Get Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake -> Automatic transmission Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Automatic transmission

"Floor shift type

Your automatic transmission has

a

shift

lock system to minimize the possibility of

incorrect operation. This means you can

only shift out of “P” position when the

brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition

switch in “ON” position and the lock re-

lease button depressed).

Lock release button

To prevent misshifting

Selector lever

Overdrive switch

(a) Selector lever

The shift position is also displayed on the

instrument cluster.

P: Parking, engine starting and

key removal

R: Reverse

N: Neutral

D: Normal driving (with overdrive on)

2: Stronger engine braking

L: Maximum engine braking

With the brake pedal depressed,

shift while holding the lock

release button in. (The ignition

switch must be in “ON”

position.)

Shift while holding the lock

release button in.

Shift normally.

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When the cruise control is being used,

3. Release the parking brake and brake

pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal

slowly for smooth starting.

even if you downshift the transmission by

pushing and releasing the overdrive

switch, engine braking will not be enabled

because the cruise control is not can-

celled.

If the automatic locking operation linked

with the shift position is set, all doors are

automatically locked when the selector le-

ver is moved out of the “P” position after

the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”

position and all the doors are closed. For

details, see “—Automatic door locking and

unlocking functions” in Section 1−2.

For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,

see “Cruise control” in this section.

(c) Normal driving

1. Start the engine as instructed in “How

to start the engine” in Section 3. The

transmission must be in “P” or “N”.

(d) Using engine braking

To use engine braking, you can downshift

the transmission as follows:

2. With your foot holding down the brake

pedal, shift the selector lever to “D”.

(b) Overdrive switch

D Push the overdrive switch. The “O/D

OFF” indicator light will come on and

the transmission will downshift to third

gear.

You can select either third gear (with

overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-

drive on) by pushing this switch.

When the lever is in the “D” position, the

automatic transmission system will select

the most suitable gear for running condi-

tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-

ing, hard towing, etc.

To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.

The “O/D OFF” indicator light should come

on. To turn the overdrive on again, push

the switch again. The “O/D OFF” indicator

light should go off.

D Shift into the “2” position. The trans-

mission will downshift to second gear

when the vehicle speed drops down to

or lower than 132 km/h (82 mph), and

stronger engine braking will be en-

abled.

Always turn the overdrive on for better

fuel economy and quieter driving. If the

engine coolant temperature is low, the

transmission will not shift into the over-

drive gear even with the overdrive on.

Always drive your vehicle with the over-

drive on for better fuel economy and

quieter driving.

D Shift into the “L” position. The trans-

mission will downshift to first gear

when the vehicle speed drops down to

or lower than 59 km/h (36 mph), and

maximum engine braking will be en-

abled.

CAUTION

If the engine is turned off when the over-

drive is off and restarted, the overdrive

will automatically be on.

Never put your foot on the accelera-

tor pedal while shifting.

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

When the cruise control is being used,

even if you downshift the transmission by

pushing and releasing the overdrive

switch, engine braking will not be enabled

because the cruise control is not can-

celled.

(g) Parking

NOTICE

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

z Be careful not to over−rev the en-

gine. Watch the tachometer to keep

engine rpm from going into the red

zone. The approximate maximum al-

lowable speed for each position is

given below for your reference:

2. With the brake pedal pressed down,

fully depress the parking brake pedal

to apply the parking brake securely.

3. With the brake pedal pressed down,

shift the selector lever to the “P” posi-

tion.

For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,

see “Cruise control” in this section.

“2” . . . . . . . . . . . 139 km/h (86 mph)

“L” . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 km/h (47 mph)

CAUTION

z Do not continue hill climbing or

hard towing for a long time in the

“2” or “L” position. This may cause

severe automatic transmission dam-

age from overheating. To prevent

such damage, “D” position should

be used in hill climbing or hard

towing.

Be careful when downshifting on a

shifting

could cause the vehicle to spin or

skid.

Never attempt to move the selector

lever into “P” position under any cir-

cumstances while the vehicle is mov-

ing. Serious mechanical damage and

loss of vehicle control may result.

slippery

surface.

Abrupt

(e) Using “2” and “L” positions

The “2” and “L” positions are used for

strong engine braking as described pre-

viously.

If the automatic unlocking operation linked

with the shift position is set, all doors are

automatically unlocked when the selector

lever is moved to the “P” position after

the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”

position. For details, see “—Automatic

door locking and unlocking functions” in

Section 1−2.

(f) Backing up

With the selector lever in “2” or “L”, you

can start the vehicle in motion as with the

lever in “D”.

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

2. With the brake pedal held down with

your foot, shift the selector lever to the

“R” position.

With the selector lever in “2”, the vehicle

will start in first gear and automatically

shift to second gear.

NOTICE

With the selector lever in “L”, the trans-

mission is engaged in first gear.

Never shift into reverse while the ve-

hicle is moving.

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

(h) Good driving practice

(i) If you cannot shift the selector le-

ver out of “P” position

D If the transmission repeatedly shifts up

and down between third gear and over-

drive when climbing a gentle slope, the

overdrive should be turned off. Be sure

to turn the switch on immediately after-

ward.

If you cannot shift the selector lever from

the “P” position even though the brake

pedal is depressed, use the shift lock

override button. For instructions, see “If

you cannot shift automatic transmission

selector lever” in Section 4.

D When towing a trailer, in order to main-

tain engine braking efficiency, do not

use overdrive.

CAUTION

Always keep your foot on the brake

pedal while stopped with the engine

running. This prevents the vehicle

from creeping.

NOTICE

Do not hold the vehicle on an up-

grade with the accelerator pedal. It

can cause the transmission to over-

heat. Always use the brake pedal or

parking brake.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

"Column shift type

Your automatic transmission has

a

shift

lock system to minimize the possibility of

incorrect operation. This means you can

only shift out of “P” position when the

brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition

switch in “ON” position and the selector

lever pulled toward you).

Overdrive switch

Selector lever

(a) Selector lever

The shift position is displayed on the in-

strument cluster.

P: Parking, engine starting and

key removal

R: Reverse

N: Neutral

With the brake pedal depressed,

D: Normal driving (with overdrive on)

2: Stronger engine braking

L: Maximum engine braking

shift while pilling the selector

lever toward you. (The ignition

switch must be in “ON”

position.)

Shift while pulling the

selector lever toward you.

Shift normally.

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

When the cruise control is being used,

3. Release the parking brake and brake

pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal

slowly for smooth starting.

even if you downshift the transmission by

pushing and releasing the overdrive

switch, engine braking will not be enabled

because the cruise control is not can-

celled.

If the automatic locking operation linked

with the shift position is set, all doors are

automatically locked when the selector le-

ver is moved out of the “P” position after

the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”

position and all the doors are closed. For

details, see “—Automatic door locking and

unlocking functions” in Section 1−2.

For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,

see “Cruise control” in this section.

(c) Normal driving

1. Start the engine as instructed in “How

to start the engine” in Section 3. The

transmission must be in “P” or “N”.

(d) Using engine braking

To use engine braking, you can downshift

the transmission as follows:

2. With your foot holding down the brake

pedal, shift the selector lever to “D”.

(b) Overdrive switch

D Push the overdrive switch. The “O/D

OFF” indicator light will come on and

the transmission will downshift to third

gear.

You can select either third gear (with

overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-

drive on) by pushing this switch.

When the lever is in the “D” position, the

automatic transmission system will select

the most suitable gear for running condi-

tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-

ing, hard towing, etc.

To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.

The “O/D OFF” indicator light should come

on. To turn the overdrive on again, push

the switch again. The “O/D OFF” indicator

light should go off.

D Shift into the “2” position. The trans-

mission will downshift to second gear

when the vehicle speed drops down to

or lower than 132 km/h (82 mph), and

stronger engine braking will be en-

abled.

Always turn the overdrive on for better

fuel economy and quieter driving. If the

engine coolant temperature is low, the

transmission will not shift into the over-

drive gear even with the overdrive on.

Always drive your vehicle with the over-

drive on for better fuel economy and

quieter driving.

D Shift into the “L” position. The trans-

mission will downshift to first gear

When the vehicle speed drops down to

or lower than 59 km/h (36 mph), and

maximum engine braking will be en-

abled.

CAUTION

If the engine is turned off when the over-

drive is off and restarted, the overdrive

will automatically be on.

Never put your foot on the accelera-

tor pedal while shifting.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

When the cruise control is being used,

even if you downshift the transmission by

pushing and releasing the overdrive

switch, engine braking will not be enabled

because the cruise control is not can-

celled.

(g) Parking

NOTICE

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

z Be careful not to overrev the en-

gine. Watch the tachometer to keep

engine rpm from going into the red

zone. The approximate maximum al-

lowable speed for each position is

given below for your reference:

2. With the brake pedal pressed down,

fully depress the parking brake pedal

to apply the parking brake securely.

3. With the brake pedal pressed down,

shift the selector lever to the “P” posi-

tion.

For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,

see “Cruise control” in this section.

“2” . . . . . . . . . . . 139 km/h (86 mph)

“L” . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 km/h (47 mph)

CAUTION

z Do not continue hill climbing or

hard towing for a long time in the

“2” or “L” position. This may cause

severe automatic transmission dam-

age from overheating. To prevent

such damage, “D” position should

be used in hill climbing or hard

towing.

Be careful when downshifting on a

shifting

could cause the vehicle to spin or

skid.

Never attempt to move the selector

lever into “P” position under any cir-

cumstances while the vehicle is mov-

ing. Serious mechanical damage and

loss of vehicle control may result.

slippery

surface.

Abrupt

(e) Using “2” and “L” positions

The “2” and “L” positions are used for

strong engine braking as described pre-

viously.

If the automatic unlocking operation linked

with the shift position is set, all doors are

automatically unlocked when the selector

lever is moved to the “P” position after

the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”

position. For details, see “—Automatic

door locking and unlocking functions” in

Section 1−2.

(f) Backing up

With the selector lever in “2” or “L”, you

can start the vehicle in motion as with the

lever in “D”.

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

2. With the brake pedal held down with

your foot, shift the selector lever to the

“R” position.

With the selector lever in “2”, the vehicle

will start in first gear and automatically

shift to second gear.

NOTICE

With the selector lever in “L”, the trans-

mission is engaged in first gear.

Never shift into reverse while the ve-

hicle is moving.

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Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake -> Automatic transmission for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

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Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake

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