
2914-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
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 engine failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, 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. 625) 
However, do not touch the engine switch while driving except in an emer- 
gency. If the engine switch is pressed while the vehicle is moving, the
warning message “PUSH AND HOLD ENGINE SWITCH FOR EMER- 
GENCY STOP”/“Push and hold engine switch for emergency stop” is dis- 
played on the multi-information display and a buzzer sounds. 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. 
● To restart the engine after turning off the engine while driving, shift the shift 
lever to N (automatic transmission) or depress the clutch pedal (manual
transmission) and then press the engine switch. 

2924-2. Driving procedures
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
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 “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the multi-information 
display while the engine is not running, the engine switch is not off. Exit the
vehicle after turning the engine switch off. 
● On vehicles with automatic transmission, 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 vehicle 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 your vehi- 
cle checked by any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized 
repairer, or any reliable repairer 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 any 
authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable 
repairer immediately. 

293
4
4-2. Driving procedures
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
Automatic transmission
Vehicles without smart entry & start system 
While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, move the shift 
lever with the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the 
vehicle is completely stopped.
Vehicles with smart entry & start system 
While the engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode, move the 
shift lever with the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the 
vehicle is completely stopped.
: If equipped
Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
Shifting the shift lever 

2994-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE) 
■ Transmission protection function 
If the tires spin continually when the vehicle becomes stuck in mud, dirt or 
snow, or if the accelerator pedal is depressed and released repeatedly while
driving, the automatic transmission temperature may become too high and 
the automatic transmission may be damaged. 
To avoid damaging the automatic transmission, the system may temporarily 
lock the gear. 
If the automatic transmission temperature falls, the gear locking is canceled 
and the automatic transmission is returned to the normal operation. 
■ If the warning message is displayed 
When the warning message goes out, the vehicle can be driven again. 
If the warning message does not go out after waiting a while, have your vehi- 
cle inspected by any authorized Toyota  retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, 
or any reliable repairer. 
■ AI-SHIFT 
The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver per- 
formance and driving conditions. 
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the 
shift lever to S cancels the function.) 
If the automatic transmission fluid tem- 
perature warning message is displayed 
while driving, make sure to return to D
position driving and reduce speed by eas- 
ing off the accelerator pedal. Stop the 
vehicle in a safe place, shift the shift lever
to P and let the engine idle until the warn- 
ing message goes out.
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. 

3064-2. Driving procedures
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
Turn signal lever
Right turn 
Left turn 
Lane change to the right (move 
the lever partway and release 
it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 
times.
Lane change to the left (move 
the lever partway and release 
it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 
times.
■ Turn signals can be operated when
Vehicles without smart entry & start system 
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
Vehicles with smart entry & start system
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ If the indicator flashes faster than usual 
Check that a light bulb in the front or  rear turn signal lights has not burned 
out. 
■ If the turn signals stop flashing before a lane change has been per- 
formed 
Operate the lever again. 
■ To discontinue flashing of the turn signals during a lane change 
Operate the lever in the opposite direction. 
■ Customization 
The number of times the turn signals flash during a lane change can be 
changed.
(Customizable features:  P. 718)
Operating instructions
1
2
3
4 

4114-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
■Locking the rear differential 
The following systems do not operate w hen the rear differential is locked.  
It is normal operation for the ABS warning light, VSC OFF indicator (if 
equipped) and “TRC OFF” indicator (if equipped) to be on or for “TRC
TURNED OFF”/“TRC turned off” to be displayed on the multi-information dis- 
play (if equipped) at this time. 
•ABS 
• Brake assist (if equipped) 
• VSC (if equipped) 
• TRC/A-TRC (if equipped)
• Trailer Sway Control (if equipped) 
• Hill-start assist control (if equipped) 
• Downhill assist control (if equipped) 
■ Unlocking the rear differential 
If the rear differential lock indicator still flashes even after unlocking the rear 
differential, check the safety of the surrounding area and slightly turn the 
steering wheel in either direction while the vehicle is in motion. 
■ Automatic system cancelation of the rear differential lock system 
The rear differential lock is also unlocked in any of the following situations: 
● The front-wheel drive control switch is turned to H2 or H4 (4WD models) 
● The engine switch is turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position (vehicles with- 
out smart entry & start system) or A CCESSORY or off (vehicles with smart 
entry & start system) 
■ After unlocking the rear differential 
Check that the indicator goes off.
WARNING
■ To avoid an accident 
Failure to observe the following precautions may result in an accident. 
● Do not use the rear differential lock system except when wheel spinning 
occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or rugged surface. Large steering effort 
and careful cornering control will be required. 
● Do not lock the rear differential until the wheels have stopped spinning. 
Otherwise, the vehicle may move in an unexpected direction when the dif- 
ferential lock is engaged, resulting in an accident. This may also lead to
possible damage to rear differential lock component parts. 
● Do not drive over 8 km/h (5 mph) when the differential is locked. 
● Do not keep driving with the rear differential lock switch on. 

4124-5. Using the driving support systems
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
Stop & Start system (Smart Stop)
■Stopping the engine
Vehicles with automatic 
transmission 
While driving with the shift lever 
in D or S, depress the brake
pedal, and stop the vehicle.
The Stop & Start indicator will 
come on.
Vehicles with manual trans- 
mission 
Stop the vehicle with the clutch pedal fully depressed, shift the shift 
lever to N, and release the clutch pedal.
The Stop & Start indicator will come on. 
■Restarting the engine
Vehicles with automatic transmission 
Release the brake pedal.
The Stop & Start indicator will go off.
Vehicles with manual transmission 
Check that the shift lever is in N and depress the clutch pedal.
The Stop & Start indicator will go off.
: If equipped
The Stop & Start system stops and restarts the engine according 
to the brake pedal operation (automatic transmission) or clutch 
pedal operation (manual transmission) for stopping and starting 
the vehicle.
Stop & Start system operation 

4134-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
Press the Stop & Start cancel 
switch to disable the Stop & Start 
system.
The Stop & Start cancel indicator 
will come on. 
Pressing the switch again will 
enable the Stop & Start system and 
the Stop & Start cancel indicator 
will turn off. 
■Automatic reactivation of the Stop & Start system 
Even if the Stop & Start system is disabled by the Stop & Start can- 
cel switch, it will be automatically re-enabled once the engine 
switch is turned to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without smart 
entry & start system) or off (vehicles with smart entry & start sys- 
tem), and then the engine is started.
■If the Stop & Start cancel switch is pressed while the vehicle is
stopped 
● When the engine is stopped by the Stop & Start system, pressing 
the Stop & Start cancel switch will restart the engine. 
From the next time the vehicle is stopped (after Stop & Start sys- 
tem has been turned off), the engine will not be stopped. 
● With the Stop & Start system disabled, pressing the Stop & Start 
cancel switch will re-enable the system but not stop the engine.  
From the next time the vehicle is stopped (after Stop & Start sys- 
tem has been turned on), the engine will be stopped. 
If the engine is stopped by the Stop & Start system when the vehicle is 
on an incline, brake force is temporarily maintained to prevent rolling 
backwards until the engine is restarted and drive force is generated. 
When drive force is generated, the maintained brake force is automat- 
ically canceled. 
● This function operates on flat surfaces as well as steep incline. 
● Sound may be generated by the brakes, but this is not a malfunc- 
tion. 
● The brake pedal response may change and vibration may occur, 
but these are not malfunctions.
Disabling the Stop & Start system
Hill-start assist control