Get Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

SECTION 1− 3

OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND

CONTROLS

Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors

Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Driving position memory system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Trunk storage extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Seat heaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

SRS driver airbag and front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

SRS side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Child restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Tilt steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Outside rear view mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Anti−glare inside rear view mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Auto anti−glare inside rear view mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Vanity mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

41

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Front seats—

—Front seat precautions

Seats

—Seat adjustment precautions

While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-

hicle occupants should have the seatback

upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-

erly wear the seat belts provided.

Adjust the driver’s seat so that the foot

pedals, steering wheel and instrument

panel controls are within easy reach of

the driver.

CAUTION

The SRS side airbags are installed in

the driver and front passenger seats.

Observe the following precautions.

CAUTION

D Do not lean against the front door

when the vehicle is in use, since

the side airbag inflates with consid-

erable speed and force. Otherwise,

you may be killed or seriously in-

jured. Special care should be taken

especially when you have a small

child in the vehicle.

D Do not drive the vehicle unless the

occupants are properly seated. Do

D Adjustments should not be made

while the vehicle is moving, as the

seat may unexpectedly move and

cause the driver to lose control of

the vehicle.

not allow sitting on top of

a

folded−down seatback, or in the

luggage compartment or cargo area.

Persons not properly seated and/or

properly restrained by seat belts

can be severely injured in the event

of emergency braking or a collision.

D When adjusting the seat, be careful

that the seat does not hit a passen-

ger or luggage.

D Do not use seat accessories which

cover the parts where the side air-

bags inflate. Such accessories may

prevent the side airbags from acti-

vating correctly, causing death or

serious injury.

D After adjusting the seat position,

try sliding it forward and backward

to make sure it is locked in posi-

tion.

D During driving, do not allow pas-

sengers to stand up or move

around between seats. Severe inju-

ries can occur in the event of emer-

gency braking or a collision.

D After adjusting the seatback, push

back your body to make sure it is

locked in position.

D Do not modify or replace the seats

or upholstery of the front seats

with the side airbags. Such changes

may disable the system or cause

the side airbags to inflate acciden-

tally resulting in death or serious

injury. Consult your Toyota dealer if

you insist on modifications of this

kind.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

42

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Adjusting front seats

(manual seat)

1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER

D Do not put objects under the seats.

Otherwise, the objects may interfere

with the seat−lock mechanism or

unexpectedly push up the seat posi-

tion adjusting lever and the seat

may suddenly move, causing the

driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Hold the center of the lever and pull it

up. Then slide the seat to the desired

position with slight body pressure and

release the lever.

2. SEAT CUSHION ANGLE ADJUSTING

KNOB

Turn the knob either way.

D While adjusting the seat, do not put

your hands under the seat or near

the moving parts. Otherwise, you

may catch and injure your hands or

fingers.

3. SEATBACK

LEVER

ANGLE

ADJUSTING

Lean forward and pull the lever up.

Then lean back to the desired angle

and release the lever.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

43

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Adjusting front seats (power

seat)

1. SEAT POSITION AND SEAT CUSHION

ANGLE ADJUSTING SWITCH

CAUTION

Move the control switch in the desired

direction.

To reduce the risk of sliding under

the lap belt during a collision, avoid

reclining the seatback any more than

needed. The seat belts provide maxi-

mum protection in a frontal or rear

collision when the driver and the pas-

senger are sitting up straight and

well back in the seats. If you are

reclined, the lap belt may slide past

your hips and apply restraint forces

directly to the abdomen. In the event

of a frontal collision, the more the

seat is reclined, the greater the risk

of personal injury.

Releasing the switch will stop the seat at

that position.

Do not place anything under the front

seats, as this might interfere with the seat

movement.

2. SEATBACK

SWITCH

ANGLE

ADJUSTING

Move the control switch in the desired

direction.

Releasing the switch will stop the seat-

back at that position.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

44

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Driving position memory

system

The micro computer can memorize the

position of the driver’s seat and outside

rear view mirror. Two different driving

position profiles can be entered into

computer’s memory.

CAUTION

To reduce the risk of sliding under

the lap belt during a collision, avoid

reclining the seatback any more than

needed. The seat belts provide maxi-

mum protection in a frontal or rear

collision when the driver and the pas-

senger are sitting up straight and

well back in the seats. If you are

reclined, the lap belt may slide past

your hips and apply restraint forces

directly to the abdomen. In the event

of a frontal collision, the more the

seat is reclined, the greater the risk

of personal injury.

Recording

a

driving position in the

computer’s memory can only be done

when the ignition key is in the “ON”

position and the automatic transmission

selector lever is in the “P” position.

SETTING THE DRIVING POSITION

1. Adjust the driver’s seat and outside

rear view mirror to the desired posi-

tion.

3. SEAT

LUMBAR

ADJUSTING SWITCH

SUPPORT

2. While pushing the “SET” button,

push button “1” or “2” until the sig-

nal beeps.

Push the switch on either side.

The amount of lumbar support will change

while the switch is pushed.

The beep sound means that the positions

are recorded in the computer’s memory.

By repeating these two steps and pressing

the remaining button, the driving position

for another driver can be recorded.

To set a new memorized position, select

the desired position and perform step 2.

The previous memory will be erased and

a new position will be set.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

45

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

To make only slight changes to an already

memorized position, the easiest way is to

first activate the memorized position, then

make the desired changes and perform

step 2 above.

CONDITIONS FOR

POSITION ACTIVATION

MEMORIZED

D Ignition key “ON” and shift lever in “P”

position

All parts of the memorized positions

can be activated. However, if the brake

pedal is being depressed, the seat

position will not change.

D Key not in ignition switch and within 30

seconds of opening driver’s door

The memorized position can be acti-

vated.

If any driving position memory switch is

pushed while one of the memorized driv-

ing position profiles is being activated, the

operation will stop.

RECALLING THE MEMORIZED POSITION

When you push button “1” or “2”, the

driving position will be automatically

adjusted to the position recorded for

that button.

To reactivate the system, push the desired

button (“1” or “2”) again.

The driving position memory control sys-

tem cannot be operated while the vehicle

is moving.

If the vehicle’s battery is disconnected,

the computer’s memory will be erased and

the memorized position will have to be set

again.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

46

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Trunk storage extension

CAUTION

D Do not start the vehicle while the

adjustment are being made.

D Take care not to select the wrong

button, or the seat could strike the

rear passenger or hit your body

against the steering wheel. If this

happens, you can stop the move-

ment by pressing another driving

position memory switch, or de-

pressing the brake pedal.

1. Pull down the armrest in the rear

seat.

2. Push down the handle of the armrest

door and open the armrest door.

Access to the trunk can be prevented by

locking the armrest door with the master

key.

To lock: Turn the key clockwise.

See “Luggage stowage precautions” in

Section 2 for precautions in loading lug-

gage.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

47

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Head restraints

For your safety and comfort, adjust the

head restraint before driving.

CAUTION

To raise: Pull it up.

To lower: Push it down while pressing the

lock release button.

Be sure to close the door when the

trunk storage extension is not in use.

Luggage or cargo in the trunk may be

thrown into the passenger compart-

ment in a sudden stop or crash re-

sulting in injury.

Rear center head restraint—When an oc-

cupant sits on the rear center seat, al-

ways pull up the rear center head re-

straint to the lock position.

The head restraint is most effective when

it is close to your head. Therefore, using

a cushion on the seatback is not recom-

mended.

Front

CAUTION

D Adjust the center of the head re-

straint so that it is closest to the

top of your ears.

D After adjusting the head restraint,

make sure it is locked in position.

D Do not drive with the head re-

straints removed.

Rear

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

48

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Armrest

Seat heaters

Front—To use the armrest, pull up the

strap and pull down the armrest as

shown above.

Rear—To use the armrest, pull it down

as shown above.

Front (bench type front seat only)

For driver

Rear

For front outside passenger

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

49

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Seat belts—

—Seat belt precautions

To turn on the seat heater, push the

switch.

Toyota strongly urges that the driver and

passengers in the vehicle be properly re-

strained at all times with the seat belts

provided. Failure to do so could increase

the chance of injury and/or the severity of

injury in accidents.

NOTICE

z Do not put unevenly weighed ob-

jects on the seat and do not stick

sharp objects (needles, nails, etc.)

into the seat.

At this time, the indicator light will illu-

minate to indicate the seat heater is

operating.

The key must be in the “ON” position.

Pushing the switch again will turn it off.

Child. Use a child restraint system ap-

propriate for the child until the child be-

comes large enough to properly wear the

vehicle’s seat belts. See “Child restraint”

for details.

z When cleaning the seats, do not

use organic substances (paint thin-

ner, benzine, alcohol, gasoline,

etc.). They may damage the heater

and seat surface.

CAUTION

Occupants must use caution when op-

erating the seat heater because it

may make them feel too hot or cause

burns at low temperatures (erythema,

varicella). Use extra caution for;

If a child is too large for a child restraint

system, the child should sit in the rear

seat and must be restrained using the

vehicle’s seat belt. According to accident

statistics, the child is safer when properly

restrained in the rear seat than in the

front seat.

z To prevent the battery from being

discharge, turn the switch off when

the engine is not running.

D Babies, small children, elderly per-

sons, sick persons or handicapped

persons

If a child must sit in the front seat, the

seat belts should be worn properly. If an

accident occurs and the seat belts are not

worn properly, the force of the rapid infla-

tion of the airbag may cause death or

serious injury to the child.

D Persons who have delicate skin

D Persons who are exhausted

D Persons who have taken alcohol or

drugs which induce sleep (sleeping

drug, cold remedy, etc.)

To prevent the seat overheating, do

not use the seat heater with a blan-

ket, cushion, or other insulating ob-

jects which cover the seat.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

50

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Do not allow the child to stand up or

kneel on either rear or front seats. An

unrestrained child could suffer serious in-

jury or death during emergency braking or

a collision. Also, do not let the child sit

on your lap. It does not provide sufficient

restraint.

D Keep the belts clean and dry. If

CAUTION

they need cleaning, use a mild soap

solution or lukewarm water. Never

use bleach, dye, or abrasive clean-

ers—they may severely weaken the

belts. (See “Cleaning the interior”

in Section 5.)

Persons should ride in their seats

properly wearing their seat belts

whenever the vehicle is moving.

Otherwise, they are much more likely

to suffer serious bodily injury or

death in the event of sudden braking

or a collision.

Pregnant woman. Toyota recommends the

use of a seat belt. Ask your doctor for

specific recommendations. The lap belt

should be worn securely and as low as

possible over the hips and not on the

waist.

D Replace the belt assembly (includ-

ing bolts) if it has been used in a

severe impact. The entire assembly

should be replaced even if damage

is not obvious.

When using the seat belts, observe

the following:

D Use the belt for only one person at

a time. Do not use a single belt for

two or more people—even children.

Injured person. Toyota recommends the

use of a seat belt. Depending on the inju-

ry, first check with your doctor for specific

recommendations.

D Avoid reclining the seatbacks too

much. The seat belts provide maxi-

mum protection when the seatbacks

are in the upright position. (Refer

to the seat adjustment instructions.)

D Be careful not to damage the belt

webbing or hardware. Take care that

they do not get caught or pinched

in the seat or doors.

D Inspect the belt system periodically.

Check for cuts, fraying, and loose

parts. Damaged parts should be re-

placed. Do not disassemble or

modify the system.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

51

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Front outside and rear seat

belts (3−point type)

If the seat belt cannot be pulled out of the

retractor, firmly pull the belt and release

it. You will then be able to smoothly pull

the belt out of the retractor.

When a passenger’s shoulder belt is com-

pletely extended and is then retracted

even slightly, the belt is locked in that

position and cannot be extended. This fea-

ture is used to hold the child restraint

system securely. (For details, see “Child

restraint” in this section.) To free the belt

again, fully retract the belt and then pull

the belt out once more.

Adjust the seat as needed (front seats

only) and sit up straight and well back

in the seat. To fasten your belt, pull it

out of the retractor and insert the tab

into the buckle.

Seat belts with an adjustable shoulder

anchor—

CAUTION

D After inserting the tab, make sure

the tab and buckle are locked and

that the belt is not twisted.

Adjust the shoulder anchor position to

your size.

To raise: Slide the anchor up.

To lower: Push in the lock release button

and slide the anchor down.

You will hear a click when the tab locks

into the buckle.

D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in

the buckle as this may prevent you

from properly latching the tab and

buckle.

The seat belt length automatically adjusts

to your size and the seat position.

After adjustment, make sure the anchor is

locked in position.

D If the seat belt does not function

normally, immediately contact your

Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat

until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot

protect an adult occupant or your

child from injury.

The retractor will lock the belt during a

sudden stop or on impact. It also may

lock if you lean forward too quickly. A

slow, easy motion will allow the belt to

extend, and you can move around freely.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

52

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

CAUTION

Take up

slack

Always make sure the shoulder belt

is positioned across the center of

your shoulder. The belt should be

kept away from your neck, but not

falling off your shoulder. Failure to

do so could reduce the amount of

protection in an accident and cause

serious injuries in a collision.

D Both high−positioned lap belts and

loose−fitting belts could cause seri-

ous injuries due to sliding under

the lap belt during a collision or

other unintended result. Keep the

lap belt positioned as low on hips

as possible.

Too high

D For your safety, do not place the

shoulder belt under your arm.

Keep as low on

hips as possible

Adjust the position of the lap and

shoulder belts.

Position the lap belt as low as possible

on your hips—not on your waist, then ad-

just it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder

portion upward through the latch plate.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

53

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Front center seat belt

(2−point type)

Lengthen

CAUTION

D After inserting the tab, make sure

the tab and buckle are locked and

that the belt is not twisted.

D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in

the buckle as this may prevent you

from properly latching the tab and

buckle.

D If the seat belt does not function

normally, immediately contact your

Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat

until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot

protect an adult occupant or your

child from injury.

To release the belt, press the buckle−re-

lease button and allow the belt to re-

tract.

Sit up straight and well back in the

seat. To fasten your belt, insert the tab

into the buckle.

If the belt does not retract smoothly, pull

it out and check for kinks or twists. Then

make sure it remains untwisted as it re-

tracts.

You will hear a click when the tab locks

into the buckle.

If the belt is not long enough for you, hold

the tab at a right angle to the belt and

pull on the tab.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

54

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Stowing the front center

seat belt

Too high

Adjust to

a snug fit

Keep as low on hips as possible

Remove excess length of the belt and

adjust the belt position.

To release the belt, press the buckle−re-

lease button.

The front center seat belt can be

stowed when not in use.

To shorten the belt, pull the free end of

the belt.

Position the lap belt as low as possible

on your hips—not on your waist, then ad-

just it to a snug fit.

CAUTION

Both high−positioned and loose−fit-

ting lap belts could cause serious in-

juries due to sliding under the lap

belt during a collision or other unin-

tended result. Keep the lap belt posi-

tioned as low on hips as possible.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

55

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Seat belt extender

If your seat belts cannot be fastened se-

curely because they are not long enough,

a personalized seat belt extender is avail-

able from your Toyota dealer free of

charge.

D Remember that the extender pro-

vided for you may not be safe when

used on different vehicle, for

another person or at different

a

seating position, than the one origi-

nally intended.

Please contact your local Toyota dealer so

that the dealer can order the proper re-

quired length for the extender. Bring the

heaviest coat you expect to wear for prop-

er measurement and selection of length.

Additional ordering information is available

at your Toyota dealer.

CAUTION

To connect the extender to the seat

belt, insert the tab into the seat belt

buckle so that the “PRESS” signs on

the buckle−release buttons of the ex-

tender and the seat belt are both facing

outward as shown.

When using the seat belt extender,

observe the following precautions.

Failure to follow these instructions

could reduce the effectiveness of the

seat belt restraint system in case of

vehicle

chance of personal injury.

accident,

increasing

the

You will hear a click when the tab locks

into the buckle.

D Never use the seat belt extender if

you can fasten the seat belt without

it.

When releasing the seat belt, press on

the buckle−release button on the extender,

not on the seat belt. This helps prevent

damage to the vehicle interior and extend-

er itself.

When not in use, remove the extender

and store in the vehicle for future use.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

56

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Front seat belt

pretensioners

CAUTION

D After inserting the tab, make sure

the tab and buckle are locked and

that the seat belt extender is not

twisted.

D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in

the buckle as this may prevent you

from properly latching the tab and

buckle.

D If the seat belt does not function

normally, immediately contact your

Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat

until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot

protect an adult occupant or your

child from injury.

The driver and front outside passen-

ger’s seat belt pretensioners are de-

signed to be activated in response to

a severe frontal impact.

This indicator comes on when the igni-

tion key is turned to the “ON” position.

It goes off after about 6 seconds. This

means the front outside seat belt pre-

tensioners are operating properly.

When the airbag sensor detects the shock

of a severe frontal impact, the front out-

side seat belts are quickly drawn back in

by the retractors so that the belts snugly

restrain the front outside seat occupants.

This warning light system monitors the

airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-

sors, side airbag sensors, driver’s seat

position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle

switch, front seat belt pretensioner assem-

blies, inflators, warning light, interconnect-

ing wiring and power sources. (For details,

see “Service reminder indicators and

warning buzzers” in Section 1−5.)

The front outside seat belt pretensioners

are activated even with no passenger in

the front outside seat.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

57

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

When the front outside seat belt preten-

sioners are activated, an operating noise

may be heard and small amount of

smoke−like gas may be released. This gas

is harmless and does not indicate that a

fire is occurring.

NOTICE

a

Do not perform any of the following

changes without

consulting your

Toyota dealer. Such changes can

interfere with proper operation of the

front outside seat belt pretensioners

in some cases.

Once the front outside seat belt preten-

sioners have been activated, the seat belt

retractors remain locked.

z Installation of electronic devices

such as

a

mobile two−way radio,

CAUTION

cassette tape player or compact

disc player

Do not modify, remove, strike or open

the front seat belt pretensioner as-

semblies, airbag sensor or surround-

ing area or wiring. Doing so may

cause sudden operation of the front

outside seat belt pretensioners or dis-

able the system, which could result in

death or serious injury.

z Repairs on or near the front seat

belt retractor assemblies

The front outside seat belt pretensioner

system mainly consists of the following

components and their locations are shown

in the illustration.

z Modification of the suspension sys-

tem

z Modification of the front end struc-

ture

1. Front airbag sensors

z Attachment of a grille guard (bull

bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,

winches or any other equipment to

the front end

2. SRS warning light

Failure to follow these instructions

can result in death or serious inju-

ries. Consult your Toyota dealer

about any repairs and modifications.

3. Front seat belt pretensioner assemblies

4. Airbag sensor assembly

z Repairs made on or near the front

fenders, front end structure or con-

sole

The front outside seat belt pretensioners

are controlled by the airbag sensor as-

sembly. The airbag sensor assembly con-

sists of a safing sensor and airbag sen-

sor.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

58

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D If either front outside seat belt does

not retract or cannot be pulled out due

to a malfunction or activation of the

relevant front outside seat belt preten-

sioner.

This front outside seat belt pretensioner

system has a service reminder indicator to

inform the driver of operating problems. If

any of the following conditions occurs, this

indicates a malfunction of the airbags or

pretensioners. Contact your Toyota dealer

as soon as possible to service the

vehicle.

In the following cases, contact your Toyota

dealer as soon as possible:

D The front of the vehicle (shaded in the

illustration) was involved in an accident

that was not severe enough to cause

the front outside seat belt pretension-

ers to operate.

D Either front outside seat belt preten-

sioner assembly or surrounding area is

scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-

aged.

D The light does not come on when the

ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-

tion, or remains on.

D The light comes on or flashes while

driving.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

59

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

SRS driver airbag and front

passenger airbag

In response to a severe frontal impact,

CAUTION

the SRS front airbags work together with

the seat belts to help reduce injury by

inflating. The SRS front airbags help to

reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or

front passenger’s head or chest caused by

directly hitting the steering wheel or dash-

board. The front passenger airbag is acti-

vated even with no passenger in the front

seat.

The driver or front passenger who is

too close to the steering wheel or

dashboard during airbag deployment

can be killed or seriously injured.

Toyota strongly recommends that:

D The driver sit as far back as pos-

sible from the steering wheel while

still maintaining control of the ve-

hicle.

Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

D The front passenger sit as far back

as possible from the dashboard.

The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-

tem) front airbags are designed to pro-

vide further protection for occupants in

the following seats in addition to the

primary safety protection provided by

the seat belts.

D All vehicle occupants be properly

restrained using the available seat

belts.

D Vehicles with bucket front seats—The

SRS front airbags are designed to pro-

tect the driver and front passenger.

D Vehicles with bench type front seats—

The SRS front airbags are designed to

protect the driver and front outside

passenger. They are not designed to

protect occupant in the center position.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

60

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

However, this threshold velocity will be

considerably higher if the vehicle strikes

an object, such as a parked vehicle or

sign pole, which can move or deform on

impact, or if it is involved in an underride

collision (e.g. a collision in which the nose

of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under,

the bed of a truck, etc.).

For the safety of all occupants, always

wear your seat belts properly.

This indicator comes on when the igni-

tion key is turned to the “ON” position.

It goes off after about 6 seconds. This

means the SRS front airbags are oper-

ating properly.

The SRS front airbag system is de-

signed to activate in response to a se-

vere frontal impact within the shaded

area between the arrows in the illustra-

tion.

This warning light system monitors the

airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-

sors, side airbag sensors, driver’s seat

position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle

switch, front seat belt pretensioner assem-

blies, inflators, warning light, interconnect-

ing wiring and power sources. (For details,

see “Service remainder indicators and

warning buzzers” in Section 1−5.)

The SRS front airbags will deploy if the

severity of the impact is above the de-

signed threshold level, comparable to an

approximate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision in

the U.S.A. and 30 km/h (18 mph) collision

in Canada when impacting straight into a

fixed barrier that does not move or de-

form.

If the severity of the impact is below the

above threshold level, the SRS front air-

bags may not deploy.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

61

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Hitting a curb,

edge of pavement

or hard material

Falling into or

jumping over a

deep hole

Collision from the rear

Collision from the side

Vehicle rollover

Landing hard or vehicle falling

The SRS front airbags are not designed

to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a

side or rear collision, if it rolls over, or

if it is involved in a low−speed frontal

collision.

The SRS front airbags may deploy if a

serious impact occurs to the underside

of your vehicle. Some examples are

shown in the illustration.

The SRS airbag system consists mainly of

the following components, and their loca-

tions are shown in the illustration.

1. Front airbag sensors

2. Airbag module for driver

(airbag and inflator)

3. Airbag module for front passenger

(airbag and inflator)

4. Driver’s seat belt buckle switch

5. Driver’s seat position sensor

6. Airbag sensor assembly

7. SRS warning light

The airbag sensor assembly consists of a

safing sensor and airbag sensor.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

62

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

In a severe frontal impact, the sensor de-

tects deceleration and the system triggers

the airbag inflators. At this time a chemi-

cal reaction in the inflators quickly fills the

airbags with non−toxic gas to help restrain

the forward motion of the occupants.

A crash severe enough to inflate the air-

CAUTION

bags may break the windshield as the

vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a pas-

senger airbag the windshield may also be

damaged by absorbing some of the force

of the inflating airbag.

D The SRS airbag system is designed

only as a supplement to the prima-

ry protection of the driver side and

front passenger side seat belt sys-

tems. The front seat occupants can

be killed or seriously injured by the

inflating airbags if they do not wear

the available seat belts properly.

During sudden braking just before

a collision, an unrestrained driver

or front passenger can move for-

ward into direct contact with or

close proximity to the airbag which

may then deploy during the colli-

sion. To ensure maximum protection

in an accident, the driver and all

passengers in the vehicle must

wear their seat belts properly. Wear-

ing a seat belt properly during an

accident reduces the chances of

death or serious injury or being

thrown out of the vehicle. For

instructions and precautions con-

cerning the seat belt system, see

“Seat belts” in this section.

When the airbags inflate, they produce a

fairly loud noise and release some smoke

and residue along with non−toxic gas. This

does not indicate a fire. This gas is nor-

mally harmless; however, for those who

have delicate skin, it may cause a minor

skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any

residue as soon as possible to prevent

any potential skin irritation.

Deployment of the airbags happens in a

fraction of a second, so the airbags must

inflate with considerable force. While the

system is designed to reduce serious inju-

ries, it may also cause minor burns or

abrasions and swelling.

Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel

hub, dashboard) may be hot for several

minutes, but the airbags themselves will

not be hot. The airbags are designed to

inflate only once.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

63

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D Improperly seated and/or restrained

infants and children can be killed

or seriously injured by the deploy-

ing front airbags. An infant or child

who is too small to use a seat belt

should be properly secured using a

child

restraint

system.

Toyota

strongly recommends that all in-

fants and children be placed in the

rear seat of the vehicle and proper-

ly restrained. The rear seat is the

safest for infants and children. For

instructions concerning the installa-

tion of a child restraint system, see

“Child restraint” in this section.

Move seat

fully back

D Never install a rear−facing child re-

D A forward−facing child restraint sys-

tem should be allowed to be

installed on the front passenger

seat only when it is unavoidable.

Always move the seat as far back

as possible, because the force of

the deploying front passenger air-

bag could cause death or serious

injury to the child.

straint system on the front passen-

ger seat because the force of the

rapid inflation of the front passen-

ger airbag can cause death or seri-

ous injury to the child.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

64

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D Do not allow the child to lean

against the front door or around

the front door even if the child is

seated in the child restraint system.

It is dangerous if the side airbags

inflate, because the impact could

cause death or serious injury to the

child.

D For instructions concerning the

installation of a child restraint sys-

tem, see “Child restraint” in this

section.

D Do not sit on the edge of the seat

D Do not allow a child to stand up,

or to kneel on the front passenger

seat, since the front airbag inflates

with considerable speed and force.

Otherwise, the child may be killed

or seriously injured.

or lean over the dashboard when

the vehicle is in use, since the

front airbags inflate with consider-

able speed and force. Otherwise,

you may be killed or seriously in-

jured. Sit up straight and well back

in the seat, and always use your

seat belt properly.

D Do not hold a child on your lap or

in your arms. Use a child restraint

system in the rear seat. For instruc-

tions concerning the installation of

a child restraint system, see “Child

restraint” in this section.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

65

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

NOTICE

D Do not modify or remove any wir-

ing. Do not modify, remove, strike

or open any components such as

the steering wheel pad, steering

wheel, column cover, front passen-

ger airbag cover, front passenger

airbag or airbag sensor assembly.

Doing so may cause sudden SRS

front airbag inflation or disable the

system, which could result in death

or serious injury.

Do not perform any of the following

changes without

Toyota dealer. Such changes can

interfere with proper operation of the

SRS front airbag system in some

cases.

consulting your

z Installation of electronic devices

a

such as

mobile two−way radio,

cassette tape player or compact

disc player

Failure to follow these instructions

can result in death or serious injury.

Consult your Toyota dealer about any

repairs and modifications.

z Modification of the suspension sys-

tem

D Do not put objects or your pets on

or in front of the dashboard or

steering wheel pad that houses the

front airbag system. They might re-

strict inflation or cause death or

serious injury as they are projected

rearward by the force of the deploy-

ing airbags. Likewise, the driver

and front passenger should not

hold objects in their arms or on

their knees.

z Modification of the front end struc-

ture

z Attachment of a grille guard (bull

bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,

winches or any other equipment to

the front end

z Repairs made on or near the front

fenders, front end structure, con-

sole, steering column, steering

wheel or dashboard near the front

passenger airbag

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

66

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

NOTICE

Do not disconnect the battery cables

before contacting your Toyota dealer.

This SRS front airbag system has

a

In the following cases, contact your Toyota

dealer as soon as possible:

service reminder indicator to inform the

driver of operating problems. If either of

the following conditions occurs, this

D The SRS front airbags have been in-

flated.

indicates

a

malfunction of the airbags.

D The front of the vehicle (shaded in the

illustration) was involved in an accident

that was not severe enough to cause

the SRS front airbags to inflate.

Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as

possible to service the vehicle.

D The light does not come on when the

ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-

tion, or the light remains on.

D The pad section of the steering wheel

or

front passenger

airbag cover

D The light comes on while driving.

(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,

cracked, or otherwise damaged.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

67

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

SRS side airbags

In response to a severe side impact, the

SRS side airbags work together with the

seat belts to help reduce injury by inflat-

ing. The SRS side airbags help to reduce

injuries mainly to the driver’s or front pas-

senger’s chest. The SRS side airbag on

the passenger seat is activated even with

no passenger in the front seat.

Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

CAUTION

SRS side airbags inflate with consid-

erable force. To avoid potential death

or serious injury when they inflate,

the driver and front passenger must:

The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-

tem) side airbags are designed to pro-

vide further protection for occupants in

the following seats in addition to the

primary safety protection provided by

the seat belts.

This indicator comes on when the igni-

tion key is turned to the “ON” position.

It goes off after about 6 seconds. This

means the SRS side airbags are operat-

ing properly.

D Wear their seat belts properly

D Remain properly seated with their

back upright and against the seat at

all times.

This warning light system monitors the

airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-

sors, side airbag sensors, driver’s seat

position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle

switch, front seat belt pretensioner assem-

blies, inflators, warning light, interconnect-

ing wiring and power sources. (For details,

see “Service reminder indicators and

warning buzzers” in Section 1−5.)

D Vehicles with bucket front seats—The

SRS side airbags are designed to pro-

tect the driver and front passenger.

D Vehicles with bench type front seats—

The SRS side airbags are designed to

protect the driver and right−front pas-

senger. They are not designed to pro-

tect occupant in the center position.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

68

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Collision from the rear

Collision from the front

Vehicle rollover

The SRS side airbag system may not

activate if the vehicle is subjected to a

collision from the side at certain

angles, or a collision to the side of the

vehicle body other than the passenger

compartment as shown in the illustra-

tion.

The SRS side airbags are not designed

to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a

front or rear collision, if it rolls over,

or if it is involved in a low−speed side

collision.

The SRS side airbag system consists

mainly of the following components, and

their locations are shown in the illustra-

tion.

1. SRS warning light

2. Airbag sensor assembly

3. Side airbag modules

(airbag and inflator)

The SRS side airbags are designed to

inflate when the passenger compartment

area suffers

side.

a

severe impact from the

4. Side airbag sensors

The SRS side airbag system is controlled

by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag

sensor assembly consists of a safing sen-

sor and airbag sensor.

For the safety of all occupants, always

wear your seat belts properly.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

69

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

In a severe side impact, the side airbag

sensor triggers the side airbag inflators.

At this time a chemical reaction in the

inflators quickly fills the airbags with non−

toxic gas to help restrain the lateral mo-

tion of the occupants.

D Improperly seated and/or restrained

CAUTION

infants and children can be killed

or seriously injured by the deploy-

ing airbags. An infant or child who

D The SRS side airbag system is de-

signed only as a supplement to the

primary protection of the driver

side and front passenger side seat

belt systems. To ensure maximum

protection in an accident, the driver

and all passengers in the vehicle

must wear their seat belts properly.

Wearing a seat belt properly during

an accident reduces the chances of

death or serious injury or being

thrown out of the vehicle. For

instructions and precautions con-

cerning the seat belt system, see

“Seat belts” in this section.

is too small to use

should be properly secured using a

child restraint system. Toyota

a

seat belt

When the airbags inflate, they produce a

fairly loud noise and release some smoke

and residue along with non−toxic gas. This

does not indicate a fire. This gas is nor-

mally harmless; however, for those who

have delicate skin, it may cause a minor

skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any

residue as soon as possible to prevent

any potential skin irritation.

strongly recommends that all in-

fants and children be placed in the

rear seat of the vehicle and proper-

ly restrained. The rear seat is the

safest for infants and children. For

instructions concerning the installa-

tion of a child restraint system, see

“Child restraint” in this section.

Deployment of the airbags happens in a

fraction of a second, so the airbags must

inflate with considerable force. While the

system is designed to reduce serious inju-

ries, it may also cause minor burns or

abrasions and swelling.

D Do not allow a child to lean his/her

head or any part of his/her body

against the front door or the area

of the seat from which the side air-

bag deploys even if he/she is

seated in the child restraint system.

It is dangerous if the side airbag

inflates, and the impact could cause

death or serious injury to the child.

For instructions concerning the

installation of a child restraint sys-

tem, see “Child restraint” in this

section.

Front seats may be hot for several min-

utes, but the airbags themselves will not

be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate

only once.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

70

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D Do not use seat accessories which

cover the parts where the side air-

bags inflate. Such accessories may

prevent the side airbags from acti-

vating correctly, causing death or

serious injury.

D Do not modify or replace the seats

or upholstery of the front seats

with the side airbags. Such changes

may disable the system or cause

the side airbags to inflate acciden-

tally resulting in death or serious

injury. Consult your Toyota dealer if

you insist on modifications of this

kind.

D Do not lean against the front door

when the vehicle is in use, since

the side airbag inflates with consid-

erable speed and force. Otherwise,

you may be killed or seriously in-

jured. Special care should be taken

especially when you have a small

child in the vehicle.

D Do not attach a cup holder or any

other device or object on or around

the door. When the side airbag in-

flates, the cup holder or any other

device or object will be thrown with

great force or the side airbag may

not activate correctly, resulting in

death or serious injury. Likewise,

the driver and front passenger

should not hold objects in their

arms or on their knees.

Failure to follow these instructions

can result in death or serious injury.

