Get Starting and Driving Guide for Toyota Aurion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

3

STARTING AND

DRIVING

Before starting the engine . . . . . . . . 200

How to start the engine . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Cranking hold function

(vehicles with smart entry

and start system) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Before cranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

Starting the engine (with

standard-type ignition switch) . . . 201

Starting the engine (with smart

entry and start system) . . . . . . . . . 202

Driving and parking using smart

entry and start system . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Pre-trip safety check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

Tips for driving in various

conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Winter driving tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

How to save fuel and make your

vehicle last longer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

STARTING AND DRIVING

How to start the engine—

—Cranking hold function (vehicles

with smart entry and start system)

Before starting the engine

1. Check the area around the vehicle before

entering it.

Once you press ENGINE START STOP but-

ton (engine switch) and release it, the crank-

ing hold function continues to crank the en-

gine until it starts.

2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle, seat

cushion height, head restraint height and

steering wheel angle and steering column

length.

The function stops cranking the engine after

about 25 seconds maximum if the engine has

not started yet. When you crank the engine

again, wait a few seconds and restart it.

3. Adjust the inside and outside rear view

mirrors.

If you press and hold the ENGINE START

STOP button, the function will keep cranking

for about 30 seconds maximum.

4. Lock all doors.

5. Fasten seatbelts.

200

STARTING AND DRIVING

—Starting the engine (with

standard-type ignition switch)

—Before cranking

1. Apply the parking brake firmly.

Before starting the engine, be sure to follow

the instructions in “Before cranking” on this

page.

2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-

sories.

Normal starting procedure

3. Put the selector lever in “P”. If you need

to restart the engine while the vehicle is

moving, put the selector lever in “N”. A

starter safety device will prevent the

starter from operating if the selector lever

is in any drive position.

The multiport fuel injection system/sequen-

tial multiport fuel injection system in your en-

gine automatically controls the proper air-fuel

mixture for starting. You can start a cold or

hot engine as follows:

4. Depress the brake pedal and hold it to the

floor until driving off.

D With your foot off the accelerator pedal,

crank the engine by turning the key to

START. Release it when the engine starts.

Engine should be warmed up by driving, not

in idle. For warming up, drive with a smoothly

turning engine until engine coolant tempera-

ture is within normal range.

If the engine stalls...

Simply restart it, using the correct procedure

given in normal starting.

If the engine will not start...

See “If your vehicle will not start” on page

218 in Section 4.

NOTICE

D To avoid engine damage, do not crank

the engine for more than 30 seconds

at a time because this may overheat

the starter and wiring systems.

D To avoid engine damage, do not race

a cold engine.

D Have the engine checked at your

Toyota dealer immediately if the en-

gine becomes difficult to start or

stalls frequently.

201

STARTING AND DRIVING

—Starting the engine (with

smart entry and start system)

D With the brake pedal firmly depressed,

the indicator light on the ENGINE START

STOP button will turn green. Check that

the transmission selector lever is in the

“P” position. Pressing the ENGINE

START STOP button once starts the en-

gine.

D Press the ENGINE START STOP button

slowly and firmly. The brake pedal should

be depressed until the engine starts.

Engine should be warmed up by driving, not

in idle. For warming up, drive with smoothly

turning engine until engine coolant tempera-

ture is within normal range.

If the engine stalls...

Simply restart it, using the correct procedure

given in normal starting.

If the engine will not start...

In the following cases, the engine will not

start.

PUSH BUTTON START FUNCTION

The engine can be started by pressing the

ENGINE START STOP button.

Before starting the engine, be sure to follow

the instructions in “Before cranking” on page

201 in this Section.

Normal starting procedure

D If a buzzer sounds from the vehicle, and

the above message appears on the multi-

information display and the master warn-

ing light comes on when pressing the EN-

GINE START STOP button this indicates

that the key is not in the vehicle.

The multiport fuel injection system/sequen-

tial multiport fuel injection system in your en-

gine automatically controls the proper air-fuel

mixture for starting.

You can start a cold or hot engine as follows:

D If the key is placed in the boot, the engine

D When the key is in the vehicle (on your

cannot be started.

person), it is possible to start the engine.

202

STARTING AND DRIVING

D There are instances in which the engine

will not start, even if the key is in the vehi-

cle (e.g. on the floor, in the cup holder or

glove box).

When the push button start function does

not operate properly, the following may be

causes:

D The key battery may be discharged if the

electronic key does not work.

You can start the engine by touching the

Toyota logo side of the electronic key to

the ENGINE START STOP button. For de-

tails, see “Smart entry and start system”

on page 25 in Section 1--2.

To free it, rotate the steering wheel slight-

ly while pressing the ENGINE START

STOP button.

NOTICE

Replace the key battery as soon as the

electronic key does not work because

the key battery may be discharged. See

“Wireless remote control” on page 17 in

Section 1- 2.

D The engine was repeatedly turned on and

off over a short period.

Wait 10 seconds and then start the engine.

D If the amber indicator light on the ENGINE

START STOP button flashes, and the

above message appears on the multi-in-

formation display and the master warning

light comes on, there is a problem in the

steering lock function.

D If the amber indicator light on the ENGINE

START STOP button flashes, and no mes-

sage appears on the multi-information

display, there is a problem in the push but-

ton start function.

D If the green indicator light on the ENGINE

START STOP button flashes, and the

above message appears on the multi-

information display and the master warning

light comes on, the steering wheel is

locked.

203

STARTING AND DRIVING

Driving and parking using

smart entry and start system

TIPS FOR USING SMART ENTRY AND

START SYSTEM

NOTICE

When using the smart entry and start system,

it is possible to start or stop the engine as

long as the key is on your person.

Contact your Toyota dealer and have

your vehicle and all keys inspected if:

D If the amber indicator light on the EN-

GINE START STOP button flashes, the

message CHECK S/T LOCK appears

on the multi-information display and

the master warning light comes on.

For this reason, it is possible that a pas-

senger may remove the key from the vehicle

without the driver being aware of the fact. In

such a case, it is not possible to restart the

engine after having turned it off. In addition,

it is possible that one may get out of the vehi-

cle without being aware that the ignition

switch has not been turned off completely.

D If the amber indicator light on the EN-

GINE START STOP button flashes but

there is no message on the multi-in-

formation display.

NOTICE

D In addition to the above, there are in-

stances in which the smart entry and start

system does not operate properly be-

cause of the circumstances of use. For

details, see “Smart entry and start sys-

tem” on page 25 in Section 1--2.

Drivers should make sure they are carry-

ing the key when driving or getting in

or out of the vehicle to ensure that the

driver can start or stop the engine at all

times.

In cases other than those described above,

it is possible that a problem has occurred in

an area other than the start system. See “If

your vehicle will not start” on page 218 in

Section 4.

CAUTION

Do not touch the ENGINE START STOP

button (engine switch) while driving.

When the battery is disconnected or run

down, the push button start function memo-

rises the current mode. After you reconnect,

replace, or recharge the battery, the memo-

rised mode is selected automatically. In any

of these cases, turn off the engine if the en-

gine comes on.

If you have to make an emergency stop,

press and hold the ENGINE START STOP

button for more than 3 seconds.

Wait 10 seconds to start the engine after the

battery has been reconnected. The engine

may not start on the first try. This does not

indicate a malfunction.

NOTICE

D Do not race a cold engine.

D If the engine becomes difficult to start

or stalls frequently, have the engine

checked immediately.

204

STARTING AND DRIVING

SYSTEM FUNCTION REMINDERS

the “P” position. The master warning light will

also come on.

Follow the instructions described below if any

of the following warnings occur:

Get out of the vehicle only after turning off

the engine by pressing the ENGINE START

STOP button and checking that the ignition

switch indicator light has gone off. If the

driver returns to the vehicle without carrying

the key and begins driving, a warning buzzer

will sound once more.

