windshield wipers TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021 Owners Manual (in English)
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: TOYOTA, Model Year: 2021, Model line: HIGHLANDER, Model: TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021Pages: 568, PDF Size: 15.96 MB
Page 3 of 568

3TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
HIGHLANDER_U
Brake Hold ......................... 214
4-3. Operating the lights and wip- ers
Headlight switch ................. 216
Automatic High Beam ........ 219
Fog light switch .................. 222
Windshield wipers and washer ......................................... 222
Rear windshield wiper and  washer ............................. 225
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .. 227
4-5. Using the driving support sys- tems
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 +......................................... 229
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ......................................... 235
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)... 246
Dynamic radar cruise control  with full-speed range ........ 257
RSA (Road Sign Assist) ..... 269
Stop & Start system ........... 272
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)... 278
Intuitive parking assist ........ 284
RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert)  function ............................ 292
PKSB (Parking Support Brake) ......................................... 297
Parking Support Brake function  (static objects) .................. 304
Parking Support Brake function  (rear-crossing vehicles).... 310
Driving mode select switch ......................................... 314
Multi-terrain Select ............. 315
Snow mode switch ............. 318
Downhill assist control system ......................................... 319
Driving assist systems........ 321
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips............... 327Utility vehicle precautions ..
330
5-1. Toyota multi-operation touch Toyota multi-operation touch......................................... 334
5-2. Using the air conditioning  system and defogger
Front manual air conditioning system ............................. 336
Front automatic air conditioning  system ............................. 341
Rear manual air conditioning  system ............................. 354
Rear automatic air conditioning  system ............................. 356
Heated steering wheel/seat  heaters/seat ventilators.... 360
5-3. Using the interior lights Interior lights list ................. 363
5-4. Using the storage features List of storage features ...... 366
Luggage compartment features ......................................... 371
5-5. Using the other interior fea- tures
Other interior features ........ 37
 5
Garage door opener........... 387
6-1. Maintenance and care Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior................. 396
Cleaning and protecting the  vehicle interior.................. 399
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements......................................... 402
General maintenance......... 404
5Interior features
6Maintenance and care 
Page 13 of 568

13Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER_U
Pictorial index
■ Exterior
The shape of the lights may differ depending on the grade, etc.
Side doors ......... ................................. ................................ P.117
Locking/unlocking ................................................................ P.117
Opening/closing the side windows ....................................... P.167
Locking/unlocking by using the mechanical key .................. P.489
Warning lights/warning messages ............................... P.458, 468
Back door ........................................................................... P.121
Opening from inside the cabin
*............................................ P.124
Opening from outside........................................................... P.125
Warning lights/warning messages ............................... P.458, 468
Outside rear view mirrors ................................................. P.165
Adjusting the mirror angle .................................................... P.165
Folding the mirrors ............................................................... P.166
Driving position memory
*..................................................... P.147
Defogging the mirrors .................................................. P.337, 343
Windshield wipers.............................................................. P.222 
Page 177 of 568

177
4
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Driving
.4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle....... 179
Cargo and luggage ..... 186
Vehicle load limits ....... 189
Trailer towing............... 190
Dinghy towing ............. 201
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch.................................. 202
Automatic transmission .................................. 206
Turn signal lever.......... 210
Parking brake .............. 211
Brake Hold .................. 214
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch .......... 216
Automatic High Beam . 219
Fog light switch ........... 222
Windshield wipers and  washer....................... 222
Rear windshield wiper and  washer....................... 225
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap.................................. 227
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 + .................................. 229PCS (Pre-Collision System)
.................................. 235
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) .................................. 246
Dynamic radar cruise con- trol with full-speed range
.................................. 257
RSA (Road Sign Assist) .................................. 269
Stop & Start system .... 272
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) .................................. 278
Intuitive parking assist . 284
RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic  Alert) function ............ 292
PKSB (Parking Support  Brake) ........................ 297
Parking Support Brake func- tion (static objects) .... 304
Parking Support Brake func- tion (rear-crossing vehi-
cles) ........................... 310
Driving mode select switch .................................. 314
Multi-terrain Select ...... 315
Snow mode switch ...... 318
Downhill assist control sys- tem ............................ 319
Driving assist systems .................................. 321
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips........ 327 
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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 interferes 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 after all the doors 
are closed.)
●When only the tail lights are on: 
The tail lights turn off automati-
cally if the engine  switch is turned 
to ACC or OFF and 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  switch 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 other 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 unlocked 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 on 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) 
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2194-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
1Press the Automatic High 
Beam switch. 2
Push the lever away from 
you with the headlight switch 
in the   or   position.
The Automatic High Beam indicator 
will come on when the system is 
operating.
■Conditions to turn the high 
beams on/off automatically
●When all of the following condi-
tions are met, the high beams will 
be turned on automatically (after 
approximately 1 second):
• The vehicle speed is approxi-
mately 21 mph (34 km/h) or more.
• The area ahead of the vehicle is  dark.
• There are no vehicles ahead with  headlights or tail  lights turned on.
• There are few streetlights on the 
road ahead.
●If any of the following conditions is 
met, the high beams will turn off 
automatically:
• The vehicle speed is below 
approximately 17 mph (27 km/h).
• The area ahead of the vehicle is  not dark.
• Vehicles ahead have their head- lights or tail lights turned on.
• There are many streetlights on the  road ahead.
■Camera sensor detection infor-
mation
●The high beams may not be auto-
matically turned off in the following 
situations:
• When a vehicle suddenly appears 
Automatic High Beam
The Automatic High Beam 
uses a camera sensor 
located behind the upper 
portion of the windshield to 
assess the brightness of the 
lights of vehicles ahead, 
streetlights, etc., and auto-
matically turns the high 
beams on or off as neces-
sary.
WARNING
■Limitations of the Automatic 
High Beam
Do not overly rely on the Auto-
matic High Beam. Always drive 
safely, taking care  to observe your 
surroundings and turning the high 
beams on or off manually if nec-
essary.
■To prevent incorrect opera-
tion of the Automatic High 
Beam system
Do not overload the vehicle.
Activating the Automatic 
High Beam 
Page 220 of 568

2204-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_Ufrom around a curve
• When the vehicle is cut in front of  by another vehicle
• When vehicles ahead cannot be  detected due to repeated curves, 
road dividers or roadside trees
• When vehicles ahead appear in a  faraway lane on a wide road
• When the lights of vehicles ahead 
are not on
●The high beams may be turned off 
if a vehicle ahead that is using fog 
lights without its headlights turned 
on is detected.
●House lights, street lights, traffic 
signals, and illumi nated billboards 
or signs and other reflective 
objects may cause the high 
beams to change to the low 
beams, or the low beams to 
remain on.
●The following factors may affect 
the amount of time taken for the 
high beams to turn on or off:
• The brightness of the headlights,  fog lights, and tail lights of vehi-
cles ahead
• The movement and direction of  vehicles ahead
• When a vehicle ahead only has 
operational lights on one side
• When a vehicle ahead is a  two-wheeled vehicle
• The condition of the road (gradi- ent, curve, condition of the road 
surface, etc.)
• The number of passengers and  amount of luggage in the vehicle
●The high beams may turn on or off 
unexpectedly.
●Bicycles or similar vehicles may 
not be detected.
●In the following situations the sys-
tem may not be able to correctly 
detect the surrounding brightness 
level. This may cause the low 
beams to remain on or the high 
beams to flash or dazzle pedestri-
ans or vehicles ahead. In such a 
case, it is necess ary to manually 
switch between the high and low 
beams. • When driving in inclement weather 
(heavy rain, snow, fog, sand-
storms, etc.)
• When the windshield is obscured  by fog, mist, ice, dirt, etc.
• When the windshield is cracked or 
damaged
• When the camera sensor is  deformed or dirty
• When the temperature of the cam- era sensor is extremely high
• When the surrounding brightness 
level is equal to that of headlights, 
tail lights or fog lights
• When headlights or tail lights of 
vehicles ahead are turned off, 
dirty, changing color, or not aimed 
properly
• When the vehicle is hit by water,  snow, dust, etc. from a preceding 
vehicle
• When driving through an area of  intermittently changing brightness 
and darkness
• When frequently and repeatedly  driving ascending/descending 
roads, or roads with rough, bumpy 
or uneven surfaces (such as 
stone-paved roads, gravel roads, 
etc.)
• When frequently and repeatedly  taking curves or driving on a wind-
ing road
• When there is a highly reflective  object ahead of the vehicle, such 
as a sign or mirror
• When the back of a preceding  vehicle is highly reflective, such as 
a container on a truck
• When the vehicle’s headlights are  damaged or dirty, or are not aimed 
properly
• When the vehicle is listing or titling  due to a flat tire, a trailer being 
towed, etc.
• When the headlights are changed  between the high beams and low 
beams repeatedly in an abnormal 
manner
• When the driver believes that the  high beams may be flashing or 
dazzling pedestrians or other driv-
ers 
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2224-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U
*: If equipped
1 (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Turns the fog lights off
2  Turns the fog lights on
■Fog lights can be used when
The headlights are on in low beam.
Operate the   lever oper-
ates the wipers or washer as fol-
lows.
Intermittent windshield wip-
ers with interval adjuster
1  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Off
2  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Intermittent operation
Fog light switch*
The fog lights secure excel-
lent visibility in difficult driv-
ing conditions, such as in 
rain and fog.
Operating instructions
Windshield wipers and 
washer
Operating the lever can 
switch between automatic 
operation and manual oper-
ation, or can use the 
washer.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they 
may damage the windshield.
Operating the wiper lever 
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2234-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
3 (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Low speed operation
4  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
High speed operation
5  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Temporary operation
Wiper intervals can be adjusted 
when intermittent operation is 
selected.
6 Increases the intermittent 
windshield wiper frequency
7 Decreases the intermittent 
windshield wiper frequency
8  Washer/wiper dual 
operation
Pulling the lever operates the wip-
ers and washer.
Wipers will automatically operate a 
couple of times after the washer 
squirts.
Rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers
When “AUTO” is selected, the 
wipers will operate automatically 
when the sensor detects falling 
rain. The system automatically 
adjusts wiper timing in accor-
dance with rain volume and 
vehicle speed.
The sensor sensitivity can be 
adjusted when “AUTO” is 
selected.
1  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Off
2  Rain-sensing wiper oper-
ation
3  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Low speed operation
4  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
High speed operation
5  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Temporary operation
When AUTO mode is selected,  
Page 224 of 568

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 operates the wip-
ers and washer.
The wipers will automatically 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 afte r a short delay to 
prevent dripping. However, this 
function will not op erate 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 intermit tently strikes the 
windshield, or if bugs, etc. are 
present on the windshield
●If the wiper switch is 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  
Page 225 of 568

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