Get VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND CARE Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

SECTION

6

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND CARE

Maintenance requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263

Does your vehicle need repairing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) programs . . . . . . . . . 266

For scheduled maintenance information, please refer to the

“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

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Maintenance requirements

Your Toyota vehicle has been designed for

fewer maintenance requirements with long-

er service intervals to save both your time

and money. However, each regular mainte-

nance, as well as day−to−day care, is

more important than ever before to ensure

smooth, and trouble−free, safe, and eco-

nomical drivings.

Scheduled maintenance

You may also elect to have mainte-

nance, replacement, or repair of the

emission control devices and system

performed by any automotive repair es-

tablishment or individual without invali-

dating this warranty. See “Owner’s War-

ranty Information Booklet” or “Owner’s

Manual Supplement” for complete war-

ranty information.

The scheduled maintenance items listed in

the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or

“Owner’s Manual Supplement” are those

required to be serviced at regular inter-

vals.

For details of your maintenance schedule,

read the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide”

or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

It is the owner’s responsibility to make

sure the specified maintenance, including

general maintenance service, is performed.

Note that both the new vehicle and emis-

sion control system warranties specify that

proper maintenance and care must be per-

formed. See “Owner’s Warranty Informa-

tion Booklet” or “Owner’s Manual Supple-

ment” for complete warranty information.

Where to go for service?

It is recommended that any replacement

parts used for maintenance or for the

repair of the emission control system

be Toyota supplied.

Toyota technicians are well−trained spe-

cialists and are kept up to date with the

latest service information through technical

bulletins, service tips, and in−dealership

training programs. They learn to work on

Toyotas before they work on your vehicle,

rather than while they are working on it.

The owner may elect to use non−Toyota

supplied parts for replacement pur-

poses without invalidating the emission

control system warranty. However, use

of replacement parts which are not of

equivalent quality may impair the effec-

tiveness of the emission control sys-

tems.

General maintenance

You can be confident that your Toyota

dealer’s service department performs the

best job to meet the maintenance require-

ments on your vehicle—reliably and eco-

nomically.

General maintenance items are those day−

to−day care practices that are important to

your vehicle for proper operation. It is the

owner’s responsibility to insure that the

general maintenance items are performed

regularly.

Your copy of the repair order is proof that

all required maintenance has been per-

formed for warranty coverage. And if any

problems should arise with your vehicle

while under warranty, your Toyota dealer

will promptly take care of it. Again, be

sure to keep a copy of the repair order

for any service performed on your Toyota.

These checks or inspections can be done

either by yourself or a qualified technician,

or if you prefer, your Toyota dealer will be

pleased to do them at a nominal cost.

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General maintenance

What about do−it−yourself maintenance?

Listed below are the general maintenance

items that should be performed as fre-

quently as specified. In addition to check-

ing the items listed, if you notice any

unusual noise, smell or vibration, you

should investigate the cause or take your

vehicle to your Toyota dealer or a quali-

fied service shop immediately. It is recom-

mended that any problem you notice be

brought to the attention of your dealer or

the qualified service shop for their advice.

Tire surface and wheel nuts

Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage

or excessive wear. See Section 7−2 for

additional information. When checking the

tires, make sure no nuts are missing, and

check the nuts for looseness. Tighten

them if necessary.

Many of the maintenance items are easy

to do yourself if you have a little mechani-

cal ability and

a

few basic automotive

tools. Simple instructions for how to per-

form them are presented in Section 7.

If you are a skilled do−it−yourself mechan-

ic, the Toyota service manuals are recom-

mended. Please be aware that do−it−your-

self maintenance can affect your warranty

coverage. See “Owner’s Warranty Informa-

tion Booklet” or “Owner’s Manual Supple-

ment” for the details.

Tire rotation

Rotate the tires according to the mainte-

nance schedule. (For scheduled mainte-

nance information, please refer to the

“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Own-

er’s Manual Supplement”.) See Section

7−2 for additional information.

CAUTION

Make these checks only where ade-

quate ventilation can be obtained if

you run the engine.

Fluid leaks

Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, wa-

ter or other fluid after the vehicle has

been parked for a while. If you smell fuel

fumes or notice any leak, have the cause

found and corrected immediately.

OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE

Items listed below should be performed

from time to time, unless otherwise

specified.

Doors and engine hood

Check that all doors including trunk lid

operate smoothly and all latches lock se-

curely. Make sure the engine hood sec-

ondary latch secures the hood from open-

ing when the primary latch is released.

Tire pressure

Check the pressure with a gauge every

two weeks, or at least once a month. See

Section 7−2 for additional information.

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INSIDE THE VEHICLE

Accelerator pedal

Check the pedal for smooth operation and

uneven pedal effort or catching.

IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

Items listed below should be checked

regularly, e.g. while performing periodic

services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.

Items listed below should be checked

from time to time, e.g. each time when

refueling.

Brake pedal

Check the pedal for smooth operation and

that the pedal has the proper clearance.

Check the brake booster function.

Lights

Washer fluid

Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail

lights, turn signal lights, and other lights

are all working. Check headlight aim.

Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the

tank. See Section 7−3 for additional infor-

mation.

Brakes

At a safe place, check that the brakes do

not pull to one side when applied.

Service reminder indicators and warning

buzzers

Check that all service reminder indicators

and warning buzzers function properly.

Engine coolant level

Make sure the coolant level is between

the “FULL” and “LOW” lines on the see−

through reservoir when the engine is cold.

See Section 7−2 for additional information.

Parking brake

Check that the pedal has the proper travel

and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle

is held securely with only the parking

brake applied.

Steering wheel

Check that it has the specified free play.

Be alert for changes in steering condition,

such as hard steering or strange noise.

Radiator, condenser and hoses

Check that the front of the radiator and

condenser are clean and not blocked with

leaves, dirt, or insects. See in Section

7−2 for additional information.

Automatic transmission “Park” mecha-

nism

Seats

Check the lock release button of the se-

lector lever for proper and smooth opera-

tion. On a safe incline, check that your

vehicle is held securely with the selector

lever in “P” position and all brakes re-

leased.

Check that all front seat controls such as

seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. op-

erate smoothly and that all latches lock

securely in any position. Check that the

head restraints move up and down

smoothly and that the locks hold securely

in any latched position.

Battery condition

Check the battery condition by the indica-

tor color. See Section 7−3 for additional

information.

Brake fluid level

Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.

See Section 7−2 for additional information.

Seat belts

Check that the seat belt system such as

buckles, retractors and anchors operate

properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt

webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-

aged.

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Does your vehicle need

repairing?

Engine oil level

Be on the alert for changes in perfor-

mance, sounds, and visual tip−offs that

indicate service is needed. Some impor-

tant clues are as follows:

If you notice any of these clues, take your

vehicle to your Toyota dealer as soon as

possible. It probably needs adjustment or

repair.

Check the level on the dipstick with the

engine turned off and the vehicle parked

on a level spot. See Section 7−2 for addi-

tional information.

D Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging

D Appreciable loss of power

D Strange engine noises

CAUTION

Power steering fluid level

Check the level through the reservoir. The

level should be in the “HOT” or “COLD”

range depending on the fluid temperature.

See Section 7−2 for additional information.

Do not continue driving with the ve-

hicle unchecked. It could result in se-

rious vehicle damage and possibly

personal injury.

D A leak under the vehicle (however, wa-

ter dripping from the air conditioning

after use is normal.)

Exhaust system

If you notice any change in the sound of

the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have

the cause located and corrected immedi-

ately. (See “Engine exhaust cautions” in

Section 2.)

D Change in exhaust sound (This may

indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide

leak. Drive with the windows open and

have the exhaust system checked im-

mediately.)

D Flat−looking tire; excessive tire squeal

when cornering; uneven tire wear

D Vehicle pulls to one side when driving

straight on a level road

D Strange noises related to suspension

movement

D Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy

feeling brake; pedal almost touches

floor; vehicle pulls to one side when

braking

D Engine coolant temperature continually

higher than normal

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Emissions Inspection and

Maintenance (I/M) programs

Some states have vehicle emission in-

spection programs which include OBD

(On−Board Diagnostics) checks.

Also, if the malfunction indicator lamp had

come on recently due to temporary mal-

function such as a loose fuel tank cap,

your vehicle may not pass the I/M test.

The OBD system monitors the operation

of the emission control system. When the

OBD system determines that a problem

exists somewhere in the emission control

system, the malfunction indicator lamp

comes on. In this case, your vehicle may

not pass the I/M test and need to be

repaired. Contact your Toyota dealer to

service the vehicle.

The malfunction indicator lamp will go off

after taking several driving trips, but the

error code in the OBD system will not be

cleared unless about 40 trips or more are

taken.

If your vehicle does not pass the I/M test

even the malfunction indicator lamp does

not come on, contact your Toyota dealer

to prepare the vehicle for re−testing.

Even if the malfunction indicator lamp

does not come on, your vehicle may not

pass the I/M test as readiness codes

have not been set in the OBD system.

Readiness codes are automatically set

during ordinary driving. However, when the

battery is disconnected or run down, the

codes are erased. Also, depending on

your driving habits, the codes may not be

completely set.

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VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND CARE for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

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