STARTING AND DRIVING -> Winter driving tips for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)  
Winter driving tips  
Make sure you have  
protection of engine coolant.  
a
proper freeze  
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is  
suitable for the cold weather.  
D Do not drive in excess of the speed  
limit. Even if the legal speed limit  
permits it, do not drive over 140  
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle  
has high−speed capability tires.  
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may  
result in tire failure, loss of control  
and possible injury. Be sure to con-  
Your coolant must contain ethylene−glycol  
type coolant for  
See Section 7−2 for recommended viscos-  
ity. Leaving a heavy summer oil in your  
vehicle during winter months may cause  
harder starting. If you are not sure about  
which oil to use, call your Toyota deal-  
er—he will be pleased to help.  
a
proper corrosion  
protection of aluminum components. Use  
Toyota Genuine Long Life Coolant” or  
equivalent.  
See Section 7−2 for details about coolant  
type selection.  
Keep the door locks from freezing.  
sult  
a
tire dealer to determine  
whether the tires on your vehicle  
are high−speed capability tires or  
not before driving at such speeds.  
Squirt lock de−icer or glycerine into the  
locks to keep them from freezing.  
NOTICE  
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or  
plain water alone.  
Use a washer fluid containing an anti-  
freeze solution.  
D Do not continue normal driving  
when the brakes are wet. If they are  
This product is available at your Toyota  
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow  
the manufacturer’s directions for how  
much to mix with water.  
wet, your vehicle will require  
a
When it is extremely cold, we recommend  
to use 60% solution for your Toyota, to  
provide protection down to about −50_C  
(−58_F). Do not use more than 70% solu-  
tion for better coolant performance.  
longer stopping distance, and it  
may pull to one side when the  
brakes are applied. Also, the park-  
ing brake will not hold the vehicle  
securely.  
NOTICE  
Check the condition of the battery and  
cables.  
Do not use engine antifreeze or any  
other substitute because it may dam-  
age your vehicle’s paint.  
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of  
any battery, so it must be in top shape  
to provide enough power for winter start-  
ing. Section 7−3 tells you how to visually  
inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer  
and most service stations will be pleased  
to check the level of charge.  
2003 AVALON (OM41401U)  
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’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)  
Dinghy towing  
Trailer towing  
Do not use your parking brake when  
there is a possibility it could freeze.  
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a  
passenger−carrying vehicle. Towing  
a
trailer will have an adverse effect on  
handling, performance, braking, durability  
and driving economy (fuel consumption,  
etc.). Your safety and satisfaction depend  
on the proper use of correct equipment  
and cautious driving habits. For your  
safety and the safety of others, you must  
not overload your vehicle or trailer. Toyota  
warranties do not apply to damage or  
malfunction caused by towing a trailer for  
commercial purposes. Ask your local  
Toyota dealer for further details before  
towing.  
When parking, put the transmission into  
“P” and block the rear wheels. Do not use  
the parking brake, or snow or water accu-  
mulated in and around the parking brake  
mechanism may freeze, making it hard to  
release.  
Keep ice and snow from accumulating  
under the fenders.  
Ice and snow built up under your fenders  
can make steering difficult. During bad  
winter driving, stop and check under the  
fenders occasionally.  
Your vehicle is not designed to be  
dinghy towed (with four wheels on the  
ground) behind a motorhome.  
Depending on where you are driving,  
we recommend you carry some emer-  
gency equipment.  
NOTICE  
When towing a trailer, be sure to con-  
sult your Toyota dealer for further in-  
formation on additional requirements  
such as a towing kit, etc.  
NOTICE  
Some of the things you might put in the  
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,  
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,  
jumper cables, etc.  
Do not tow your vehicle with four  
wheels on the ground. This may  
cause serious damage to your vehicle.  
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