D Sit up straight and well back in the

seat, distributing your weight evenly

in the seat. Do not apply excessive

weight to the outer side of the front

seats on vehicles with side airbags.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

71

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

NOTICE

Do not perform any of the following

changes without

consulting your

Toyota dealer. Such changes can

interfere with proper operation of the

SRS side airbag system in some

cases.

z Installation of electronic devices

such as

a

mobile two−way radio,

cassette tape player or compact

disc player

z Modification of the suspension sys-

tem

This SRS side airbag system has

a

service reminder indicator to inform the

driver of operating problems. If either of

the following conditions occurs, this

In the following cases, contact your Toyota

dealer as soon as possible:

z Modification of the side structure of

the passenger compartment

D The SRS side airbags have been in-

flated.

z Repairs made on or near the con-

sole or front seat

indicates

a

malfunction of the airbags.

D The portion of the doors (shaded in the

illustration) was involved in an accident

that was not severe enough to cause

the SRS side airbags to inflate.

Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as

possible to service the vehicle.

D The light does not come on when the

ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-

tion, or the light remains on.

D The surface of the seats with the side

airbag (shaded in the illustration) is

scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-

aged.

D The light comes on or flashes while

driving.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

72

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Child restraint—

—Child restraint precautions

Toyota strongly urges the use of child

restraint systems for children small

enough to use them.

NOTICE

D Toyota strongly urges use of

a

proper child restraint system which

conforms to the size of the child,

installed on the rear seat. Accord-

ing to accident statistics, the child

is safer when properly restrained in

the rear seat than in the front seat.

Do not disconnect the battery cables

before contacting your Toyota dealer.

The laws of all 50 states in the U.S.A.

and Canada now require the use of

child restraint system.

a

Your vehicle conforms to SAEJ1819.

If a child is too large for a child restraint

system, the child should sit in the rear

seat and must be restrained using the

vehicle’s seat belt. See “Seat belts” for

details.

D Never install a rear−facing child re-

straint system on the front seat. In

the event of an accident, the force

of the rapid inflation of the airbag

can cause death or serious injury if

a rear−facing child restraint system

is installed on the front seat.

CAUTION

D Unless it is unavoidable, do not

install a child restraint system on

the front seat.

D For effective protection in automo-

bile accidents and sudden stops, a

child must be properly restrained,

using a seat belt or child restraint

system depending on the age and

size of the child. Holding a child in

your arms is not a substitute for a

child restraint system. In an acci-

dent, the child can be crushed

against the windshield, or between

you and the vehicle’s interior.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

73

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Child restraint system

A

child restraint system for

a

small

D A forward−facing child restraint sys-

tem should be allowed to be

installed on the front passenger

seat only when it is unavoidable.

Always move the seat as far back

as possible, because the force of

the deploying front passenger air-

bag could cause death or serious

injury to the child.

CAUTION

child or baby must itself be properly

restrained on the seat with either the

lap belt or the lap portion of the lap/

shoulder belt. You must carefully con-

sult the manufacturer’s instructions

which accompany the child restraint

system.

D Never install a rear−facing child re-

straint system on the front seat. In

the event of an accident, the force

of the rapid inflation of the airbag

can cause death or serious injury if

a rear−facing child restraint system

is installed on the front seat.

To provide proper restraint, use a child

restraint system following the manufactur-

er’s instructions about the appropriate age

and size of the child for the child restraint

system.

D Do not allow the child to lean

against the front door or around

the front door even if the child is

seated in the child restraint system.

It is dangerous if the side airbags

inflate, because the impact could

cause death or serious injury to the

child.

D Unless it is unavoidable, do not put

a

front seat.

child restraint system on the

D A forward−facing child restraint sys-

tem should be allowed to be

installed on the front passenger

seat only when it is unavoidable.

Always move the seat as far back

as possible, because the force of

the deploying front passenger air-

bag could cause death or serious

injury to the child.

Install the child restraint system correctly

following the instructions provided by its

manufacturer. General directions are also

provided under the following instructions.

The child restraint system should be

installed on the rear seat. According to

accident statistics, the child is safer when

properly restrained in the rear seat than

in the front seat.

D Make sure that you have complied

with all installation instructions pro-

vided

by

the

child

restraint

manufacturer and that the system is

properly secured.

D Do not allow the child to lean

against the front door or around

the front door even if the child is

seated in the child restraint system.

It is dangerous if the side airbags

inflate, because the impact could

cause death or serious injury to the

child.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

74

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Types of child restraint

system

Child restraint systems are classified into

the following 3 types depending on the

child’s age and size.

D After installing the child restraint

system, make sure it is secured in

place following the manufacturer’s

instructions. If it is not restrained

securely, it may cause death or se-

rious injury to the child in the

event of a sudden stop or accident.

(A) Infant seat

(B) Convertible seat

(C) Booster seat

Install the child restraint system following

the instructions provided by its manufac-

turer.

When not using the child restraint system,

keep it secured with the seat belt or place

it in the trunk or somewhere other than

the passenger compartment. This will pre-

vent it from injuring passengers in the

event of a sudden stop or accident.

Your vehicle has anchor brackets for se-

curing the top strap of a child restraint

system.

For instructions about how to use the an-

chor bracket, see “—Using a top strap” in

this section.

(A) Infant seat

The child restraint lower anchorages ap-

proved for your vehicle may also be used.

See “—Installation with the child restraint

lower anchorages” in this section.

(B) Convertible seat

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

75

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Installation with 3−point

type seat belt

(C) Booster seat

(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION

CAUTION

An infant seat is used in rear−facing

position only.

D Never install a rear−facing child re-

straint system on the front passen-

ger seat because the force of the

rapid inflation of the front passen-

ger airbag can cause death or seri-

ous injury to the child.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

76

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

CAUTION

D After inserting the tab, make sure

the tab and buckle are locked and

that the lap and shoulder portions

of the belt are not twisted.

D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in

the buckle as this may prevent you

from properly latching the tab and

buckle.

D If the seat belt does not function

normally, it cannot protect your

child from injury. Contact your

Toyota dealer immediately. Do not

use the child restraint system until

the seat belt is fixed.

1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through

or around the infant seat following the

instructions provided by its manufactur-

er and insert the tab into the buckle

taking care not to twist the belt. Keep

the lap portion of the belt tight.

D Do not install a child restraint sys-

tem on the rear seat if it interferes

with the lock mechanism of the

front seats. This can cause death or

serious injury to the child and front

passenger in case of sudden brak-

ing or a collision.

D If the driver’s seat position does

not allow sufficient space for safe

installation, install the child re-

straint system on the rear right

seat.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

77

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it

in the lock mode. When the belt is

then retracted even slightly, it cannot

be extended.

3. While pressing the infant seat firmly

CAUTION

against the seat cushion and seatback,

let the shoulder belt retract as far as

it will go to hold the infant seat secure-

ly.

Push and pull the child restraint sys-

tem in different directions to be sure

it is secure. Follow all the installation

instructions provided by its manufac-

turer.

To hold the infant seat securely, make

sure the belt is in the lock mode before

letting the belt retract.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

78

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

4. To remove the infant seat, press the

buckle−release button and allow the

belt to retract completely. The belt will

move freely again and be ready to

work for an adult or older child passen-

ger.

(B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLATION

CAUTION

A convertible seat is used in forward−

facing or rear−facing position depend-

ing on the child’s age and size. When

installing, follow the manufacturer’s

instruction about the applicable child’s

age and size as well as directions for

installing the child restraint system.

D Never install a rear−facing child re-

straint system on the front passen-

ger seat because the force of the

rapid inflation of the front passen-

ger airbag can cause death or seri-

ous injury to the child.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

79

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D Do not allow the child to lean

against the front door or around

the front door even if the child is

seated in the child restraint system.

It is dangerous if the side airbags

inflate, because the impact could

cause death or serious injury to the

child.

Move seat

fully back

D A forward−facing child restraint sys-

tem should be allowed to be

installed on the front passenger

seat only when it is unavoidable.

Always move the seat as far back

as possible, because the force of

the deploying front passenger air-

bag could cause death or serious

injury to the child.

D Do not install a child restraint sys-

tem on the rear seat if it interferes

with the lock mechanism of the

front seats. This can cause death or

serious injury to the child and front

passenger in case of sudden brak-

ing or a collision.

D If the driver’s seat position does

not allow sufficient space for safe

installation, install the child re-

straint system on the rear right

seat.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

80

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

CAUTION

D After inserting the tab, make sure

the tab and buckle are locked and

that the lap and shoulder portions

of the belt are not twisted.

D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in

the buckle as this may prevent you

from properly latching the tab and

buckle.

D If the seat belt does not function

normally, it cannot protect your

child from injury. Contact your

Toyota dealer immediately. Do not

use the child restraint system until

the seat belt is fixed.

1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through

or around the convertible seat following

2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it

in the lock mode. When the belt is

then retracted even slightly, it cannot

be extended.

the

instructions

provided

by

its

manufacturer and insert the tab into

the buckle taking care not to twist the

belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt

tight.

To hold the convertible seat securely,

make sure the belt is in the lock mode

before letting the belt retract.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

81

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

3. While pressing the convertible seat

firmly against the seat cushion and

seatback, let the shoulder belt retract

as far as it will go to hold the convert-

ible seat securely.

4. To remove the convertible seat, press

CAUTION

the buckle−release button and allow the

belt to retract completely. The belt will

move freely again and be ready to

work for an adult or older child passen-

ger.

Push and pull the child restraint sys-

tem in different directions to be sure

it is secure. Follow all the installation

instructions provided by its manufac-

turer.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

82

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D Do not allow the child to lean

against the front door or around

the front door even if the child is

seated in the child restraint system.

It is dangerous if the side airbag

inflates, and the impact could cause

death or serious injury to the child.

Move seat

fully back

(C) BOOSTER SEAT INSTALLATION

CAUTION

A booster seat is used in forward−fac-

ing position only.

D A forward−facing child restraint sys-

tem should be allowed to be

installed on the front seat only

when it is unavoidable. Always

move the seat as far back as pos-

sible, because the force of the de-

ploying airbag could cause death or

serious injury to the child.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

83

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D If the seat belt does not function

CAUTION

normally, it cannot protect your

child from injury. Contact your

Toyota dealer immediately. Do not

use the child restraint system until

the seat belt is fixed.

D Always make sure the shoulder belt

is positioned across the center of

child’s shoulder. The belt should be

kept away from child’s neck, but

not falling off child’s shoulder. Fail-

ure to do so could reduce the

amount of protection in an accident

and cause serious injuries in a col-

lision.

D Both high−positioned lap belts and

loose−fitting belts could cause seri-

ous injuries due to sliding under

the lap belt during a collision or

other unintended result. Keep the

lap belt position as low on a child’s

hips as possible.

1. Sit the child on a booster seat. Run

the lap and shoulder belt through or

around the booster seat and child fol-

lowing the instructions provided by its

manufacturer and insert the tab into

the buckle taking care not to twist the

belt.

D For child’s safety, do not place the

shoulder belt under child’s arm.

Make sure the shoulder belt is correctly

across the child’s shoulder and that the

lap belt is positioned as low as possible

on child’s hips. See “Seat belts” for de-

tails.

D After inserting the tab, make sure

the tab and buckle are locked and

that the lap and shoulder portions

of the belt are not twisted.

D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in

the buckle as this may prevent your

child from properly latching the tab

and buckle.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

84

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Installation with 2−point

type seat belt

2. To remove the child restraint system,

press the buckle−release button and al-

low the belt to retract.

CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLATION

CAUTION

A convertible seat is used in forward−

facing or rear−facing position depend-

ing on the child’s age and size. When

installing, follow the manufacturer’s

instruction about the applicable child’s

age and size as well as directions for

installing the child restraint system.

D Never install a rear−facing child re-

straint system on the front passen-

ger seat because the force of the

rapid inflation of the front passen-

ger airbag can cause death or seri-

ous injury to the child.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

85

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

When installing a child restraint system in

Same angle

CAUTION

the front seat center position, move the

driver and passenger seats as far back as

possible, set both seatbacks to the same

angle as the back of the child restraint

system, and set both seat cushions at the

same height so that the child restraint

system is securely restrained.

D When using a forward−facing child

restraint system, move the driver

and passenger seats as far back as

possible, set both seatbacks to the

same angle as the back of the child

restraint system, set both seat

cushions at the same height and

make sure your driving position is

satisfactory.

Move seat

fully back

Same

height

With the child restraint system installed,

check that your driving position is satis-

factory and that the child restraint system

does not interfere with your driving.

Move seat

fully back

D Ignoring the above instructions may

result in a serious injury in case of

on accident.

If your driving position is not satisfactory,

or the child restraint system interferes

with your driving, install it at another posi-

tion.

D A forward−facing child restraint sys-

tem should be allowed to be

installed on the front passenger

seat only when it is unavoidable.

Always move the seat as far back

as possible, because the force of

the deploying front passenger air-

bag could cause death or serious

injury to the child.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

86

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

CAUTION

D After inserting the tab, make sure

the tab and buckle are locked and

that the lap and shoulder portions

of the belt is not twisted.

D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in

the buckle as this may prevent you

from properly latching the tab and

buckle.

D If the seat belt does not function

normally, it cannot protect your

child from injury. Contact your

Toyota dealer immediately. Do not

use the child restraint system until

the seat belt is fixed.

1. Run the center lap belt through or

around the convertible seat following

2. While pressing the convertible seat

firmly against the seat cushion and

seatback, tighten the lap belt by pulling

its free end to hold the convertible seat

securely.

the

instructions

provided

by

its

manufacturer and insert the tab into

the buckle taking care not to twist the

belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt

tight.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

87

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Using a top strap

3. To remove the convertible seat, press

the buckle−release button and allow the

belt to retract completely. The belt will

move freely again and be ready to

work for an adult or older child passen-

ger.

Follow the procedure below for a child

restraint system that requires the use

of a top strap.

