service TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2003 XU20 / 1.G Owners Manual

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
i2003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
Foreword
Welcome to the growing group of valueconscious people who drive Toyotas. We are proud of the advanced engineering and
quality construction of each vehicle we build.
This Owner ’s Manual explains the operation of your new Toyota. Please read it thoroughly and have all the occupants
follow the instructions carefully. Doing so will help you enjoy many years of safe and troublefree motoring. For
important information about this manual and your Toyota, read the following pages carefully.
When it comes to service, remember that your Toyota dealer knows your vehicle best and is interested in your complete
satisfaction. He will provide quality maintenance and any other assistance you may require.
If there is not a Toyota dealer near you, or you need emergency assistance for any reason, please call the following number:
U.S. OWNERS:Toyota Customer Assistance Center Tollfree: 18003314331
CANADIAN OWNERS:Toyota Canada Customer Interaction Centre Tollfree: 1888TOYOTA8 (18888696828)
Please leave this Owner ’s Manual in this vehicle at the time of resale. The next owner will need this information also.
All information and specifications in this manual are current at the time of printing. However, because of Toyota’s policy of
continual product improvement, we reserve the right to make changes at any time without notice.
Please note that this manual applies to all models and explains all equipment, including options. Therefore, you may
find some explanations for equipment not installed on your vehicle.
©2002 TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, without the written permission of Toyo ta
Motor Corporation.

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
iv2003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
Spark ignition system of your
To y o t a
The spark ignition system in your Toyota meets all require-
ments of the Canadian InterferenceCausing Equipment
Standard.
Installation of a mobiletwoway radio system
As the installation of a mobile twoway radio system in
your vehicle could affect electronic systems such as multi-
port fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection
system, cruise control system, antilock brake system,
traction control system, vehicle skid control system, SRS
airbag system and seat belt pretensioner system, be sure
to check with your Toyota dealer for precautionary mea-
sures or special instructions regarding installation.
Scrapping of your Toyota
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your
Toyota contain explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is
scrapped with the airbags and pretensioners left as they
are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be sure to
have the systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt preten-
sioner removed and disposed of by the qualified service
shop or by your Toyota dealer before you dispose of your
vehicle.

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
82003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
1. Tachometer
2. Service reminder indicators and
indicator lights
3. Speedometer 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
Instrument cluster overview

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
102003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
∗
1: For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers” on page 105 in Section 15.
∗2: If this light flashes, see “Cruise control” on page 125 in
Section 16. Cruise control indicator light
∗
2
Overdriveoff indicator light
Slip indicator light
Headlight high beam indicator light
Turn signal indicator lights
Automatic transmission indicator lights
Snow mode indicator light

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
512003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the seat belt extender is not
twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your
child from injury.
The driver and front passenger ’s seat
belt pretensioners are designed to be
activated in response to a severe fron-
tal impact.
When the airbag sensor detects the shock
of a severe frontal impact, the front seat
belts are quickly drawn back in by the
retractors so that the belts snugly restrain
the front seat occupants.
The front seat belt pretensioners are acti-
vated even with no passenger in the front
seat.
Collisions occurring at certain s peeds and
angles may cause the front seat belt pre-
tensioners and SRS airbags not to operate
all together.This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the “ON” position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the front seat belt pretensioners
are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, side airbag sensors, front seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning
light, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. (For details, see “Service remind-
er indicators and warning buzzers” on
page 105 in Section 15.)
—Front seat belt
pretensioners

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
532003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
This front seat belt pretensioner system
has a service reminder indicator to inform
the driver of operating problems. If any of
the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction of the airbags or
pretensioners. Contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible to service the
vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion, or the light remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving.
If either front seat belt does not retract
or cannot be pulled out due to a mal-
function or activation of the relevant
front seat belt pretensioner.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
The front of the vehicle (shaded in the
illustration) was involved in an acci dent
that was not severe enough to cause
the front seat belt pretensioners to op-
erate.
Either front seat belt pretensioner as-
sembly or surrounding area is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) front airbags are designed to pro-
vide 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 to
reduce injuries mainly to the driver ’s or
front passenger ’s head or chest caused by
directly hitting the steering wheel or dash-
board. The front passenger airbag is acti-
vated even with no passenger in the front
seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.
SRS driver airbag and front
passenger airbag

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
542003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
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 pass enger
when the SRS airbags are inflated.
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:
The driver sit as far back as pos-
sible from the steering wheel while
still maintaining control of the ve-
hicle.
The front passenger sit as far back
as possible from the dashboard.
All vehicle occupants be properly
restrained using the available seat
belts.
This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the “ON” position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS front airbags are oper-
ating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, side airbag sensors, front seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning
light, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. (For details, see “Service remind-
er indicators and warning buzzers” on
page 105 in Section 15.)The SRS front airbag system is de-
signed to activate in response to a se-
vere frontal impact within the shaded
area between the arrows in the illustra-
tion.
The SRS front airbags will deploy if the
severity of the impact is above the de-
signed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision
when impacting straight into a fixed barrier
that does not move or deform.
If the severity of the impact is below the
above threshold level, the SRS front air-
bags may not deploy.

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
602003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
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.
Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile twoway radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
 Modification of the suspension sys-
tem
 Modification of the front end struc-
ture
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
 Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure, con-
sole, steering column, steering
wheel or dashboard near the front
passenger airbag
This SRS front airbag system has a
service reminder indicator to inform the
driver of operating problems. If either of
the following conditions occurs, this indi-
cates a malfunction of the airbags. Con-
tact your Toyota dealer as soon as pos-
sible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion, or the light remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
The SRS front airbags have been in-
flated.
The front of the vehicle (shaded in the
illustration) was involved in an acci dent
that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS front airbags to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel
or front passenger airbag cover
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
622003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the “ON” position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS side airbags are operat-
ing properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, side airbag sensor, front seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning
light, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. (For details, see “Service remind-
er indicators and warning buzzers” on
page 105 in Section 15.)The SRS side 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 illustra-
tion.
The SRS side airbags are designed to
inflate when the passenger compartment
area suffers a severe impact from the
side.
For the safety of all occupants, always
wear your seat belts properly.
Collision from the rear
Collision from the front Vehicle rollover
The SRS side airbags are not 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 lowspeed side
collision.

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
652003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
Do not use seat accessories which
cover the parts where the side air-
bags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from acti-
vating correctly, causing death or
serious injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats
or upholstery of the front seats
with the side airbags. Such changes
may disable the system or cause
the side airbags to inflate acciden-
tally, resulting in death or serious
injury. Consult your Toyota dealer if
you insist on modifications of this
kind.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious injury.
Consult your Toyota dealer about any
repairs and modifications.
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 system in some
cases.
 Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile twoway radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
 Modification of the suspension sys-
tem
 Modification of the side structure of
the passenger compartment
 Repairs made on or near the con-
sole or front seat
This SRS side airbag system has a
service reminder indicator to inform the
driver of operating problems. If either of
the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction of the airbags.
Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion, or the light remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving.