Get When trouble arises -> If a warning light turns on or buzzer sounds Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Fourth Generation (2013-2018)

388

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

If a warning light turns on or a warning

buzzer sounds

Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights

comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then

goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the

system. However, if this continues to occur, have the vehicle

inspected by your Toyota dealer.

Warning light and warning buzzer list

Warning light

Warning light/Details/Actions

Brake system warning light (warning buzzer)*¹

• Low brake fluid

• Malfunction in the brake booster system

This light also comes on when the parking brake is not

released. If the light turns off after the parking brake is

fully released the system is operating normally.

→ Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-

tact your Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive the vehi-

cle may be dangerous.

(U.S.A.)

(Canada)

Charging system warning light

Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system

→ Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-

tact your Toyota dealer.

Low engine oil pressure warning light

Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low.

→ Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-

tact your Toyota dealer.

Malfunction indicator lamp

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The electronic engine control system;

• The electronic throttle control system; or

• The electronic automatic transmission control system

→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer

immediately.

(U.S.A.)

(Canada)

389

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

Warning light/Details/Actions

Warning light

SRS warning light

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The SRS airbag system;

• The front passenger occupant classification system; or

• The seat belt pretensioner system

→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer

immediately.

ABS warning light

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The ABS; or

(U.S.A.)

• The brake assist system

→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer

immediately.

(Canada)

Electric power steering system warning light (warning

buzzer)

Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steer-

ing) system

→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer

immediately.

PCS warning light

• When the warning light flashes (and a buzzer sounds):

Indicates a malfunction in the PCS (Pre-Collision System)

→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer

immediately.

• When the warning light flashes (and a buzzer does not

sound):

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Indicates that the PCS (Pre-Collision System) is temporar-

ily unavailable, possibly due to either of the following:

• An area around the radar sensor or camera sensor

being dirty or covered with condensation, ice, stickers,

etc.

→ Clear the dirt, condensation, ice, stickers, etc.

(Flashes)

(If equipped)

(→P. 193, 194)

• Radar sensor or camera sensor operational conditions

(such as temperature etc.) being not met

→ Driving is possible in this case. The PCS (Pre-Colli-

sion System) will be enabled if the operational condi-

tions (such as temperature etc.) are met again.

• When the warning light is illuminated:

Either the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system or PCS

(Pre-Collision System) is disabled or both are disabled.

→ To enable the PCS, enable both the VSC system and

PCS. (→P. 202, 252)

390

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

Warning light

Warning light/Details/Actions

LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering control) indica-

tor

Indicates a malfunction in the LDA (Lane Departure Alert with

steering control)

The light will flash when the LDA system is operating.

→ P. 220

(Amber)

(If equipped)

Slip indicator

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system; or

• The TRAC (Traction Control) system

The light will flash when the VSC or the TRAC system is

operating.

→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer

immediately.

Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*²

Indicates that a door or the trunk is not fully closed

→ Check that all the doors and the trunk are closed.

Low fuel level warning light

Indicates remaining fuel is approximately 2.6 gal. (9.7 L,

2.1 Imp. gal.) or less

→ Refuel the vehicle.

Seat belt reminder light (warning buzzer)*³

Warns the driver and/or front passenger to fasten their

seat belts

→ Fasten the seat belt.

If the front passenger’s seat is occupied, the front

passenger’s seat belt also needs to be fastened to

make the warning light (warning buzzer) off.

391

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

Warning light/Details/Actions

Warning light

Master warning light

A buzzer sounds and the warning light comes on and

flashes to indicate that the master warning system has

detected a malfunction.

→ P. 396

Tire pressure warning light

When the light comes on:

Low tire inflation pressure such as

• Natural causes (→P. 392)

• Flat tire (→P. 397)

→ Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified

level.

The light will turn off after a few minutes. In case

the light does not turn off even if the tire inflation

pressure is adjusted, have the system checked by

your Toyota dealer.

When the light comes on after blinking for 1 minute:

Malfunction in the tire pressure warning system

→ Have the system checked by your Toyota dealer.

*¹: Parking brake engaged warning buzzer: The buzzer sounds to indicate

that the parking brake is still engaged (with the vehicle having reached a

speed of 3 mph [5 km/h]).

*²: Open door warning buzzer:

A buzzer will sound if the vehicle reaches a speed of 3 mph (5 km/h) or

more with any door open.

*³: Driver’s seat belt buzzer:

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The driver’s seat belt buzzer sounds to alert the driver that his or her seat

belt is not fastened. Once the engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON

mode, the buzzer sounds for 6 seconds. If the vehicle reaches a speed of

12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer sounds once. If the seat belt is still unfas-

tened after 30 seconds, the buzzer will sound intermittently for 10 seconds.

Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer will sound in a different

tone for 20 more seconds.

Front passenger’s seat belt buzzer:

The front passenger’s seat belt buzzer sounds to alert the front passenger

that his or her seat belt is not fastened. The buzzer sounds once if the

vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h). If the seat belt is still unfas-

tened after 30 seconds, the buzzer will sound intermittently for 10 seconds.

Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer will sound in a different

tone for 20 more seconds.

392

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

■SRS warning light

This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front impact

sensors, side impact sensors (front door), side impact sensors (front), side

impact sensors (rear), driver’s seat belt buckle switch, front passenger occu-

pant classification system (ECU and sensors), “AIR BAG ON” indicator light,

“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat

belt pretensioners (front), airbags, interconnecting wiring and power sources.

(→P. 36)

■Front passenger detection sensor, seat belt reminder and warning

buzzer

If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger detec-

tion sensor may cause the warning light to flash and the warning buzzer to

sound even if a passenger is not sitting in the seat.

■If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving

First check the following:

●Is the fuel tank empty?

If it is, fill the fuel tank immediately.

●Is the fuel tank cap loose?

If it is, tighten it securely.

The light will go off after several driving trips.

If the light does not go off even after several trips, contact your Toyota dealer

as soon as possible.

■Electric power steering system warning light (warning buzzer)

When the battery charge becomes insufficient or the voltage temporarily

drops, the electric power steering system warning light may come on and the

warning buzzer may sound.

■When the tire pressure warning light comes on

Check the tire inflation pressure and adjust to the appropriate level. Push-

ing the tire pressure warning reset switch will not turn off the tire pressure

warning light.

■The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes

The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes such

as natural air leaks and tire inflation pressure changes caused by tem-

perature. In this case, adjusting the tire inflation pressure will turn off the

warning light (after a few minutes).

393

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

■When a tire is replaced with a spare tire

The compact spare tire is not equipped with a tire pressure warning valve

and transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will not

turn off even though the flat tire has been replaced with the spare tire.

Replace the spare tire with the repaired tire and adjust the tire inflation

pressure. The tire pressure warning light will go off after a few minutes.

■Conditions that the tire pressure warning system may not function

properly

→P. 347

■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking

for 1 minute

If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1

minute when the engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode, have it

checked by your Toyota dealer.

■Warning buzzer

In some cases, the buzzer may not be heard because of noisy place or an

audio sound.

WARNING

■If both the ABS and the brake system warning lights remain on

Stop your vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact your Toyota

dealer. The vehicle will become extremely unstable during braking, and the

ABS system may fail, which could cause an accident resulting in death or

serious injury.

■When the electric power steering system warning light comes on

The steering wheel may become extremely heavy.

7

When steering wheel operations are heavier than usual, grip the steering

wheel firmly and operate it using more force than usual.

■If the tire pressure warning light comes on

Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could

cause a loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.

●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire

inflation pressure immediately.

●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pres-

sure adjustment, it is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.

If a tire is flat, change it with the spare tire and have the flat tire

repaired by the nearest Toyota dealer.

●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,

you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.

■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur

The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.

394

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

WARNING

■Maintenance of the tires

Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly

when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the

vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure

label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a dif-

ferent size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation

pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine

the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)

As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire

pressure monitoring system (TPMS-tire pressure warning system) that

illuminates a low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when

one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,

when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) illumi-

nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and

inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-

inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.

Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may

affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.

Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a sub-

stitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to

maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached

the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire

pressure warning light).

Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warn-

ing system) malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not

operating properly. The TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunc-

tion indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure

warning light). When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will

flash for approximately one minute and then remain continuously illumi-

nated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups

as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illu-

minated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pres-

sure as intended.

395

7-2. Steps to take in an emergency

WARNING

TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a vari-

ety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires

or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning

system) from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pres-

sure warning system) malfunction telltale after replacing one or more

tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alter-

nate tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) to

continue to function properly.

NOTICE

■To ensure the tire pressure warning system operates properly

Do not install tires with different specifications or makers, as the tire

pressure warning system may not operate properly.

7

When trouble arises -> If a warning light turns on or buzzer sounds for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Fourth Generation (2013-2018)

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