Toyota Avalon 2012 Owner's Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
Before driving
2
When driving
Interior
3
features
Maintenance
4
and care
When trouble
5
arises
Vehicle
6
specifications
Adjusting and operating features such as door locks,
mirrors, and steering column.
Driving, stopping and safe-driving information.
Air conditioning and audio systems, as well as other
interior features for a comfortable driving experience.
Cleaning and protecting your vehicle, performing do-ityourself maintenance, and maintenance information.
What to do if the vehicle needs to be towed, gets a flat
tire, or is involved in an accident.
Detailed vehicle information.
7
For owners
Index
Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners, and seat belt
and SRS airbag instructions for Canadian owners.
Alphabetical listing of information contained in this
manual.
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS Index
1
Before driving
1-1. Key information
Keys..................................... 28
1-2. Opening, closing and locking
the doors and trunk
Smart key system................. 30
Wireless remote control ....... 42
Doors.................................... 47
Trunk.................................... 54
1-3. Adjustable components
(seats, steering wheel,
mirrors)
Front seats........................... 59
Rear seats............................ 61
Driving position memory
system................................ 63
Head restraints..................... 67
Seat belts............................. 70
Steering wheel ..................... 78
Inside rear view mirror.......... 80
Outside rear view mirrors..... 82
1-4. Opening and closing the
windows and moon roof
Power windows..................... 85
Moon roof ............................. 88
1-5. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank
cap...................................... 92
1-6. Theft deterrent system
Engine immobilizer
system................................ 96
Alarm.................................... 99
Theft prevention labels
(U.S.A.)............................. 103
1-7. Safety information
Correct driving posture....... 104
SRS airbags ....................... 106
Front passenger occupant
classification system......... 119
Child restraint systems ....... 125
Installing child restraints ..... 130
2
2
When driving
2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle............... 142
Engine (ignition) switch
(with smart key
system)............................. 154
Engine (ignition) switch
(without smart key
system)............................. 158
Automatic transmission....... 161
Turn signal lever ................. 166
Parking brake...................... 167
Horn.................................... 168
2-2. Instrument cluster
Gauges and meters ............ 169
Indicators and warning
lights ................................. 172
Multi-information display..... 175
2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers
Headlight switch.................. 178
Fog light switch................... 182
Windshield wipers and
washer (Type A) ............... 184
Windshield wipers and
washer (Type B) ............... 189
2-4. Using other driving systems
Cruise control..................... 194
Rear view monitor
system.............................. 198
Driving assist systems........ 207
2-5. Driving information
Cargo and luggage............. 212
Vehicle load limits............... 217
Winter driving tips............... 219
Trailer towing...................... 224
Dinghy towing..................... 225
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS Index
3
Interior features
3-1. Using the air conditioning
system and defogger
Automatic air conditioning
system.............................. 228
Using the steering wheel
climate control
switches ........................... 236
Rear window and outside
rear view mirror
defoggers......................... 237
3-2. Using the audio system
Audio system type.............. 239
Using the radio................... 243
Using the CD player........... 251
Playing back MP3 and
WMA discs....................... 259
Operating an iPod.............. 267
Operating a USB
memory............................ 274
Optimal use of the audio
system.............................. 282
Using the AUX port ............ 285
Using the steering
switches ........................... 286
3-3. Using the Bluetooth
®
audio
system
Bluetooth
®
audio
system.............................. 289
®
Using the Bluetooth
audio system .................... 292
Operating a Bluetooth
®
enabled portable
player................................ 299
Setting up a Bluetooth
®
enabled portable
player................................ 301
Bluetooth
®
audio system
setup................................. 307
3-4. Using the hands-free system
(for cellular phone)
Hands-free system
(for cellular phone) ........... 308
Using the hands-free
system.............................. 311
Making a phone call............ 320
Setting a cellular phone...... 325
Security and system
setup................................. 332
Using the phone book......... 337
3-5. Using the interior lights
Interior lights list.................. 346
4
3-6. Using the storage features
List of storage features ....... 349
4
Maintenance and care
3-7. Other interior features
Sun visors........................... 357
Vanity mirrors...................... 358
Clock................................... 359
Ashtrays.............................. 360
Power outlets...................... 361
Seat heaters/ventilators...... 363
Armrest ............................... 365
Rear sunshade.................... 366
Floor mats........................... 368
Trunk features..................... 370
Garage door opener............ 372
Compass............................. 380
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior........... 386
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior............ 389
4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements.................... 392
General maintenance......... 395
Emission inspection and
maintenance (I/M)
programs.......................... 398
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions....................... 399
Hood................................... 403
Positioning a floor jack ....... 404
Engine compartment.......... 406
Tires ................................... 421
Tire inflation pressure......... 430
Wheels ............................... 434
Air conditioning filter........... 437
Key battery......................... 440
Checking and replacing
fuses................................. 444
Headlight aim (with
discharge headlights)....... 453
Light bulbs.......................... 455
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
5
TABLE OF CONTENTS Index
5
When trouble arises
5-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 472
If your vehicle needs
to be towed ...................... 473
If you think something is
wrong ............................... 477
Fuel pump shut off
system.............................. 478
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns
on or a warning buzzer
sounds... ......................... 479
If you have a flat tire........... 491
If the engine will
not start............................ 501
If the shift lever cannot be
shifted from P................... 503
If you lose your keys .......... 504
If the electronic key does
not operate properly (with
smart key system)............ 505
If the vehicle battery is
discharged ....................... 508
If your vehicle overheats.... 512
If the vehicle becomes
stuck................................. 515
If your vehicle has to be
stopped in an
emergency ....................... 516
6
Vehicle specifications
6-1. Specifications
Maintenance data
(fuel, oil level, etc.) ........... 520
Fuel information.................. 528
Tire information................... 532
6-2. Customization
Customizable features........ 545
6-3. Initialization
Items to initialize................. 549
7
For owners
Reporting safety defects
for U.S. owners................. 552
Seat belt instructions
for Canadian owners
(in French)........................ 553
SRS airbag instructions
for Canadian owners
(in French)........................ 556
Index
Abbreviation list ............... 568
Alphabetical index............ 569
What to do if... .................. 576
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7
P. 178
Pictorial index
P. 166
P. 182
P. 178
P. 178
P. 403
P. 189
P. 88
P. 82
Hood
Exterior
Windshield wiper
Moon roof
Outside rear view
mirror
Side marker light
Turn signal light
Fog light
Headlight (low beam)
Headlight (high beam) and daytime running light
8
P. 421
P. 491
P. 526
P. 532
P. 178
P. 178
P. 54
Rear window defogger
P. 237
P. 47
P. 92
P. 166
P. 178
Tail/stop light
Fuel filler door
Door
Tire
●Rotation
●Replacement
●Inflation pressure
●Information
Tail lights
Trunk
Back-up light
Turn signal light
Side marker light
: If equipped
9
P. 85
Pictorial index
P. 70
P. 106
P. 106
P. 106
P. 368
P. 356
P. 59
P. 106
P. 351
P. 355
P. 365
P. 67
P. 354
Interior
Head restraint
Seat belt
Power window
switch
Door pocket
Console box
SRS driver airbag
SRS knee airbag
Front passenger
airbag
Storage compartment
Armrest
Cup holders
10
Floor mat
Front seat
SRS side airbag
P. 380
P. 372
P. 80
P. 348
P. 88
P. 348
P. 358
P. 348
P. 357
P. 106
A
Personal light
Inside rear view mirror
Interior light
Personal light
SRS curtain shield airbag
Moon roof switch
Vanity mirror
Sun visor
Garage door opener switches
Compass
: If equipped
11
P. 48
P. 85
P. 85
Pictorial index
B
Door lock switch
Interior
Window lock switch
Power window switches
12
C
P. 355
P. 360
P. 363
P. 503
P. 161
P. 354
Shift lever
Storage compartment
Cup holders
Ashtray
Shift lock override button
Seat heater/ventilator switch
: If equipped
13
Pictorial index
P. 178
P. 166
P. 182
P. 169
P. 189
P. 350
P. 78
P. 167
P. 78
P. 63
P. 422
P. 168
Gauges and meters
Headlight switch
Turn signal lever
Fog light switch
Driving position
memory switches
Instrument panel
Windshield wipers and
washer switch
Glove box
Parking brake pedal
Telescopic lock release
lever
14
Horn
Tire pressure warning reset switch
(hidden under panel)
Tilt lock release lever
P. 286
P. 158
A
P. 293
P. 154
P. 236
P. 293
P. 175
P. 194
B
Engine (ignition) switch
(vehicles without smart key
system)
Audio remote control switches
Telephone switch
Engine (ignition) switch
(vehicles with smart key system)
Climate remote control
switches
Talk switch*
“DISP” switch
Cruise control switch
: If equipped
*: Refer to “Navigation System Owner’s Manual”.
