key battery TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2020 Owners Manual (in English)

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HIGHLANDER_U
Pictorial indexSearch by illustration
For safety
and securityMake sure to read through them
(Main topics: Child seat, theft deterrent system)
Vehicle status
information and
indicatorsReading driving-related information
(Main topics: Meters, multi-information display)
Before driving
Opening and closing the doors and windows,
adjustment before driving
(Main topics: Keys, doors, seats)
Driving
Operations and advice which are necessary for
driving
(Main topics: Starting engine, refueling)
Interior featuresUsage of the interior features
(Main topics: Air conditioner, storage features)
Maintenance
and careCaring for your vehicle and maintenance
procedures
(Main topics: Interior and exterior, light bulbs)
When trouble
arisesWhat to do in case of malfunction and emergency
(Main topics: Battery discharge, flat tire)
Vehicle
specificationsVehicle specifications, customizable features
(Main topics: Fuel, oil, tire inflation pressure)
For ownersReporting safety defects for U.S. owners, and seat
belt, SRS airbag and headlight aim instructions for
Canadian owners
IndexSearch by symptom
Search alphabetically

4TABLE OF CONTENTS
HIGHLANDER_U
Emission inspection and mainte-nance (I/M) programs....... 398
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precau-tions ................................. 400
Hood .................................. 402
Positioning a floor jack ....... 403
Engine compartment .......... 404
Tires ................................... 411
Tire inflation pressure......... 423
Wheels ............................... 425
Air conditioning filter ........... 426
Electronic key battery ......... 428
Checking and replacing fuses ......................................... 429
Headlight aim ..................... 431
Light bulbs .......................... 432
7-1. Essential information Emergency flashers ........... 442
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency .............. 442
If the vehicle is trapped in rising water ................................ 443
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed......................................... 445
If you think something is wrong ......................................... 448
Fuel pump shut off system ......................................... 449
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds .... 450
If a warning message is dis- played .............................. 460
If you have a flat tire ........... 464
If the engine will not start ... 478
If you lose your keys .......... 479If the fuel filler door cannot be
opened ............................. 480
If the electronic key does not operate properly............... 481
If the vehicle battery is dis- charged ............................ 483
If your vehicle overheats .... 487
If the vehicle becomes stuck ......................................... 489
8-1. Specifications Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.) .................................. 492
Fuel information ................. 503
Tire information .................. 505
8-2. Customization Customizable features ....... 515
8-3. Initialization Items to initialize ................ 527
9-1. For owners Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners ............................. 530
Seat belt instructions for Cana- dian owners (in French) ... 530
SRS airbag instructions for Canadian owners (in French)......................................... 532
Headlight aim instructions for Canadian owners (in French)
........ ................................. 53

9
What to do if... (Troubleshooting) ......................................... 542
Alphabetical Index.............. 545
7When trouble arises
8Vehicle specifications
9For owners
Index

1123-1. Key information
HIGHLANDER_U
3-1.Key information
The following keys are provided
with the vehicle.Electronic keys
• Operating the smart key system
( P

.131)
• Operating the wireless remo
te
contro

l function ( P. 1 1 3 )
Mechanical keys
Key number plate
■When riding in an aircraft
When bringing an electronic key
onto an aircraft, make sure you do
not press any buttons on the elec-
tronic key while inside the aircraft
cabin. If you are carrying an elec-
tronic key in your bag, etc., ensure
that the buttons are not likely to be
pressed accidentally. Pressing a
button may cause the electronic key
to emit radio waves that could inter-
fere with the oper ation of the air-
craft.
■Electronic key battery depletion
●The standard battery life is 1 to 2
years.
●If the battery becomes low, an
alarm will sound in the cabin wh
enth

e engine is stopped.
●To reduce key battery depletion
whe
n the electronic key is to not
be used for long periods of time,
set the electronic key to the bat-
tery-saving mode. ( P.132)
●As the electronic key always
r

eceives radio wa ves, the battery
will become depleted even
if thee

lectronic key is not used. The fol-
lowing symptoms indicate that the
electronic key battery may be
depleted. Replace the battery
when necessary.
• The smart key system or the wire- less remote control does not oper-
ate.
• The detection area become
ssmaller

.
• The LED indicator on the key sur- face does not turn on.
●To avoid serious deterioration, do
not leave the electron
ic key within3

ft. (1 m) of the following electri-
cal appliances that produce
a
ma

gnetic field:
•TVs
• Personal computers
• Cellular phones, cordless phone
sa

nd battery chargers
• Recharging cellular phon
es or
cor

dless phones
• Table lamps
• Induction cookers
■Replacing the battery
 P.428
■Confirmation of the registered
k

ey number
The number of keys already regis-
tered to the vehicle can be con-
firmed. Ask your Toyota dealer for
details.
■If “A New Key has been Regis-
tered Contact Your Dealer f
or
Details” is

show
n on the
mul

ti-information display
This message will be displayed
each time the driver’s door is
opened when the doors are
unlocked from the outside for
approximately 10 days after a new
electronic key has been registered.
Keys
The keys

