TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2021 Owners Manual (in English)

2214-2. Driving procedures
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Driving
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When the shift lever is in the S position, the shift lever can be oper-
ated as follows:
Upshifting
Downshifting
The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 5 or 4 accord-
ing to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be s et to 3 if
AI-SHIFT has operated while the shift lever was in the D positi on.
(  P. 222)
■Shift ranges and their functions
● Automatically selecting gears between 1 and 6 according to vehi cle
speed and driving conditions. But, the gear is limited accordin g to
selected shift range.
● You can choose from 6 leve ls of engine braking force.
● A lower shift range will provide greater engine braking force t han a
higher shift range, and the engine speed will also increase.
Changing shift ranges in S mode

2224-2. Driving procedures
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Use “TOW/HAUL” mode when pulling a trailer or hauling a heavy
load.
Press the “TOW/HAUL” switch.
The indicator will come on.
Press the switch once more to can-
cel the mode.
■S mode
When the shift range is 3 or lower, holding the shift lever tow ard “+” sets the
shift range to 5.
■ AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the optimal gear according to driver perfor-
mance and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D position.
(Shifting the shift lever to the S position cancels the functio n.)
The engine speed may remain high after releasing the accelerato r pedal. This
does not indicate a malfunction.
■ When driving with dynamic r adar cruise control system
Engine braking will not occur in S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or 4.
( P. 276)
■ Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent accidental operation of the shift
lever in starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only when the engine swit ch is in ON
and the brake pedal is being depressed.
“TOW/HAUL” switch (with towing package)

2234-2. Driving procedures
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Driving
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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 brak e pedal, there may
be a problem 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 ensu re that
the shift lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake.
Turn the engine switch to OFF.
Depress the brake pedal.
Pry the cover up with a flathead screw-
driver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover
the tip of the screwdriver with a rag.
Press the shift lock override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while the
button is pressed.
1
2
3
4
5

2244-2. Driving procedures
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If the “S” indicator does not come on even after shifting the s hift lever to
S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission s ystem. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same m anner as when
the shift lever is in D.)
■ Downshift restriction warning buzzer (S mode)
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting ope ration may
sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting ma y not be
possible even when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■ Transmission protection function
If the tires spin continually when the vehicle becomes stuck in mud, dirt or
snow, the automatic transmission temperature may become too high and
cause damage.
To avoid the damaging the automatic transmission, the system may tempo-
rarily lock the gear in 1st.
If the automatic transmission temperature falls, the gear locki ng is canceled
and returns the automatic transmission to the normal operation.
WARNING
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this cou ld result in
the vehicle skidding to the side or spinning.
■ To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override button, make sure to se t the parking
brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of t he brake pedal
when the shift lock override button is pressed and the shift le ver is shifted
out of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, possibly leading to a n accident
resulting in death or serious injury.

2254-2. Driving procedures
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Driving
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Turn signal lever
The lever will return to its original position after operation.
Right turn
Lane change to the right (move
the lever partway and release
it)
The right hand signals will flash 3
times.
Lane change to the left (move
the lever partway and release
it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
Left 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.
Operating instructions

2264-2. Driving procedures
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Parking brake
To set the parking brake, fully
depress the parking brake pedal
with your left foot while depress-
ing the brake pedal with your right
foot.
(Depressing the pedal again
releases the parking brake.)
■Parking the vehicle engaged warning buzzer
P. 482
■ Parking the vehicle
P. 176
■ Usage in winter time
P. 335
U.S.A.Canada
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to bra ke components
overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake
wear.

2274-3. Operating the lights and wipers
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Driving
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Headlight switch
Operating the switch turn s on the lights as follows:
For U.S.A.
The headlights, daytime
running lights ( P. 2 2 9 )
and all the lights listed
below turn on and off
automatically. (When the
engine switch is in ON)
The side marker, park-
ing, tail, license plate,
instrument panel lights,
and daytime running
lights ( P. 229) turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above
(except daytime run-
ning lights) turn on.
The daytime running lights turn off.
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
Operating instructions

2284-3. Operating the lights and wipers
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For CanadaThe headlights, daytime
running lights ( P. 2 2 9 )
and all the lights listed
above turn on and off
automatically. (When
the engine switch is in
ON)
The side marker, park-
ing, tail, license plate,
instrument panel lights
and daytime running
lights ( P. 229) turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above
(except daytime run-
ning lights) turn on.
With 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.
Pull 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.
Turning on the high beam headlights

2294-3. Operating the lights and wipers
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Driving
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■Daytime running light system
●The daytime running lights illuminate using the same lights as the parking
lights and illuminate brighter than the parking lights.
● To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during dayti me driving,
the daytime running lights turn on automatically when all of the following
conditions are met. (The daytime running lights are not designe d for use at
night.)
• The engine is running
• The parking brake is released
• The headlight switch is in the (Canada only), or
* posi-
tion
*: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain on after they illuminate, eve n if the park-
ing brake is set again.
● For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by ope rating the
switch.
● Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running ligh t system
offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve
fuel economy.
■ Headlight control sensor
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, 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 headlight sys-
tem to malfunction.

2304-3. Operating the lights and wipers
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Automatic light off system
●When the headlights come on: The headlights and tail lights aut omatically
turn off after 30 seconds when all doors are closed with the en gine switch
turned to ACC or OFF. (The lights turn off immediately if the button on
the wireless remote control is pressed after all doors are locked.)
● When only the tail lights come on: The tail lights turn off aut omatically with
the engine switch turned to ACC or OFF and the driver’s door is opened.
To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to ON, or t urn the headlight
switch off once and then back to the or position.
■ Customization
Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be changed.
(Customizable features: P. 546)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than necessary when the engin e is not
running.