(C) The above message appears on the

multi-information display and a warn-

ing buzzer sounds once from the in-

strument cluster and three times from

the vehicle when a passenger is get-

ting out of the vehicle

This indicates that the passenger is attempt-

ing to leave the vehicle carrying the key, with-

out the ignition switch set to OFF. The master

warning light will also come on.

(A) The above message appears on the

multi-information display and a warn-

ing buzzer sounds once from the in-

strument cluster when the ignition

switch is set to ON

When passengers get out of the vehicle, care

should be taken to leave the key with the

driver. If the driver begins driving after a pas-

senger gets out of the vehicle carrying the

key, a warning buzzer will sound once more.

This indicates that the driver has gotten into

the vehicle without the key. The master warn-

ing light will also come on.

Operate the ignition switch only after taking

care that the key is in the vehicle.

If the warning light is still lit when the key is

in the vehicle, the key battery is discharged.

Check that the indicator light on the key

comes on by pushing the lock button on the

key. When the indicator light does not come

on, change the key battery so that smart

entry and start system works properly.

(B) The above message appears on the

multi-information display and a warn-

ing buzzer sounds once from the in-

strument cluster, accompanied by

three warning sounds from the vehi-

cle when the driver gets out of the

vehicle and closes the door

(D) The above message appears on the

multi-information display and a warn-

ing buzzer sounds continuously from

the instrument cluster when opening

the driver’s door

This indicates that the driver is attempting to

leave the vehicle carrying the key with the

ignition switch not set to OFF, although the

transmission selector lever has been set in

This indicates that the transmission selector

lever is in a position other than “P” and that

205

STARTING AND DRIVING

the ignition switch is not set to OFF. The

master warning light will also come on.

Get out of the vehicle only after setting the

transmission selector lever in the “P” posi-

tion, turning off the engine by pressing the

ENGINE START STOP button and checking

that the ignition switch indicator light has

gone off.

(F) The above message appears on the

multi-information display and a warn-

ing buzzer sounds once from the in-

strument cluster when turning off the

ignition switch

This indicates that the key battery is low.

(This warning buzzer sounds only when the

engine has been on or the ignition switch has

been set to ON for 20 minutes or more.) The

master warning light will also come on.

(E) The above messages appear alter-

nately on the multi-information dis-

play and a warning buzzer sounds

continuously from the instrument

cluster and from the vehicle when

closing the door after getting out of

the vehicle

Change the key battery ahead of time in order

to ensure that the smart entry and start sys-

tem operates properly.

This indicates that the driver is attempting to

leave the vehicle carrying the key, neglecting

to follow the instructions for case (D) above.

The master warning light will also come on.

Get out of the vehicle only after setting the

transmission selector lever in the “P” posi-

tion, turning off the engine by pressing the

ENGINE START STOP button and checking

that the ignition switch indicator light has

gone off.

(G) The above message appears on the

multi-information display and the

ENGINE START STOP button flashes

green once every second

This indicates that the steering lock is stuck.

The master warning light will also come on.

206

STARTING AND DRIVING

To free it, rotate the steering wheel slightly

while pressing the ENGINE START STOP

button.

(J) A warning buzzer sounds from the

vehicle for two seconds when locking

the vehicle from the outside with the

door handle switch

This indicates that the driver is attempting to

lock the door with the key still in the vehicle.

Leave the vehicle only after making sure that

you are carrying the key.

(K) A warning buzzer sounds repeatedly

from the instrument cluster when

opening the driver’s door with the

ignition switch turned off

This indicates that the steering wheel is not

locked. Turn the engine off and then open the

door in order to lock the steering wheel.

(L) No message is displayed on the

multi-information display and the

ENGINE START STOP button flashes

amber once every 2 seconds.

(H) The above message appears on the

multi-information display and the

ENGINE START STOP button flashes

amber once every 2 seconds

This indicates a problem with the push button

start function.

This indicates a problem with the steering

lock function. Have your vehicle checked at

your Toyota dealer.

NOTICE

(I) A warning buzzer sounds from the

vehicle for two seconds after locking

the door with the door handle switch

If no message is displayed on the multi-

function display, have your vehicle

checked at your Toyota dealer as this in-

dicates a problem with the push button

start function.

This indicates that the driver is attempting to

lock the doors while carrying the key, neglect-

ing to follow the instructions for case (B), see

page 205 in this Section.

THEFT PREVENTION FUNCTION

Lock the doors only after turning off the en-

gine by pressing the ENGINE START STOP

button and checking that the ignition switch

indicator light has gone off.

D When the engine is turned off, the engine

immobiliser system is automatically set.

See “Engine immobiliser system” on page

16 in Section 1--2.

A warning buzzer that sounds even though

the engine has been turned off indicates that

driver is attempting to lock the vehicle with

the keys still in the vehicle.

D When any of the doors are opened after

turning off the engine, the steering wheel

will lock.

When the vehicle’s battery is discharged,

the steering lock function may not operate

properly.

NOTICE

Leave the vehicle only after making sure

that you are carrying the keys to prevent

locking the key inside the vehicle.

207

STARTING AND DRIVING

Pre-trip safety check

It is a good idea to do a safety check before

starting out on a trip. A few minutes of check-

ing can help ensure safe and pleasant driv-

ing. Just a basic familiarity with your vehicle

is required and a careful eye! Or, if you would

like, your Toyota dealer will be pleased to

make this check for you at a nominal cost.

In the engine compartment-

Spare fuses. Make sure you have spare

fuses. They should cover all the amperage

ratings designated on the fuse box lid.

Coolant level. Make sure the coolant level

is correct. See “Checking the engine coolant

level” on page 260 in Section 7--2 for instruc-

tions.

CAUTION

Battery condition and cables. All of the bat-

tery cells should be filled to the correct level

with distilled water. Look for corroded or

loose terminals and a cracked case. Check

the cables for good condition and connec-

tions. See “Checking battery condition” on

page 270 in Section 7--3.

If you make this check in an enclosed

garage, make sure there is adequate

ventilation. Engine exhaust is poison-

ous.

BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE

Outside the vehicle-

Wiring. Look for damaged, loose, or discon-

nected wires.

Tyres. Check the pressure with a gauge and

look carefully for cuts, damage, or excessive

wear.

Fuel lines. Check the lines for leaks or loose

connections.

AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE

Wheel nuts. Make sure no nuts are missing

or loose.

Exhaust system. Listen for any leakage.

Have any leaks fixed immediately. See “En-

gine exhaust cautions” on page 189 in Sec-

tion 2.

Fluid leaks. After the vehicle has been

parked for a while, check underneath for

leaking fuel, oil, water, or fluid. (Water drip-

ping from the air conditioning after use is nor-

mal.)

Engine oil level. Stop the engine and check

the dipstick with the vehicle parked on a level

spot. See “Checking the engine oil level” on

page 258 in Section 7--2 for instructions.

Lights. Make sure the headlights, stop lights,

tail lights, turn signals and other lights are

all working. Check the headlight aim.

WHILE DRIVING

Instruments. Make sure the speedometer

and gauges are working.

Inside the vehicle-

Spare tyre, jack and wheel nut wrench.

Check the tyre pressure and make sure you

have your jack and wheel nut wrench.

Brakes. In a safe place, check that the

brakes do not pull to one side when applied.

Anything unusual? Look for loose parts and

leaks. Listen for abnormal noises.

Seatbelts. Check that the buckles lock se-

curely. Make sure the belts are not worn or

frayed.

If everything looks normal, set your mind at

ease and enjoy your trip!

Instruments and controls. Especially make

sure the service reminder indicators, instru-

ment lights, and defroster are working.

Brakes. Make sure the pedal has enough

clearance.

208

STARTING AND DRIVING

Tips for driving in various

conditions

D Always slow down in gusty cross-winds.

D To drive down a long or steep hill, re-

duce your speed and downshift. Re-

member, if you ride the brakes exces-

sively, they may overheat and not

work properly.

This will allow you much better control.

D Drive slowly onto curbs and, if possible,

at a right angle. Avoid driving onto high,

sharp edged objects and other road haz-

ards. Failure to do so can lead to severe

tyre damage such as a tyre burst.

D Be careful when accelerating, upshift-

ing, downshifting or braking on a slip-

pery surface. Sudden acceleration or

engine braking could cause the vehi-

cle to skid or spin.

Drive slowly when passing over bumps or

travelling on a bumpy road. Otherwise,

the impact could cause severe damage

to the tyres and/or wheels.

D Do not continue normal driving when

the brakes are wet. If they are wet,

your vehicle will require a longer stop-

ping distance, and it may pull to one

side when the brakes are applied.

Also, the parking brake will not hold

the vehicle securely.

D When parking on a hill, turn the front

wheels until they touch the curb so that

the vehicle will not roll. Apply the parking

brake, and place the transmission in “P”.

If necessary, block the wheels.

D Washing your vehicle or driving through

deep water may get the brakes wet. To

see whether they are wet, check that

there is no traffic near you, and then press

the pedal lightly. If you do not feel a nor-

mal braking force, the brakes are prob-

ably wet. To dry them, drive the vehicle

cautiously while lightly pressing the brake

pedal with the parking brake applied. If

they still do not work safely, pull to the

side of the road and call a Toyota dealer

for assistance.

NOTICE

When driving on wet roads, avoid driv-

ing through large amounts of standing

water on the road. Large amounts of

water entering the engine compartment

may cause damage to the engine and/or

electrical components.

CAUTION

D Before driving off, make sure the

parking brake is fully released and the

parking brake reminder light is off.

D Do not leave your vehicle unattended

while the engine is running.

D Do not rest your foot on the brake

pedal while driving. It can cause dan-

gerous overheating, needless wear,

and poor fuel economy.

209

STARTING AND DRIVING

Winter driving tips

Make sure your coolant is properly pro-

tected against freezing.

Use a washer fluid containing an anti-

freeze solution.

Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”

or similar high quality ethylene glycol based

non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and

non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid

organic acid technology. (Coolant with

long-life hybrid organic acid technology is a

combination of low phosphates and organic

acids.)

This product is available at your Toyota

dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow the

manufacturer’s directions for how much to

mix with water.

NOTICE

Do not use engine antifreeze or any

other substitute because it may damage

your vehicle’s paint.

See “Checking the engine coolant level” on

page 260 in Section 7--2 for details of coolant

type selection.

Do not use your parking brake when there

is a possibility it could freeze.

“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture

of 50% coolant and 50% deionised water.

This coolant provides protection down to

about --35_C (--31_F).

When parking, put the transmission into “P”

and block the rear wheels. Do not use the

parking brake, or snow or water accumulated

in and around the parking brake mechanism

may freeze, making it hard to release.

NOTICE

Do not use plain or tap water alone as

it may freeze in cold temperatures.

Keep ice and snow from accumulating

under the fenders.

Ice and snow built up under your fenders can

make steering difficult. During bad winter

driving, stop and check under the fenders oc-

casionally.

Check the condition of the battery and

cables.

Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any

battery, so it must be in top shape to provide

enough power for winter starting. Section 7--3

tells you how to visually inspect the battery.

Your Toyota dealer and most service stations

will be pleased to check the level of charge.

Depending on where you are driving, we

recommend you carry some emergency

equipment.

Some of the things you might put in the ve-

hicle are tyre chains, window scraper, bag of

sand or salt, flares, small shovel, jumper

cables, etc.

Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suit-

able for the cold weather.

See page 258 in Section 7--2 for recom-

mended viscosity. Leaving a heavy summer

oil in your vehicle during winter months may

cause harder starting. If you are not sure

about which oil to use, call your Toyota

dealer—they will be pleased to help.

Keep the door locks from freezing.

Squirt lock de-icer or glycerine into the locks

to keep them from freezing.

210

STARTING AND DRIVING

Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed primarily as

passenger-carrying vehicle. Towing

a

CAUTION

trailer will have an adverse effect on

handling, performance, braking, durability

and driving economy (fuel consumption,

etc.). Your safety and satisfaction depend

on the proper use of correct equipment

and cautious driving habits.

D The total trailer weight (trailer weight

plus its cargo load) must not exceed

1600 kg. Exceeding this weight is dan-

gerous.

D Trailer tow bar assemblies have differ-

ent weight capacities established by

the tow bar manufacturer. The opera-

tor must determine the maximum

weight rating of the particular tow bar

assembly, even though the vehicle

may be physically capable of towing

a greater weight, and never exceed the

maximum weight rating specified for

the trailer tow bar.

NOTICE

D For your safety and the safety of

others, you must not overload your

vehicle or trailer.

D Toyota warranties do not apply to

damage or malfunction caused by

towing a trailer for commercial pur-

poses.

D Exceeding the maximum weight rating

set by the trailer tow bar manufacturer

can cause vehicle damage or an acci-

dent resulting in serious personal in-

juries.

D Ask your local Toyota dealer for

further details before towing, as there

are additional legal requirements in

some countries.

D The gross vehicle weight must not ex-

ceed 2110 kg. Exceeding this weight

is dangerous.

WEIGHT LIMITS

Before towing, make sure the total trailer

weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle

weight and vertical tow ball load are all wi-

thin the limits.

D The gross vehicle weight is the sum

of weights of the:

D unloaded vehicle,

D driver,

The total trailer weight and vertical tow

ball load can be measured with platform

scales which are located at such places

as a public weighbridge.

D passengers,

D luggage,

D tow bar,

D trailer vertical tow ball load, and

D any special equipment installed on

your vehicle.

D The load on either the front or the rear

axle resulting from distribution of the

gross vehicle weight on both axles

must not exceed:

Front:

Rear:

1210 kg

1070 kg

211

STARTING AND DRIVING

BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS

Total trailer weight

Vertical tow ball

load

D Toyota recommends trailers with

brakes conform to applicable federal

and state regulations.

D Safety chains must always be used

between the towing vehicle and the

trailer.

D Leave sufficient slack in the chains

for turns.

Vertical tow ball load

Total trailer weight

D The chains should cross under the

trailer coupling to prevent the trailer

coupling from dropping to the

ground in case it becomes damaged

or the trailer separates from the ve-

hicle.

× 100 = 5 to 10%

CAUTION

D For correct safety chains proced-

ures, follow the tow bar or trailer

manufacturer’s recommendations.

D The trailer cargo load should be distri-

buted so that the vertical tow ball load

is 5 to 10% of the total trailer weight,

not exceeding 160 kg.

CAUTION

D Never load the trailer with more

weight in the back than in the front.

About 60% of the trailer load should

be in the front half of the trailer and

the remaining 40% in the rear.

D If the total trailer weight exceeds 500

kg, trailer brakes are required.

D Never tap into your vehicle’s hy-

draulic system as it would lower its

braking effectiveness.

TOW BARS

D Never tow a trailer without using safe-

ty chains securely attached to both

the trailer and the vehicle. If detach-

ment occurs to the coupling unit or

tow ball, there is danger of the trailer

wandering into another lane.

D Use only a tow bar which is recommended

by the tow bar manufacturer and con-

forms to the total trailer weight require-

ment.

D Follow the directions supplied by the tow

bar manufacturer, and bolt the tow bar se-

curely to the vehicle. Lubricate the tow

ball with a light coat of grease.

TYRES

D Ensure that your vehicle’s tyres are cor-

rectly inflated. See page 263 in Section

7--2 and page 283 in Section 8 for instruc-

tions.

D If removing the tow bar assembly, seal

any mounting holes in the vehicle body

to prevent entry of pollutants such as ex-

haust fumes, dirt, water, etc.

212

STARTING AND DRIVING

D The trailer tyres should be inflated to the

pressure recommended by the trailer

manufacturer in respect to the total trailer

weight.

D Check that your rear view mirrors conform

to any applicable federal and state regula-

tions. If not, install the rear view mirrors

required for towing purpose.

TRAILER LIGHTS

TRAILER TOWING TIPS

D Trailer lights must comply with federal

and state regulations. See your Toyota

dealer for the correct type of wiring and

relays for your trailer. Check for correct

operation of the turn signals and stop

lights each time you attach the trailer. Di-

rect splicing may damage your vehicle’s

electrical system and cause a malfunction

of your lights.

CAUTION

D When towing a trailer, your vehicle

will handle differently than when not

towing.

D The three main causes of vehicle

trailer accidents are driver error, ex-

cessive speed and improper trailer

loading.

RUNNING-IN SCHEDULE

D Toyota recommends that you do not tow

a trailer with a new vehicle or a vehicle

with any new power train component (en-

gine, transmission, differential, wheel

bearing, etc.) for the first 800 km of driv-

ing.

D Before starting out, check operation of the

lights and all vehicle-trailer connections.

After driving a short distance, stop and re-

check the lights and connections. Before

actually towing a trailer, practice turning,

stopping and backing with a trailer in an

area away from traffic until you learn the

feel.

MAINTENANCE

D If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will re-

quire more frequent maintenance due to

the additional load. For this information,

please refer to the scheduled mainte-

nance information in the “Warranty and

Service Book”.

D Backing with a trailer is difficult and requires

practice. Grip the bottom of the steering

wheel and move your hand to the left to

move the trailer to the left. Move your hand

to the right to move the trailer to the right.

(This procedure is generally opposite to that

when backing without a trailer.)

D Retighten all fixing bolts of the tow ball

and tow bar after approximately 1000 km

of trailer driving.

Also, just turn the steering wheel a little at

a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged turning.

Have someone guide you when backing to

reduce the risk of an accident.

PRE-TOWING SAFETY CHECK

D Check that your vehicle remains level

when a loaded or unloaded trailer is at-

tached. Do not drive if the vehicle has an

abnormal nose-up or nose-down condi-

tion, and check for improper vertical tow

ball load, overload, load distribution of the

vehicle or trailer, worn suspension or

other possible causes.

D Because the stopping distance may be in-

creased, vehicle-to-vehicle distance should

be increased when towing a trailer. For each

10 km/h of speed, allow at least one vehicle

and trailer length between you and the ve-

hicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as you

may skid, resulting in jackknifing and loss

of control. This is especially true on wet or

slippery surfaces.

D Make sure the trailer cargo is securely

loaded so that it cannot shift.

213

STARTING AND DRIVING

D Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns. The

trailer could hit your vehicle in a tight turn.

Slow down before making a turn to avoid

the necessity of sudden braking.

D Always place wheel blocks under both the

vehicle and trailer wheels when parking.

Apply the parking brake firmly. Put the

transmission in “P”. Avoid parking on a

slope with a trailer, but if it cannot be

avoided, do so only after performing the

following:

D Remember that when making a turn, the

trailer wheels will be closer than the vehi-

cle wheels to the inside of the turn. There-

fore, compensate for this by making a

larger than normal turning radius with

your vehicle.

1. Apply the brakes and hold.

2. Have someone place wheel blocks under

both the vehicle and trailer wheels.

D Crosswinds and rough roads will adverse-

ly affect handling of your vehicle and

trailer, causing sway. Pay attention to the

rear from time to time to prepare yourself

for being passed by large trucks or buses,

which may cause your vehicle and trailer

to sway. If swaying happens, firmly grip

the steering wheel and reduce speed im-

mediately but gradually. Never increase

speed. If it is necessary to reduce speed,

brake slowly. Steer straight ahead follow-

ing the road. If you make no extreme

correction with the steering or brakes, the

vehicle and trailer will stabilise.

3. When the wheel blocks are in place, re-

lease your brakes slowly until the blocks

absorb the load.

4. Apply the parking brake firmly.

5. Shift into “P” and turn off the engine.

When restarting out after parking on a slope:

1. With the transmission in “P” position, start

the engine. Be sure to keep the brake

pedal depressed.

2. Shift into gear.

3. Release the parking brake and slowly pull

or back away from the wheel blocks. Stop

and apply your brakes.

D Be careful when passing other vehicles.

Passing requires considerable distance.

After passing a vehicle, do not forget the

length of your trailer and be sure you have

plenty of room before changing lanes.

4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.

CAUTION

D In order to maintain engine braking effi-

D Observe the legal maximum speeds

for trailer towing.

ciency, do not use overdrive.

D Because of the added load of the trailer,

your vehicle’s engine may overheat on hot

days (at temperatures over 30_C [85_F])

when going up a long or steep grade with

a trailer. If the engine coolant temperature

gauge indicates overheating, immediately

turn off the air conditioning (if in use), pull

off the road and stop in a safe spot. Refer

to “If your vehicle overheats” on page 223

in Section 4.

D Slow down and downshift before de-

scending steep or long downhill

grades. Do not make sudden down-

shifts.

D Avoid holding the brake pedal down

too long or too frequently. This could

cause the brakes to overheat and re-

sult in reduced braking efficiency.

214

STARTING AND DRIVING

How to save fuel and make

your vehicle last longer

Improving fuel economy is easy—just take

it easy. It will help make your vehicle last

longer, too. Here are some specific tips on

how to save money on both fuel and repairs:

D Avoid continuous speeding up and

slowing down. Stop-start driving wastes

fuel.

D Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams

D Keep your tyres inflated at the correct

pressure. Under inflation causes tyre

wear and wastes fuel. See “Checking tyre

inflation pressure” on page 263 in Section

7--2 for instructions.

whenever possible.

D Do not rest your foot on the brake

pedal. This causes premature wear, over-

heating and poor fuel economy.

D Maintain a moderate speed on high-

ways. The faster you drive, the greater

the fuel consumption. By reducing your

speed, you will cut down on fuel consump-

tion.

D Do not carry unneeded weight in your

vehicle. Excess weight puts a heavier

load on the engine, causing greater fuel

consumption.

D Avoid lengthy warm-up idling. Once the

engine is running smoothly, begin driv-

ing—but gently. Remember, however, that

on cold winter days this may take a little

longer.

D Keep the front wheels in proper align-

ment. Avoid hitting the curb and slow

down on rough roads. Improper alignment

not only causes faster tyre wear but also

puts an extra load on the engine, which,

in turn, wastes fuel.

D Keep the automatic transmission se-

lector lever in the “D” position when

engine braking is not required. Driving

with the selector lever in a position other

than “D” will reduce the fuel economy. For

details, see “Automatic transmission” on

page 123 in Section 1--7.

D Keep the bottom of your vehicle free

from mud, etc. This not only lessens

weight but also helps prevent corrosion.

D Keep your vehicle tuned-up and in top

shape. A dirty air cleaner, improper valve

clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil and

grease, brakes not adjusted, etc. all lower

engine performance and contribute to

poor fuel economy. For longer life of all

parts and lower operating costs, keep all

maintenance work on schedule, and if you

often drive under severe conditions, see

that your vehicle receives more frequent

maintenance. For full details of your main-

tenance schedule, read the separate

“Warranty and Service Book”.

D Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid

jackrabbit starts. Get into high gear as

quickly as possible.

D Avoid long engine idling. If you have a

long wait and you are not in traffic, it is

better to turn off the engine and start again

later.

D Avoid engine lugging or over-revving.

Use a gear position suitable for the road

on which you are travelling.

D Avoid unnecessary stopping and brak-

ing. Maintain a steady pace. Try to time

the traffic signals so you only need to stop

as little as possible or take advantage of

through streets to avoid traffic lights.

Keep a proper distance from other ve-

hicles to avoid sudden braking. This will

also reduce wear on your brakes.

CAUTION

Never turn off the engine to coast down

hills. Your power steering and brake

booster will not function without the en-

gine running. Also, the emission control

system operates properly only when the

engine is running.

215

STARTING AND DRIVING

216

Starting and Driving for Your Toyota Aurion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

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