Get IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

SECTION

4

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY

If your vehicle will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236

If your engine stalls while driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

If your vehicle overheats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

If you have a flat tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

If your vehicle becomes stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248

If your vehicle needs to be towed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

If you cannot shift automatic transmission selector lever . . . . . . . . 251

If you lose your keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252

If you lose your wireless remote control transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

235

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If your vehicle will not start—

(a) Simple checks

(b) Starting a flooded engine

Before making these checks, make sure

you have followed the correct starting

procedure given in “How to start the

engine” in Section 3 and that you have

sufficient fuel. If your vehicle is equipped

with the engine immobiliser system, also

check whether the other keys will start the

engine. If they work, your key may be

broken. Have the key checked at your

Toyota dealer. If none of your keys work,

the system is possibly broken. Call your

Toyota dealer. (See “Keys (with engine

immobiliser system)” in Section 1−2.)

If the engine will not start, your engine

may be flooded because of repeated

cranking.

NOTICE

Do not pull− or push−start the ve-

hicle. It may damage the vehicle or

If this happens, turn the key to “START”

with the accelerator pedal held down.

Keep the key and accelerator pedal in

these positions for 15 seconds and re-

lease them. Then try starting the engine

with your foot off the accelerator pedal.

cause

a

collision when the engine

starts. Also the three−way catalytic

converter may overheat and become a

fire hazard.

If the engine turns over at its normal

speed but will not start—

If the engine does not start after 15 se-

conds of cranking, release the key, wait

a few minutes and try again.

1. The engine may be flooded because of

repeated cranking. See “(b) Starting a

flooded engine” for further instructions.

If the engine still will not start, it needs

adjustment or repair. Call a Toyota dealer

or qualified repair shop for assistance.

If the engine is not turning over or is

turning over too slowly—

2. If the engine still will not start, it needs

Toyota

1. Check that the battery terminals are

tight and clean.

adjustment or repair. Call

dealer or qualified repair shop.

a

NOTICE

2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch

on the interior light.

Do not crank for more than 30 se-

conds at a time. This may overheat

the starter and wiring systems.

3. If the light is out, dim or goes out

when the starter is cranked, the battery

is discharged. You may try jump start-

ing. See “(c) Jump starting” for further

instructions.

If the light is O.K., but the engine still will

not start, it needs adjustment or repair.

Call a Toyota dealer or qualified repair

shop.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

236

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

(c) Jump starting

To avoid serious personal injury and

damage to your vehicle which might re-

sult from battery explosion, acid burns,

electrical burns, or damaged electronic

components, these instructions must be

followed precisely.

JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE

D The gas normally produced by

a

1. If the booster battery is installed in

another vehicle, make sure the vehicles

are not touching. Turn off all unneces-

sary lights and accessories.

battery will explode if a flame or

spark is brought near. Use only

standardized jumper cables and do

not smoke or light a match while

jump starting.

2. If required, remove all the vent plugs

from the booster and discharged batter-

ies. Lay a cloth over the open vents

on the batteries. (This helps reduce the

explosion hazard, personal injuries and

burns.)

If you are unsure about how to follow this

procedure, we strongly recommend that

you seek the help of a competent me-

chanic or towing service.

D Warning: Battery posts, terminals

and related accessories contain lead

and lead compounds, chemicals

known to the State of California to

cause cancer and reproductive

harm. Wash hands after handling.

CAUTION

3. If the engine in the vehicle with the

booster battery is not running, start it

and let it run for a few minutes. During

jump starting, run the engine at about

2000 rpm with the accelerator pedal

lightly depressed.

D Batteries

contain

sulfuric

acid

which is poisonous and corrosive.

Wear protective safety glasses when

jump starting, and avoid spilling

acid on your skin, clothing, or ve-

hicle.

NOTICE

The battery used for boosting must

be 12 V. Do not jump start unless you

are sure that the booster battery is

correct.

D If you should accidentally get acid

on yourself or in your eyes, remove

any contaminated clothing and flush

the affected area with water im-

mediately. Then get immediate medi-

cal attention. If possible, continue

to apply water with

a

sponge or

cloth while en route to the medical

office.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

237

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Jumper cable

Discharged battery

Booster

battery

Positive

terminal

(“+”mark)

Discharged battery

Negative terminal

(“−”mark)

Booster

battery

Jumper cable

Positive terminal

(“+”mark)

Connecting point

4. Make the cable connections in the or-

der a, b, c, d.

c. Connect the clamp of the negative

(black) jumper cable to the negative

(−) terminal on the booster battery.