15
Pictorial index
P. 472
P. 359
P. 228
P. 239
P. 237
C
Clock
Instrument panel
Emergency flashers
Air conditioning
system
Audio system
Navigation system*
Rear window and outside rear
view mirror defoggers
16
D
P. 366
P. 99
P. 92
P. 54
P. 82
P. 208
Outside rear view mirror switches
VSC off switch
Fuel filler door opener
Trunk opener
Rear sunshade switch
Glass breakage sensor
: If equipped
*: Refer to “Navigation System Owner’s Manual”.
17
For your information
Main Owner’s Manual
Please note that this manual applies to all models and explains all equipment, including options. Therefore, you may find some explanations for
equipment not installed on your vehicle.
All specifications provided in this manual are current at the time of printing.
However, because of the Toyota policy of continual product improvement, we
reserve the right to make changes at any time without notice.
Depending on specifications, the vehicle shown in the illustration may differ
from your vehicle in terms of equipment.
Noise from under vehicle after turning off the engine
Approximately five hours after the engine is turned off, you may hear sound
coming from under the vehicle for several minutes. This is the sound of a fuel
evaporation leakage check and, it does not indicate a malfunction.
18
Accessories, spare parts and modification of your Toyota
A wide variety of non-genuine spare parts and accessories for Toyota vehicles are currently available in the market. You should know that Toyota does
not warrant these products and is not responsible for their performance,
repair, or replacement, or for any damage they may cause to, or adverse
effect they may have on, your Toyota vehicle.
This vehicle should not be modified with non-genuine Toyota products. Modification with non-genuine Toyota products could affect its performance,
safety or durability, and may even violate governmental regulations. In addition, damage or performance problems resulting from the modification may
not be covered under warranty.
Installation of a mobile two-way radio system
As the installation of a mobile two-way radio system in your vehicle could
affect electronic systems such as the multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system, electronic throttle control system, cruise
control system, vehicle stability control system, SRS airbag system and seat
belt pretensioner system, be sure to check with your Toyota dealer for precautionary measures or special instructions regarding installation.
19
Scrapping of your Toyota
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your Toyota contain
explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbags and seat belt
pretensioners left as they are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be
sure to have the systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner
removed and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your Toyota
dealer before you scrap your vehicle.
Perchlorate Material
Special handling may apply,
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Your vehicle has components that may contain perchlorate. These components may include airbag, seat belt pretensioners, and wireless remote control batteries.
20
Vehicle control and operation data recording
Your Toyota is equipped with sophisticated computers that record certain
information about your vehicle’s operation, such as:
• Engine speed
• Accelerator status
• Brake status
• Vehicle speed
• Shift position
The data recorded varies according to the grade level and options the vehi-
cle is equipped with. The computers do not record conversations, sound or
pictures.
● Data usage
Toyota may use the data recorded in these computers to diagnose malfunc-
tions, conduct research and development, and improve quality.
Toyota will not disclose the recorded data to a third party except:
• With the consent of the vehicle owner or with the consent of the lessee if
the vehicle is leased
• In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a government agency
• For research purposes where the data is not tied to a specific vehicle or
vehicle owner
21
Event data recorder
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations,
such as an air bag deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist
in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed
to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or brake
pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur.
NOTE: EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) are
recorded. However, other parties, such as law enforcement, could combine
the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely acquired
during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access
to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer,
other parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special equipment, can
read the information if they have access to the vehicle or the EDR.
22
● Disclosure of the EDR 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 lessee for a leased vehicle)
is obtained
• Officially requested by the police or other authorities
• For use by Toyota in a lawsuit
• Ordered by a court of law
However, if necessary, Toyota will:
• Use the data for research on vehicle safety performance
• Disclose the data to a third party for research purposes without disclosing
information about the specific vehicle or vehicle owner
23
CAUTION
■ General precautions while driving
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influence of alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehicle. Alcohol and certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and
reduce coordination, which could lead to an accident that will hurt or kill you,
your occupants or others.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other
drivers or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full attention to driving. Anything that distracts the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a cellular phone or
reading can result in a collision with resulting death or serious injury to you,
your occupants or others.
■ General precautions regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to
have or use the key.
Children may be able to start the vehicle or shift the vehicle into neutral.
There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing with
the cigarette lighter, the windows, the moon roof, or other features of the
vehicle. In addition, heat build-up or extremely cold temperatures inside the
vehicle can be fatal to children.
24
Symbols used throughout this manual
CAUTION
NOTICE
Cautions & Notices
This is a warning against anything which may cause injury to people if the
warning is ignored. You are informed about what you must or must not do in
order to reduce the risk of injury to yourself and others.
This is a warning against anything which may cause damage to the vehicle or
its equipment if the warning is ignored. You are informed about what you must
or must not do in order to avoid or reduce the risk of damage to your Toyota
and its equipment.
25
Symbols used in illustrations
Safety symbol
The symbol of a circle with a slash through it means “Do not”,
“Do not do this”, or “Do not let this happen”.
Arrows indicating operations
Indicates the action (pushing, turning, etc.) used to operate switches
and other devices.
Indicates the outcome of an operation (e.g. a lid opens).
26
Before driving
1
1-1. Key information
Keys................................... 28
1-2. Opening, closing and locking
the doors and trunk
Smart key system .............. 30
Wireless remote control..... 42
Doors ................................. 47
Trunk.................................. 54
1-3. Adjustable components
(seats, steering wheel,
mirrors)
Front seats......................... 59
Rear seats.......................... 61
Driving position memory
system ............................. 63
Head restraints................... 67
Seat belts........................... 70
Steering wheel................... 78
Inside rear view mirror ....... 80
Outside rear view
mirrors.............................. 82
1-4. Opening and closing the
windows and moon roof
Power windows.................. 85
Moon roof........................... 88
1-5. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank
cap................................... 92
1-6. Theft deterrent system
Engine immobilizer
system ............................. 96
Alarm.................................. 99
Theft prevention labels
(U.S.A.).......................... 103
1-7. Safety information
Correct driving posture..... 104
SRS airbags..................... 106
Front passenger occupant
classification system...... 119
Child restraint systems..... 125
Installing child
restraints........................ 130
27
1-1. Key information
The following keys are provided with the vehicle.
Vehicles with smart key system
Electronic keys
• Operating the smart key
system (P. 30)
• Operating the wireless
remote control function
(P. 42)
Mechanical keys
Key number plate
Vehicles without smart key system
Master keys
Operating the wireless remote
control function (
P. 42)
Key number plate
Keys
Using the mechanical key (vehicles with smart key system)
Take out the mechanical key.
After using the mechanical key,
store it in the electronic key. Carry
the mechanical key together with
the electronic key. If the electronic
key battery is depleted or the
smart key system does not operate properly, you will need the
mechanical key.
28
1-1. Key information
NOTICE
■ When required to leave a key to the vehicle with a parking attendant
(Vehicles with smart key system)
Lock the glove box as circumstances demand. (P. 350)
Remove the mechanical key for your own use and provide the attendant with
the electronic key only.
■ Key number plate
Keep the plate in a safe place such as your wallet, not in the vehicle. In the
event that a key is lost, a new key can be made at your Toyota dealer using
the key number plate. (P. 504)
■ When riding in an aircraft
When bringing a key onto an aircraft, make sure you do not press any buttons on the key while inside the aircraft cabin. If you are carrying a key in
your bag etc., ensure that the buttons are not likely to be pressed accidentally. Pressing a button may cause the key to emit radio waves that could
interfere with the operation of the aircraft.
1
Before driving
■ To prevent key damage
● Do not disassemble the key.
● Do not subject the keys to strong shocks, expose them to high tempera-
tures by placing them in direct sunlight, or get them wet.
● Do not expose the keys to electromagnetic materials or attach any mate-
rial that blocks electromagnetic waves to the key surface.
29
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
The following operations can be performed simply by carrying the
electronic key on your person, for example in your pocket.
(The driver should always carry the electronic key.)
Locks and unlocks the doors (P. 31)
Unlocks the trunk (P. 31)
Starts and stops the engine (P. 154)
Electronic key
Electronic key
Electronic key
Smart key system
30
: If equipped
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