CAUTION

Push and pull the child restraint sys-

tem in different directions to be sure

it is secure. Follow all the installation

instructions provided by its manufac-

turer.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

88

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Symbol

Anchor brackets

Use the anchor bracket on the package

tray behind the rear seat to attach the top

strap.

TO USE THE ANCHOR BRACKET:

1. Remove the head restraint.

2. Remove the anchor bracket cover

with the symbol shown in the il-

lustration.

Anchor brackets are installed for each

rear seating position.

This symbol indicates the location of user

ready anchor brackets.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

89

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Installation with child

restraint lower anchorages

3. Securely fasten the child restraint

system with the seat belt.

4. Replace the head restraint.

Lower anchorages for the child restraint

systems complying with the FMVSS225

specifications are installed in the rear

seat.

Store any removed covers in a safe place

such as the glove box.

Latch the hook onto the anchor

bracket and tighten the top strap.

Be sure to replace all covers when the

anchor bracket is not in use.

The anchorages are installed in the clear-

ance between the seat cushion and seat-

back of both outside rear seats.

For instructions to install the child re-

straint system, see ”Child restraint” in this

section.

Child restraint systems complying with the

FMVSS225 specification can be fixed to

these anchorages. In this case, it is not

necessary to fix the child restraint system

with a seat belt on the vehicle.

CAUTION

Make sure the top strap is securely

latched, and check that the child re-

straint system is secure by pushing

and pulling it in different directions.

Follow all the installation instructions

provided by its manufacturer.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

90

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

CHILD

RESTRAINT

SYSTEM

INSTALLATION

Type A—

1. Widen the clearance between the

seat cushion and seatback little

a

and confirm the position of the low-

er anchorages near the tag on the

seatback.

2. Latch the hooks of lower straps onto

the anchorages and tighten the lower

straps.

Type B—

1. Widen the clearance between the

little

seat cushion and seatback

a

and confirm the position of the low-

er anchorages near the tag on the

seatback.

2. Latch the buckles onto the anchor-

ages.

If your child restraint system has a top

strap, it should be anchored. (For the

installation of the top strap, see “—Using

a top strap” in this section.)

For the installation details, refer to the

instruction manual equipped with each

product.

Type A

Type B

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

91

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Tilt steering wheel

CAUTION

D When using the lower anchorages

for the child restraint system, be

sure that there are no irregular ob-

jects around the anchorages and

that the seat belt is not caught.

D Do not adjust the steering wheel

while the vehicle is moving. Doing

so may cause the driver to mishan-

dle the vehicle and an accident may

occur resulting in death or serious

injuries.

D Push and pull the child restraint

system in different directions to

make sure it is secure. Follow all

the installation instructions pro-

vided by its manufacturer.

D After adjusting the steering wheel,

try moving it up and down to make

sure it is locked in position.

D Do not install a child restraint sys-

tem on the rear seat if it interferes

with the lock mechanism of the

front seats. This can cause death or

serious injury to a child and front

To change the steering wheel angle,

hold the steering wheel, pull the lock

release lever toward you, tilt the steer-

ing wheel to the desired angle and re-

lease the lever.

passenger in case of

braking or a collision.

a

sudden

When the steering wheel is in a low posi-

tion, it will spring up as you release the

lock release lever.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

92

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Outside rear view mirrors—

Vehicles with the auto anti−glare inside

NOTICE

rear view mirror—When the inside rear

view mirror surface darkens in “AUTO”

mode, the driver’s side outside rear view

mirror surface also darkens to reduce the

reflection of the headlights of the vehicle

behind you. (For details, see “Auto anti−

glare inside rear view mirror” in this sec-

tion.)

The outside rear view mirrors are

fixed in place. Do not try to fold the

mirrors. It may damage the mirrors.

On some models, when you push the rear

window defogger switch, the heater panels

in the outside rear view mirrors will quick-

ly clear the surface. (See “Rear window

and outside rear view mirror defoggers” in

Section 1−4.)

Adjust the mirror so that you can just

see the side of your vehicle in the mir-

ror.

CAUTION

Be careful when judging the size or dis-

tance of any object seen in the outside

rear view mirror on the passenger’s side.

It is a convex mirror with a curved sur-

face. Any object seen in a convex mirror

will look smaller and farther away than

when seen in a flat mirror.

D Do not adjust the mirror while the

vehicle is moving. Doing so may

cause the driver to mishandle the

vehicle and an accident may occur

resulting in death or serious inju-

ries.

D On some models, since the mirror

surfaces can get hot, do not touch

them when the defogger switch is

on.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

93

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

—Power rear view mirror

control

Anti−glare inside rear view

mirror

NOTICE

If ice should jam the mirror, do not

operate the control or scrape the mir-

ror face. Use a spray de−icer to free

the mirror.

To adjust a mirror, use the switches.

Adjust the mirror so that you can just

see the rear of your vehicle in the mir-

ror.

1. Master switch—To select the mirror to

be adjusted

Place the switch at “L” (left) or “R”

(right).

To reduce glare from the headlights of

the vehicle behind you during night

driving, operate the lever on the lower

edge of the mirror.

2. Control switch—To move the mirror

Push the switch in the desired direc-

tion.

Daylight driving—Lever at position 1

Mirrors can be adjusted when the key is

in the “ACC” or “ON” position.

The reflection in the mirror has greater

clarity at this position.

Night driving—Lever at position 2

Remember that by reducing glare you also

lose some rear view clarity.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

94

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Auto anti−glare inside rear

view mirror

In “AUTO” mode, if the mirror detects light

from the headlights of the vehicle behind

you, the mirror surface darkens slightly to

reduce the reflected light.

CAUTION

Do not adjust the mirror while the

vehicle is moving. Doing so may

cause the driver to mishandle the ve-

hicle and an accident may occur re-

sulting in death or serious injuries.

When the inside rear view mirror surface

darkens the driver’s side outside rear view

mirror surface also darkens.

To turn off the automatic function, press

the switch on the “OFF” side.

To turn on the automatic function again,

press the switch on the “AUTO” side.

Adjust it before driving so that the rear

view is optimized.

Adjust the mirror so that you can just

see the rear of your vehicle in the mir-

ror.

When the outside air temperature is low,

it may take little longer for the mirror to

darken in response to the detection of

headlights.

This mirror is equipped with auto anti−

glare function. The function is designed

to reduce glare from the headlights of

the vehicle behind you during night

driving.

CAUTION

Do not adjust the mirror while the

vehicle is moving. It may cause the

driver to mishandle the vehicle and

an accident may occur resulting in

death or serious injuries.

When the ignition key is inserted and

turned on, the inside rear view mirror al-

ways turns on in the “AUTO” mode.

The “AUTO” indicator illuminates to show

you that the function is on.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

95

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Vanity mirrors

To ensure correct functioning of an

anti−glare mirror sensor located on the

back side of the mirror, do not touch

or cover the sensor with your finger or

a piece of cloth, etc.

To use the vanity mirrors, swing down

the sun visor and open the cover.

The vanity lights come on when you open

the cover.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

96

Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals