engine TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021 (in English) Manual Online

2084-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_UON and the brake pedal is being
depressed.
■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 brake pedal,
there may be a pr oblem 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 ensure
that the shift lev er can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1 Turn the engine switch to ON
and check that the parking brake
is set. ( P.205, 211)
2 Turn the engine switch to off.
3 Depress the brake pedal.
4 Pry the cover up with a flathead
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover,
cover the tip of the screwdriver with
a rag.
5 Press and hold the shift lock
override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while
both buttons are pressed.
 P.314, 318
To enter M mode, shift the shift
lever to M. Gears can then be
selected by operating the shift
lever, allowing you to drive in the
gear of your choosing.
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when
releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock
override button, m ake sure to set
the parking brake and depress the
brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed instead of the
brake pedal when the shift lock
override button is pressed and the
shift lever is shifted out of P, the
vehicle may suddenly start, possi-
bly leading to an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving
mode and snow mode
Selecting gears in the M
position

2094-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
1Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The gear changes once every time
the shift lever or paddle shift switch
is operated.
The selected gear, from M1 to M8,
will be fixed and displayed on the
meters.
When in the M position, the gear
will not change unless the shift
lever is operated.
However, even when in the M
position, the gears will be auto-
matically changed in the follow-
ing situation:
When vehicle speed drops
(downshift only).
 When the automatic transmis-
sion fluid or engine coolant
temperature is low.
 When automatic transmis-
sion fluid temperature is high
(upshift only).
 When the needle of the
tachometer is in the red zone
(the range which exceeds the
allowable revs of the engine).
In the following situation, the
gear will not shift even if the shift
lever is operated.
 The vehicle speed is low
(upshift only).
■Downshifting restriction warn-
ing buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving
performance, downshifting opera-
tion may sometimes b e restricted. In
some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even when the
paddle shift switch is operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)

2104-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
1Right turn
2 Lane change to the right
(move the lever partway and
release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3
times.
3Lane change to the left
(move the lever partway and
release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
4Left 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.
Tur n signal lever
Operating instructions

2124-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
When the shift lever is moved
into P, the parking brake will
be set, and the parking brake
indicator light and parking
brake light turn on.
Operate the shift lever with the
brake pedal depressed.
■Turns automatic mode off
While the vehicle is stopped,
press and hold the parking
brake switch until a “EPB Shift
Interlock Function Deactivated”
is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display.
■Parking brake operation
●When the engine switch is not in
ON, the parking brake cannot be
released using the parking brake
switch.
●When the engine switch is not in
ON, automatic mode (automatic
brake setting and releasing) is not
available.
■Parking brake automatic
release function
The parking brake will be released
automatically when the accelerator
pedal is slowly depressed under the
following conditions:
●The driver’s door is closed
●The driver is wearing the seat belt
●The shift lever is in a forward or reverse position.
●The malfunction in
dicator lamp or
brake system warning light is not
illuminated
If the automatic release function
does not operate, release the park-
ing brake manually.
■If “Parking Brake Temporarily
Unavailable” is displayed on
the multi-info rmation display
If the parking brake is operated
repeatedly over a short period of
time, the system may restrict opera-
tion to prevent ove rheating. If this
happens, refrain from operating the
parking brake. Normal operation will
return after about 1 minute.
■If “Parking Brake Unavailable”
is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
Operate the parking brake switch. If
the message does not disappear
after operating the switch several
times, the system may be malfunc-
tioning. Have the vehicle inspected
by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■Parking brake operation sound
When the parking brake operates, a
motor sound (whirr ing sound) may
be heard. This does not indicate a
malfunction.
■Parking brake indicator light
and parking brake light
●Depending on the engine switch
mode, the parking brake indicator
light and parking brake light will
turn on and stay on as described
below:
ON: Comes on until the parking
brake is released.
Not in ON: Stays on for approxi-
mately 15 seconds.
●When the engine switch is turned
off with the parking brake set, the
parking brake indicator light and
parking brake light will stay on for
about 15 seconds. This does not
indicate a malfunction.

2154-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_Uindicator light goes off. (
P.211)
■When an inspection at your
Toyota dealer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indi-
cator (green) does not illuminate
even when the brake hold switch is
pressed with the brake hold system
operating conditions met, the sys-
tem may be malfunctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected at your Toyota
dealer.
■If “Brake Hold Malfunction
Press Brake to Deactivate Visit
Your Dealer” or “Brake Hold
Malfunction Visit Your Dealer”
is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
The system may be malfunctioning.
Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer.
■Warning messages and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are
used to indicate a system malfunc-
tion or to inform the driver of the
need for caution. If a warning mes-
sage is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and
follow the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indi-
cator flashes
 P. 4 6 5
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a
steep incline
When using the brake hold sys-
tem on a steep incline, exercise
caution. The brake hold function
may not hold the vehicle in such a
situation.
■When stopped on a slippery
road
The system cannot stop the vehi-
cle when the gripping ability of the
tires has been exceeded. Do not
use the system when stopped on
a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not
designed for use when parking
the vehicle for a long period of
time. Turning the engine switch off
while the system is holding the
brake may release the brake,
which would cause the vehicle to
move. When operating the engine
switch, depress the brake pedal,
shift the shift lever to P and set
the parking brake.

2164-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U
4-3.Operating the lights and wipers
Operating the switch
turns on the lights as follows:U.S.A.
Canada
1 The headlights, daytime
running lights ( P.216) and
all the lights listed below turn
on and off automatically.
(When the engine switch is in
ON.)
2 The side marker, park-
ing, tail, license plate, instru-
ment panel lights, and
daytime running lights
( P.216) turn on.
3 The headlights and all lights listed above (except
daytime running lights) turn
on.
4 (U.S.A.) Off
■Daytime running light system
●Vehicles without projector head-
lights: The daytime running lights
illuminate using the same lights as
the low beam headlights and illu-
minate dimmer than the low beam
headlights.
●Vehicles with projector head-
lights: The daytime running lights
illuminate using the same lights as
the parking light s and illuminate
brighter than the parking lights.
●To make your vehicle more visible
to other drivers during daytime
driving, the daytime running lights
turn on automatically when all of
the following conditions are met.
(The daytime running lights are
not designed for use at night.)
• The engine is running
• The parking brake is released
• The headlight switch is in the
or
* position
*: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain
on after they illumi nate, even if the
parking brake is set again.
●For the U.S.A.: Daytime running
lights can be turned off by operat-
ing the switch.
●Compared to turning on the head-
lights, the daytime running light
system offers greater durability
and consumes less electricity, so
it can help improve fuel economy.
Headlight switch
The headlights can be oper-
ated manually or automati-
cally.
Operating instructions

2174-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
■Headlight control sensor
The sensor may not function prop-
erly if an object is placed on the sen-
sor, or anything that blocks the
sensor is affixed to the windshield.
Doing so interfere s with the sensor
detecting the level of ambient light
and may cause the automatic head-
light system to malfunction.
■Automatic light off system
●When the headlights are on: The
headlights and tail lights turn off
30 seconds after a door is opened
and closed if the engine switch is
turned to ACC or OFF. (The lights
turn off immediately if on the
key is pressed afte r all the doors
are closed.)
●When only the tail lights are on:
The tail lights tu rn off automati-
cally if the engine switch is turned
to ACC or OFF an d the driver’s
door is opened.
Except for Canada: To turn the lights
on again, turn the engine switch to
ON, or turn the light switch off once
and then back to or .
For Canada: To tu rn the lights on
again, turn the engine switch to ON,
or turn the light s witch to once
and then back to or .
■Automatic headlight leveling
system (if equipped)
The level of the headlights is auto-
matically adjusted according to the
number of passengers and the load-
ing condition of the vehicle to
ensure that the headlights do not interfere with o
ther road users.
■Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the engine
switch is turned off or turned to ACC
and the driver’s door is opened
while the lights are turned on.
■Welcome lighting
The parking lights and tail lights
automatically turn on at night when
the doors are un locked using the
entry function or wireless remote
control if the light switch is in the
position.
■Windshield wiper linked head-
light illumination
When driving during daytime with
the headlight switch turned to , if
the windshield wipers are used, the
headlights will turn o n automatically
after several se conds to help
enhance the visibility of your vehi-
cle.
■Battery-saving function
In order to prevent the battery of the
vehicle from discharging, if the
headlights and/or tail lights are on
when the engine switch is turned off
the battery saving function will oper-
ate and automatically turn off all the
lights after approximately 20 min-
utes. When the engine switch is
turned to ON, the battery-saving
function will be disabled.
When any of the following are per-
formed, the battery-saving function
is canceled once and then reacti-
vated. All the lights will turn off auto-
matically 20 minutes after the
battery-saving function has been
reactivated:
●When the headlight switch is oper-
ated
●When a door is opened or closed
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.521)

2184-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U
1With the headlights on, push
the lever away from you to
turn on the high beams.
Pull the lever toward you to the
center position to turn the high
beams off.
2Pull the lever toward you and
release it to flash the high
beams once.
You can flash the high beams with
the headlights on or off.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting
System) secures excellent visi-
bility at intersections and on
curves by automatically adjust-
ing the direction of the light axis
of the headlights according to
vehicle speed and the degree of
the tire’s angle as controlled by steering input.
AFS operates at speeds of 6 mph
(10 km/h) or higher.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.521)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer
than necessary when the engine
is off.
Turning on the high beam
headlights
AFS (Adaptive Front-light-
ing System) (if equipped)

2214-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
■Temporarily lowering sensor
sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be
temporarily lowered.
1 Turn the engine s witch off while
the following cond itions are met.
●The headlight switch is in or
.
●The headlight switch lever is in
high beam position.
●Automatic High Beam switch is
on.
2 Turn the engine switch to ON.
3 Within 60 seconds after step 2,
repeat pulling the headlight
switch lever to the original posi-
tion then pushing it to the high
beam position qu ickly 10 times,
then leave the lever in high beam
position.
4 If the sensitivity is changed, the
Automatic High Beam indicator
is turn on and off 3 times.
Automatic High Beam (headlights)
may turn on even w hen the vehicle
is stopped.
■Switching to the low beams
Pull the lever to its original posi-
tion.
The Automatic High Beam indicator
will turn off.
Push the lever away from you to
activate the Automatic High Beam
system again.
■Switching to the high
beams
Press the Automatic High Beam
switch.
The Automatic High Beam indicator
will turn off and the high beam indi-
cator will turn on.
Press the switch to activate the
Automatic High Beam system
again.
Turning the high beams
on/off manually

2244-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U
the sensor sensitivity can be
adjusted by turning the switch
ring.
6Increases the sensitivity
7 Decreases the sensitivity
8 Washer/wiper dual
operation
Pulling the lever o perates the wip-
ers and washer.
The wipers will au tomatically oper-
ate a couple of times after the
washer squirts.
■The windshield wipers and
washer can be operated when
The engine switch is in ON.
■Dripping prevention wiper
sweep
After washing and wiping operation
several times, the wipers operate
one more time after a short delay to
prevent dripping. However, this
function will not operate while driv-
ing.
■Effects of vehicle speed on
wiper operation
Vehicle speed affects the intermit-
tent wiper interval.
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with
rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●The raindrop sensor judges the
amount of raindrops.
An optical sensor is adopted. It
may not operate properly when
sunlight from the rising or setting
of the sun intermittently strikes the
windshield, or if bugs, etc. are
present on the windshield
●If the wiper switch i s turned to the
“AUTO” position while the engine
switch is in ON, the wipers will
operate once to show that AUTO
mode is activated.
●When the sensor sensitivity ring is
turned toward high while in
“AUTO” position, the wipers will
operate once to indicate that the
sensor sensitivity is enhanced.
●If the temperature of the raindrop
sensor is 185°F (85°C) or higher,
or 5°F (-15°C) or lower, automatic
operation may not occur. In this
case, operate the wipers in any
mode other than AUTO mode.
■If no windshield washer fluid
sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are
not blocked, if there is washer fluid
in the washer fluid tank.
■Front door opening linked wind-
shield wiper stop function
(vehicles with rain-sensing
windshield wipers)
When “AUTO” is selected and the