Get When trouble arises -> Essential information Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Third Generation (2005-2012)

5-1. Essential information

Emergency flashers

Use the emergency flashers if the vehicle malfunctions or is

involved in an accident.

Press the switch to flash all

the turn signal lights. To turn

them off, press the switch

once again.

NOTICE

■To prevent battery discharge

Do not leave the emergency flashers on longer than necessary when the

engine is not running.

456

5-1. Essential information

If your vehicle needs to be towed

If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by

your Toyota dealer or a commercial towing service, using a lift-type

truck or a flat bed truck.

Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/pro-

vincial and local laws.

If towing from the front, the vehicle’s rear wheel and axles must be in

good condition. (P. 459)

If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flat bed truck.

Before towing

The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact

your Toyota dealer before towing.

● The engine is running, but the vehicle will not move.

● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.

5

457

5-1. Essential information

Towing with a sling-type truck

NOTICE

■To prevent body damage

Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.

458

5-1. Essential information

Towing with a wheel lift-type truck

From front

Release the parking brake.

From rear

Use a towing dolly under the

front wheel.

5

NOTICE

■To prevent causing damage to the transmission

Never tow this vehicle from the rear with the front wheel on the ground.

■To prevent damaging the vehicle

When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at

the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the

vehicle could be damaged while being towed.

459

5-1. Essential information

Using a flat bed truck

If you use chains or cables to tie

down your vehicle, the angles

shaded in black must be 45°.

Do not overly tighten the tie

downs or the vehicle may be

damaged.

460

5-1. Essential information

If you think something is wrong

If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably

needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as

possible.

■ Visible symptoms

● Fluid leaks under the vehicle

(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)

● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear

● Engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points

higher than normal

■ Audible symptoms

● Changes in exhaust sound

● Excessive tire squeal when cornering

● Strange noises related to the suspension system

● Pinging or other noises related to the engine

■ Operational symptoms

● Engine missing, stumbling or running rough

5

● Appreciable loss of power

● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking

● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road

● Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost

touches the floor

461

5-1. Essential information

Fuel pump shut off system

To minimize the risk of fuel leakage when the engine stalls or an air-

bag inflates upon collision, the fuel pump shut off system stops sup-

plying fuel to the engine.

Follow the procedure below to restart the engine after the system is

activated.

STEP

1

Vehicles with smart key system: Turn the “ENGINE START

STOP” switch OFF.

Vehicles without smart key system: Turn the engine switch to

the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.

2

Restart the engine.

NOTICE

■Before starting the engine

Inspect the ground under the vehicle.

If you find that fuel has leaked on to the ground, the fuel system has been

damaged and is in need of repair. Do not restart the engine.

462

5-1. Essential information

Event data recorder

Your vehicle has computers that monitor and control certain aspects

of your vehicle. These computers assist in driving and maintaining

optimal vehicle performance.

Besides storing data useful for troubleshooting, there is a system to

record data in a crash or a near car crash event. This is called an

Event Data Recorder (EDR).

In a crash or a near car crash event

The SRS airbag sensor assembly contains the EDR. In a crash or a

near car crash event, this device may record some or all of the follow-

ing information:

● Engine speed

● Whether the brake pedal was applied or not

● Vehicle speed

● To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed

● Position of the transmission shift lever

● Whether the driver and front passenger wore seat belts or not

● Driver’s seat position

5

● Front passenger’s occupant classification

● SRS airbag deployment data

● SRS airbag system diagnostic data

The information above is intended to be used for the purpose of

improving vehicle safety performance. Unlike general data recorders,

the EDR does not record sound data such as conversation between

passengers.

463

5-1. Essential information

Disclosure of the data

Toyota will not disclose the data recorded in an EDR to a third party

except when:

● An agreement from the vehicle’s owner (or the leasing company for

a leased vehicle) is obtained

● Officially requested by the police or other authorities

● Used as a defense for Toyota in a law suit

● Ordered by a court

However, if necessary Toyota will:

● Use the data for research on Toyota vehicle safety performance

● Disclose the data to a third party for research purposes without dis-

closing details of the vehicle owner, and only when it is deemed

necessary

● Disclose summarized data cleared of vehicle identification informa-

tion to a non-Toyota organization for research purposes

464

When trouble arises -> Essential information for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Third Generation (2005-2012)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals