brake fluid TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021 Owners Manual (in English)

1854-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
NOTICE
●When driving over bumps on
the road, drive as slowly as pos-
sible to avoid damaging the
wheels, underside of the vehi-
cle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driv-
ing
A flat or damaged tire may cause
the following situations. Hold the
steering wheel firmly and gradu-
ally depress the brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your
vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnor-
mally.
Information on what to do in case
of a flat tire (
P.472)
■When encountering flooded
roads
Do not drive on a road that has
flooded after heavy rain etc.
Doing so may cause the following
serious damage to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by
water immersion
In the event that you drive on a
flooded road and the vehicle is
flooded, be sure to have your Toy-
ota dealer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality
of oil and fluid used for the
engine, transaxle, transfer
(AWD models), rear differential
(AWD models), etc.
●Lubricant condition for the pro-
peller shaft (AWD models),
bearings and suspension joints
(where possible), and the func-
tion of all joints, bearings, etc.

2064-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
If the engine is stopped with the
shift lever in a position other
than P, the engine switch will not
be turned off but instead be
turned to ACC. Perform the fol-
lowing procedure to turn the
switch off:
1Check that the parking brake
is set.
2 Shift the shift lever to P.
3 Check that “ACCESSORY” is
displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display and press the
engine switch shortly and
firmly.
4 Check that “ACCESSORY”
or “IGNITION ON” on the
multi-information display are
off.
*1: Shifting to the D position allows
the system to select a gear suit-
able for the driv ing conditions.
Setting the shift lever to the D
position is recommended for nor-
mal driving.
*2: Selecting gears using M mode fixes the gear step, controls
engine braking force, and pre-
vents unnecessary upshifting.
■To protect the automatic trans-
mission
If the automatic transmission fluid
temperature is high, “High Trans-
mission Fluid Temp See Owner's
Manual” will be displayed on the
multi-information display and the
vehicle will go into transmission pro-
tection mode automatically. Have
the vehicle inspect ed by your Toyota
dealer.
When stopping the engine
with the shift lever in a
position other than P
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not stop the engine when the
shift lever is in a position other
than P. If the engine is stopped in
another shift lever position, the
engine switch will not be turned
off but instead be turned to ACC.
If the vehicle is left in ACC, bat-
tery discharge may occur.
Automatic transmis-
sion
Select the shift position
depending on your purpose
and situation.
Shift position purpose
Shift posi- tionObjective or function
PParking the vehi-
cle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2
(  P.208)

2254-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_Uwindshield wipers are operating, if a
front door is opened, the operation
of the windshield wipers will be
stopped to prevent anyone enter-
ing/exiting the vehicle from being
sprayed by water from the wipers,
provided the vehicle is stopped with
the parking brake applied or the shift
lever in P. When the front door is
closed, wiper operation will resume.
Operating the switch
operates the rear wiper as fol-
lows.
1
(U.S.A.) or (Canada)
Off
2 (U.S.A.) or (Canada)
Intermittent operation
3 (U.S.A.) or (Canada)
Normal operation
WARNING
■Caution regarding the use of
windshield wipers in AUTO
mode (vehicles with
rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers)
The windshield wipers may oper-
ate unexpectedly if the sensor is
touched or the windshield is sub-
ject to vibration in AUTO mode.
Take care that your fingers, etc.
do not become caught in the
windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of
washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the
washer fluid unt il the windshield
becomes warm. The fluid may
freeze on the windshield and
cause low visibility. This may lead
to an accident, resulting in death
or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When the washer fluid tank is
empty
Do not operate the switch continu-
ally as the washer fluid pump may
overheat.
■When a nozzle becomes
blocked
In this case, contact your Toyota
dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or
other object. The nozzle will be
damaged.
Rear windshield wiper
and washer
NOTICE
■When the rear window is dry
Do not use the wiper, as it may
damage the rear window.
Operating the wiper lever

2744-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_U
■Operating conditions
●The Stop & Start system is opera-
tional when all of the following
conditions are met:
• The vehicle has been driven a cer-
tain amount of time.
• The brake pedal is being depressed firmly. (Except when
the vehicle is stopped by the
dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range when in vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control
mode)
• The D shift position is selected.
• The driver’s seat belt is fastened.
• The driver’s door is closed.
• The selected driving mode is
NORMAL or ECO mode.
• The selected driving mode is not SNOW mode.
• The windshield defogger is off. (vehicles without a manual air
conditioning system)
• The accelerator pedal is not being depressed.
• The engine is adequately warmed
up.
• The outside temperature is 23°F (-5°C ) or higher.
• The hood is closed. ( P.275)
●In the following situations the
engine may not be stopped by the
Stop & Start system. This is not a
malfunction of the Stop & Start
system.
• When the air conditioning system is being used.
• When the battery is undergoing a periodic recharge.
• When the battery is not sufficiently
charged, such as if the vehicle
has been parked for a long time
and the battery charge has
decreased, the electric load is
large, the battery fluid tempera-
ture is excessively low or the bat-
tery has deteriorated.
• When the brake booster vacuum is low.
• When the elapsed time since the
engine was restarted is short.
• When the vehicle is stopped fre- quently, such as when in a traffic jam.
• When the engine coolant tem- perature or transmission fluid tem-
perature is extremely low or high.
• When the vehicle is stopped on a steep incline.
• When the steering wheel is being operated.
• When the vehicle is being driven
in a high altitude area.
• When the battery fluid tempera- ture is extremely low or high.
• For a while after the battery termi- nals have been disconnected and
reconnected.
●When the engine is stopped by
the Stop & Start system, the
engine will be restarted automati-
cally if any of the following condi-
tions are met: (To enable the
engine to be stopped by the Stop
& Start system again, drive the
vehicle.)
• The air conditioning system is turned on. (vehicles without a
manual air conditioning system)
• The windshield defogger is turned on. (vehicles without a manual air
conditioning system)
• The shift lever is shifted from D or P.
• The shift lever is shifted from P.
(When the engine is stopped by
the Stop & Start system when the
shift lever is in P.)
• The driver’s seat belt is unfas- tened.
• The driver’s door is opened.
• The driving mode is changed from
NORMAL or ECO mode to
another mode.
• The driving mode is changed to SNOW mode.
• The Stop & Start cancel switch is
pressed.
• The steering wheel is operated.
• The accelerator pedal is depressed.
• The vehicle starts to roll on an incline.
●When the engine is stopped by
the Stop & Start system, the
engine may restart automatically

4046-2. Maintenance
HIGHLANDER_U
General maintenance
Listed below are the general
maintenance items that
should be performed at the
intervals specified in the
“Owner’s Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet” or “Owner’s
Manual Supplement/Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide”. It
is recommended that any
problem you notice should
be brought to the attention
of your Toyota dealer or
qualified service shop for
advice.
WARNING
■If the engine is running
Turn the engine off and ensure
that there is adequate ventilation
before performing maintenance
checks.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
BatteryCheck the connec-
tions. ( P.416)
Brake fluid
Is the brake fluid at
the correct level?
( P.416)
Engine coolant
Is the engine cool-
ant at the correct
level? ( P.415)
Engine oil
Is the engine oil at
the correct level?
( P.412)
Exhaust sys-
temThere should not
be any fumes or
strange sounds.
Radiator/con-
denser
The radiator and
condenser should
be free from for-
eign objects.
( P.416)
Washer fluid
Is there sufficient
washer fluid?
( P.418)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator
pedal
• The accelerator
pedal should
move smoothly
(without uneven
pedal effort or
catching).
Automatic
transmission
“Park” mecha-
nism
• When parked on a slope and the
shift lever is in P,
is the vehicle
securely
stopped?
ItemsCheck points

4086-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_U
6-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself ser vice
precautions
If you perform maintenance
by yourself, be sure to fol-
low the correct procedure
as given in these sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condi-
tion (P.416)
• Warm water
• Baking soda
•Grease
• Conventional
wrench (for ter-
minal clamp
bolts)
Brake fluid
level ( P.416)
• FMVSS No.116
DOT 3 or SAE
J1703 brake fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding
brake fluid)
Engine cool-
ant level
( P.415)
• “Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” or a similar
high quality eth-
ylene gly-
col-based
non-silicate,
non-amine,
non-nitrite and
non-borate cool-
ant with long-life
hybrid organic
acid technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed
with 50% cool-
ant and 50%
deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed
with 55% cool-
ant and 45%
deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding
coolant)
Engine oil level
( P.412)
• “Toyota Genuine
Motor Oil” or
equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding
engine oil)
Fuses
( P.438)• Fuse with same
amperage rating
as original
ItemsParts and tools

4126-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_U
Engine coolant reservoir (P.415)
Fuse boxes ( P.438)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.413)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.412)
Battery ( P.416)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.416)
Washer fluid tank ( P.418)
Electric cooling fan
Condenser ( P.416)
Radiator ( P.416)
With the engine at operating
temperature and turned off,
check the oil level on the dip- stick.
■Checking the engine oil
1 Park the vehicle on level
ground. After warming up the
engine and turning it off, wait
Engine compar tment
Components
Checking and adding the
engine oil

4166-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_U
Check the radiator and con-
denser and clear away any for-
eign objects. If either of the
above parts is extremely dirty or
you are not sure of their condi-
tion, have your vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
■Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN”
lines on the tank.
■Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid
type and prepare the necessary
item.
 Fluid type
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT
3 brake fluid
SAE J1704 or FMVSS No.116 DOT
4 brake fluid
Item
Clean funnel
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture
from the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid
can cause a dangerous loss of brak-
ing efficiency. Use only newly
opened brake fluid.
Check the battery as follows.
■Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery termi-
nals are not corroded and that
there are no loose connections,
cracks, or loose clamps.
Checking the radiator and
condenser
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator or con-
denser as they may be hot and
cause serious injuries, such as
burns.
Checking and adding the
brake fluid
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm
your hands and eyes and damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in
your eyes, flush the affected area
with clean water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort,
see a doctor.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level
to go down slightly as the brake
pads wear out or when the fluid
level in the accu mulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent
refilling, there may be a serious
problem.
Battery

4587-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U
■Brake system warning light
■Brake system warning light
■High coolant temperature warning light* (warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display.
If a war ning light tur ns on or a war ning buzzer
sounds
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning
lights comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but
then goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction
in the system. However, if this continues to occur, have the
vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
Actions to the warning lights or warning buzzers
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(U.S.A.)
or
(red)
(Canada)
Indicates that:
 The brake fluid level is low; or
 The brake system is malfunctioning
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive the vehi-
cle may be dangerous.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(yellow)
Indicates a malfunction in the electric parking brake
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that the engine coolant temperature is too high
Immediately stop the ve hicle in a safe place.
Handling method ( P.495)

5048-1. Specifications
HIGHLANDER_U
*: The fluid capacity is a reference quantity.
If replacement is necessary, contact your Toyota dealer.
*: The fluid capacity is a reference quantity.
If replacement is necessary, contact your Toyota dealer.
NOTICE
■Transmission fluid type
Using transmission fluid other than the above type may cause abnormal
noise or vibration, or damage the transmission of your vehicle.
Transfer (AWD models)
Oil capacity*0.41 qt. (0.39 L, 0.35 Imp. qt.)
Oil type and viscosityToyota Genuine Differential gear oil LX
NOTICE
■Transfer oil type precaution
Using transfer oil other than the specified oil may cause abnormal noise
or vibration, or damage the transfer of your vehicle.
Rear differential (AWD models)
Oil capacity*0.56 qt. (0.53 L, 0.47 Imp. qt.)
Oil type and viscosityToyota Genuine Differential gear oil LX
NOTICE
■Differential gear oil type precaution
Using differential gear oil other than the specified oil may cause abnormal
noise or vibration, or damage the differential gear of your vehicle.
Brakes
Pedal clearance*3.7 in. (94 mm) Min.
Pedal free play0.04  0.24 in. (1  6 mm)
Brake pad wear limit0.04 in. (1 mm)
Fluid typeSAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3
SAE J1704 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 4