engine TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2021 (in English) Manual PDF
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2164-2. Driving procedures
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If  the engine is stopped with the shift lever in a position other than P,
the engine switch will not be turn ed off but instead be turned to ACC.
Perform the following procedure to turn the switch off:
Check that the park ing brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “Turn Power OFF” is displayed on the multi-informati on
display and then press the engine switch once.
Check that “Turn Power OFF” on the multi-information display is  off.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACC for more than 20 minutes or ON (the engine is not
running) for more than an hour with the shift lever in P, the e ngine switch will
automatically  turn  off.  However,  this  function  cannot  entirely  prevent  battery
discharge. Do  not leave  the  vehicle with the engine  switch in ACC or ON  for
long periods of time when the engine is not running.
■ Automatic engine shut off feature
●The  vehicle  is  equipped  with  a  feature  that  automatically  shuts  off the
engine  when  the  shift  lever  is  in  P  with  the  engine  running  for   an  extended
period.
● The  engine  will  automatically  shut  off  after  approximately  1  hour  if  it  has
been left running while the shift lever is in P.
● The  timer  for  the  automatic  engine  shut  off  feature  will  reset  if  the  brake
pedal is depressed or if the shift lever is in a position other  than P.
● After  the  vehicle  is  parked,  if  the  door  is  locked  with  the  door  lock  switch
(P. 118) from the inside or the mechanical key (P. 507) from the outside,
the automatic engine shut off feature will be disabled. The tim er for the auto-
matic  engine  shut  off  feature  will  be  re-enabled  if  the  driver’ s  door  is
opened.
■ Electronic key battery depletion
P. 110
■ Conditions affecting operation
P. 131
■ Note for the entry function
P. 132
When stopping the engine with the  shift lever in a position other
than P
1
2
3
4 
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If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. ( P. 82)
Contact your Toyota dealer.
● Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The engine may not start if the
shift lever is displaced out of P. “Shift to P Position” will b e displayed on the
multi-information display.
■ Steering lock
After  turning  the  engine  switch  off  and  opening  and  closing  the   doors,  the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
engine switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
■ When the steering  lock cannot be released
■ Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To  prevent  the  steering  lock  motor  from  overheating,  operation  of  the  motor
may  be  suspended  if  the  engine  is  turned  on  and  off  repeatedly  in  a  short
period  of  time.  In  this  case,  refrain  from  running  the  engine.  After  about
10 seconds, the steering lock motor will resume functioning.
■ When  “Smart  Entry  &  Start  System   Check”  is  displayed  on  the  multi-
information display
The  system  may  be  malfunctioning.  Have  the  vehicle  inspected  by  your
Toyota dealer  immediately.
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 446
■ Operation of the engine switch
●If  the  switch  is  not  pressed  shortly  and  firmly,  the  engine  swi tch  mode  may
not change or the engine may not start.
● If  attempting  to  restart  the  engine  immediately  after  turning  t he  engine
switch off, the engine may not start in some cases. After turni ng the engine
switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the eng ine.
■ If the smart key system has been d eactivated by a customized setting
P. 507 A message will be displayed on the multi-
information display. 
Check that the shift lever is in P. Press the
engine  switch  while  turning  the  steering
wheel left and right. 
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2184-2. Driving procedures
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WARNING
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do  not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumsta nces. 
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious in jury.
■ Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lo ck or open the
doors  until  the  vehicle  reaches  a  safe  and  complete  stop.  Other wise,  the
steering  lock  function  will  activate  and  this  may  lead  to  an  ac cident,  result-
ing in death or serious injury.
■ Stopping the engine in an emergency
If  you  want  to  stop  the  engine  in  an  emergency  while  driving  th e  vehicle,
press and hold the engine switch for more than 2 seconds, or pr ess it briefly
3 times or more in succession. ( P. 461)
However,  do  not  touch  the  engine  switch  while  driving  except  in   an  emer-
gency. Turning the engine off while driving will not cause loss of steering or
braking  control,  however,  power  assist  to  the  steering  will  be  lost. This  will
make it more difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull ov er and stop the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
■ When parking
Exhaust  gases  include  harmful  carbon  monoxide  (CO),  which  is  colorless
and odorless. Observe the following precautions.
Failure  to  do  so  may  cause  exhaust  gases  to  enter  the  vehicle  a nd  may
lead to an accident caused by light-headedness, or may lead to  death or a
serious health hazard.
● If  the  vehicle  is  in  a  poorly  ventilated  area  or  a  closed  area,  such  as  a
garage, stop the engine.
● Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long tim e. If such a
situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space  and ensure
that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
● Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up,  or where it
is  snowing.  If  snowbanks  build  up  around  the  vehicle  while  the  engine  is
running, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. 
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NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
● Do not leave the engine switch in ACC or ON for long periods of time with-
out the engine running.
● If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the multi-infor mation
display while the engine is not running, the engine switch is n ot off. Exit the
vehicle after turning the engine switch off.
● Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position ot her than P. If
the engine is stopped in another shift lever position, the engi ne switch will
not be turned off but instead be turned to ACC. If the vehicle  is left in ACC,
battery discharge may occur.
■ When starting the engine
● Do not race a cold engine.
● If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently,  have your vehi-
cle checked by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■ Symptoms indicating a malf unction with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operating somewhat differently  than usual,
such  as  the  switch  sticking  slightly,  there  may  be  a  malfunctio n.  Contact
your Toyota dealer immediately. 
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2204-2. Driving procedures
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Automatic transmission
While the engine switch is in ON, move the shift lever with the
brake pedal depressed.
When  shifting  the  shift  lever  between  P  and  D,  make  sure  that  the
vehicle is completely stopped.
*1: To  improve  fuel  efficiency  and  reduce  noises,  set  the  shift  le ver  in  the  D
position for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit  of the possible
gear  ranges,  controls  engine  braking  forces,  and  prevents  unnec essary
upshifting
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P. 221) 
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When  the  shift  lever  is  in  the  S  position,  the  shift  lever  can be  oper-
ated as follows:
Upshifting
Downshifting
The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 5 or  4 accord-
ing to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be s et to 3 if
AI-SHIFT  has  operated  while  the  shift  lever  was  in  the  D  positi on.
(  P. 222)
■Shift ranges and their functions
● Automatically selecting gears between 1 and 6 according to vehi cle
speed  and  driving  conditions.  But,  the  gear  is  limited  accordin g  to
selected shift range.
● You can choose from 6 leve ls of engine braking force.
● A lower shift range will provide greater engine braking force t han a
higher shift range, and the engine speed will also increase.
Changing shift ranges in S mode 
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2224-2. Driving procedures
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Use  “TOW/HAUL”  mode  when  pulling  a  trailer  or  hauling  a  heavy
load.
Press the “TOW/HAUL” switch. 
The indicator will come on.
Press the switch once more to can-
cel the mode.
■S mode
When the shift range is 3 or lower, holding the shift lever tow ard “+” sets the
shift range to 5.
■ AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT  automatically  selects  the  optimal  gear  according  to  driver  perfor-
mance and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT  automatically  operates  when  the  shift  lever  is  in  the  D  position.
(Shifting the shift lever to the S position cancels the functio n.)
The engine speed may remain high after releasing the accelerato r pedal. This
does not indicate a malfunction.
■ When driving with dynamic r adar cruise control system
Engine braking will not occur in S mode, even when downshifting  to 5 or 4.
( P. 276)
■ Shift lock system
The shift lock  system is a system to prevent accidental operation of the shift
lever in starting.
The  shift  lever  can  be  shifted  from  P  only  when  the  engine  swit ch is in ON
and the brake pedal is being depressed.
“TOW/HAUL” switch (with towing package) 
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If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brake pedal is being depressed. 
If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your foot on the brak e pedal, there may
be  a  problem  with  the  shift  lock  system.  Have  the  vehicle  inspected  by  your
Toyota dealer immediately.
The  following  steps  may  be  used  as  an  emergency  measure  to  ensu re  that
the shift lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake.
Turn the engine switch to OFF. 
Depress the brake pedal.
Pry  the  cover  up  with  a  flathead  screw-
driver or equivalent tool.
To  prevent  damage  to  the  cover,  cover
the tip of the screwdriver with a rag.
Press the shift lock override button.
The  shift  lever  can  be  shifted  while  the
button is pressed.
1
2
3
4
5 
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Turn signal lever
The lever will return to its original position after operation.
Right turn
Lane change to the right (move
the  lever  partway  and  release
it)
The  right  hand  signals  will  flash  3
times.
Lane  change  to  the  left  (move
the  lever  partway  and  release
it)
The  left  hand  signals  will  flash  3
times.
Left turn
■ Turn signals can be operated when
The engine switch is in ON.
■ If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check  that  a  light  bulb  in  the  front  or  rear  turn  signal  lights   has  not  burned
out.
Operating instructions 
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2274-3. Operating the lights and wipers
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Headlight switch
Operating the   switch turn s on the lights as follows:
For U.S.A.
The  headlights,  daytime
running  lights  ( P.   2 2 9 )
and  all  the  lights  listed
below  turn  on  and  off
automatically.  (When  the
engine switch is in ON)
The  side  marker,  park-
ing,  tail,  license  plate,
instrument  panel  lights,
and  daytime  running
lights ( P. 229) turn on.
The  headlights  and  all
lights  listed  above
(except  daytime  run-
ning lights) turn on.
The daytime running lights turn off.
The headlights can be operated  manually or automatically. 
Operating instructions