1143-1. Key information
HIGHLANDER_U
*2: If equipped
■Theft deterrent panic mode
When is pressed for longer
than about one second, an alarm
will sound intermittently and the
vehicle lights will flash to deter any
person from trying to break into or
damage your vehicle.
To stop the alarm, press any button
on the electronic key.
To take out the mechanical key,
slide the release button and take
the key out.
The mechanical key can only be
inserted in one direction, as the key
only has grooves on one side. If the
key cannot be inserted in a lock cyl-
inder, turn it over and re-attempt to
insert it.
After using the mechanical key,
store it in the electronic key. Carry
the mechanical key together with
the electronic key. If the electronic
key battery is depleted or the entry
function does not operate properly,
you will need the mechanical key.
(  P.481)
■When required to leave thev
ehicle’s key with a parking
a

ttendant
Lock the glove box as circum-
stances demand. ( P.359)
Remove the mech anical key for
your own use and provide the atten-
dant with the electronic key only.
■If you lose your mechanical
keys
 P.479
■If a wrong key is used
The key cylinder rotates freely, iso-
lated from the internal mechanism.
Using the mechanical key

1173-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U
3
Before driving
■Conditions affecting the opera-
tion of the smart key system or
wireless remo te control
 P. 1 3 2
■If the smart key system or the
wireless remote control does
not operate properly
Use the mechanical key to lock and
unlock the doors. ( P.481)
Replace the key battery with a new
one if it is depleted. ( P.428)
■If the battery is discharged
The doors cannot be locked and
unlocked using the smart key sys-
tem or wireless remote control. Lock
or unlock the doors using the
mechanical key. ( P.481)
■Rear seat reminder function
In order to remind you not to forget
luggage, etc. in the rear seat, when
the engine switch is turned off after
any of the following conditions are
met, a buzzer will sound and a mes-
sage will be displayed on the
multi-information display for approx-
imately 6 seconds.
●The engine is started within 10
minutes after opening and closing
a rear door.
●A rear door has been opened and
closed after the engine was
started.
However, if a rear door is opened
and then closed within approxi-
mately 2 seconds, the rear seat
reminder function may not operate.
The rear seat reminder function
determines that luggage, etc. has
been placed in a rear seat based on
opening and closing of a rear door.
Therefore, depending on the situa-
tion, the rear seat reminder function
may not operate and you may still
forget luggage, etc. in the rear seat,
or it may operate unnecessarily.
The rear seat reminder function can
be enabled/disabled. ( P.515)
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.515)
WARNING
■To prevent an accident
Observe the following precautions
while driving the vehicle. Failure
to do so may result in a door
opening and an occupant falling
out, resulting in death or serious
injury.
●Ensure that all doors are prop-
erly closed and locked.
●Do not pull the inside handle of
the doors while driving.
Be especially care ful for the front
doors, as the doors may be
opened even if the inside lock but-
tons are in locked position.
●Set the rear door child-protector
locks when children are seated
in the rear seats.
■When opening or closing a
door
Check the surroundings of the
vehicle such as whether the vehi-
cle is on an incline, whether there
is enough space for a door to
open and whether a strong wind
is blowing. When opening or clos-
ing the door, hold the door handle
tightly to prepare for any unpre-
dictable movement.

1263-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U
●If the rear bumper is strongly hit
with a foot or is touched for a
while.
If the rear bumper has been touched
for a while, wait for a short time
before attempting to operate the
Hands Free Power Back Door
again.
●When standing excessively close
to the rear bumper.
●When an external radio wave
source interferes with the commu-
nication between the electronic
key and the vehicle. ( P.132)
●When the vehicle is parked near
an electrical noise source which
affects the sensitivity of the Hands
Free Power Back Door, such as a
pay parking spot , gas station,
electrically heated road, or fluo-
rescent light.
●When the vehicle is near a TV
tower, electric power plant, radio
station, large display, airport or
other facility that generates strong
radio waves or electrical noise.
●When a large amount of water is
applied to the rear bumper, such
as when the vehicle is being
washed or in heavy rain.
●When mud, snow, ice, etc. is
attached to the rear bumper.
●When the vehicle has been
parked for a while near objects
that may move and contact the
rear bumper, such as plants.
●When an accessory is installed to
the rear bumper.
If an accessory has been installed,
turn the kick sensor operation set-
ting off. ( P.515)
■Preventing unintentional opera-
tion of the Hands Free Power
Back Door (if equipped)
When an electronic key is in the
operation detection area, the Hands
Free Power Back Door may operate
unintentionally, so be careful in the
following situations:
●When a large amount of water is
applied to the rear bumper, such
as when the vehicle is being
washed or in heavy rain.
●When dirt is wiped off the rear
bumper.
●When a small animal or small
object, such as a ball, moves
under the rear bumper.
●When an object is moved from
under the rear bumper.
●If someone is swinging their legs
while sitting on the rear bumper.
●If the legs or another part of some-
one’s body contacts the rear
bumper while passing by the vehi-
cle.
●When the vehicle is parked near
an electrical noise source which
affects the sensitivity of the Hands
Free Power Back Door, such as a
pay parking spot, gas station,
electrically heated road, or fluo-
rescent light.
●When the vehicle is near a TV
tower, electric power plant, radio
station, large display, airport or
other facility that generates strong
radio waves or electrical noise.
●When the vehicle is parked in a
place where objects such as
plants are near the rear bumper.
●When luggage, etc. is set in or
removed from the luggage com-
partment from outside of the vehi-
cle.
●If accessories or a vehicle cover is
installed/removed near the rear
bumper.
●When snow attached to the inner
side of the rear bumper melts.
To prevent unintentional operation,
turn the kick sensor operation set-
ting off. ( P.515)
■When reconnecting the battery
To enable the power back door to
operate properly, close the back
door manually.

1323-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U
●When an interior alarm sounds
continuously
■Battery-saving function
The battery-saving function will be
activated in order to prevent the
electronic key battery and the vehi-
cle battery from being discharged
while the vehicle is not operated for
a long time.
●In the following situations, the
smart key system may take some
time to unlock the doors.
• The electronic key has been left in
an area of approximately 6 ft. (2
m) of the outside of the vehicle for
10 minutes or longer.
• The smart key system has not been used for 5 days or longer.
●If the smart key system has not
been used for 14 days or longer,
the doors cannot be unlocked at
any doors except the driver’s door.
In this case, take hold of the
driver’s door handle, or use the wireless remote control or the
mechanical key, to unlock the
doors.
■Turning an electronic key to
battery-saving mode
When battery-saving mode is set,
battery depletion is minimized by
stopping the electronic key from
receiving radio waves.
Press twice while pressing and
holding . Confirm that the elec-
tronic key indicator flashes 4 times.
While the battery-saving mode is
set, the smart key system cannot be
used. To cancel the function, press
any of the electronic key buttons.
■Conditions affecting operation
The smart key system uses weak
radio waves. In the following situa-
tions, the communication between
the electronic key and the vehicle
may be affected, preventing the
smart key system, wireless remote
control and engine immobilizer sys-
tem from operating properly. (Ways
of coping: P.481)
●When the electronic key battery is
depleted
●Near a TV tower, electric power
plant, gas station, radio station,
large display, airport or other facil-
ity that generates strong radio
waves or electrical noise
●When the electronic key is in con-
tact with, or is covered by the fol-
lowing metallic objects
• Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• Cigarette boxes that have alumi- num foil inside
SituationCorrection
procedure
An attempt was
made to lock the
vehicle while a door
was open.Close all of
the doors
and lock the
doors again.
SituationCorrection procedure
The engine switch
was turned to ACC
while the driver’s
door was open (or
the driver’s door was
opened while the
engine switch was in
ACC).
Turn the
engine
switch off
and close
the driver’s
door.
The engine switch
was turned off while
the driver’s door was
open.Close the
driver’s
door.

1333-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U
3
Before driving
• Metallic wallets or bags
• Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When other wireless keys (that
emit radio waves) are being used
nearby
●When carrying the electronic key
together with the following devices
that emit radio waves
• Portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless
communication devices
• Another electronic key or a wire- less key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or personal
digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
●If window tint with a metallic con-
tent or metallic objects are
attached to the rear window
●When the electronic key is placed
near a battery charger or elec-
tronic devices
●When the vehicle is parked in a
pay parking spot where radio
waves are emitted
■Note for the entry function
●Even when the electronic key is
within the effective range (detec-
tion areas), the system may not
operate properly in the following
cases:
• The electronic key is too close to the window or outside door han-
dle, near the ground, or in a high
place when the doors are locked
or unlocked.
• The electronic key is on the instru-
ment panel, luggage compart-
ment, floor, or in the door pockets
or glove box when the engine is
started or engine switch modes
are changed.
●Do not leave the electronic key on
top of the instrument panel or near
the door pockets when exiting the
vehicle. Depending on the radio
wave reception co nditions, it may
be detected by the antenna out- side the cabin and the door will
become lockable from the outside,
possibly trapping the electronic
key inside the vehicle.
●As long as the electronic key is
within the effective range, the
doors may be locked or unlocked
by anyone. However, only the
doors detecting the electronic key
can be used to unlock the vehicle.
●Even if the electronic key is not
inside the vehicle, it may be possi-
ble to start the engine if the elec-
tronic key is near the window.
●The doors may unlock or lock if a
large amount of water splashes on
the door handle, such as in the
rain or in a car wash when the
electronic key is within the effec-
tive range. (The
doors will auto-
matically be locked after
approximately 60 seconds if the
doors are not opened and closed.)
●If the wireless remote control is
used to lock the doors when the
electronic key is near the vehicle,
there is a possibilit y that the door
may not be unlocked by the entry
function. (Use the wireless remote
control to unlock the doors.)
●Touching the door lock or unlock
sensor while wearing gloves may
prevent lock or unlock operation.
●When the lock operation is per-
formed using the lock sensor, rec-
ognition signals will be shown up
to two consecutive times. After
this, no recognition signals will be
given.
●If the door handle becomes wet
while the electronic key is within
the effective range, the door may
lock and unlock repeatedly. In that
case, follow the following correc-
tion procedures to wash the vehi-
cle:
• Place the electronic key in a loca- tion 6 ft. (2 m) or more away from
the vehicle. (Take care to ensure
that the key is not stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to bat-

1343-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_Utery-saving mode to disable the
smart key system. (
P.132)
●If the electronic key is inside the
vehicle and a door handle
becomes wet during a car wash, a
message may be shown on the
multi-information display and a
buzzer will sound outside the vehi-
cle. To turn off the alarm, lock all
the doors.
●The lock sensor may not work
properly if it comes into contact
with ice, snow, mud, etc. Clean
the lock sensor and attempt to
operate it again, or use the lock
sensor on the lower part of the
door handle.
●A sudden handle operation or a
handle operation immediately
after entering the effective range
may prevent the doors from being
unlocked. Touch the door unlock
sensor and check that the doors
are unlocked before pulling the
door handle again.
●If there is another electronic key in
the detection area, it may take
slightly longer to unlock the doors
after the door handle is gripped.
■When the vehicle is not driven
for extended periods
●To prevent theft of the vehicle, do
not leave the electronic key within
6 ft. (2 m) of the vehicle.
●The smart key system can be
deactivated in advance. ( P.515)
●Setting the electronic key to bat-
tery-saving mode helps to reduce
key battery depletion. ( P.132)
■To operate the system properly
Make sure to carry the electronic
key when operating the system. Do
not get the electronic key too close
to the vehicle when operating the
system from the outside of the vehi-
cle.
Depending on the position and hold-
ing condition of the electronic key,
the key may not be detected cor- rectly and the system may not oper-
ate properly. (The alarm may go off
accidentally, or the door lock pre-
vention may not operate.)
■If the smart key system does
not operate properly
If the doors cannot be
locked/unlocked using the smart key
system, lock/unlock the doors by
performing any of the following:
●Bring the electronic key close to
either front door handle and oper-
ate the entry function.
●Operate the wireless remote con-
trol.
If the doors cannot be
locked/unlocked using the above
methods, use the mechanical key.
(  P.481)
If the engine cannot be started using
the smart key system, refer to
P.482.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.515)
■If the smart key system has
been deactivated in a custom-
ized setting
●Locking and unlocking the doors:
Use the wireless remote control or
mechanical key. ( P.115, 481)
●Starting the engine and changing
engine switch modes: P. 4 8 2
●Stopping the engine: P. 2 0 1

2004-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
4-2.Driving procedures
1Check that the parking brake
is set.
2 Check that the shift lever is in
P.
3 Firmly depress the brake
pedal.
and a message will be dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play.
If it is not displayed, the engine
cannot be started.
4 Press the engine switch
shortly and firmly.
When operating the engine switch,
one short, firm press is enough. It is
not necessary to press and hold the
switch.
The engine will crank until it starts
or for up to 30 se conds, whichever
is less.
Continue depressing the brake
pedal until the engine is completely
started.
The engine can be started from any engine switch mode.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system
may not have been deactivated.
(
 P. 6 9 )
Contact your Toyota dealer.
●If a message related to start-up is
shown on the multi-information
display, read the message and fol-
low the instructions.
■If the battery is discharged
The engine cannot be started using
the smart key system. Refer to
P.483to restart the engine.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P. 1 1 2
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.132
■Note for the entry function
 P.133
■Steering lock function
●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 can-
cels the steering lock.
●When the steering lock cannot be
released, “Push Engine Switch
while Turning Steering Wheel in
Either Direction” will be displayed
on the multi-info rmation display.
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Press the engine switch shortly
and firmly while turning the steer-
Engine (ignition)
switch
Performing the following
operations when carrying
the electronic key on your
person starts the engine or
changes engine switch
modes.
Starting the engine