2023 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID battery

4036-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■After recharging/reconnecting
the 12-volt battery
The hybrid system may not start.
Follow the procedure below to ini-
tialize the system.
1 Shift the shift lever to P.
2 Open and close any of the doors.
3 Restart the hybrid system.
●Unlocking the doors using the
smart key system may not be pos-
sible immediately after reconnect-
ing the 12-volt battery. If this
happens, use the wireless remote
control or the mechanical key to
lock/unlock the doors.
●Start the hybrid system with the
power switch in ACC. The hybrid
system may not start with the
power switch turned off. However,
the hybrid system will operate nor-
mally from the second attempt.
●The power switch mode is
recorded by the vehicle. If the
12-volt battery is reconnected, the
vehicle will return the power
switch mode to the status it was in
before the 12-volt battery was dis-
connected. Make sure to turn off
the power before disconnect the
12-volt battery. Take extra care
when connecting the 12-volt bat-
tery if the power switch mode prior
to discharge is unknown.
If the system will not start even after
multiple attempts at all the methods
above, contact your Toyota dealer.
WARNING
■Chemicals in the 12-volt bat-
tery
The 12-volt battery contains poi-
sonous and corrosi ve sulfuric acid
and may produce hydrogen gas
which is flammable and explosive.
To reduce the risk of death or seri-
ous injury, take th e following pre-
cautions while working on or near
the 12-volt battery:
●Do not cause sparks by touch-
ing the 12-volt battery terminals
with tools.
●Do not smoke or light a match
near the 12-volt battery.
●Avoid contact with eyes, skin
and clothes.
●Never inhale or swallow electro-
lyte.
●Wear protective safety glasses
when working near the 12-volt
battery.
●Keep children away from the
12-volt battery.
■Where to safely charge the
12-volt battery
Always charge the 12-volt battery
in an open area. Do not charge
the 12-volt battery in a garage or
closed room where there is insuf-
ficient ventilation.
■How to recharge the 12-volt
battery
Only perform a s low charge (5 A
or less). The 12-volt battery may
explode if charg ed at a quicker
rate.
■Emergency measures regard-
ing electrolyte
●If electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean
water for at least 15 minutes
and get immediate medical
attention. If possible, continue
to apply water with a sponge or
cloth while traveling to the near-
est medical facility.
●If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thor-
oughly. If you feel pain or burn-
ing, get medical attention
immediately.

4046-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Check if the treadwear indica-
tors are showing on the tires.
Also check the tires for uneven
wear, such as excessive wear
on one side of the tread.
Check the spare tire condition
and pressure if not rotated.
New tread
Worn tread
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators
is shown by a “TWI” or “ ” mark,
WARNING
●If electrolyte gets on your
clothes
It can soak through clothing on
to your skin. Immediately take
off the clothing and follow the
procedure above if necessary.
●If you accidentally swallow elec-
trolyte
Drink a large quantity of water
or milk. Get emergency medical
attention immediately.
■When replacing the 12-volt
battery
Use a 12-volt battery designed for
this vehicle. Failure to do so may
cause gas (hydrogen) to enter the
passenger compartment, causing
a fire or explosion.
For replacement of the 12-volt
battery, contact your Toyota
dealer.
■When handling the 12-volt
battery
P. 4 8 3
NOTICE
■When recharging the 12-volt
battery
Never recharge the 12-volt bat-
tery while the hybrid system is
operating. Also, be sure all acces-
sories are turned off.
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in
accordance with mainte-
nance schedules and tread-
wear.
Checking tires

4206-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Scheduled maintenance of the
air intake vent is necessary
when
In some situations such as when the
vehicle is used frequently or in
heavy traffic or dusty areas, the air
intake vent may need to be cleaned
more regularly.
For details, refer to “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide”.
■Cleaning the air intake vent
Improper handling of the air intake
vent cover and filter may result in
damage to them. If you have any
concerns about cleaning the filter,
contact your Toyota dealer.
1 Turn the power switch off.
2 Remove the air intake vent
cover.
Pull the cover as shown in the illus-
tration to disengage the 6 claws,
starting from the claw in the upper
right corner and pull the cover
toward the front of the vehicle to
remove it.
Cleaning the hybrid
batter y (traction bat-
ter y) air intake vents
To prevent the fuel economy
from being affected, visually
inspect the hybrid battery
(traction battery) air intake
vents periodically for clogs.
If it is dusty or clogged or if
“Maintenance Required for
Traction Battery Cooling
Parts See Owner’s Manual”
is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display, clean the air
intake vent using the follow-
ing procedures:
NOTICE
■If “Maintenance Required for
Traction Battery Cooling
Parts See Owner’s Manual” is
displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
Clean the air intake vent immedi-
ately.
If the vehicle is continuously
driven with the warning message
displayed, it may cause a mal-
function or output restriction of the
hybrid battery (traction battery).
Cleaning procedure

4216-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
3Remove the air intake vent
filter.
Disengage the claw to remove the
filter from the re ar scuff plate.
4Remove the dust and sand
from the filter.
Using a vacuum cleaner, etc.,
absorb dust and sand from the filter
by profiling the nozz le lightly along
the fold.
5 Hold the filter to the light and
check if it is not clogged.
If the dust or sa nd cannot be
removed complete ly, contact your
Toyota dealer.
6 Reinstall the filter to the
cover.
Engage the 3 claw to install the fil-
ter.
Make sure that the filter is not
crooked or deformed when install-
ing it.
7Install the air intake vent
cover.
Insert the tab of the cover as shown
in the illustration and push the
cover to enga ge the 6 claws.
If “Maintenance Required for
Traction Battery Cooling Parts
See Owner’s Manual” is dis-
played on the multi-informa-
tion display
8 Start the hybrid system and
check that the warning mes-
sage is no longer displayed.
It may be necessa ry to drive the
vehicle for approximately 20 min-
utes before the warning message is
displayed again then disappears.

