3974-6. Driving tips
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
4
Driving
overuse of the accelerator
pedal. Doing so can help control
excessive gasoline consump-
tion.
Control and maintain the vehicle
at a constant speed. Before
stopping at a toll booth or simi-
lar, allow plenty of time to
release the accelerator and gen-
tly apply the brakes. A greater
amount of electrical energy can
be regenerated when slowing
down.
Use the air conditioning only
when necessary. Doing so can
help reduce excessive gasoline
consumption.
In summer: When the ambient
temperature is high, use the
recirculated air mode. Doing so
will help to reduce the burden on
the air conditioning system and
reduce fuel consumption as
well.
In winter: Because the gasoline
engine will not automatically cut
out until it and the interior of the
vehicle are warm, it will con-
sume fuel. Also, fuel consump-
tion can be improved by
avoiding overuse of the heater. Make sure to check the tire infla-
tion pressure frequently.
Improper tire inflation pressure
can cause poor fuel economy.
Also, as snow tires can cause
large amounts of friction, their
use on dry roads can lead to
poor fuel economy. Use tires
that are appropriate for the sea-
son.
Carrying heavy luggage will lead
to poor fuel economy. Avoid car-
rying unnecessary luggage.
Installing a large roof rack will
also cause poor fuel economy.
Since the gasoline engine starts
up and cuts out automatically
when cold, warming up the
engine is unnecessary. More-
over, frequently driving short
distances will cause the engine
to repeatedly warm up, which
can lead to excess fuel con-
sumption.
Highway driving
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation
pressure
Luggage
Warming up before driv-
ing
4014-6. Driving tips
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
4
Driving
Use fluids that are appropriate
to the prevailing outside tem-
peratures.
• Engine oil
• Engine/power control unit coolant
• Washer fluid
Have a service technician
inspect the condition of the
12-volt battery.
Have the vehicle fitted with
four snow tires or purchase a
set of tire chains for the rear
tires
*.
*: Tire chains cannot be mounted
on 285/65R18 tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same
size and brand, and that chains
match the size of the tires.
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary
preparations and inspec-
tions before driving the
vehicle in winter. Always
drive the vehicle in a man-
ner appropriate to the pre-
vailing weather conditions.
Preparation for winter
WARNING
■Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions
to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so m ay result in a
loss of vehicle control and cause
death or serious injury.
●Use tires of the specified size.
●Maintain the recommended
level of air pressure.
●Do not drive in excess of 75
mph (120 km/h), regardless of
the type of snow tires being
used.
●Use snow tires on all, not just
some wheels.
●4WD models: Do not mix tires of
different makes, models, tread
patterns or treadwear.
■Driving with tire chains (vehi-
cles without 285/65R18 tires)
Observe the following precautions
to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the
vehicle being unable to be driven
safely, and may cause death or
serious injury.
●Do not drive in excess of the
speed limit specifi ed for the tire
chains being used, or 30 mph
(50 km/h), whichever is lower.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road
surfaces or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden acceleration,
abrupt steering, sudden brak-
ing and shifting operations that
cause sudden engine braking.
●Slow down sufficiently before
entering a curve to ensure that
vehicle control is maintained.
●Do not use LTA (Lane Tracing
Assist) (if equipped) system.
4024-6. Driving tips
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
Perform the following according
to the driving conditions:
Do not try to forcibly open a
window or move a wiper that
is frozen. Pour warm water
over the frozen area to melt
the ice. Wipe away the water
immediately to prevent it from
freezing.
To ensure proper operation of
the climate control system
fan, remove any snow that
has accumulated on the air
inlet vents in front of the wind-
shield.
Check for and remove any
excess ice or snow that may
have accumulated on the
exterior lights, vehicle’s roof,
chassis, around the tires or on
the brakes.
Remove any snow or mud
from the bottom of your shoes
before getting in the vehicle. Accelerate the vehicle slowly,
keep a safe distance between
you and the vehicle ahead, and
drive at a reduced speed suit-
able to road conditions.
Turn automatic mode of the
parking brake off.
Otherwise, the parking brake
may freeze and not be able to
be released automatically.
Also, avoid using the following
as the parking brake may
operate automatically, even if
automatic mode is off.
• Brake hold system
Park the vehicle and move
the shift lever to P without set-
ting the parking brake. The
parking brake may freeze up,
preventing it from being
released. If the vehicle is
parked without setting the
parking brake, make sure to
block the wheels.
Failure to do so may be dan-
gerous because it may cause
the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly, possibly leading to an
accident.
When the parking brake is in
automatic mode, release the
parking brake after shifting
the shift lever to P.( P.223)
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow
tires
Request repairs or replacement of
snow tires from Toyota dealers or
legitimate tire retailers.
This is because the removal and
attachment of snow tires affects
the operation of the tire pressure
warning valves and transmitters.
Before driving the vehicle
When driving the vehicle
When parking the vehicle
4034-6. Driving tips
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
4
Driving
If the vehicle is parked without
setting the parking brake,
confirm that the shift lever
cannot be moved out of P.
If the vehicle is left parked
with the brakes damp in cold
temperatures, there is a pos-
sibility of the brakes freezing.
Vehicles without 285/65R18
tires
Use the correct tire chain size
when mounting the tire chains.
Chain size is regulated for each
tire size.
Side chain (0.2 in. [5 mm] in
diameter)
Cross chain (0.25 in. [6.3
mm] in diameter)
Vehicles with 285/65R18 tires
Tire chains cannot be mounted
as the space between the tire
and body is too narrow.
