transmission TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2003 XU20 / 1.G Owners Manual

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
22003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
1. Side defroster outlets
2. Instrument cluster
3. Garage door opener
4. Center vents
5. Electric moon roof switch and personal
light
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. Front ashtray
16. Hood lock release lever
17. Parking brake pedal
18. Window lock switch
Instrument panel overview
 Vehicles with rear console

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
32003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
1. Side defroster outlets
2. Instrument cluster
3. Garage door opener
4. Center vents
5. Electric moon roof switch and personal
light
6. Auxiliary boxes
7. Side vents
8. Power door lock switches
9. Power window switches
10. Glove box
11. Automatic transmission selector lever
12. Ashtray
13. Cup holders
14. Hood lock release lever
15. Parking brake pedal
16. Window lock switch

Vehicles without rear console

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
92003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
Brake system warning light∗
1
Discharge warning light∗1
Low engine oil pressure warning light∗1
Malfunction indicator lamp∗1
SRS warning light∗1
Driver ’s seat belt reminder light∗1Open door warning light∗1
Automatic transmission fluid temperature warning
light∗1
or
Low windshield washer fluid level warning light∗1
or
Vehicle skid control system warning light∗1
Traction control system off indicator light Antilock brake system warning light
∗1or
Front passenger ’s seat belt reminder light∗1
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel

’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)
1082003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
(d) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being
discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, radio, etc., and drive directly to
the nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine
drive belt is broken or loose.
(e) Low Engine Oil Pressure Warning
Light
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance. The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light on—even for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(f) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the “ON” position and
goes off after the engine starts. This
means that the warning light system is
operating properly.
If the lamp remains on, or the lamp
comes on while driving, first check the
followings.
Empty fuel tank
If the fuel tank is empty, refuel immedi-
ately.
Loose fuel tank cap
If the fuel tank cap is loose, securely
tighten it.
These cases are temporary malfunctions.
The malfunction indicator lamp will go off
after taking several driving trips.
If the lamp will not go off even after the
several trips, contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible.
If the fuel tank is not empty or the fuel
tank cap is not loose...
There is a problem somewhere in the
engine, emission control system, auto-
matic transmission electrical system or
warning light system itself.
Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible to service the vehicle.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
(I/M) programs
Your vehicle may not pass a state
emission inspection if the malfunction
indicator lamp remains on. Contact your
Toyota dealer to check your vehicle’s
emission control system and OBD
(OnBoard Diagnostics) system before
taking your vehicle for the inspection.
For details, see “Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M) programs” on page 250
in Section 6.

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
1092003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
(g) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel level
in the tank becomes nearly empty. Fill up
the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual.
(h) “ABS” Warning Light
The light comes on with the ignition key
turned to the “ON” position. If the anti
lock brake system and the brake assist
system work properly, the light turns off
after a few seconds. Thereafter, if the
system malfunctions, the light comes on
again.
When the “ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
antilock brake system, the brake assist
system, the traction control system and
the vehicle skid control system do not
operate, but the brake system still oper-
ates conventionally.
When the “ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
antilock brake system does not operate
so that the wheels could lock up during
a sudden braking or braking on slippery
road surfaces. If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction
somewhere in the parts monitored by
the warning light system. 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 remains on.
The light comes on while you are driv-
ing.
A warning light turning on briefly during
operation does not indicate a problem.
CAUTION
If the “ABS” warning light remains on
together with the brake system warn-
ing light, immediately stop your ve-
hicle at a safe place and contact your
Toyota dealer.
In this case, not only the antilock
brake system will fail but also the
vehicle will become extremely unsta-
ble during braking.
(i) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the side
doors and back door are completely
closed.
(j) Automatic Transmission Fluid Temperature Warning Light
This light warns that the automatic trans-
mission fluid temperature is too high.
If this light comes on while you are driv-
ing, slow down and pull off the road. Stop
the vehicle at a safe place and put the
selector lever in “P”. With the engine id-
ling, wait until the light goes off. If the
light goes off, you can start the vehicle
again. If the light does not go off, call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
NOTICE
Continued driving with the warning
light on may damage the automatic
transmission.

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
11 32003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock 11 4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission 11 5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
Traction control system 11 9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Vehicle skid control system 123
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake 125
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 125
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1 6

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
11 52003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of “P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in “ON” position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and
key removal
R: Reverse
N: Neutral
D: Normal driving (with overdrive on)
2: Stronger engine braking
L: Maximum engine braking
Automatic transmission
Lock release button
To prevent misshifting
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock release
button in. (The ignition switch must
be in “ON” position.)
Shift while holding the lock
release button in.
Shift normally. Selector lever
Snow mode
button
Overdrive switch

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
11 62003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
(b) Overdrive switch
You can select either third gear (with
overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-
drive on) by pushing this switch.
To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.
The “O/D OFF” indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The “O/D OFF” indicator
light should go off.
Always drive your vehicle with the over-
drive on for better fuel economy and
quieter driving.
If the engine is turned off when the over-
drive is off and restarted, the overdrive
will automatically be on. Vehicles with cruise control—When the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking will not be enabled because the
cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” on page 125 in this
section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in “How to start the engine” on page 202 in
Section 3. The transmission must be in
“P” or “N”.
2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to “D”.
When the lever is in the “D” position, the
automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for running condi-
tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-
ing, hard towing, etc.
Always turn the overdrive on for better
fuel economy and quieter driving. If the
engine coolant temperature is low, the
transmission will not shift into the over-
drive gear even with the overdrive on.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(d) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Push the overdrive switch. The “O/D
OFF” indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to third
gear.
Shift into the “2” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to second gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
stronger engine braking will be en-
abled. Twowheel drive models2AZFE engine 112 km/h (70 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
1MZFE engine
121 km/h (76 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
11 72003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
Fourwheel drive models
2AZFE engine 101 km/h (63 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
1MZFE engine 113 km/h (71 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shift into the “L” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.
Twowheel drive models2AZFE engine 58 km/h (37 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1MZFE engine 58 km/h (37 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourwheel drive models 2AZFE engine 52 km/h (33 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1MZFE engine 54 km/h (34 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicles with cruise control—When the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking is not enabled because the cruise
control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” on page 125 in this
section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
(e) Using “2” and “L” positions
The “2” and “L” positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in “2” or “L”, you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in “D”.
With the selector lever in “2”, the vehicle
will start in first gear and automatically
shift to second gear.
With the selector lever in “L”, the trans-
mission is engaged in first gear.
NOTICE
 Be careful not to overrev the en-
gine. Watch the tachometer to keep
engine rpm from going into the red
zone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
Twowheel drive models2AZFE engine—“2” 123 km/h (76 mph) . . . . . . .
“L” 69 km/h (43 mph) . . . . . . . .
1MZFE engine— “2” 125 km/h (78 mph) . . . . . . .
“L” 70 km/h (43 mph) . . . . . . . .
Fourwheel drive models 2AZFE engine—
“ 2 ” 111 k m / h ( 6 9 m p h ) . . . . . . .
“L” 62 km/h (38 mph) . . . . . . . .
1MZFE engine—
“2” 117 km/h (73 mph) . . . . . . .
“L” 65 km/h (40 mph) . . . . . . . .
 Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
“2” or “L” position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission dam-
age from overheating. To prevent
such damage, “D” position should
be used in hill climbing or hard
towing.