheel nuts
to loosen and the wheel may fall
off, causing an accident and
resulting in death or serious injury.
Remove any oil or grease from
the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
■Use of defective wheels pro-
hibited
Do not use cracke d or deformed
wheels. Doing so could cause the
tire to leak air during driving, pos-
sibly causing an accident.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replace-
ment may affect the tire pres-
sure warning valves and
transmitters, make sure to have
tires serviced by your Toyota
dealer or other qualified service
shop. In additio n, make sure to
purchase your tire pressure
warning valves and transmit-
ters at your Toyota dealer.
Page 433 of 572

4336-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
6
Maintenance and care
Use only Toyota wheel nuts
and wrenches designed for
use with your aluminum
wheels.
When rotating, repairing or
changing your tires, check
that the wheel nuts are still
tight after driving 1000 miles
(1600 km).
Be careful not to damage the
aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
Use only Toyota genuine bal-
ance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber ham-
mer when balancing your
wheels. 1
Turn the power switch off.
2 Open the glove box. Slide off
the damper.
3 Push in the glove box on the
vehicle’s outer side to discon-
nect the claws. Then pull out
the glove box and disconnect
the lower claws.
4 Unlock the filter cover ( ),
pull the filter cover out of the
NOTICE
●Ensure that only genuine Toyota
wheels are used on your vehi-
cle.
Tire pressure warning valves
and transmitters may not work
properly with non-genuine
wheels.
Aluminum wheel precau-
tions
Air conditioning filter
The air conditioning filter
must be changed regularly
to maintain air conditioning
efficiency.
Removing the air condi-
tioning filter
Page 453 of 572

4537-1. Essential information
HIGHLANDER HV_U
7
When trouble arises
briefly 3 times or more in suc-
cession.
5 Stop the vehicle in a safe
place by the road.
Remove the seat belt first.
If the door can be opened,
open the door and exit the
vehicle.
If the door can not be opened,
open the window using the
power window switch and exit
the vehicle through the win-
dow.
If the window can not be
opened using the power win-
dow switch, remain calm, wait
until the water level inside the
vehicle rises to the point that
the water pressure inside of
the vehicle equals the water
pressure outside of the vehi-
cle, and then open the door
and exit the vehicle.
WA R N I N G
■If the hybrid system has to be
turned off while driving
Power assist for the steering
wheel will be lost, making the
steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible
before turning off the hybrid sys-
tem.
If the vehicle is
trapped in rising water
In the event the vehicle is
submerged in water, remain
calm and perform the fol-
lowing.
Page 455 of 572

4557-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
7
When trouble arises
7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs
to be towed
If towing is necessary, we
recommend having your
vehicle towed by your Toy-
ota dealer or commercial
towing service, using a
wheel-lift type truck or flat-
bed truck.
Use a safety chain system
for all towing, and abide by
all state/provincial and local
laws.
If towing your vehicle with a
wheel-lift type truck from
the front, the vehicle’s rear
wheels and axles must be in
good conditions. ( P.457)
If they are damaged, use a
towing dolly or flatbed
truck.
WA R N I N G
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so m ay result in
death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
Be sure to transp ort the vehicle
with the front wheels raised or
with all four wheels raised off the
ground. If the vehicle is towed
with the front wheels contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and
related parts ma y be damaged or
electricity generated by the opera-
tion of the motor may cause a fire
to occur depending on the nature
of the damage or malfunction.
AWD models
Be sure to transp ort the vehicle
with all four wheels raised off the
ground. If the vehicle is towed
with the tires co ntacting the
ground, the drivetrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehi-
cle may fly off the truck, or elec-
tricity generated by the operation
of the motor may cause a fire to
occur depending o n the nature of
the damage or malfunction.
Page 456 of 572

4567-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
The following may indicate a
problem with your transmission.
Contact your Toyota dealer or
commercial towing service
before towing.
The hybrid system warning
message is shown on the
multi-information display and
the vehicle does not move.
The vehicle makes an abnor-
mal sound.
WA R N I N G
■While towing
●When towing using cables or
chains, avoid sudden starts, etc.
which place excessive stress on
the towing eyelets, cables or
chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become
damaged, broken debris may hit
people, and cause serious dam-
age.
●Do not turn the power switch off.
There is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and
cannot be operated.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing using a
wheel-lift type truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the
rear when the power switch is
off. The steering lock mecha-
nism is not strong enough to
hold the front wheels straight.
●When raising the vehicle,
ensure adequate ground clear-
ance for towing at the opposite
end of the raised vehicle. With-
out adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while
being towed.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing with a
sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck,
either from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle during emergency
towing
Do not secure cables or chains to
the suspension components.
■Recreational towing (behind
motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to
prevent causing serious damage
to the Hybrid AWD system (AWD
models) and transmission.
( P.212)
Situations when it is nec-
essary to contact dealers
before towing
Page 457 of 572
4577-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
7
When trouble arises
From the front (2WD models)
Release the parking brake.
Turn automatic mode off. ( P.225)
From the front (AWD models)
Use a towing dolly under the
rear wheels.
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the
front wheels. If your vehicle is transported by
a flatbed truck, it should be tied
down at the locations shown in
the illustration.
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
shaded in black must be 45°.
Towing with a wheel-lift
type truckNOTICE
■Towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
2WD models
AWD models
Using a flatbed truck
Page 458 of 572

4587-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
A driver must be in the vehicle to
steer and operate the brakes.
The vehicle’s wheels, drive train,
axles, steering and brakes must
be in good condition.
Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air
conditioning after use is nor-
mal.)
Flat-looking tires or uneven
tire wear
Engine coolant temperature
gauge needle continually
points higher than normal
Changes in exhaust sound
Excessive tire squeal when
cornering
Strange noises related to the
suspension system
Pinging or other noises
related to the hybrid system
Engine missing, stumbling or
running roughly
Appreciable loss of power
Vehicle pulls heavily to one
NOTICE
■Using a flatbed truck
Do not overly tighten the tie
downs or the vehicle may be
damaged.
Emergency towing
If you think something
is wrong
If you notice any of the fol-
lowing symptoms, your
vehicle probably needs
adjustment or repair. Con-
tact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms