Get INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR TOYOTA -> Brake system Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Iridium−tipped spark plugs

Brake system

The diluting ingredients evaporate out

when the vehicle is then driven at high

speeds, as on an expressway, making it

appear that oil is excessively consumed

after driving at high speeds.

The tandem master cylinder brake system

is a hydraulic system with two separate

sub−systems. If either sub−system should

fail, the other will still work. However, the

pedal will be harder to press, and your

stopping distance will be longer. Also, the

brake system warning light may come on.

IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEVEL

CHECK

One of the most important points in prop-

er vehicle maintenance is to keep the en-

gine oil at the optimum level so that oil

function will not be impaired. Therefore, it

is essential that the oil level be checked

regularly. Toyota recommends that the oil

level be checked every time you refuel

the vehicle.

CAUTION

Do not drive your vehicle with only a

single brake system. Have your

brakes fixed immediately.

Your engine is fitted with iridium−tipped

spark plugs.

BRAKE BOOSTER

The brake booster uses engine vacuum to

power−assist the brakes. If the engine

should quit while you are driving, you can

bring the vehicle to a stop with normal

pedal pressure. There is enough reserved

vacuum for one or two stops—but no

more!

NOTICE

Failure to check the oil level regularly

could lead to serious engine trouble

due to insufficient oil.

Use only iridium−tipped spark plugs

and do not adjust gaps for your en-

gine performance and smooth drive-

ability.

For detailed information on oil level check,

see “Checking the engine oil level” in Sec-

tion 7−2.

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

ANTI−LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM

(with “ABS” warning light)

Depressing the brake pedal on slippery

road surfaces such as on the manhole

cover, the steel plate under the construc-

tion, joints in the bridge, etc. on a rainy

day tends to activate the anti−lock brake

system.

CAUTION

The anti−lock brake system is designed

to help prevent lock−up of the wheels

during a sudden braking or braking on

slippery road surfaces. This assists in

providing directional stability and steer-

ing performance of the vehicle under

these circumstances.

D Do not pump the brake pedal if the

engine stalls. Each push on the

pedal uses up your reserved vacu-

um.

You may hear a click or motor sound in

the engine compartment for a few seconds

when the engine is started or just after

the vehicle is started. This means that the

anti−lock brake system is in the self

check mode, and does not indicate a mal-

function.

D Even if the power assist is com-

pletely lost, the brakes will still

work. But you will have to push the

pedal hard, much harder than nor-

mal. And your braking distance will

be longer.

Effective way to press the ABS brake

pedal: When the anti−lock brake system

function is in action, you may feel the

brake pedal pulsating and hear a noise.

In this situation, to let the anti−lock

brake system work for you, just hold the

brake pedal down more firmly. Do not

pump the brake in a panic stop. This

will result in reduced braking performan-

ce.

When the anti−lock brake system is ac-

tivated, the following conditions may

occur. They do not indicate a malfunc-

tion of the system:

D You may hear the anti−lock brake sys-

tem operating and feel the brake pedal

pulsating and the vibrations of the ve-

hicle body and steering wheel. You

may also hear the motor sound in the

engine compartment even after the ve-

hicle is stopped.

The anti−lock brake system becomes op-

erative after the vehicle has accelerated

to a speed in excess of approximately 10

km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the

vehicle decelerates to

approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).

speed below

D At the end of the anti−lock brake sys-

tem activation, the brake pedal may

move a little forward.

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Anti−lock brake system is not de-

CAUTION

signed to shorten the stopping dis-

tance: Always drive at the moderate

speed and maintain a safe distance

from the vehicle in front of you.

Compared with vehicles without an

anti−lock brake system, your vehicle

Do not overestimate the anti−lock

brake system: Although the anti−lock

brake system assists in providing ve-

hicle control, it is still important to

drive with all due care and maintain

a moderate speed and safe distance

from the vehicle in front of you, be-

cause there are limits to the vehicle

stability and effectiveness of steering

wheel operation even with the anti−

lock brake system on.

may require

tance in the following cases:

longer stopping dis-

D Driving on rough, gravel or snow−

covered roads.

D Driving with tire chains installed.

Type A

D Driving over the steps such as the

joints on the road.

If tires grip performance exceeds its

capability, or if hydroplaning occurs

during high speed driving in the rain,

the anti−lock brake system does not

provide vehicle control.

D Driving on roads where the road

surface is pitted or has other differ-

ences in surface height.

Install all 4 tires of specified size at

appropriate pressure: The anti−lock

brake system detects vehicle speeds

using the speed sensors for respec-

tive wheels’ turning speeds. The use

of tires other than specified may fail

to detect the accurate turning speed

resulting in

tance.

longer stopping dis-

Type B

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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

“ABS” warning light

D The light comes on while you are driv-

ing.

BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM

The light comes on when the ignition key

is turned to the “ON” position. If the anti−

lock brake system and the brake assist

system work properly, the light turns off

When you slam the brakes on, the

brake assist system judges as an emer-

gency stop and provides more powerful

braking for a driver who cannot hold

down the brake pedal firmly.

A warning light turning on briefly during

operation does not indicate a problem.

after

few seconds. Thereafter, if the

CAUTION

system malfunctions, the light comes on

again.

When you slam the brakes on, more pow-

erful braking will be applied. At this time,

If the “ABS” warning light remains on

together with the brake system warn-

ing light, immediately stop your ve-

hicle at a safe place and contact your

Toyota dealer.

When the “ABS” warning light is on (and

the brake system warning light is off), the

anti−lock brake system, the brake assist

system, the traction control system and

the vehicle skid control system do not

operate, but the brake system still oper-

ates conventionally.

you may hear

sound in the engine

compartment and feel the vibration of the

brake pedal. This does not indicate a mal-

function.

In this case, not only the anti−lock

brake system will fail but also the

vehicle will become extremely unsta-

ble during braking.

The brake assist system becomes opera-

tive after the vehicle has accelerated to

a speed in excess of approximately 10

km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the

When the “ABS” warning light is on (and

the brake system warning light is off), the

anti−lock brake system does not operate

so that the wheels could lock up during

a sudden braking or braking on slippery

road surfaces.

vehicle decelerates to

approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).

speed below

DRUM−IN−DISC TYPE PARKING BRAKE

SYSTEM

For an explanation of this system’s warn-

ing light, see “Service reminder indicators

and warning buzzers” in Section 1−5.

Your vehicle has

drum−in−disc type

parking brake system. This type of brake

system needs bedding−down of the brake

shoes periodically or whenever the parking

brake shoes and/or drums are replaced.

If either of the following conditions

occurs, this indicates

malfunction

somewhere in the parts monitored by

the warning light. Contact your Toyota

dealer as soon as possible to service

the vehicle.

Have your Toyota dealer perform the bed-

ding−down.

D The light does not come on when the

ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-

tion, or remains on.

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INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR TOYOTA -> Brake system for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

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