Do not connect the cable to or near

any part that moves when the engine

is cranked.

a. Connect the clamp of the positive

(red) jumper cable to the positive (+)

terminal on the discharged battery.

d. Connect the clamp at the other end

of the negative (black) jumper cable to

a solid, stationary, unpainted, metallic

point of the vehicle with the discharged

battery.

b. Connect the clamp at the other end

of the positive (red) jumper cable to

the positive (+) terminal on the booster

battery.

CAUTION

When making the connections, to

avoid serious injury, do not lean over

the battery or accidentally let the

jumper cables or clamps touch any-

thing except the correct battery termi-

nals or the ground.

The recommended connecting point is

shown in the following illustration:

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

238

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If your engine stalls while

driving

If your vehicle overheats

5. Start your engine in the normal way.

After starting, run it at about 2000 rpm

for several minutes with the accelerator

pedal lightly depressed.

If your engine stalls while driving...

If your engine coolant temperature

gauge indicates overheating, if you ex-

perience a loss of power, or if you hear

a loud knocking or pinging noise, the

engine has probably overheated. You

should follow this procedure...

1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping

a straight line. Move cautiously off the

road to a safe place.

6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the

exact reverse order: the negative cable

and then the positive cable.

2. Turn on your emergency flashers.

3. Try starting the engine again.

1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve-

hicle and turn on your emergency

flashers. Put the transmission in “P”

and apply the parking brake. Turn off

the air conditioning if it is being used.

If the engine will not start, see “If your

vehicle will not start” in this section.

7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover

cloths—they may now contain sulfuric

acid.

CAUTION

8. If removed, replace all the battery vent

plugs.

2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the

radiator or reservoir, stop the engine.

Wait until the steam subsides before

opening the hood. If there is no coolant

boiling over or steam, leave the engine

running and make sure the electric

cooling fan is operating. If it is not,

turn the ignition off.

If the engine is not running, the pow-

er assist for the brakes and steering

will not work so steering and braking

will be much harder than usual.

If the cause of your battery discharging is

not apparent (for example, lights left on),

you should have it checked at your Toyota

dealer.

CAUTION

To help avoid personal injury, keep

the hood closed until there is no

steam. Escaping steam or coolant is

a sign of very high pressure.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

239

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If you have a flat tire—

3. Look for obvious coolant leaks from the

radiator, hoses, and under the vehicle.

However, note that water draining from

the air conditioning is normal if it has

been used.

6. After the engine coolant temperature

has cooled to normal, again check the

coolant level in the reservoir. If neces-

sary, bring it up to half full again. Seri-

ous coolant loss indicates a leak in the

system. You should have it checked as

soon as possible at your Toyota dealer.

1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping

a straight line. Move cautiously off the

road to a safe place well away from

the traffic. Avoid stopping on the center

divider of a highway. Park on a level

spot with firm ground.

CAUTION

2. Stop the engine and turn on your

emergency flashers.

When the engine is running, keep

hands and clothing away from the

moving fan and engine drive belts.

3. Firmly set the parking brake and put

the transmission in “P”.

4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle

on the side away from traffic.

4. If the coolant is leaking, stop the en-

gine immediately. Call a Toyota dealer

for assistance.

5. Read the following instructions thor-

oughly.

5. If there are no obvious leaks, check

the coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add

coolant to the reservoir while the en-

gine is running. Fill it about half full.

CAUTION

When jacking, be sure to observe the

following to reduce the possibility of

personal injury:

CAUTION

D Follow jacking instructions.

Do not attempt to remove the radiator

cap when the engine and radiator are

hot. Serious injury could result from

scalding hot fluid and steam blown

out under pressure.

D Do not put any part of your body

under the vehicle supported by the

jack. Otherwise, personal injury may

occur.

D Do not start or run the engine while

your vehicle is supported by the

jack.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

240

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Required tools and spare

tire

NOTICE

D Stop the vehicle on

a

level firm

ground, firmly set the parking brake

and put the transmission in “P”.

Block the wheel diagonally opposite

to the one being changed if neces-

sary.

Do not continue driving with a de-

flated tire. Driving even a short dis-

tance can damage a tire and wheel

beyond repair.

D Make sure to set the jack properly

in the jack point. Raising the ve-

hicle with jack improperly posi-

tioned will damage the vehicle or

may allow the vehicle to fall off the

jack and cause personal injury.

D Never get under the vehicle when

the vehicle is supported by the jack

alone.

1. Get the required tools and spare

tire.

1. Wheel nut wrench

2. Jack

D Use the jack only for lifting your

vehicle during wheel changing.

3. Jack handle

4. Spare tire

D Do not raise the vehicle with some-

one in the vehicle.

To prepare yourself for an emergency, you

should familiarize yourself with the use of

the jack, each of the tools and their stor-

age locations.

D When raising the vehicle, do not

put an object on or under the jack.

D Raise the vehicle only high enough

to remove and change the tire.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

241

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

To remove the jack, turn the jack joint by

hand until the jack becomes free.

To store the jack, align the hole of the

To remove the spare tire:

jack head with the vehicle hook. Turn the

jack joint until the jack base fits securely

with the vehicle body.

1. Loosen the nut and remove it.

2. Remove the spare tire cover.

3. Loosen the bolt and remove it.

4. Remove the spacer.

This prevents the jack from flying forward

during a collision or sudden stop.

Then take the spare tire out of the ve-

hicle.

When storing the spare tire, put it in place

with the outer side of the wheel facing up.

Then secure the tire by repeating the

above removal steps in reverse order to

prevent it from flying forward during

collision or sudden braking.

a

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

242

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Removing wheel ornament

(steel wheels only)

—Blocking the wheel

—Loosening wheel nuts

2. Block the wheel diagonally opposite

the flat tire to keep the vehicle from

rolling when it is jacked up.

3. Remove the wheel ornament.

4. Loosen all the wheel nuts.

Pry off the wheel ornament, using the

beveled end of the wheel nut wrench as

shown.

Always loosen the wheel nuts before rais-

ing the vehicle.

When blocking the wheel, place a wheel

block from the front for the front wheels

or from the rear for the rear wheels.

Turn the wheel nuts counterclockwise to

loosen. To get maximum leverage, fit the

wrench to the nut so that the handle is

on the right side, as shown above. Grab

the wrench near the end of the handle

and pull up on the handle. Be careful that

the wrench does not slip off the nut.

CAUTION

Do not try to pull off the ornament by

hand. Take due care in handling the

ornament to avoid unexpected person-

al injury.

Do not remove the nuts yet—just unscrew

them about one−half turn.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

243

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Positioning the jack

—Raising your vehicle

CAUTION

Never use oil or grease on the bolts

or nuts. The nuts may loose and the

wheels may fall off, which could cau-

se a serious accident.

5. Position the jack at the correct jack

point as shown. Rotate the load rest

90_ from storage position to lifting

position.

6. After making sure that no one is in

the vehicle, raise it high enough so

that the spare tire can be installed.

Remember you will need more ground

clearance when putting on the spare tire

than when removing the flat tire.

Make sure the jack is positioned on a

level and solid place.

To raise the vehicle, insert the jack handle

into the jack (it is a loose fit) and turn it

clockwise. As the jack touches the vehicle

and begins to lift, double−check that it is

properly positioned.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

244

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Changing wheels

CAUTION

Never get under the vehicle when the

vehicle is supported by the jack

alone.

7. Remove the wheel nuts and change

tires.

Before putting on wheels, remove any cor-

rosion on the mounting surfaces with a

wire brush or such. Installation of wheels

without good metal−to−metal contact at the

mounting surface can cause wheel nuts to

loosen and eventually cause a wheel to

come off while driving.

Lift the flat tire straight off and put it

aside.

Roll the spare wheel into position and

align the holes in the wheel with the bolts.

Then lift up the wheel and get at least the

top bolt started through its hole. Wiggle

the tire and press it back over the other

bolts.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

245

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Reinstalling wheel nuts

—Lowering your vehicle

CAUTION

Never use oil or grease on the bolts

or nuts. Doing so may lead to over-

tightening the nuts and damaging the

bolts. The nuts may loose and the

wheels may fall off, which could cau-

se a serious accident. If there is oil

or grease on any bolt or nut, clean

it.

8. Reinstall all the wheel nuts finger

tight.

9. Lower the vehicle completely and

tighten the wheel nuts.

Reinstall the wheel nuts (tapered end in-

ward) and tighten them as much as you

can by hand. Press back on the tire and

see if you can tighten them more.

Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to

lower the vehicle.

Use only the wheel nut wrench and turn

it clockwise to tighten the nuts. Do not

use other tools or any additional leverage

other than your hands, such as a hammer,

pipe or your foot. Make sure the wrench

is securely engaged over the nut.

Tighten each nut a little at a time in the

order shown. Repeat the process until all

the nuts are tight.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

246

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Reinstalling wheel ornament

(steel wheels only)

—After changing wheels

11. Check the air pressure of the re-

placed tire.

CAUTION

Adjust the air pressure to the specification

designated in Section 8. If the pressure is

lower, drive slowly to the nearest service

station and fill to the correct pressure.

D When lowering the vehicle, make

sure all portions of your body and

all other persons around will not be

injured as the vehicle is lowered to

the ground.

Do not forget to reinstall the tire inflation

valve cap as dirt and moisture could get

into the valve core and possibly cause air

leakage. If the cap is missing, have a new

one put on as soon as possible.

D Have the wheel nuts tightened by

torque wrench at 103 N·m (10.5

kgf·m, 76 ft·lbf), as soon as pos-

sible after changing wheels. Other-

wise, the nuts may loosen and the

wheels may fall off, which could

cause a serious accident.

12. Restow all the tools, jack and flat

tire securely.

10. Reinstall the wheel ornament.

As soon after changing wheels as pos-

sible, tighten the wheel nuts to the torque

Align the cutout of the wheel ornament

with the valve stem as shown. Then tap

it firmly with the side or heel of your hand

to snap it into place.

specified in Section

8

with

a

torque

wrench. Have a technician repair the flat

tire and replace the spare tire with it.

CAUTION

Take due care in handling the orna-

ment to avoid unexpected personal

injury.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

247

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If your vehicle becomes stuck

If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow,

mud, sand, etc., then you may attempt

to rock the vehicle free by moving it

forward and backward.

NOTICE

CAUTION

If you rock your vehicle, observe the

following precautions to prevent dam-

age to the transmission and other

parts.

Before driving, make sure all the

tools, jack and flat tire are securely

in place in their storage location to

reduce the possibility of personal in-

If your vehicle is equipped with the

traction control system, turn off the

system to become unstuck. (For details,

see “Traction control system” in Sec-

tion 1−6.)

z Do not depress the accelerator ped-

al while shifting the selector lever

or before the transmission is com-

pletely shifted to forward or reverse

gear.

jury during

braking.

a

collision or sudden

CAUTION

z Do not race the engine and avoid

spinning the wheels.

Do not attempt to rock the vehicle

free by moving it forward and back-

ward if people or objects are any-

where near the vehicle. During the

rocking operation the vehicle may

suddenly move forward or backward

as it becomes unstuck, causing injury

or damage to nearby people or ob-

jects.

z If your vehicle remains stuck after

rocking the vehicle several times,

consider other ways such as tow-

ing.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

248

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If your vehicle needs to be

towed—

If towing is necessary, we recommend

TOWING PRECAUTIONS:

you to have it done by your Toyota

dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-

vice. In consultation with them, have

your vehicle towed using either (a) or

(b).

Use a safety chain system for all towing,

and abide by the state/provincial and local

laws. The wheels and axle on the ground

must be in good condition. If they are

damaged, use a towing dolly.

(a) Towing with wheel lift type truck—

—From front

Only when you cannot receive a towing

service from a Toyota dealer or com-

mercial tow truck service, tow your ve-

hicle carefully in accordance with the

instructions given in “—Emergency tow-

ing” in this section.

(a) Towing with wheel lift type truck

From front—Release the parking brake.

NOTICE

—From rear

When lifting wheels, take care to en-

sure adequate ground clearance for

towing at the opposite end of the

raised vehicle. Otherwise, the bumper

and/or underbody of the towed vehicle

will be damaged during towing.

Proper equipment will help ensure that

your vehicle is not damaged while being

towed. Commercial operators are generally

aware of the state/provincial and local

laws pertaining to towing.

Your vehicle can be damaged if it is

towed incorrectly. Although most operators

know the correct procedure, it is possible

to make a mistake. To avoid damage to

your vehicle, make sure the following pre-

cautions are observed. If necessary, show

this page to the tow truck driver.

From rear—Use a towing dolly under the

front wheels.

(b) Using flat bed truck

NOTICE

Never tow from the rear with the front

wheels on the ground, as this may

cause serious damage to the trans-

mission.

(b) Using flat bed truck

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

249

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Emergency towing

If towing is necessary, we recommend

(c) Towing with sling

type truck

you to have it done by your Toyota

dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-

vice.

If towing service is not available in an

emergency, your vehicle may be tempo-

rarily towed by a cable or chain se-

cured to one of the emergency towing

eyelets under the vehicle. Use extreme

caution when towing vehicles.

NOTICE

Only use specified towing eyelet;

otherwise your vehicle may be dam-

aged.

Front

(c) Towing with sling type truck

NOTICE

A driver must be in the vehicle to steer

it and operate the brakes.

Do not tow with sling type truck, ei-

ther from the front or rear. This may

cause body damage.

Towing in this manner may be done only

on hard−surfaced roads for a short dis-

tance and at low speeds. Also, the

wheels, axles, drive train, steering and

brakes must all be in good condition.

Rear (on some models)

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

250

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If you cannot shift automatic

transmission selector lever

(floor shift type)

CAUTION

Use extreme caution when towing ve-

hicles. Avoid sudden starts or erratic

driving maneuvers which would place

excessive stress on the emergency

towing eyelets and towing cable or

chain. The eyelets and towing cable

or chain may break and cause serious

injury or damage.

NOTICE

If you cannot shift the selector lever

out of “P” position to other positions

even though the brake pedal is de-

pressed, use the shift lock override but-

ton as follows:

3. Insert your finger into the hole to

push down the shift lock override

button. You can shift out of “P”

position only while pushing the but-

ton.

Use only a cable or chain specifically

intended for use in towing vehicles.

Securely fasten the cable or chain to

the towing eyelets provided.

1. Turn the ignition key to “LOCK”

position. Make sure the parking

brake is applied.

4. Shift into “N” position.

5. Insert the cover.

Before towing, release the parking brake

and put the transmission in “N”. The key

must be in “ACC” (engine off) or “ON”

(engine running).

6. Start the engine. For your safety,

keep the brake pedal depressed.

2. Pry up the cover with a flat−bladed

screwdriver or equivalent.

Be sure to have the system checked by

your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

CAUTION

If the engine is not running, the pow-

er assist for the brakes and steering

will not work so steering and braking

will be much harder than usual.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

251

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If you cannot shift automatic

transmission selector lever

(column shift type)

If you lose your keys

You can purchase a new key at your

Toyota dealer if you can give them the

key number. If your vehicle is equipped

with the engine immobiliser system, the

dealer will also need your master key.

Vehicles with engine immobiliser system—

Even if you lose only one key, contact

your Toyota dealer to make a new key. If

you lose all your master keys, you cannot

make new keys; the whole engine immobi-

liser system must be replaced.

See the suggestion given in “Keys” in

Section 1−2.

If your keys are locked in the vehicle and

you cannot get a duplicate, many Toyota

dealers can still open the door for you,

using their special tools. If you must

If you cannot shift the selector lever

out of “P” position to other positions

even though the brake pedal is de-

pressed, use the shift lock override but-

ton as follows:

3. Insert the screwdriver or equivalent

into the hole to pull down the shift

lock override button. You can shift

out of “P” position only while push-

ing the button.

break

a

window to get in, we suggest

breaking the smallest side window be-

cause it is the least expensive to replace.

Be extremely cautious to avoid cuts from

the glass.

1. Turn the ignition key to “LOCK”

position. Make sure the parking

brake is applied.

4. Shift into “N” position.

5. Insert the cover.

6. Start the engine. For your safety,

keep the brake pedal depressed.

2. Pry up the cover with a flat−bladed

screwdriver or equivalent.

Be sure to have the system checked by

your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

252

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

If you lose your wireless

remote control transmitter

You can purchase a new wireless re-

mote control transmitter at your Toyota

dealer.

Have the registered identification numbers

of your transmitters deleted from your ve-

hicle by your Toyota dealer as soon as

possible to avoid the possibility of theft or

an accident. Then, have the identification

number of your new transmitter registered.

At the same time, you must bring all of

the remaining transmitters to have them

registered again as well.

You can use the wireless remote control

system with the new transmitter. Contact

your Toyota dealer for detailed information.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

253

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

254

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals