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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
SECTION 1− 1
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Overview of instruments and controls
Instrument panel overview 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instrument cluster overview 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Instrument panel overview
"Vehicles with rear seat entertainment system (view A)
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
1. Side defroster outlets
2. Instrument cluster
3. Center vents
4. Electric moon roof switch and personal
lights
5. Garage door opener
6. Auxiliary boxes
7. Side vents
8. Power door lock switches
9. Power window switches
10. Glove box
11. Automatic transmission selector lever
12. Rear ashtray
13. Input terminal adapter
14. Power outlets
15. Cup holder
16. Container
17. Front ashtray
18. Audio remote control switches
19. Hood lock release lever
20. Parking brake pedal
21. Window lock switch
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"Vehicles without rear seat entertainment system (view A)
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
1. Side defroster outlets
2. Instrument cluster
3. Center vents
4. Electric moon roof switch and personal
lights
5. Garage door opener
6. Auxiliary boxes
7. Side vents
8. Power door lock switches
9. Power window switches
10. Glove box
11. Automatic transmission selector lever
12. Rear ashtray
13. Cup holder
14. Container
15. Power outlet
16. Front ashtray
17. Audio remote control switches
18. Hood lock release lever
19. Parking brake pedal
20. Window lock switch
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"Vehicles with manual air conditioning controls (view B)
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
1. Headlight, turn signal and front fog
light switches
2. Wiper and washer switches
3. Emergency flasher switch
4. Clock
5. Front passenger’s seat belt reminder
light
6. Rear window and outside rear view
mirror defogger and windshield wiper
de−icer switch
7. Air conditioning controls
8. Car audio
9. “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator lights
10. Snow mode button
11. Seat heater switches
12. Cigarette lighter
13. “TRAC OFF” switch
(two−wheel drive models)
14. Cruise control switch
15. Ignition switch
16. Tilt steering lock release lever
17. Tire pressure warning system reset
switch
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18. Power outlet (115 VAC) main switch
19. Rear heater main switch
20. Theft deterrent system/engine
immobilizer system indicator light
21. Power rear view mirror control switches
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
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"Vehicles with automatic air conditioning controls (view B)
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
1. Headlight, turn signal and front fog
light switches
2. Wiper and washer switches
3. Emergency flasher switch
4. Clock
5. Front passenger’s seat belt reminder
light
6. Air conditioning controls and
multi−information display
7. Rear window and outside rear view
mirror defogger and windshield wiper
de−icer switch
8. Car audio
9. “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator lights
10. Snow mode button
11. Seat heater switches
12. Cigarette lighter
13. “TRAC OFF” switch
(two−wheel drive models)
14. Cruise control switch
15. Ignition switch
16. Tilt steering lock release lever
17. Tire pressure warning system reset
switch
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18. Power outlet (115 VAC) main switch
19. Rear heater main switch
20. Theft deterrent system/engine
immobilizer system indicator light
21. Power rear view mirror control switches
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
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Instrument cluster overview
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
1. Tachometer
2. Service reminder indicators and
indicator lights
3. Speedometer
8
4. Fuel gauge
5. Low fuel level warning light
6. Engine coolant temperature gauge
7. Trip meter reset knob
8. Odometer and two trip meters
9. Instrument panel light control knob
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Indicator symbols on the instrument panel
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
∗
or
Brake system warning light
Driver ’s seat belt reminder light
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
Discharge warning light
Low engine oil pressure warning light
1
∗
1
∗
1
∗
1
∗
1
or
Anti−lock brake system warning light
∗
Open door warning light
Automatic transmission fluid temperature
warning light
∗
1
SRS warning light
1
∗
1
Vehicle stability control system warning light
Low tire pressure warning light
∗
or
Malfunction indicator lamp
1
Low windshield washer fluid level warning
∗
1
light
∗
1
∗
1
∗
1
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Engine oil replacement reminder light
(for vehicles sold in U.S.A.)
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
∗
1
Snow mode indicator light
10
“AIRBAG ON” indicator light
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light
Headlight high beam indicator light
Turn signal indicator lights
∗
1
: For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6.
∗
2
: If this light flashes, see “Cruise control” on page 159 in
Slip indicator light
Traction control system off indicator light
∗
Cruise control indicator light
2
Section 1−7.
or
Automatic transmission indicator lights
Overdrive−off indicator light
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
SECTION 1− 2
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Keys and Doors
Keys 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine immobilizer system 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Side doors 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power windows 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Back door 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hood 28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft deterrent system 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel tank cap 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electric moon roof 33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Keys (without engine
immobilizer system)
Your vehicle is supplied with two kinds
of keys.
1. Master keys—These keys work in every lock.
2. Sub key—This key will not work in the
glove box.
To protect items locked in the glove box
when using valet parking, leave the sub
key with the attendant.
Since the side doors can be locked without a key, you should always carry a
spare key in case you accidentally lock
your keys inside the vehicle.
KEY NUMBER PLATE
Your key number is shown on the plate.
Keep the plate in a safe place such as
your wallet, not in the vehicle.
If you should lose your keys or if you
need additional keys, duplicates can be
made by a Toyota dealer using the key
number.
We recommend writing down the key number and storing it in a safe place.
Keys (with engine immobilizer
system)
Your vehicle is supplied with two kinds
of keys.
1. Master keys (black)—These keys work
in every lock. Your Toyota dealer will
need one of them to make a new key
with a built−in transponder chip.
2. Sub key (gray)—This key will not work
in the glove box.
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A transponder chip for engine immobilizer
system has been placed in the head of
the master and sub keys. These chips are
needed to enable the system to function
correctly, so be careful not to lose these
keys. If you make your own duplicate key,
you will not be able to cancel the system
or start the engine.
To protect items locked in the glove box
when using valet parking, leave the sub
key with the attendant.
Since the side doors can be locked without a key, you should always carry a
spare key in case you accidentally lock
your keys inside the vehicle.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
NOTICE
When using a key containing a transponder chip, observe the following
precautions:
z When starting the engine, do not
use the key with a key ring resting
on the key grip and do not press
the key ring against the key grip.
Otherwise the engine may not start,
or may stop soon after it starts.
z When starting the engine, do not
use the key with other transponder
keys around (including keys of other vehicles) and do not press other
key plates against the key grip.
Otherwise the engine may not start,
or may stop soon after it starts. If
this happens, remove the key once
and then insert it again after removing other transponder keys (including keys of other vehicles) from the
ring or while gripping or covering
them with your hand to start the
engine.
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z Do not bend the key grip.
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z Do not cover the key grip with any
material that cuts off electromagnetic waves.
z Do not knock the key hard against
other objects.
z Do not leave the key exposed to
high temperatures for a long period,
such as on the dashboard and hood
under the direct sunlight.
z Do not put the key in water or
wash it in an ultrasonic washer.
z Do not use the key with electromag-
netic materials.
KEY NUMBER PLATE
Your key number is shown on the plate.
Keep the plate in a safe place such as
your wallet, not in the vehicle.
If you should lose your keys or if you
need additional keys, duplicates can be
made by a Toyota dealer using the key
number.
We recommend writing down the key number and storing it in a safe place.
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Engine immobilizer system
The engine immobilizer system is a
theft prevention system. When you insert the key in the ignition switch, the
transponder chip in the key’s head
transmits an electronic code to the vehicle. The engine will start only when
the electronic code in the chip corresponds to the registered ID code for
the vehicle.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The system is automatically set when the
key is removed from the ignition switch.
The indicator light will start flashing to
show the system is set.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer.
D The indicator light stays on.
D The indicator light does not start flash-
ing when the key is removed from the
ignition switch.
D The indicator light flashes unsteady.
Inserting the registered key in the ignition
switch automatically cancels the system,
which enables the engine to start. The
indicator light will go off.
For your Toyota dealer to make you a
new key with built−in transponder chip,
your dealer will need your key number
and master key. However, there is a limit
to the number of additional keys your
Toyota dealer can make for you.
If you make your own duplicate key,
you will not be able to cancel the system or start the engine.
NOTICE
Do not modify, remove or disassemble the engine immobilizer system. If any unauthorized changes or
modifications are made, the proper
operation of the system cannot be
guaranteed.
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For vehicles sold in U.S.A.
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
CAUTION
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the
user’s authority to operate the equipment.
For vehicles sold in Canada
This device complies with RSS−210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference, including interference
that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Side doors—
When all the side doors and back door
are unlocked simultaneously using a key,
the center interior light, personal lights
and ignition switch light will come on and
remain on for about 15 seconds before
fading out. (For further information, see
“Interior lights” on page 118, “Personal
lights” on page 119 and “Ignition switch
light” on page 120 in Section 1−5.)
The driver’s window can be opened or
closed with the key operation in the driver’s door keyhole. (For details, see “Power
windows” on page 24 in this Section.)
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH KEY
Insert the key into the keyhole and turn
it.
To lock: Turn the key forward.
To unlock: Turn the key backward.
All the side doors and back door lock and
unlock simultaneously with either front
door. In the driver’s door lock, turning the
key once will unlock the driver’s door and
twice in succession will unlock all the side
doors and back door simultaneously.
This double key turning operation to unlock all the side doors and back door can
be changed to a single key turning operation. For details, contact your Toyota dealer.
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LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH
INSIDE LOCK KNOB
Move the lock knob.
To lock: Push the knob forward.
To unlock: Pull the knob backward.
Closing the side door with the lock knob
in the lock position will also lock the side
door. Be careful not to lock your keys in
the vehicle.
The front doors cannot be locked if you
leave the key in the ignition switch and
the driver’s door is opened.
Driver’s side
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH
POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
Push the switch.
To lock: Push the switch down on the
front side.
To unlock: Push the switch down on the
rear side.
Operating the switch simultaneously locks
or unlocks all the side doors and back
door.
If you do either of the following, no side
door or back door can be unlocked with
the power door lock switch.
D Lock all the side doors and back door
with the key or wireless remote control
transmitter when all the side doors and
back door are closed.
D Open the driver’s door or front passen-
ger’s door and move the inside lock
knobs of both front doors to the lock
position, then close the front doors.
Passenger’s side
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The power door lock switch can be reset
in the following ways.
D Turn the ignition key to “ON”.
D Unlock all the side doors and back
door with the key or wireless remote
control transmitter.
D Unlock the driver’s door or front pas-
senger’s door with the inside lock
knob, and then unlock all the doors
and back door with the power door
lock switch.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the doors
are closed and locked, especially
when small children are in the vehicle. Along with the proper use of
seat belts, locking the doors helps
prevent the driver and passengers
from being thrown out from the vehicle during an accident. It also helps
prevent the doors from being opened
unintentionally.
REAR DOOR CHILD−PROTECTORS
Move the lock lever to the “LOCK”
position as shown on the label.
This feature allows you to lock a rear
door so it can be opened from the outside
only, not from inside. We recommend using this feature whenever small children
are in the vehicle.
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—Wireless remote control
Locking operation
Unlocking operation
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The wireless remote control system is
designed to lock or unlock all the side
doors and back door, or activate the
“PANIC” mode from a distance within
approximately 1 m (3 ft.) of the vehicle.
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE SIDE
DOORS AND BACK DOOR
To lock and unlock all the side doors
and back door, push the switches of
the transmitter slowly and securely.
To lock: Push the “LOCK” switch. All the
side doors and back door are locked simultaneously. At this time, one beep will
be heard, and the turn signal lights flash
once.
Check to see that all the side doors and
back door are securely locked.
If any of the side doors or back door is
not securely closed, locking cannot be
performed by the “LOCK” switch and a
beep will sound continuously for 10 seconds. However, if the key is in the ignition, a beep will not sound.
To stop the beep, close all the side doors
and back door securely or push the
“UNLOCK” switch.
The beep can be disabled. For details,
contact your Toyota dealer.
To unlock: Push the “UNLOCK” switch
once to unlock the driver’s door alone.
Pushing the switch twice within 3 seconds
unlocks all the side doors and back door
simultaneously. Each time the “UNLOCK”
switch is pushed, two beeps will be heard,
and the turn signal lights flash twice.
This double switch operation to unlock all
the side doors and back door can be
changed to a single switch operation. For
details, contact your Toyota dealer.
When all the side doors and back door
are unlocked simultaneously with a wireless remote control transmitter, the center
interior light, personal lights and ignition
switch light come on for about 15 seconds
before fading out, even if the door is not
opened. (For details, see “Interior lights”
on page 118, “Personal lights” on page
119 and “Ignition switch light” on page 120
in Section 1−5.)
You have 30 seconds to open a door after
using the wireless remote unlock feature.
If a door is not opened by then, all the
side doors and back door will be automatically locked again. At this time, one beep
will be heard, and the turn signal lights
flash once.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The timing for the automatic door lock
function can be changed. For details, contact your Toyota dealer.
If the “LOCK” or “UNLOCK” switch is kept
pressed in, the locking or unlocking operation is not repeated. Release the switch
and then push again.
The wireless door locking or unlocking
function can be erased. For details, contact your Toyota dealer.
SWITCHING BEEP SOUND ON AND OFF
You can switch the beep on and off. (The
beep is on initially and after battery replacement.)
To switch the beep on and off:
With the driver’s door opened—
1. Insert the ignition key and remove it.
2. Within 5 seconds, insert the ignition
key again and turn it to the “ON” position.
3. After 10 seconds, push the same
“LOCK”, “UNLOCK” or “PANIC” switch
twice within 10 seconds.
Two beep sounds inform you that the
program has been switched on or off.
If this procedure is not followed exactly,
the beep will not operate as expected.
20
Check the beep ON/OFF operation by
pushing the transmitter switch after you
finish this procedure. If the beep does not
operate as expected, repeat this procedure from step 1.
“PANIC” SWITCH
Pushing the “PANIC” switch blows the
horn intermittently and flashes the
headlights and tail lights.
The “PANIC” switch is used to deter vehicle theft when you witness anyone attempting to break into or damage your
vehicle.
The alarm will last for one minute. To stop
alarm midway, do the following:
D Push the “PANIC” switch once again.
D Unlock any of side door or back door
with the key or wireless remote control
transmitter.
D Turn the ignition key from the “LOCK”
to “ON” position.
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The “PANIC” mode does not work when
the ignition key is in the “ON” position.
The alarm function can be disabled. For
details, contact your Toyota dealer.
WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL
TRANSMITTER
The wireless remote control transmitter is
an electronic component. Observe the following instructions in order not to cause
damage to the transmitter.
D Do not leave the transmitter on places
where the temperature becomes high
such as on the dashboard.
D Do not disassemble it.
D Avoid knocking it hard against other
objects or dropping it.
D Avoid putting it in water.
You can use up to 4 wireless remote control transmitters for the same vehicle.
Contact your Toyota dealer for detailed
information.
If the wireless remote control transmitter
does not actuate the side doors and back
door or alarm, or operate from a normal
distance:
D Check for closeness to a radio trans-
mitter such as a radio station or an
airport which can interfere with normal
operation of the transmitter.
D The battery may have been consumed.
Check the battery in the transmitter. To
replace the battery, see “REPLACING
TRANSMITTER BATTERY”.
If you lose your transmitter, contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible to
avoid the possibility of theft, or an accident. (See “If you lose your wireless remote control transmitter” on page 347 in
Section 4.)
For vehicles sold in U.S.A.
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
NOTICE:
This equipment has been tested and
found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part
15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there
is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
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D Reorient or relocate the receiving an-
tenna.
D Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
D Connect the equipment into an outlet
on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
D Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio/TV technician for help.
FCC WARNING:
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the
user’s authority to operate the equipment.
For vehicles sold in Canada
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference, including interference
that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
REPLACING TRANSMITTER BATTERY
For replacement, use a CR2016 lithium
battery or equivalent.
CAUTION
Special care should be taken to prevent small children from swallowing
the removed transmitter battery or
components.
NOTICE
z When replacing the transmitter bat-
tery, be careful not to lose the components.
z Replace only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by a
Toyota dealer.
z Dispose of used batteries according
to the local laws.
Replace the transmitter battery by following these procedures:
1. Using a coin or equivalent, open the
transmitter case.
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z Be careful not to bend the electrode
of the transmitter battery insertion
and that dust or oils do not adhere
to the transmitter case.
z Close the transmitter case securely.
After replacing the battery, check that the
transmitter operates properly. If the transmitter still does not operate properly, contact your Toyota dealer.
2. Remove the discharged transmitter battery by ballpoint pen. Insert the tip of
ballpoint pen at the guide groove and
lift as shown in the above illustration.
NOTICE
Do not bend the terminals.
3. Put a new transmitter battery with positive (+) side up.
Close the transmitter case securely.
NOTICE
z Make sure the positive side and
negative side of the transmitter battery are faced correctly.
z Do not replace the battery with wet
hands. Water may cause unexpected
rust.
z Do not touch or move any compo-
nents inside of the transmitter, or
it may interfere with proper operation.
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Power windows
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
CAUTION
D Never try jamming any part of your
body to activate the jam protection
function intentionally.
D The jam protection function may
not work if something gets caught
just before the window is fully
closed.
The windows can be operated with the
switch on each side door.
The power windows work when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position.
Key off operation: If all the side doors
and back door are closed, they work for
43 seconds even after the ignition switch
is turned off. They stop working when the
either front door is opened.
OPERATING THE DRIVER’S WINDOW
Use the switch on the driver’s door.
Normal operation: The window moves as
long as you hold the switch.
To open: Lightly push down the switch.
To close: Lightly pull up the switch.
24
Automatic operation: Push the switch
completely down or pull it completely up,
and then release it. The window will fully
open or close. To stop the window partway, lightly move the switch in the opposite direction and then release it.
Jam protection function: During automatic closing operation, the window stops and
opens half way if something gets caught
between the window and window frame.
If the window receives a strong impact,
this function may work even if nothing is
caught.
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
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Window lock
switch
OPERATING THE PASSENGERS’
WINDOWS
Use the switch on each passenger’s
door or the switches on the driver’s
door that control each passenger’s window.
The window moves as long as you hold
the switch.
To open: Push down the switch.
To close: Pull up the switch.
If you push in the window lock switch on
the driver’s door, the passengers’ windows
cannot be operated.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
OPERATING THE DRIVER’S WINDOW
FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE
The driver’s window can be operated
with the key inserted in the driver’s
door keyhole.
To open: Turn the key fully backward and
hold it.
After the door is unlocked, the window
begins to open. To stop the window partway, release the key.
To close: Turn the key fully forward and
hold it.
After the door is locked, the window begins to close. To stop the window partway,
release the key.
This feature can be disabled. For details,
contact your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
D Before you close the power win-
dows, always make sure there is
nobody around the power windows.
You must also make sure the
heads, hands and other parts of the
bodies of all occupants are kept
completely inside the vehicle. If
someone’s neck, head or hands get
caught in a closing window, it
could result in a serious injury.
When anyone closes the power windows, make sure he or she operates the windows safely.
D When small children are in the ve-
hicle, never let them use the power
window switches without supervision. Use the window lock switch to
prevent them from making unexpected use of the switches.
D Be sure to remove the ignition key
when you leave your vehicle.
D Never leave anyone (particularly a
small child) alone in your vehicle,
especially with the ignition key still
inserted. Otherwise, he/she could
use the power window switches and
get trapped in a window. Unattended person (particularly a small
child) can be involved in a serious
accident.
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Back door
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
See “—Stowage precautions” on page 305
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH KEY
Insert the key into the keyhole and turn
it.
To lock: Turn the key clockwise.
To unlock: Turn the key counterclockwise.
To open the back door, pull the lock
release lever.
Operating the power door lock switch or
wireless remote control transmitter simultaneously locks or unlocks the back door.
(See “Side doors” on page 16 in this Section.)
When closing the back door, make sure
it is fully closed.
When closing the back door, the inside
strap can be used to make the reach
easier.
To close the back door, lower it and press
down on it. After closing the back door,
try pulling it up to make sure it is securely closed.
See “—Stowage precautions” on page 305
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
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CAUTION
Keep the back door closed while driving. This not only keeps the luggage
from being thrown out but also prevents exhaust gases from entering
the vehicle.
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Hood
28
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood lock release lever. The
hood will spring up slightly.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the hood
is closed and securely locked. Otherwise, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving and an accident may
occur.
2. In front of the vehicle, pull up the
auxiliary catch lever and lift the
hood.
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Page 29
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Theft deterrent system
3. Hold the hood open by inserting the
support rod into the slot.
Before closing the hood, check to see that
you have not forgotten any tools, rags,
etc. and return the support rod to its
clip—this prevents rattles. Then lower the
hood and make sure it locks into place.
If necessary, press down gently on the
front edge to lock it.
CAUTION
After inserting the support rod into
the slot, make sure the rod supports
the hood securely from falling down
on to your head or body.
To deter vehicle theft, the system is
designed to sound an alarm if any of
the side doors, back door or hood is
forcibly unlocked or the battery terminal is disconnected and then reconnected when the system is set.
The alarm blows the horn intermittently
and flashes the headlights, tail lights and
turn signal lights, and turns on the interior
light.
SETTING THE SYSTEM
1. Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK”
position and remove it.
The indicator light will start flashing when
the key is removed from the ignition
switch. (See “Engine immobilizer system”
on page 15 in this Section for details.)
2. Have all passengers get out of the
vehicle.
3. Close and lock all the side doors, back
door and hood.
The indicator light will remain on when all
the side doors, back door and hood are
closed and locked.
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The system will automatically be set after
30 seconds. When the system is set, the
indicator light will start flashing again.
4. After making sure the indicator light
starts flashing, you may leave the vehicle.
Never leave anyone in the vehicle when
you set the system, because unlocking
from the inside will activate the system.
Canceling the system
The system will cancel within 30 seconds
before the system is set automatically under any of the following conditions:
D Any of the side doors, back door or
hood is opened.
D Any of the side doors or back door is
unlocked.
D The key is inserted into the ignition.
D The battery terminal is reconnected.
If the tail lights come on for 2 seconds,
the theft deterrent system has been
alarmed. Check to see if there is any
abnormality on your vehicle.
WHEN THE SYSTEM IS SET
Activating the system
The system will sound the alarm under
the following conditions:
D If any of the side doors and back door
is unlocked or opened without the key
or wireless remote control transmitter,
or if the hood is forcibly opened.
D If the battery terminal is disconnected
and then reconnected.
D If the ignition is hot−wired.
The indicator light will come on when the
system is activating.
If any of the side doors and back door is
unlocked without the key or wireless remote control transmitter and the key is
not in the ignition switch, all the side
doors and back door will be automatically
locked again.
After about 1 minute, the alarm will automatically stop and the indicator light will
start flashing again.
Reactivating the alarm
Once set, the system automatically resets
the alarm after the alarm stops.
The alarm will activate again under the
same circumstances described in
“Activating the system”.
Stopping the alarm
The alarm will be stopped by the following
conditions:
D Turn the ignition key from the “LOCK”
to “ON” position.
D Unlock any of the side doors or back
door with the key or wireless remote
control transmitter.
If the battery becomes discharged due
to the vehicle being unused for a long
time, etc., when the battery is recharged
or replaced, the system will give the
alarm. If this happens, immediately unlock
any of the side doors or back door with
the key or the wireless remote control
transmitter, and the alarm will stop.
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TESTING THE SYSTEM
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the system as described above.
The side doors and back door should
be locked with the key or wireless remote control transmitter. Be sure to
wait until the indicator light starts flashing.
3. Unlock any door from the inside. The
system should activate the alarm.
4. Stopping the alarm as described above.
5. Repeat this operation for the other
doors and hood. When testing the
hood, also check that the system is
activated when the battery terminal is
disconnected and then reconnected.
If the system does not work properly,
have it checked by your Toyota dealer.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Fuel tank cap
This indicates that the fuel filler door
is on the left side of your vehicle.
1. To open the fuel filler door, pull the
lever up.
When refueling, turn off the engine.
CAUTION
D Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames when refueling.
The fumes are flammable.
D When opening the cap, do not re-
move the cap quickly. In hot weather, fuel under pressure could cause
injury by spraying out of the filler
neck if the cap is suddenly removed.
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2. To remove the fuel tank cap, turn
the cap counterclockwise by 90 degrees (to the pressure point 1), and
then turn it an additional 30 degrees
(to point 2). Pause slightly before
removing it.
It is not unusual to hear a slight swoosh
when the cap is opened.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
3. The removed cap can be stored on
the back side of the fuel filler door.
Position the cap so that the hooks point
to the left and right, and set it in the
receptacle on the back side of the door.
When installing the cap, turn the cap
clockwise until you hear a click. When
you hear the click, the cap is fully
closed.
If the cap is not installed securely, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on.
Make sure the cap is tightened securely.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
CAUTION
D Make sure the cap is installed se-
curely to prevent fuel spillage in
the event of an accident.
D Use only a genuine Toyota fuel tank
cap for replacement. It is designed
to regulate fuel tank pressure.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the cap, apply
force only in the turning direction to
the cap. Do not pull or pry it.
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Electric moon roof
Sliding operation
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
To operate the moon roof, use the
switch between the personal lights.
The moon roof works when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position.
The sun shade can be opened or closed
by hand.
Sliding operation—
To open: Push the switch toward the
“SLIDE OPEN” side.
The roof will fully open automatically. To
stop the roof partway, push the switch
toward either the “SLIDE OPEN” or “TILT
UP” side quickly.
When you quickly push and release the
switch, the moon roof will open while the
switch is depressed and stop when released.
The sun shade will be opened together
with the roof.
To close: Push the switch toward the
“TILT UP” side.
The roof will fully close automatically. To
stop the roof partway, push the switch
toward either the “SLIDE OPEN” or “TILT
UP” side quickly.
When you quickly push and release the
switch, the moon roof will close while the
switch is depressed and stop when released.
Tilting operation—
To tilt up: Push the switch toward the
“TILT UP” side.
The roof will fully tilt up automatically. To
stop the roof partway, push the switch
toward either the “SLIDE OPEN” or “TILT
UP” side quickly.
When you quickly push and release the
switch, the moon roof will tilt up while the
switch is depressed and stop when released.
To tilt down: Push the switch toward the
“SLIDE OPEN” side.
The roof will fully tilt down automatically.
To stop the roof partway, push the switch
toward either the “SLIDE OPEN” or “TILT
UP” side quickly.
When you quickly push and release the
switch, the moon roof will tilt down while
the switch is depressed and stop when
released.
Tilting operation
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Key off operation: If all the side doors
and back door are closed, it works for 43
seconds even after the ignition switch is
turned off. It stops working when either
front door is opened.
Jam protection function:
D If something gets caught between the
moon roof and frame during slide closing operation, the moon roof stops and
then opens slightly.
D If something gets caught between the
moon roof and frame during tilting
down operation, the moon roof stops
and then tilts up fully.
If the moon roof receives a strong impact,
this function may work even if nothing is
caught.
If the battery is disconnected or run
down, the moon roof may not operate
automatically and the jam protection function will not function correctly after you
reconnect, replace or recharge the battery.
In any of these cases, you should normalize the moon roof.
To normalize the moon roof, push and
hold the switch toward the “TILT UP” side.
The moon roof will tilt up and down, then
slide open and close. After the slide close
operation, release the switch.
Make sure that the moon roof opens and
closes automatically. If the moon roof cannot be operated properly, have it checked
by your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
D While the vehicle is moving, always
keep the heads, hands and other
parts of the bodies of all occupants
away from the roof opening. Otherwise, they could be seriously injured if the vehicle stops suddenly
or if the vehicle is involved in an
accident.
D Before you close the moon roof,
always make sure there is nobody
around the moon roof. You must
also make sure nobody places his
or her head, hands and other parts
of the body in the roof opening. If
someone’s neck, head or hands get
caught in the closing roof, it could
result in a serious injury. When
anyone closes the moon roof, first
make sure it is safe to do so.
D Be sure to remove the ignition key
when you leave your vehicle.
D Never leave anyone (particularly a
small child) alone in your vehicle,
especially with the ignition key still
inserted. Otherwise, he/she could
use the moon roof switch and get
trapped in the roof opening. Unattended person (particularly a small
child) can be involved in a serious
accident.
D Never sit on top of the vehicle
around the roof opening.
D Never try jamming any part of your
body to activate the jam protection
function intentionally.
D The jam protection function may
not work if something gets caught
just before the moon roof is fully
closed.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
SECTION 1− 3
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Occupant restraint systems
Seats 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seats 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flattening seatbacks 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat heaters 52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head restraints 53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrests 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belts 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbags 66. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint 85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Seats
While the vehicle is being driven, all vehicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and properly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
D Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow any passengers to sit on
top of a folded−down seatback, or
in the luggage compartment or cargo area. Persons not properly
seated and/or not properly restrained by seat belts can be severely injured in the event of emergency braking or a collision.
D During driving, do not allow any
passengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Otherwise,
severe injuries can occur in the
event of emergency braking or a
collision.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Front seats—
—Front seat precautions
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with
considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if
the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag
is the first 50—75 mm (2—3 in.) of
inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10
in.) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety.
This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your
breastbone. If you sit less than 250
mm (10 in.) away now, you can
change your driving position in several ways:
D Move your seat to the rear as far
as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
D Slightly recline the back of the
seat. Although vehicle designs vary,
many drivers can achieve the 250
mm (10 in.) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the back of the
seat somewhat. If reclining the back
of your seat makes it hard to see
the road, raise yourself by using a
firm, non−slippery cushion, or raise
the seat if your vehicle has that
feature.
D If your steering wheel is adjustable,
tilt it downward. This points the airbag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
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Front passenger seat
CAUTION
The SRS front passenger airbag also
deploys with considerable force, and
can cause death or serious injury especially if the front passenger is very
close to the airbag. The front passenger seat should be as far from the
airbag as possible with the seatback
adjusted, so the front passenger sits
upright.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Front seats (with SRS side airbags)
CAUTION
The SRS side airbags are installed in
the driver and front passenger seats.
Observe the following precautions.
D Do not lean against the front door
when the vehicle is in use, since
the side airbag inflates with considerable speed and force. Otherwise,
you may be killed or seriously injured.
D Do not use seat accessories which
cover the area where the side airbags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly, causing death or
serious injury.
D Do not modify or replace the seats
or upholstery of the seats equipped
with side airbags. Such change may
prevent the side airbag system from
activating correctly, disable the system or cause the side airbag system to inflate accidentally, resulting
in death or serious injury.
—Seat adjustment precautions
CAUTION
D Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving as the seat may
unexpectedly move and cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
D Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
D After adjusting the seat position, re-
lease the lever and try sliding the
seat forward and backward to make
sure it is locked in position.
D After adjusting the seatback, push
your body back against the seat to
make sure the seat is locked in
position.
D Do not put objects under the seats.
Otherwise, the objects may interfere
with the seat−lock mechanism or
unexpectedly push up the seat position adjusting lever and the seat
may suddenly move, causing the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
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D While adjusting the seat, do not put
your hands under the seat or near
the moving parts. Otherwise, your
hands or fingers may be caught and
injured.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
—Adjusting front seats
(manual seat)
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
2. SEAT CUSHION ANGLE ADJUSTING
KNOB
To change the angle of the seat cushion on the front side, turn the knob
either way.
3. SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER
To change the height of the seat, pull
up or push down the lever.
4. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.
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CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maximum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the
front passenger are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you are
reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. In the event
of a frontal collision, the more the
seat is reclined, the greater the risk
of personal injury.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
—Adjusting front seats (power
seat)
1. SEAT POSITION, SEAT CUSHION
ANGLE AND SEAT HEIGHT
ADJUSTING SWITCH
Move the adjusting switch in the desired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat at
that position.
Do not place anything under the front
seats, as this might interfere with the seat
movement.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
SWITCH
Move the adjusting switch in the desired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seatback at that position.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Rear seats—
—Rear seat precautions
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maximum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the
front passenger are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you are
reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. In the event
of a frontal collision, the more the
seat is reclined, the greater the risk
of personal injury.
3. SEAT LUMBAR SUPPORT
ADJUSTING SWITCH
Press either side of the switch.
The amount of lumber support will change
while the switch is pressed.
CAUTION
D Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving.
D Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
D Be careful not to get your hands or
feet pinched in the seat.
D After adjusting the seat position, re-
lease the lever and try sliding the
seat forward and backward to make
sure it is locked in position.
D After adjusting the seatback, push
your body back against the seat to
make sure the seat is locked in
position.
D When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the following precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or
sudden stop:
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rearward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
Folding down the rear seatbacks will enlarge the luggage compartment. See
“—Stowage precautions” on page 305 in
Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
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Page 41
—Adjusting second seats
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
LEVER
Pull the lever up. Then lean back to the
desired angle and release the lever.
CAUTION
D Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving.
D Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
Vehicles with third seat Vehicles without third seat
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D To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you
are reclined, the lap belt may slide
past your hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen. In
the event of a frontal collision, the
more the seat is reclined, the greater the risk of personal injury.
D After adjusting the seat position, re-
lease the lever and try sliding the
seat forward and backward to make
sure it is locked in position.
D After adjusting the seatback, push
your body back against the seat to
make sure the seat is locked in
position.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
—Moving second seat for
third seat access
To fold down the second seat after it has
been moved to access the third seat,
push the seatback up slightly and then
pull the seatback adjusting lever before
folding the seatback down. (See “—Folding down second seats” described below
for instructions about folding down the
second seat.)
For easy access to the third seat, do
this.
1. Lift the lever on the side of the seatback and fold the seatback.
The seat will slide forward.
2. Move the seat to the front−most position.
After passengers are in, lift up the seatback and return the seat until it locks.
NOTICE
Do not fold the second seat seatback
forward with the luggage cover hooks
attached.
42
CAUTION
After putting back the seat, try pushing the seat forward and rearward to
make sure it is secured in place.
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
Page 43
—Folding down second seats
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
BEFORE FOLDING DOWN SECOND
SEATS
1. Stow the center seat belt buckle of
the second seat as shown in the illustration.
NOTICE
The seat belt buckle must be stowed
before you fold the second seat.
Vehicles with third seat
Vehicles without third seat
2. Make sure the outer seat belts
passes through the hangers when
folding the second seat.
This prevents the shoulder belt from being
damaged.
CAUTION
The seat belt must be removed from
the hangers when they are in use.
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FOLDING DOWN SECOND SEATS
(vehicles without third seat)
Pull the seatback angle adjusting lever
to unlock the seatback and fold the
seatback down until it locks.
The seat position returns to the rear−most
position when the seatback is folded
down.
CAUTION
Be careful that the seat does not hit
a passenger or luggage.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
NOTICE
Do not fold the second seat seatback
forward with the luggage cover hooks
attached.
Folding down the second seats will enlarge the luggage compartment. See
“—Stowage precautions” on page 305 in
Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
CAUTION
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the following precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or sudden stop:
D Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rearward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
D Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
FOLDING DOWN SECOND SEATS
(vehicles with third seat)
Pull the seatback angle adjusting lever
to unlock the seatback and fold the
seatback down until it locks.
Right side seat: The seat remains in position when pushing the seat cushion backwards while folding down the seatback.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
CAUTION
D Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
D After folding down the right side
seat, try pushing the seat forward
and rearward to make sure it is secured in place.
NOTICE
Do not fold the second seat seatback
forward with the luggage cover hooks
attached.
Folding down the second seats will enlarge the luggage compartment.
If there is space between the second seat
and the folded third seat seatback, slide
the folded second seat to the rear−most
position.
CAUTION
After sliding the seat, try pushing the
seat forward and rearward to make
sure it is secured in place.
See “—Stowage precautions” on page 305
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
CAUTION
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the following precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or sudden stop:
D Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rearward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
D Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
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—Adjusting third seat
From front
From rear
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1. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
STRAP
Lean forward and pull the strap toward
you. Then lean back to the desired
angle and release the strap.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
LEVER
Pull down the lever, then adjust the
seatback to the desired angle and release the lever.
CAUTION
D Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving.
D Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
D To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you
are reclined, the lap belt may slide
past your hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen. In
the event of a frontal collision, the
more the seat is reclined, the greater the risk of personal injury.
D After adjusting the seatback, push
your body back against the seat to
make sure the seat is locked in
position.
46
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—Folding down third seat
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BEFORE FOLDING DOWN THIRD SEAT
Make sure that the seat is clear of
people and luggage.
1. Stow the third seat seat belt buckles
as shown in the illustration.
NOTICE
The seat belt buckles must be stowed
before you fold the third seat.
2. To stow the seat belt, insert the tabs
into the slot as shown above. Make
sure the tabs are securely locked in
the slot.
NOTICE
The seat belt must be stowed before
you fold the seatback.
47
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From front
From rear
FOLDING DOWN THIRD SEAT
Lower the head restraints to the lowest
position. Pull the seatback angle adjusting strap toward you or pull down the
seatback angle adjusting lever to unlock the seatback and fold the seatback
down until it locks.
CAUTION
Be careful that the seat does not hit
a passenger or luggage.
Folding down the third seat will enlarge
the luggage compartment. See “—Stowage
precautions” on page 305 in Section 2 for
precautions when loading luggage.
RETURNING THIRD SEAT
Pull the seatback adjusting lever to unlock the seatback and fold up the seatback to its upright lock position.
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CAUTION
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the following precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or sudden stop:
D Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rearward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
D Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
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Flattening seatbacks
(manual seat)
To flatten the seatbacks, do the following:
1. Hold the center of the lever and pull
it up, sliding the second seat to the
rear−most position. Then pull the
seat forward slightly until it locks.
2. Remove the head restraint. Hold the
center of the lever and pull it up.
Then slide the front seat further forward than the front−most lock position.
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CAUTION
D Do not allow passengers to ride on
the flattened seat while driving; use
the seat in the normal position.
D After returning the seat to its origi-
nal position, try pushing the seat
and seatback forward and rearward
to make sure it is secured in place.
Be certain to replace head restraint.
Flattening seatbacks
(power seat)
3. Pull the seatback angle adjusting lever up to unlock and push down the
seatback.
When returning the seatback to the upright position, be careful not to make
yourself hit by the seatback which will
bound with considerable spring force.
After returning the seat to its original
position, be certain to replace the head
restraint.
50
To flatten the seatbacks, do the following:
1. Hold the center of the lever and pull
it up, sliding the second seat to the
rear−most position. Then pull the
seat forward slightly until it locks.
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CAUTION
D Do not allow passengers to ride on
the flattened seat while driving; use
the seat in the normal position.
D After returning the seat to its origi-
nal position, try pushing the seat
and seatback forward and rearward
to make sure it is secured in place.
Be certain to replace head restraint.
2. Remove the head restraint. Push the
seat position adjusting switch forward to slide the front seat to the
front−most position.
3. Move the seatback angle adjusting
switch backward to flatten the seatback.
After returning the seat to its original
position, be certain to replace the head
restraint.
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Seat heaters
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To turn on the seat heater, push the
switches (“L” switch for the left front
seat and “R” switch for the right front
seat). At this time, the indicator light
will illuminate to indicate the seat heater is operating.
To turn off the seat heater, push the
switch once again.
The key must be in the “ON” position to
operate seat heaters.
CAUTION
Occupants must use caution when operating the seat heater because it
may make them feel too hot or cause
burns at low temperatures (erythema,
varicella). Use extra caution for;
D Babies, small children, elderly per-
sons, sick persons or handicapped
persons
D Persons who have delicate skin
D Persons who are exhausted
D Persons who have taken alcohol or
drugs which induce sleep (sleeping
drug, cold remedy, etc.)
To prevent the seat overheating, do
not use the seat heater with a blanket, cushion, or other insulating objects which cover the seat.
NOTICE
z Do not put unevenly weighed ob-
jects on the seat and do not stick
sharp objects (needles, nails, etc.)
into the seat.
z When cleaning the seats, do not
use organic substances (paint thinner, benzine, alcohol, gasoline,
etc.). They may damage the heater
and seat surface.
z To prevent the battery from being
discharged, turn the switch off
when the engine is not running.
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Head restraints
Front seats
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Third seats
For your safety and comfort, adjust the
head restraint before driving.
To raise: Pull it up.
To lower: Push it down while pressing the
lock release button.
Front head restraints only—On some models, you can also move the front head
restraint forward or backward. If such adjustment is desired, pull or push the base
of the head restraint.
Second and third seat head restraints—
When an occupant sits in the second or
third seat, always raise the head restraint
to the lock position.
The head restraint is most effective when
it is close to your head. Therefore, using
a cushion on the seatback is not recommended.
CAUTION
D Adjust the center of the head re-
straint so that it is closest to the
top of your ears.
D After adjusting the head restraint,
make sure it is locked in position.
D Do not drive with the head re-
straints removed.
Second seats
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Armrests
Front seats
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To use the armrest, pull it down as
shown in the illustrations.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the armrest,
avoid putting heavy loads on it.
Seat belts—
—Seat belt precautions
Toyota strongly urges that the driver and
passengers in the vehicle be properly restrained at all times with the seat belts
provided. Failure to do so could increase
the chance of injury and/or the severity of
injury in accidents.
The seat belts provided for your vehicle
are designed for people of adult size,
large enough to properly wear them.
Child. Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child becomes large enough to properly wear the
vehicle’s seat belts. See “Child restraint”
on page 85 in this Section for details.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when properly
restrained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
If a child must sit in the front seat, the
seat belts should be worn properly. If an
accident occurs and the seat belts are not
worn properly, the force of the rapid inflation of the airbag may cause death or
serious injury to the child.
Second seat
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Do not allow any children to stand up or
kneel on either rear or front seats. An
unrestrained child could suffer serious injury or death during emergency braking or
a collision. Also, do not let the child sit
on your lap. Holding a child in your arms
does not provide sufficient restraint.
Pregnant woman. Toyota recommends the
use of a seat belt. Ask your doctor for
specific recommendations. The lap belt
should be worn securely and as low as
possible over the hips and not on the
waist.
Injured person. Toyota recommends the
use of a seat belt. Depending on the injury, first check with your doctor for specific
recommendations.
CAUTION
Persons should ride in their seats
properly wearing their seat belts
whenever the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise, they are much more likely
to suffer serious bodily injury or
death in the event of sudden braking
or a collision.
When using the seat belts, observe
the following:
D Use the belt for only one person at
a time. Do not use a single belt for
two or more people—even children.
D To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
driver and the front passenger are
sitting up straight and well back in
the seats. If you are reclined, the
lap belt may slide past your hips
and apply restraint forces directly
to the abdomen. In the event of a
frontal collision, the more the seat
is reclined, the greater the risk of
personal injury.
D Be careful not to damage the belt
webbing or hardware. Take care that
they do not get caught or pinched
in the seat or doors.
D Inspect the belt system periodically.
Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Damaged parts should be replaced. Do not disassemble or
modify the system.
D Keep the belts clean and dry. If
they need cleaning, use a mild soap
solution or lukewarm water. Never
use bleach, dye, or abrasive cleaners, or allow them to come into
contact with the belt—they may severely weaken the belts. (See
“Cleaning the interior” on page 353
in Section 5.)
D Replace the belt assembly (includ-
ing bolts) if it has been used in a
severe impact. The entire assembly
should be replaced even if damage
is not obvious.
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—Fastening front and rear
seat belts
Ta b
Buckle
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When a passenger’s shoulder belt is completely extended and is then retracted
even slightly, the belt is locked in that
position and cannot be extended. This feature is used to hold the child restraint
system securely. (For details, see “Child
restraint” on page 85 in this Section.) To
free the belt again, fully retract the belt
and then pull the belt out once more.
If the seat belt cannot be pulled out of the
retractor, firmly pull the belt and release
it. You will then be able to smoothly pull
the belt out of the retractor.
Tak e u p
slack
Too high
Keep as low on
hips as possible
Adjust the seat as needed and sit up
straight and well back in the seat. To
fasten your belt, pull it out of the retractor and insert the tab into the
buckle.
You will hear a click when the tab locks
into the buckle.
The seat belt length automatically adjusts
to your size and the seat position.
The retractor will lock the belt during a
sudden stop or on impact. It also may
lock if you lean forward too quickly. A
slow, easy motion will allow the belt to
extend, and you can move around freely.
56
CAUTION
D After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the belt is not twisted.
D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
D If the seat belt does not function
normally, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed, because
it cannot protect an adult occupant
or your child from injury.
Adjust the position of the lap and
shoulder belts.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips—not on your waist, then adjust it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder
portion upward through the latch plate.
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
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CAUTION
D Both high−positioned lap belts and
loose−fitting belts could cause serious injuries due to sliding under
the lap belt during a collision or
other unintended event. Keep the
lap belt positioned as low on hips
as possible.
D Do not place the shoulder belt un-
der your arm.
CAUTION
Always make sure the shoulder belt
is positioned across the center of
your shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from your neck, but not
falling off your shoulder. Failure to
do so could reduce the amount of
protection in an accident and cause
serious injures in a collision.
Seat belts with an adjustable shoulder
anchor—
Adjust the shoulder anchor position to
your size.
To raise: Slide the anchor up.
To lower: Push in the lock release button
and slide the anchor down.
After adjustment make sure the anchor is
locked in position.
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To release the belt, press the buckle
release button and allow the belt to
retract.
If the belt does not retract smoothly, pull
it out and check for kinks or twists. Then
make sure it remains untwisted as it retracts.
58
THIRD SEAT SEAT BELTS
The third seat seat belts are 3−point type
restraint with 2 buckles. Both seat belt
buckles must be correctly located and securely latched for proper operation.
Make sure that buckle 1 is securely
latched for ready use of the third seat
seat belt.
Two buckles and tabs for third seat
seat belt
The two tabs have different shape for its
end so that the belt is not buckled in the
wrong place.
Buckle 1—Properly matches with concave end tab
Buckle 2—Properly matches with round
end tab
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
Page 59
CAUTION
Make sure the both buckles are correctly located and securely latched.
Failure to properly match the buckle
and tab may cause severe injury in
case of an accident or a collision.
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To release the concave end tab, insert the
key into the hole on buckle 1 and allow
the belt to retract.
CAUTION
Do not use the third seat seat belt
with either buckle released. Fastening
only the shoulder belt or lap belt may
cause severe personal injury in case
of sudden braking or a collision.
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—Stowing the second and
third seat seat belt buckles
Second seat (vehicles with third seat)
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The second and third seat seat belt
buckles can be stowed when not in
use.
Seat belt buckles must be stowed before
you fold the seatback. (See “—Folding
down second seats” on page 43 and
“—Folding down third seat” on page 47 in
this Section.)
Second seat (vehicles without third seat) Third seats
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—Stowing the third seat seat
belt
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—Seat belt extender
If your seat belts cannot be fastened securely because they are not long enough,
a personalized seat belt extender is available from your Toyota dealer free of
charge.
Please contact your local Toyota dealer to
order the proper required length for the
extender. Bring the heaviest coat you expect to wear for proper measurement and
selection of length. Additional ordering information is available at your Toyota dealer.
To stow the third seat seat belt, insert
the tabs into the slot as shown above.
Make sure the tabs are securely locked
in the slot.
Seat belt must be stowed before you fold
the seatback. (See “—Folding down third
seat” on page 47 in this Section.)
NOTICE
Stow the third seat seat belt except
when you are wearing it.
CAUTION
When using the seat belt extender,
observe the following precautions.
Failure to follow these instructions
could reduce the effectiveness of the
seat belt restraint system in case of
an accident, increasing the chance of
personal injury.
D Remember that the extender pro-
vided for you may not be safe when
used on a different vehicle, for
another person, or at a different
seating position than the one originally intended.
D If the seat belt extender has been
connected to the driver’s seat belt
buckle without wearing the seat belt
when using the extender in the
driver’s seat, the SRS driver ’s airbag system will judge that the driver wears the seat belt even if not
wearing it. In this case, the driver’s
airbag may not activate correctly,
causing death or serious injury in
the event of collision. Be sure to
wear the seat belt with the seat belt
extender.
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D Make sure the “AIRBAG ON”
indicator light is illuminated when
using the seat belt extender for the
front passenger seat. If the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, disconnect the extender
tongue from the seat belt buckle,
then reconnect the seat belt.
Reconnect the seat belt extender
after making sure the “AIRBAG ON”
indicator light is illuminated. If you
use the seat belt extender while the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, the front passenger
airbag and side airbag on the front
passenger side may not activate
correctly, causing death or serious
injury in the event of collision.
D Be sure to wear the seat belt with-
out the seat belt extender if you
can fasten the seat belt without the
extender.
D Do not use the seat belt extender
when installing a child restraint
system on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system with the seat belt
extender connected to the seat belt,
the seat belt will not securely hold
the child restraint system, which
could cause death or serious injury
to the child or other passengers in
the event of collision.
To connect the extender to the seat
belt, insert the tab into the seat belt
buckle so that the “PRESS” signs on
the buckle release buttons of the extender and the seat belt are both facing
outward as shown.
You will hear a click when the tab locks
into the buckle.
When releasing the seat belt, press on
the buckle release button on the extender,
not on the seat belt. This helps prevent
damage to the vehicle interior and extender itself.
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As far as the seat belt extender on the
front passenger side is concerned, do not
fail to disconnect the extender from the
seat belt after the above operation in order to activate the front passenger airbag
correctly when getting into the vehicle
next time.
When not in use, remove the extender
and store in the vehicle for future use.
CAUTION
D After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt and the seat belt extender are not twisted.
D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
D If the seat belt does not function
normally, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed, because
it cannot protect an adult occupant
or your child from injury.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
—Seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger seat
belt pretensioners are designed to be
activated in response to a severe frontal impact.
When the sensor detects a severe frontal
impact, the front seat belts are quickly
drawn back by the retractors so that the
belts snugly restrain the occupants.
The front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner will not activate if no passenger is
detected in the front passenger seat by
the front passenger occupant classification
system. However, the front passenger’s
seat belt pretensioner may activate if luggage is put on the seat, or the seat belt
is buckled up regardless of the presence
of an occupant in the seat. (As for the
front passenger occupant classification
system, see “—Front passenger occupant
classification system” on page 81 in this
Section.)
The seat belt pretensioners and SRS airbags may not operate together in all collisions.
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The seat belt pretensioner system consists mainly of the following components
and their locations are shown in the illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS warning light
3. Front passenger occupant classification
system (ECU and sensors)
4. Seat belt pretensioner assemblies
5. Front passenger’s seat belt buckle
switch
6. Airbag sensor assembly
The seat belt pretensioners are controlled
by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag
sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and airbag sensor.
When the seat belt pretensioners are activated, an operating noise may be heard
and a small amount of non−toxic gas may
be released. This does not indicate that
a fire is occurring. This gas is normally
harmless.
Once the seat belt pretensioners have
been activated, the seat belt retractors
remain locked.
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open
the seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
airbag sensor or surrounding area or
wiring. Failure to follow these instructions may prevent the seat belt pretensioners from activating correctly,
cause sudden operation of the system
or disable the system, which could
result in death or serious injury. Consult your Toyota dealer about any repair and modification.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
seat belt pretensioners in some
cases.
z Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile two−way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
z Repairs on or near the front seat
belt retractor assemblies
z Modification of the suspension sys-
tem
z Modification of the front end struc-
ture
z Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
z Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure or console
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This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the “ON” position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the seat belt pretensioners are
operating properly.
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This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag sensors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt
buckle switch, front passenger occupant
classification system, “AIRBAG ON” indicator light, “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light,
front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch,
seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6.)
If any of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction of the airbags
or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
D When the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position, the light does not come
on, remains on for more than 6 seconds or flashes.
D The light comes on or starts flashing
while driving.
D If any seat belt does not retract or
cannot be pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the relevant seat
belt pretensioner.
D The seat belt pretensioner assembly or
surrounding area has been damaged.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
D The front of the vehicle (shaded in the
illustration) was involved in an accident
that was not severe enough to cause
the seat belt pretensioners to operate.
D Either seat belt pretensioner assembly
or surrounding area is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
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SRS airbags—
—SRS driver airbag and front
passenger airbag
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) front airbags are designed to provide further protection for the driver
and front passenger in addition to the
primary safety protection provided by
the seat belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact,
the SRS front airbags work together with
the seat belts to help reduce injury by
inflating. The SRS front airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or front
passenger’s head or chest caused by hitting the vehicle interior.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The front passenger airbag will not activate if there is no passenger sitting in the
front passenger seat. However, the front
passenger airbag may deploy if luggage is
put in the seat, or the seat belt is buckled
up regardless of the presence of the occupant in the seat. (As for the front passenger occupant classification system, see
“—Front passenger occupant classification
system” on page 81 in this Section.)
Always wear your seat belt properly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash
sensing and diagnostic module, which will
record the use of the seat belt restraint
system by the driver and front passenger
when the SRS front airbags are inflated.
CAUTION
D The SRS front airbag system is de-
signed only as a supplement to the
primary protection of the driver and
front passenger seat belt systems.
The driver and front passenger can
be killed or seriously injured by the
inflating airbags if they do not wear
the available seat belts properly.
During sudden braking just before
a collision, an unrestrained driver
or front passenger can move forward into direct contact with or
close proximity to the airbag which
may then deploy during the collision. To ensure maximum protection
in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle must
wear their seat belts properly. Wearing a seat belt properly during an
accident reduces the chances of
death or serious injury or being
thrown out of the vehicle. For instructions and precautions concerning the seat belt system, see “Seat
belts” on page 54 in this Section.
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D Improperly seated and/or restrained
infants and children can be killed
or seriously injured by the deploying airbags. An infant or child who
is too small to use a seat belt
should be properly secured using a
child restraint system. Toyota
strongly recommends that all infants and children be placed in the
rear seat of the vehicle and properly restrained. The rear seat is the
safest for infants and children. For
instructions concerning the installation of a child restraint system, see
“Child restraint” on page 85 in this
Section.
The SRS front airbags are designed to
deploy in severe (usually frontal) collisions where the magnitude and duration
of the forward deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the designed threshold
level.
The SRS front airbags will deploy if the
severity of the impact is above the designed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision
when the vehicles has the impact straight
into a fixed barrier that does not move or
deform.
However, this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or
sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an
underride collision (e.g. a collision in
which the front of the vehicle “underrides”,
or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
It is possible that in some collisions
where the forward deceleration of the vehicle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the
seat belt pretensioners may not activate
together.
Always wear your seat belts properly.
Collision from the rear
Collision from the side
Vehicle rollover
The SRS front airbags are generally not
designed to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a side or rear collision, if it
rolls over, or if it is involved in a low−
speed frontal collision. But, whenever a
collision of any type causes sufficient
forward deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the SRS front airbags may
occur.
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Hitting a curb,
edge of pavement
or hard surface
Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS front airbags may also deploy
if a serious impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples
are shown in the illustration.
Falling into or
jumping over a
deep hole
68
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The SRS front airbag system consists
mainly of the following components, and
their locations are shown in the illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS warning light
3. Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
4. “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator lights
5. Front passenger occupant classification
system (ECU and sensors)
6. Front passenger’s seat belt buckle
switch
7. Driver ’s seat belt buckle switch
8. Driver ’s seat position sensor
9. Airbag sensor assembly
10. Airbag module for driver
(airbag and inflator)
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.
The front airbag sensors constantly monitor the forward deceleration of the vehicle.
If an impact results in a forward deceleration beyond the designed threshold level,
the system triggers the airbag inflators. At
this time a chemical reaction in the inflators very quickly fills the airbags with
non−toxic gas to help restrain the forward
motion of the occupants. The front airbags
then quickly deflate, so that there is no
obstruction of the driver’s vision should it
be necessary to continue driving.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a
loud noise and release some smoke and
residue along with non−toxic gas. This
does not indicate a fire. This smoke may
remain inside the vehicle for some time,
and may cause some minor irritation to
the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to
wash off any residue as soon as possible
to prevent any potential skin irritation with
soap and water. If you can safely exit
from the vehicle, you should do so immediately.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Deployment of the airbags happens in a
fraction of a second, so the airbags must
inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious injuries, primarily to the head and chest, it
may also cause other, less severe injuries
to the face, chest, arms and hands. These
are usually in the nature of minor burns
or abrasions and swelling, but the force of
a deploying airbag can cause more serious injuries, especially if an occupant’s
hands, arms, chest or head is in close
proximity to the airbag module at the time
of deployment. This is why it is important
for the occupant to: avoid placing any
object or part of the body between the
occupant and the airbag module; sit
straight and well back into the seat; wear
the available seat belt properly; and sit as
far as possible from the airbag module,
while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel
hub, airbag cover and inflator) may be hot
for several minutes after deployment, so
do not touch! The airbags inflate only
once. The windshield may be damaged by
absorbing some of the force of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger who is
too close to the steering wheel or
dashboard during airbag deployment
can be killed or seriously injured.
Toyota strongly recommends that:
D The driver sit as far back as pos-
sible from the steering wheel while
still maintaining control of the vehicle.
D The front passenger sit as far back
as possible from the dashboard.
D All vehicle occupants be properly
restrained using the available seat
belts.
For instructions and precautions concerning the seating position, see
“—Front seat precautions” on page
36 in this Section.
D Do not sit on the edge of the seat
or lean against the dashboard when
the vehicle is in use, since the
front passenger airbag could inflate
with considerable speed and force.
Anyone who is up against, or very
close to, an airbag when it inflates,
can be killed or seriously injured.
Sit up straight and well back in the
seat, and always use your seat belt
properly.
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D Toyota strongly recommends that all
infants and children be placed in
the rear seat of the vehicle and be
properly restrained.
D Do not hold a child on your lap or
in your arms. Use a child restraint
system in the rear seat. For instructions concerning the installation of
a child restraint system, see “Child
restraint” on page 85 in this Section.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
D Do not put anything or any part of
your body on or in front of the
dashboard or steering wheel pad
that houses the front airbag system. They might restrict inflation or
cause death or serious injury as
they are projected rearward by the
force of the deploying airbags. Likewise, the driver and front passenger
should not hold objects in their
arms or on their knees.
D Do not modify or remove any wir-
ing. Do not modify, remove, strike
or open any components such as
the steering wheel pad, steering
wheel, column cover, dashboard
near the front passenger airbag,
front passenger airbag cover, front
passenger airbag or airbag sensor
assembly. Doing so may prevent the
front airbag system from activating
correctly, cause sudden activation
of the system or disable the system, which could result in death or
serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious injury.
Consult your Toyota dealer about any
repair and modification.
If you wish to modify your vehicle for
the handicapped, consult with your
Toyota dealer. It may dangerously interfere with the SRS front airbags operation.
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NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
SRS front airbag system in some
cases.
z Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile two−way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
z Modification of the suspension sys-
tem
z Modification of the front end struc-
ture
z Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
z Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure, console, steering column, steering
wheel or dashboard near the front
passenger airbag
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the “ON” position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS front airbags are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag sensors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt
buckle switch, front passenger occupant
classification system, “AIRBAG ON” indicator light, “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light,
front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch,
seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6.)
If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction of the airbags
or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
D When the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position, the light does not come
on, remains on for more than 6 seconds or flashes.
D The light comes on or starts flashing
while driving.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
If the light stays on, it indicates that the
SRS driver and front passenger airbag
system and/or front passenger occupant
classification system and “AIRBAG ON”
and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator lights have a
problem. If the light flashes, the SRS side
airbag system and/or curtain shield airbag
system have a problem.
The SRS warning light and “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light will come on if there is a
malfunction in the front passenger occupant classification system.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables
before contacting your Toyota dealer.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
D The SRS front airbags have been in-
flated.
D The front of the vehicle (shaded in the
illustration) was involved in an accident
that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS front airbags to inflate.
D The pad section of the steering wheel
or front passenger airbag cover
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
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—SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side airbags and curtain shield airbags are designed to provide further
protection for the driver, front passenger and second outside passengers in
addition to the primary safety protection provided by the seat belts.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
In response to a severe side impact, the
SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags work with the seat belts to help
reduce injury by inflating. The SRS side
airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the
driver ’s or front passenger’s chest and the
SRS curtain shield airbags help reduce
injuries mainly to the driver’s, front passenger’s or second outside passenger’s
head.
The SRS side airbag on the passenger
seat will not activate if there is no passenger sitting in the front passenger seat.
However, the side airbag on the passenger seat may deploy if luggage is put in
the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up
regardless of the presence of the occupant in the seat. (As for the front passenger occupant classification system, see
“—Front passenger occupant classification
system” on page 81 in this Section.)
The SRS curtain shield airbag on the passenger side are activated even with no
passenger in the front seat or second outside seat.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may activate even when the side airbags are not
activated.
Always wear your seat belt properly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash
sensing and diagnostic module, which will
record the use of the seat belt restraint
system by the driver and front passenger
when the SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags are inflated.
CAUTION
D The SRS side airbag and curtain
shield airbag system is designed
only as a supplement to the primary protection of the driver, and
front passenger and second outside
passenger seat belt systems. To ensure maximum protection in an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their
seat belts properly. Wearing a seat
belt properly during an accident reduces the chances of death or serious injury or being thrown out of
the vehicle. For instructions and
precautions concerning the seat
belt system, see “Seat belts” on
page 54 in this Section.
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D Do not allow anyone to lean his/her
head or any part of his/her body
against the door or the area of the
seat, pillar, rear pillar or roof side
rail from which the SRS side airbag
and curtain shield airbag deploy
even if he/she is a child seated in
the child restraint system. It is dangerous if the SRS side airbag and
curtain shield airbag inflate, and the
impact of the deploying airbag
could cause death or serious injury
to the occupant.
D Improperly seated and/or restrained
infants and children can be killed
or seriously injured by the deploying airbags. An infant or child who
is too small to use a seat belt
should be properly secured using a
child restraint system. Toyota
strongly recommends that all infants and children be placed in the
rear seats of the vehicle and properly restrained. The rear seats are
the safest for infants and children.
For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint system, see “Child restraint” on page
85 in this Section.
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield
airbag system may not activate if the
vehicle is subjected to a collision from
the side at certain angles, or a collision
to the side of the vehicle body other
than the passenger compartment as
shown in the illustration.
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield
airbags are designed to inflate when the
passenger compartment area suffers a severe impact from the side.
Always wear your seat belts properly.
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Collision from the rear
Collision from the front
Vehicle rollover
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield
airbags are not generally designed to
inflate if the vehicle is involved in a
front or rear collision, if it rolls over,
or if it is involved in a low−speed side
collision.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield
airbag system consists mainly of the following components, and their locations are
shown in the illustration.
1. SRS warning light
2. “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator lights
3. Curtain shield airbag modules
(airbag and inflator)
4. Front passenger occupant classification
system (ECU and sensors)
5. Side airbag modules
(airbag and inflator)
6. Curtain shield airbag sensors
7. Side and curtain shield airbag sensors
8. Front passenger’s seat belt buckle
switch
9. Airbag sensor assembly
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield
airbag system is controlled by the airbag
sensor assembly. The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
airbag sensor.
In a severe side impact, the side and
curtain shield airbag sensor and/or the
curtain shield airbag sensor trigger(s) the
side airbag inflators and/or the curtain
shield airbag inflators. At this time a
chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non−toxic gas to help
restrain the lateral motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a
fairly loud noise and release some smoke
and residue along with non−toxic gas. This
does not indicate a fire. This smoke may
remain inside the vehicle for some time,
and may cause some minor irritation to
the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to
wash off any residue as soon as possible
to prevent any potential skin irritation with
soap and water. If you can safely exit
from the vehicle, you should do so immediately.
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Deployment of the airbags happens in a
fraction of a second, so the airbags must
inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also cause minor burns or
abrasions and swelling.
Front seats as well as parts of the front
and rear pillars, and roof side rail may be
hot for several minutes, but the airbags
themselves will not be hot. The airbags
are designed to inflate only once.
CAUTION
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
SRS side airbags and curtain shield
airbags inflate with considerable
force. To reduce the possibility of
death or serious injury when they inflate, the driver, front passenger and
second outside passengers must:
D Wear their seat belts properly.
D Remain properly seated with their
backs upright and against the seats
at all times.
76
D Do not allow anyone to lean against
the door when the vehicle is in use,
since the side airbag and curtain
shield airbag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she may be killed or seriously injured. Special care should
be taken especially when you have
a small child in the vehicle.
D Sit up straight and well back in the
seat, distributing your weight evenly
in the seat. Do not apply excessive
weight to the outer side of the
seats with a side airbag, and to the
front pillar, rear pillar and roof side
rail with a curtain shield airbag.
D Do not allow anyone to get his/her
head closer to the area where the
side airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, since these airbags
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you have a small child
in the vehicle.
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D Do not allow anyone to kneel on
the passenger seat, facing the passenger’s side door, since the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you have a small child
in the vehicle.
D Do not allow anyone to get his/her
head or hands out of windows
since the curtain shield airbags
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you have a small child
in the vehicle.
D Do not attach a cup holder or any
other device or object on or around
the door. When the side airbag inflates, the cup holder or any other
device or object will be thrown with
great force or the side airbag may
not activate correctly, resulting in
death or serious injury. Likewise,
the driver and front passenger
should not hold objects in their
arms or on their knees.
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D Do not attach a microphone or any
other device or object around the
area where the curtain shield airbag
activates such as on the windshield
glass, side door glass, front and
rear pillars, roof side rail and assist
grips. When the curtain shield airbag inflates, the microphone or other device or object will be thrown
away with great force or the curtain
shield airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death or serious
injury.
D Do not hook a hanger, heavy or
sharp pointed objects on the coat
hook. If the curtain shield airbag
inflates, those items will be thrown
away with great force or the curtain
shield airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death or serious
injury. When you hang clothes,
hang them on the coat hook directly.
D Do not use seat accessories which
cover the parts where the side airbags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly, causing death or
serious injury.
D Do not modify or replace the seats
or upholstery of the seats with side
airbags. Such changes may prevent
the side airbag system from activating correctly, disable the system or
cause the side airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
D Do not disassemble or repair the
front and rear pillars and roof side
rails containing the curtain shield
airbags. Such changes may disable
the system or cause the curtain
shield airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious injury.
Consult your Toyota dealer about any
repair and modification.
If you wish to modify your vehicle for
the handicapped, consult with your
Toyota dealer. It may dangerously interfere with the SRS side airbags and
curtain shield airbags operation.
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NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
SRS side airbag and curtain shield
airbag system in some cases.
z Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile two−way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
z Modification of the suspension sys-
tem
z Modification of the side structure of
the passenger compartment
z Repairs made on or near the con-
sole or front seat
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the “ON” position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag sensors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt
buckle switch, front passenger occupant
classification system, “AIRBAG ON” indicator light, “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light,
front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch,
seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6.)
If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction of the airbags
or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
D When the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position, the light does not come
on, remains on for more than 6 seconds or flashes.
D The light comes on or starts flashing
while driving.
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If the light stays on, it indicates that the
SRS driver and front passenger airbag
system and/or front passenger occupant
classification system and “AIRBAG ON”
and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator lights have a
problem. If the light flashes, the SRS side
airbag system and/or curtain shield airbag
system have a problem.
The SRS warning light and “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light will come on if there is a
malfunction in the front passenger occupant classification system.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
D Any of the SRS side airbags and cur-
tain shield airbags have been inflated.
D The portion of the doors (shaded in the
illustration) was involved in an accident
that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags to inflate.
D The surface of the seats with the side
airbag (shaded in the illustration) is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
D The portion of the front pillars, rear
pillars or roof side rail garnishes (padding) containing the curtain shield airbags inside (shaded in the illustration)
is scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables
before contacting your Toyota dealer.
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—Front passenger occupant
classification system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front
passenger occupant classification system. This system detects the conditions
1—4 in the table on page 83 and based
on these conditions activates or deactivates front passenger airbags. The system monitors the weight and load on
the front passenger seat, and the seat
belt buckle switch to determine conditions 1—4. In order for the system to
detect the conditions correctly, do not
do any of the following.
D Put a heavy load in the front passen-
ger seat.
D Attach a seatback table to the front
passenger seat seatback.
D Put weight on the front passenger by
putting your hands or feet on the front
passenger seat seatback from the rear
passenger seat.
’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
The “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator lights indicate the actuation of
the front passenger airbag, side airbag
on the front passenger seat and front
passenger’s seat belt pretensioner.
The “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light will be
illuminated when the ignition switch is in
the “ON” position with the condition 2 in
the table shown below.
If the front passenger occupant classification system determines that a person of
adult size sits in the front passenger seat
but the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, one of the following is likely
to have occurred:
D A rear passenger lifts the front passen-
ger seat cushion with their legs.
D Objects are placed under the front pas-
senger seat.
D The front passenger seatback is in
contact with the second seat.
To ensure the system correctly detects an
adult sitting in the front passenger seat,
make sure the above do not occur.
Make sure that the “AIRBAG ON” indicator
light is illuminated when an adult is
seated in the front passenger seat. If the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, ask the passenger to sit up straight,
well back in the seat, and with the seat
belt worn correctly. If the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light still remains illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the
rear seat, or if that is not possible, move
the front passenger seat fully rearward.
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The “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator lights will be illuminated initially when the ignition key is turned to
the “ON” position. After about 4 seconds, they will go off. After that, the
front passenger occupant classification
system operates and judges which indicator light be illuminated.
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The SRS warning light and “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light will come on if
there is a malfunction in the front passenger occupant classification system.
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’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification system
Indicator/warning light Devices
Condition detected
by the front
passenger occupant
classification system
∗
1. Adult
2. Child
1
∗
2
or child
restraint system
“AIRBAG ON” and
“AIRBAG OFF”
indicator lights
SRS warning
light
“AIRBAG ON” Off Flashing
“AIRBAG OFF” Off Flashing
∗
3
Front
passenger’s
seat belt
reminder light
∗
4
∗
4
Front
passenger
airbag
Deactivated
Side airbag
on the front
passenger
seat
3. Unoccupied Not illuminated Off Off Deactivated Deactivated
4. There is a
malfunction in the
“AIRBAG OFF” On Off Deactivated Activated
system
∗
1
: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may
recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and posture.
∗
2
: When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her
as an adult depending on his/her physique or posture.
∗
3
: Never install a rear−facing child restraint system on the front passenger seat. A forward−facing child restraint system should only be
installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable. (See “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Section as for installing the
child restraint system.)
∗
4
:
In the event that the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.
Curtain shield
airbag in the
passenger
Activated
Activated
front
side
Front
passenger’s
seat belt
pretensioner
Activated
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CAUTION
To avoid potential death or serious
injury when the front passenger occupant classification system does not
detect the conditions correctly, observe the following.
D Do not recline the front passenger
seat seatback so that it interferes
with a second seat as it may cause
the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light
be illuminated. If the seatback interferes with the second seat, return
the seatback to a position where it
does not interfere with the second
seat.
Avoid reclining the front passenger
seat seatback too much while the
vehicle is moving, as it lessens the
effectiveness of the seat belt.
D Make sure the “AIRBAG ON” indica-
tor light is illuminated when using
the seat belt extender for the front
passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated,
disconnect the extender tongue
from the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect
the seat belt extender after making
sure the “AIRBAG ON” indicator
light is illuminated. If you use the
seat belt extender while the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, the front passenger airbag
and side airbag on the front passenger side may not activate correctly, which could cause death or
serious injury in the event of collision.
D If an adult sits in the front
passenger seat, the “AIRBAG ON”
indicator light should be illuminated. If the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated, ask
the passenger to sit up straight,
well back in the seat, feet on the
floor, and with the seat belt worn
correctly. If the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light still remains illuminated, either ask the passenger to
move to the rear seat, or if that is
not possible, move the front
passenger seat fully rearward.
D Wear the seat belt properly.
D Make sure the front passenger’s
seat belt tab has not been left inserted into the buckle before someone sits in the front passenger
seat.
D Do not put a heavy load in the
front passenger seatback pocket or
attach a seatback table to the front
passenger seat seatback.
D Do not let a rear passenger lift the
front passenger seat with their feet
or press on the seatback with their
legs.
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D Do not put objects under the front
passenger seat.
D Child restraint systems installed on
the second seat should not contact
the front seatbacks.
The “AIRBAG ON” indicator light may be
illuminated (the front passenger airbag and
side airbag on the front passenger seat
may deploy) even if observing the above
cautions, when a child sits in, or a forward−facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat. Refer to all the cautions in “SRS airbags” on
page 66 and “Child restraint” on page 85
in this Section.
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Child restraint—
—Child restraint precautions
Toyota strongly urges the use of appropriate child restraint systems for
children.
The laws of all 50 states in the U.S.A.
and Canada now require the use of a
child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAEJ1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. See “Seat belts” on
page 54 in this Section for details.
CAUTION
D For effective protection in automo-
bile accidents and sudden stops, a
child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint
system depending on the age and
size of the child. Holding a child in
your arms is not a substitute for a
child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be crushed
against the windshield, or between
you and the vehicle’s interior.
D Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system which
conforms to the size of the child,
installed on the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the child
is safer when properly restrained in
the rear seat than in the front seat.
D Never install a rear−facing child re-
straint system on the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated. In the
event of an accident, the force of
the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag can cause death or
serious injury to the child if the
rear−facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger
seat.
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D A forward−facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to be
installed on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable.
Always move the seat as far back
as possible even if the “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated,
because the front passenger airbag
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, the
child may be killed or seriously injured.
D On vehicles with side airbags and
curtain shield airbags, do not allow
the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the
door or the area of the seat, front
or rear pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain
shield airbags deploy even if the
child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact could cause
death or serious injury to the child.
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D Do not use the seat belt extender
when installing a child restraint
system on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system with the seat belt
extender connected to the seat belt,
the seat belt will not securely hold
the child restraint system, which
could cause death or serious injury
to the child or other passengers in
the event of collision.
D Make sure that you have complied
with all installation instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is
properly secured. If it is not secured properly, it may cause death
or serious injury to the child in the
event of a sudden stop or accident.
—Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small
child or baby must itself be properly
restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must
carefully consult the manufacturer’s instructions which accompany the child
restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child
restraint system following the manufacturer’s instructions about the appropriate age
and size of the child for the child restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer. General directions are also
provided under the following illustrations.
The child restraint system should be
installed on the rear seat. According to
accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than
in the front seat.
When not using the child restraint system,
keep it secured with the seat belt or place
it somewhere other than the passenger
compartment. This will prevent it from injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
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—Types of child restraint
system
Child restraint systems are classified into
the following 3 types depending on the
child’s age and size.
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
Install the child restraint system following
the instructions provided by its manufacturer.
Your vehicle has anchor brackets for securing the top strap of a child restraint
system.
For instructions about how to use the anchor bracket, see “—Using a top strap” on
page 99 in this Section.
The child restraint lower anchorages approved for your vehicle may also be used.
See “—Installation with child restraint lower anchorages” on page 101 in this Section.
(A) Infant seat
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(C) Booster seat
(B) Convertible seat
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—Installation with seat belt
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(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An infant seat must be used in rear−
facing position only.
88
CAUTION
D Never install a rear−facing child re-
straint system on the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated. In the
event of an accident, the impact of
the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag could cause death or
serious injury to the child if the
rear−facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger
seat.
D Do not install a child restraint sys-
tem on the second (or third) seat if
it interferes with the lock mechanism of the front (or second) seats.
Otherwise, the child or front (or
second) seat occupant(s) may be
killed or seriously injured in case
of sudden braking or a collision.
D If the driver’s seat position does
not allow sufficient space for safe
installation, install the child restraint system on the right second
seat.
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Same angle Same position
D When installing a child restraint
system in the second seat center
position, adjust both seat cushions
to the same position and align both
seatbacks at the same angle. Otherwise, the child restraint system cannot be securely restrained and this
may cause death or serious injuries
in a collision.
1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through
or around the infant seat following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer and insert the tab into the buckle
taking care not to twist the belt. Keep
the lap portion of the belt tight.
CAUTION
D After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent your
child from properly latching the tab
and buckle.
D If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from death or serious injury.
Contact your Toyota dealer immediately. Do not install the child
restraint system on the seat until
the seat belt is fixed.
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2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it
in the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted even slightly, it cannot
be extended.
To hold the infant seat securely, make
sure the belt is in the lock mode before
letting the belt retract.
90
3. While pressing the infant seat firmly
against the seat cushion and seatback,
let the shoulder belt retract as far as
it will go to hold the infant seat securely.
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
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Page 91
4. To remove the infant seat, press the
buckle release button and allow the
belt to retract completely. The belt will
move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or older child passenger.
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(B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLATION
A convertible seat must be used in forward−facing or rear−facing position depending on the age and size of the
child. When installing, follow the
manufacturer ’s instructions about the
applicable age and size of the child as
well as directions for installing the
child restraint system.
Install the child restraint system on the
front passenger seat only when it is unavoidable. Your vehicle is equipped with a
front passenger occupant classification
system. In order to activate the occupant
classification system correctly, install the
forward−facing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat in the following
order:
1. Turn the ignition key to the “ON” position.
2. Move the front passenger seat to the
rearward position.
3. Put the child restraint system on the
front passenger seat without putting
your weight on the front passenger
seat.
4. Insert the seat belt tab into the seat
belt buckle.
5. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it
in the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted even slightly, it cannot
be extended. To hold the seat securely,
make sure the belt is in the lock mode
before letting the belt retract.
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6. While pressing the convertible seat
firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, let the shoulder belt retract
as far as it will go to hold the convertible seat securely.
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
7. Put a child on the child restraint system and secure the child, complying
with the instructions provided by the
child restraint system manufacturer.
The “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light should
be illuminated when the ignition key is
“ON” and the child is in the child restraint
system after following these procedures.
The “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light indicates the SRS front passenger airbag and
side airbag on the passenger side will not
deploy. If the “AIRBAG ON” indicator light
is illuminated, remove the child restraint
system and reinstall it with the ignition
key in the “ACC” or “LOCK” position. If
the “AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated when the ignition key is turned to
the “ON” position, then the SRS front passenger airbag and side airbag on the passenger side may deploy in an accident.
Do not drive the vehicle in this condition.
Remove the child restraint system and
contact your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
D Never install a rear−facing child re-
straint system on the front passenger seat. A forward−facing child restraint system should only be
installed on the front passenger
seat when unavoidable. If you must
install the child restraint system on
the front passenger seat, put the
seat in its most rearward position,
and install the forward−facing child
restraint system in the proper order. Otherwise, the front passenger
occupant classification system can
not detect the presence of the child
restraint system and the front passenger airbag and side airbag on
the front passenger seat could
deploy.
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Move seat
fully back
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D On vehicles with side airbags and
curtain shield airbags, do not allow
the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the
door or the area of the seat, front
or rear pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain
shield airbags deploy even if the
child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact could cause
death or serious injury to the child.
D Never install a rear−facing child re-
straint system on the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated. In the
event of an accident, the impact of
the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag could cause death or
serious injury to the child if the
rear−facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger
seat.
D A forward−facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to be
installed on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable.
Always move the seat as far back
as possible even if the “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated,
because the front passenger airbag
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, the
child may be killed or seriously injured.
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Same angle
Same position
D Do not install a child restraint sys-
tem on the second (or third) seat if
it interferes with the lock mechanism of the front (or second) seats.
Otherwise, the child or front (or
second) seat occupant(s) may be
killed or seriously injured in case
of sudden braking or a collision.
D If the driver’s seat position does
not allow sufficient space for safe
installation, install the child restraint system on the right second
seat.
94
D When installing a child restraint
system in the second seat center
position, adjust both seat cushions
to the same position and align both
seatbacks at the same angle. Otherwise, the child restraint system cannot be securely restrained and this
may cause death or serious injuries
in a collision.
1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through
or around the convertible seat following
the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the
belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt
tight.
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
Page 95
CAUTION
D After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent your
child from properly latching the tab
and buckle.
D If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from death or serious injury.
Contact your Toyota dealer immediately. Do not install the child
restraint system on the seat until
the seat belt is fixed.
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2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it
in the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted even slightly, it cannot
be extended.
To hold the convertible seat securely,
make sure the belt is in the lock mode
before letting the belt retract.
3. While pressing the convertible seat
firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, let the shoulder belt retract
as far as it will go to hold the convertible seat securely.
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CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
96
4. To remove the convertible seat, press
the buckle release button and allow the
belt to retract completely. The belt will
move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or older child passenger.
(C) BOOSTER SEAT INSTALLATION
A booster seat must be used in forward−facing position only.
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Move seat
fully back
CAUTION
D A forward−facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to be
installed on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable.
Always move the seat as far back
as possible even if the “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated,
because the front passenger airbag
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, the
child may be killed or seriously injured.
D On vehicles with side airbags and
curtain shield airbags, do not allow
the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the
door or the area of the seat, front
or rear pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain
shield airbags deploy even if the
child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact could cause
death or serious injury to the child.
Same angle
Same position
D When installing a child restraint
system in the second seat center
position, adjust both seat cushions
to the same position and align both
seatbacks at the same angle. Otherwise, the child restraint system cannot be securely restrained and this
may cause death or serious injuries
in a collision.
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1. Sit the child on a booster seat. Run
the lap and shoulder belt through or
around the booster seat and across the
child following the instructions provided
by its manufacturer and insert the tab
into the buckle taking care not to twist
the belt.
Make sure the shoulder belt is correctly
across the child’s shoulder and that the
lap belt is positioned as low as possible
on child’s hips. See “Seat belts” on page
54 in this Section for details.
CAUTION
D Always make sure the shoulder belt
is positioned across the center of
child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from child’s neck, but
not falling off child’s shoulder.
Otherwise, the child may be killed
or seriously injured in case of sudden braking or a collision.
D Both high−positioned lap belts and
loose−fitting belts could cause
death or serious injuries due to
sliding under the lap belt during a
collision or other unintended event.
Keep the lap belt positioned as low
on a child’s hips as possible.
D For child’s safety, do not place the
shoulder belt under child’s arm.
D After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
D Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent your
child from properly latching the tab
and buckle.
D If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from death or serious injury.
Contact your Toyota dealer immediately. Do not install the child
restraint system on the seat until
the seat belt is fixed.
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—Using a top strap
Anchor brackets
Symbol
2. To remove the child restraint system,
press the buckle release button and
allow the belt to retract.
Follow the procedure below for a child
restraint system that requires the use
of a top strap.
Use the anchor brackets behind the second seat seatbacks to secure the top
strap.
Anchor brackets are installed for each
seating position of the second seat.
This symbol indicates the locations of
user ready anchor brackets.
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TO USE THE ANCHOR BRACKET:
1. Remove the head restraint.
100
2. Open the anchor bracket cover with
the symbol as shown in the illustration.
3. Fix the child restraint system with
the seat belt.
Latch the hook onto the anchor
bracket and tighten the top strap.
For instructions to install the child restraint system, see “Child restraint” on
page 85 in this Section.
CAUTION
Make sure the top strap is securely
latched, and check that the child restraint system is secure by pushing
and pulling it in different directions.
Follow all the installation instructions
provided by its manufacturer.
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
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