Snow tires should be used
instead.
Regulations regarding the use
of tire chains vary depending on
location and type of road.
Always check local regulations
before installing chains.
■Tire chain installation
Observe the followi ng precautions
when installing and removing
chains:
●Install and remove tire chains in a
safe location.
●Install tire chains on the rear tires.
Do not install ti re chains on the
front tires.
●Install tire chains on the rear tires
as tightly as possible. Retighten
chains after driving 1/4 1/2 mile
(0.5 1.0 km).
●Install tire chains following the
instructions provided with the tire
chains.
WARNING
■When parking the vehicle
When parking the v ehicle without
applying the parking brake, make
sure to chock the wheels. If you
do not chock the wheels, the vehi-
cle may move une xpectedly, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident.
Selecting tire chains
Regulations on the use of
tire chains (vehicles with-
out 285/65R18 tires)
NOTICE
■Fitting tire chains
The tire pressure warning valves
and transmitters may not function
correctly when tire chains are fit-
ted.
449
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
6
6
Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
6-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 450
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ........... 453
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements.................................. 456
General maintenance.. 457
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M) pro-
grams ........................ 460
6-3. Do-it-yourself mainte- nance
Do-it-yourself service pre- cautions ..................... 462
Hood ........................... 464
Engine compartment ... 465
12-volt battery ............. 471
Tires ............................ 474
Tire inflation pressure.. 484
Wheels ......... ...............486
Air conditioning filter .... 487
Cleaning the hybrid battery (traction battery) air intake
vent and filter............. 489
Electronic key battery.. 493
Checking and replacing fuses.......................... 495
Light bulbs................... 498
4606-2. Maintenance
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
The OBD system determines
that a problem exists some-
where in the emission control
system. Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test and may need
to be repaired. Contact your
Toyota dealer to service the
vehicle.
When the 12-volt battery is
disconnected or discharged
Readiness codes that are set
during ordinary driving are
erased.
Also, depending on your driv-
ing habits, the readiness
codes may not be completely
set.
Tires
• Is the tire infla-
tion pressure
correct?
• The tires should not be damaged
or excessively
worn.
• Have the tires been rotated
according to the
maintenance
schedule?
• The wheel nuts should not be
loose.
Windshield
wipers
• The wiper blades should not show
any signs of
cracking, split-
ting, wear, con-
tamination or
deformation.
• The wiper blades should clear the
windshield with-
out streaking or
skipping.
ItemsCheck pointsEmission inspection
and maintenance (I/M)
programs
Some states have vehicle
emission inspection pro-
grams which include OBD
(On Board Diagnostics)
checks. The OBD system
monitors the operation of
the emission control sys-
tem.
If the malfunction indica-
tor lamp comes on
Your vehicle may not pass
the I/M test in the follow-
ing situations:
4636-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
6
Maintenance and care
Light bulbs
( P.499)
• Bulb with same
number and
wattage rating as
original
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Wrench
Radiator and
condenser
( P.469)
Tire inflation
pressure
( P.484)• Tire pressure
gauge
• Compressed air source
Washer fluid
( P.470)
• Water or washer
fluid containing
antifreeze (for
winter use)
• Funnel (used only for adding
water or washer
fluid)
Hybrid battery
(traction bat-
tery) air intake
vent ( P.489)
Flathead screw
driver
WARNING
The engine compartment contains
many mechanisms and fluids that
may move suddenly, become hot,
or become electrically energized.
To avoid death or serious injury,
observe the following precautions.
■When working on the engine
compartment
●Make sure that the “ACCES-
SORY” or “IGNITION ON” on
the multi-inform ation display
and the “READY” indicator are
both off.
ItemsParts and tools●Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from the moving fan and
engine.
●Be careful not to touch the
engine, inverter, radiator,
exhaust manifold, etc., right
after driving as they may be hot.
Oil and other fluids may also be
hot.
●Do not leave anything that may
burn easily, such as paper and
rags, in the engine compart-
ment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or
expose an open flame to fuel.
■When working near the elec-
tric cooling fans or radiator
grille
Be sure the power switch is off.
With the power switch in ON, the
electric cooling fans may auto-
matically start to r un if the air con-
ditioning is on an d/or the coolant
temperature is high. ( P.469)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent
flying or falling material, fluid
spray, etc., from getting in your
eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the air cleaner
filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter
removed may cause excessive
engine wear due to dirt in the air.
4746-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
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,
etc., molded into the sidewall of
each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear
indicators are s
howing on a tire.
■When to replace your vehicle’s
tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●The treadwear indicators are
showing on a tire.
●You have tire damage such as
cuts, splits, cracks deep enough
to expose the fabric, and bulges
indicating internal damage
●A tire goes flat repeatedly or can-
not be properly repaired due to the
size or location of a cut or other
damage
If you are not sure, consult with your
Toyota dealer.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be
checked by a qualified technician
even if it has seldom or never been
used, or damage is not obvious.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the n umber given by
dividing the maximum load by 1.10
of the replacement tire is greater
than 1/2 of the Gross Axle Weight
Ratings (GAWR) of either the front
axle or the rear axle, whichever is
greater.
For the GAWR, see the Certification
Label.
For the maximum load of the tire,
see the load limit at maximum cold
tire inflation pressure mentioned on
the sidewall of the tire. ( P.560)
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in
accordance with mainte-
nance schedules and tread-
wear.
Checking tires