4226-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
If the warning message does not
disappear after some time, have
the vehicle inspected by your Toy-
ota dealer.
■If the dust or sand on the filter
cannot be removed
It is recommended to use a vacuum
cleaner with plastic brushes.
WARNING
■When cleaning the air intake
vent
●Do not use water or other liq-
uids to clean the air intake vent.
If water is applied to the hybrid
battery (traction battery) or
other components, a malfunc-
tion or fire may occur.
●Before cleaning the air intake
vents, make su re to turn the
power switch off to stop the
hybrid system.
●Do not put a hand or leg in the
air intake vent. If it is caught in a
cooling fan, or if it touches a
high voltage part that results in
an electric shock, death or seri-
ous injuries may result.
NOTICE
■When cleaning the air intake
vent
Do not use an air blow gun, etc.
Dust may be blown out, possibly
causing a malfunction or output
restriction of the hybrid battery
(traction battery).
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle
Observe the following precau-
tions.
●Do not allow liquid or foreign
matter to enter the air intake
vent.
●Make sure to reinstall the filter
and cover to their original posi-
tions after cleaning.
●Do not install anything to the air
intake vent other than the exclu-
sive filter for this vehicle or use
the vehicle witho ut the filter
installed.
■To prevent damage to the fil-
ter
Observe the following precau-
tions.
If the filter is damaged, have it
replaced with a ne w filter by your
Toyota dealer.
●Do not use an ai r blow gun, etc.
●Do not press hard a vacuum
cleaner, etc. against the filter.
●Do not use a hard brush, such
as a metal brush.
●Do not break the fold of the fil-
ter.

4236-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■If the electronic key battery is
depleted
The following symptoms may occur:
●The smart key system and wire-
less remote contr ol will not func-
tion properly.
●The operational range will be
reduced.
 Flathead screwdriver
 Small flathead screwdriver
 Lithium battery CR2032
■Use a CR2032 lithium battery
●Batteries can be purchased at
your Toyota dealer, local electrical
appliance shops or camera stores.
●Replace only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by
the manufacturer.
●Dispose of used ba tteries accord-
ing to the local laws.
1 Release the lock and remove
the mechanical key.
2 Remove the key cover.
To prevent damage to the key,
cover the tip of the flathead screw-
driver with a rag.
3Remove the depleted battery.
When removing the cover, the elec-
tronic key module may stick to the
cover and the batt ery may not be
visible. In this case, remove the
electronic key module in order to
remove the battery.
When removing the battery, use a
screwdriver of an appropriate size.
Insert a new battery with the “+” ter-
Electronic key batter y
Replace the battery with a
new one if it is depleted.
You will need the follow-
ing items:
Replacing the battery

4246-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
minal facing up.
WARNING
■Battery precautions
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may result
in death or serious injury.
●Do not swallow the battery.
Doing so may cause chemical
burns.
●A coin battery o r button battery
is used in the electronic key. If a
battery is swallowed, it may
cause severe chemical burns in
as little as 2 hours and may
result in death or serious injury.
●Keep away new and removed
batteries from children.
●If the cover cannot be firmly
closed, stop using the electronic
key and stow the key in the
place where children cannot
reach, and then contact your
Toyota dealer.
●If you accidentally swallow a
battery or put a b attery into a
part of your body, get emer-
gency medical attention imme-
diately.
■To prevent battery explosion
or leakage of flammable liq-
uid or gas
●Replace the battery with a new
battery of the same type. If a
wrong type of battery is used, it
may explode.
●Do not expose batteries to
extremely low pr essure due to
high altitude or extremely high
temperatures.
●Do not burn, bre ak or cut a bat-
tery.
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
control.
●Do not bend either of the battery
terminals.

437
7
7
When trouble arises
When trouble arises
.7-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers .... 438
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency.................................. 438
If the vehicle is submerged or water on the road is ris-
ing ............................. 439
7-2. Steps to take in an emer- gency
If your vehicle needs to be towed......................... 441
If you think something is wrong ........................ 443
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds
.................................. 445
If a warning message is dis- played........................ 456
If you have a flat tire.... 461
If the hybrid system will not start ........................... 474
If you lose your keys ... 475
If the fuel filler door cannot be opened ................. 476
If the electronic key does not operate properly .. 477
If the 12-volt battery is dis- charged ..................... 479
If your vehicle overheats .................................. 484
If the vehicle becomes stuck .................................. 488