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2020 Toyota Highlander Owners Manual - Driving tips



Owner’s Manuals 2020 Driving tips

Driving tips

Winter driving tips

Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions.

Preparation for winter

 

  • Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside temperatures.
  •  Engine oil
  •  Engine coolant
  •  Washer fluid
  • Have a service technician inspect the condition of the battery.
  •  Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire chains for the front tires.

Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match the size of the tires.

Before driving the vehicle

 

Perform the following according to the driving conditions:

  •  do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen.

    Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe away the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.

  •  To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan, remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in front of the windshield.
  •  Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on the exterior lights, vehicle's roof, chassis, around the tires or on the brakes.
  •  Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before getting in the vehicle.

When driving the vehicle

 

Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead, and drive at a reduced speed suitable to road conditions.

When parking the vehicle

 

Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to p without setting the parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from being released. If necessary, block the wheels to prevent inadvertent sliding or creeping.

Selecting tire chains

 

Use the correct tire chain size when mounting the snow chains.

Chain size is regulated for each tire size.

Side chain:

  1. 0.12 In. (3 Mm) in diameter
  2. 0.39 In. (10 Mm) in width
  3. 1.18 In. (30 Mm) in length

Cross chain:

  1. 0.16 In. (4 Mm) in diameter
  2. 0.55 In. (14 Mm) in width
  3. 0.98 In. (25 Mm) in length

Toyota Highlander. Selecting tire chains

 

Regulations on the use of tire chains

 

Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on location and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing chains.

Tire chain installation

 

Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains:

  • install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
  • Install tire chains on the front tires. Do not install tire chains on the rear tires.
  • Install tire chains on front tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after driving 1/4 „o 1/2 mile (0.5 „O 1.0 Km).
  • Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.
Warning

 


Driving with snow tires

 

Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failure to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause death or serious injury.

  • Use tires of the size specified.
  • Maintain the recommended level of air pressure.
  • Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h), regardless of the type of snow tires being used.
  • Use snow tires on all, not just some wheels.

Driving with tire chains

 

Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being unable to be driven safely, and may cause death or serious injury.

  • Do not drive in excess of the speed limit specified for the tire chains being used, or 30 mph (50 km/h), whichever is lower.
  • Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.
  • Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt steering, sudden braking and shifting operations that cause sudden engine braking.
  • Slow down sufficiently before entering a curve to ensure that vehicle control is maintained.
  • Vehicles with lda (lane departure alert) system: do not use lda (lane departure alert) system.

 

Notice

 


Repairing or replacing snow tires

 

Request repairs or replacement of snow tires from toyota dealers or legitimate tire retailers.

This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the operation of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.

Fitting tire chains

 

The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly when tire chains are fitted.

Utility vehicle precautions

This vehicle belongs to the utility vehicle class, which has higher ground clearance and narrower tread in relation to the height of its center of gravity.

Utility vehicle feature

  • Specific design characteristics give it a higher center of gravity than ordinary passenger cars. This vehicle design feature causes this type of vehicle to be more likely to rollover. And, utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
  •  An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the road allowing you to anticipate problems.
  •  It is not designed for cornering at the same speeds as ordinary passenger cars any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. Therefore, sharp turns at excessive speeds may cause the vehicle to rollover.
Warning

 


Utility vehicle precautions

 

Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury or damage to your vehicle:

  • in a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers should fasten their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving.
  • Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, if at all possible.

    Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury.

  • Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped) will make the center of the vehicle gravity higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover due to failure to operate this vehicle correctly.
  • Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. Because of its profile and higher center of gravity, your vehicle is more sensitive to side winds than an ordinary passenger car. Slowing down will allow you to have better control.
  • Do not drive horizontally across steep slopes. Driving straight up or straight down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any similar off-road vehicle) can tip over sideways much more easily than forward or backward.

Off-road driving

Your vehicle is not designed to be driven off-road. However, in the event that off-road driving cannot be avoided, please observe the following precautions to help avoid the areas prohibited to vehicles.

  •  Drive your vehicle only in areas where off-road vehicles are permitted to travel.
  •  Respect private property. Get owner's permission before entering private property.
  •  Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers and signs that restrict travel.
  •  Stay on established roads. When conditions are wet, driving techniques should be changed or travel delayed to prevent damage to roads.
  •  Avoid driving on very steep, slippery roads and other surfaces, such as sand, where the tires are liable to lose traction. Your vehicle may not perform as well as conventional awd on-road vehicles on these surfaces.

Additional information for off-road driving

 

  • For owners in u.S. Mainland, hawaII and puerto rico:

To obtain additional information pertaining to driving your vehicle off-road, consult the following organizations.

  • State and local parks and recreation departments
  • state motor vehicle bureau
  • recreational vehicle clubs
  • U.S. Forest service and bureau of land management
Warning

 


Off-road driving precautions

 

Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury or damage to your vehicle:

  • drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous places.
  • Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and especially your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
  • Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand, mud, water or snow.
  • After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., Check that there is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. Adhering or trapped on the underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown or fire could occur.
  • When driving off-road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive damage to your vehicle's suspension and chassis.

To prevent water damage

 

Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the engine or other components does not occur.

  • Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe engine damage.
  • Water entering the automatic transmission will cause deterioration in shift quality, locking up of your transmission accompanied by vibration, and ultimately damage.
  • Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature failure, and may also enter the differentials, transmission and transfer case, reducing the gear oil's lubricating qualities.

When you drive through water

 

If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check the depth of the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and avoid deep water.

Inspection after off-road driving

 

  • Sand and mud that has accumulated in brake drums and around brake discs may affect braking efficiency and may damage brake system components.
  • Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off-road driving that has taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance information, refer to the "scheduled maintenance guide" or "owner's manual supplement".
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