TOYOTA VERSO S 2011 Owners Manual

301
5 5-1. Before driving
Driving
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining,
because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and
the road could be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain,
as the road surface could be espe-
cially slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driv-
ing on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water
between the tires and the road sur-
face, preventing the steering and
brakes from operating properly.
■ECO Accelerator Guidance
(P.182)
It is easier to drive in an Eco-friendly
manner by driving while referring to the
ECO Accelerator Guidance display.
Also, by using the ECO Accelerator
Guidance it is easier to increase the
“Eco Score” evaluation.
●When starting off: While staying within
the ECO Accelerator Guidance range,
gradually depress the accelerator
pedal and accelerate to the desired
speed. If excessive acceleration is
avoided, the “Start” score will
increase.
●When driving: After accelerating to the
desired speed, release the accelera-
tor pedal and drive at a stable speed
within the ECO Accelerator Guidance
range. By keeping the vehicle within
the ECO Accelerator Guidance range,
the “Cruise” score will increase.
●When stopping: When stopping the
vehicle, early releasing the accelera-
tor pedal will cause the “Stop” score to
increase.
■Restraining the hybrid system out-
put (Brake Override System)
●When the accelerator and brake ped-
als are depressed at the same time,
the hybrid system output may be
restrained.
●A warning message is displayed on
the multi-information display and head-up display (if equipped) while
the system is operating. (P.574)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-
Start Control)
●When the following unusual operation
is performed, the hybrid system output
may be restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R
to D, D to R, N to R, P to D
*, or P to R*
(D includes S) with the accelerator
pedal depressed, a warning message
appears on the multi-information dis-
play and head-up display (if
equipped). If a warning message is
shown on the multi-information dis-
play, read the message and follow the
instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is
depressed too much while the vehicle
is in reverse.
*: Depending on the situation, the shift
lever may not be changed.
●While Drive-Start Control is being acti-
vated, your vehicle may have trouble
escaping from the mud or fresh snow.
In such case, deactivate TRC
(P.439) to cancel Drive-Start Con-
trol so that the vehicle may be able to
escape from the mud or fresh snow.
●Drive-Start Control does not work
when Trail Mode is turned on.
■Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observ-
ing the following precautions is recom-
mended:
●For the first 300 km (200 miles):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 800 km (500 miles):
Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 1000 km (600 miles):
• Do not drive at extremely high
speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low
gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for
extended periods.

3025-1. Before driving
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign
country
Comply with the relevant vehicle regis- tration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P.620)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY” indicator is illuminated. This
prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator pedals to avoid
depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accel- erator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden accelera- tion that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist
your body around, leading to a diffi- culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly. This allows
you to depress the brake and accel- erator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your
right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
●The driver should pay extra atten- tion to pedestrians when the vehicle is powered only by the electric
motor (traction motor). As there is no engine noise, the pedestrians may misjudge the vehicle’s move-
ment. Even though the vehicle is equipped with the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System, drive with care as
pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice the vehicle if the sur-rounding area is noisy.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable
materials such as leaves, paper or rags.The exhaust system and exhaust
gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turning the
hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or brak-ing control, however, power assist
to the steering will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull over
and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. In the event of an emergency, such
as if it becomes impossible to stop the vehicle in the normal way:  P.560
●Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill. Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and
lose effectiveness. ( P.321)
●Do not adjust the position of the
steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.

303
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●Always check that all passengers’ arms, head or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.
■When driving on slippery road
surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage
and reduce your ability to control the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine brak-ing due to shifting, or changes in engine speed could cause the vehi-
cle to skid.
●After driving through a puddle,
lightly depress the brake pedal to make sure that the brakes are func-tioning properly. Wet brake pads
may prevent the brakes from func- tioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not func-
tioning properly, steering control may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while a forward driving position is
selected, or roll forward while the shift lever is in R. Doing so may result in an accident
or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while
the vehicle is moving. Doing so can damage the transmis-sion and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while
the vehicle is moving forward. Doing so can damage the transmis-sion and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a driv- ing position while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmis- sion and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system. Engine braking is not available with the hybrid system disengaged.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal
depressed. Shifting the shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unex-
pected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
Doing so can damage the transmis- sion and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
■If you hear a squealing or scrap-ing noise (brake pad wear indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer as soon as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.It is dangerous to drive the vehicle
when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not depress the accelerator
pedal unnecessarily. If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accel-
erate suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.

3045-1. Before driving
WARNING
●In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always
keep depressing the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY” indicator is illuminated, and apply
the parking brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an
incline, in order to prevent acci- dents caused by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always
depress the brake pedal and securely apply the parking brake as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine.Running the engine at high speed
while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust system to over-heat, which could result in a fire if
combustible material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle when it is in the
sun. Doing so may result in the follow-ing:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to
deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, caus- ing the contents to spray over the
interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the seat
is adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not place containers such as air fresh-
eners on the instrument panel or dashboard. Adhesive discs or con-tainers may act as lenses, causing
a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window
open if the curved glass is coated with a metallized film such as a sil-ver-colored one. Reflected sunlight
may cause the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unat- tended while the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the parking brake is not set, the vehicle may start to
move, possibly leading to an acci- dent.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the “READY” indicator is illu-minated or immediately after turn-
ing the hybrid system off. Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move
the shift lever or depress the acceler- ator pedal, this could cause an acci-dent or fire due to hybrid system
overheating. Additionally, if the vehi- cle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and
enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.

305
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive
more cautiously. Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may
cause one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may
not securely hold the vehicle.
●If the electronically controlled brake
system does not operate, do not fol- low other vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require
braking. In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed
immediately.
●The brake system consists of 2 or
more individual hydraulic systems; if one of the systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the
brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have
your brakes fixed immediately.
■If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud,
etc. This may damage the driveline components or propel the vehicle for-ward or backward, causing an acci-
dent.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during driving, as this may restrain
the hybrid system output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle
parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there
for an extended period of time. Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to
avoid damaging the wheels, under- side of the vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Hold the steering wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P.582, 593)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain, etc. Doing so may cause the following serious dam-
age to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water
immersion

3065-1. Before driving
NOTICE
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is
flooded, be sure to have any autho- rized Toyota retailer or Toyota autho-rized repairer, or any reliable repairer
check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, hybrid transaxle (front and rear),
etc.
●Lubricant condition for the bearings
and suspension joints (where possi- ble), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and
shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following
information about storage pre-
cautions, cargo capacity and
load.
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compartment:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may prevent the ped-
als from being depressed properly, may block the driver’s vision, or may result in items hitting the driver or
passengers, possibly causing an acci- dent.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment whenever pos- sible.
●Do not stack anything in the lug-gage compartment higher than the seatbacks.
●When you fold down the rear seats, long items should not be placed
directly behind the front seats.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the
luggage compartment. It is not designed for passengers. They should ride in their seats with their
seat belts properly fastened. Other- wise, they are much more likely to suffer death or serious bodily injury,
in the event of sudden braking, sud- den swerving or an accident.

307
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover (if equipped)
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment.
■Load and distribution
●Do not overload your vehicle.
●Do not apply loads unevenly.
Improper loading may cause deterio-
ration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions:
●Place the cargo so that its weight is distributed evenly between the front
and rear axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never
exceed the vehicle overall length or width. ( P.618)
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is securely fastened on the roof lug-gage carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of grav-
ity of the vehicle higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or abrupt maneu-
vers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover due to failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly and result in death or serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough roads, or at high speeds, stop the vehicle now and then
during the trip to make sure the cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 80 kg (176.4 lb.) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Be careful not to scratch the surface
of the panoramic moon roof (if equipped).

3085-1. Before driving
■Tire information
●Increase the tire inflation pressure to
20.0 kPa (0.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi) greater than the recommended value when towing. ( P.624)
●Increase the air pressure of the trailer
tires in accordance with the total
trailer weight and according to the val- ues recommended by the manufac-turer of your trailer.
■Safety checks before towing
●Check that the maximum load limit for the towing hitch/bracket and hitch ball
is not exceeded. Bear in mind that the coupling weight of the trailer will add to the load exerted on the vehicle.
Also make sure that the total load exerted on the vehicle is within the range of the weight limits. ( P.309)
●Ensure that the trailer load is secure.
●Supplementary outside rear view mir- rors should be added to the vehicle if the traffic behind cannot be clearly
seen with standard mirrors. Adjust the extending arms of these mirrors on both sides of the vehicle so that they
always provide maximum visibility of the road behind.
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed pri-
marily as a passenger carry-
ing vehicle. Towing a trailer
will have an adverse effect on
handling, performance, brak-
ing, durability, and fuel con-
sumption. Your safety and
satisfaction depend on the
proper use of correct equip-
ment and cautious driving hab-
its. For your safety and the
safety of others, do not over-
load the vehicle or trailer.
To tow a trailer safely, use
extreme care and drive the
vehicle in accordance with the
trailer’s characteristics and
operating conditions.
Toyota warranties do not apply
to damage or malfunction
caused by towing a trailer for
commercial purposes.
Ask your local authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reli-
able repairer for further details
before towing, as there are
additional legal requirements
in some countries.
WARNING
Follow all the instructions described in
this section. Failure to do so could cause an acci-dent resulting in death or serious
injury.
■Trailer towing precautions
When towing, make sure that none of
the weight limits are exceeded. ( P.309)
■To avoid accident or injury
●Vehicles with compact spare tire: Do not tow a trailer when the com-
pact spare tire is installed on your vehicle.
●Vehicles with emergency tire punc-ture repair kit:Do not tow a trailer when the tire
installed is repaired with the emer- gency tire puncture repair kit.

309
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
Check the allowable towing capac-
ity, GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass),
MPAC (Maximum Permissible Axle
Capacity), and permissible drawbar
load before towing. ( P.618)
Toyota recommends the use of the
Toyota hitch/bracket for your vehi-
cle. Other products of a suitable
nature and comparable quality may
also be used.
For vehicles where the towing
device blocks any of the lights or
license plate, the following shall be
observed:
 Do not use towing device that
cannot be easily removed or
repositioned.
 Towing devices must be
removed or repositioned when
not in use.
Please consult any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer
when installing trailer lights, as
incorrect installation may cause
damage to the vehicle’s lights.
Please take care to comply with
your state’s laws when installing
trailer lights.
■Total trailer weight and per-
missible drawbar load
Total trailer weight
WARNING
●Do not use dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range (if
equipped) or cruise control (if equipped) when trailer towing.
■Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds for trailer towing.
■Before descending hills or long declines
Reduce speed and downshift. How- ever, never downshift suddenly while descending steep or long downhill
grades.
■Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal depressed often or for long periods of time.
Doing so may result in the brake over- heating or reduce braking effects.
Weight limits
Towing hitch/bracket
Connecting trailer lights
NOTICE
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle’s electrical sys-tem and cause a malfunction.
Important points regarding
trailer loads
A

3105-1. Before driving
Weight of the trailer itself plus the trailer
load should be within the maximum
towing capacity. Exceeding this weight
is dangerous. ( P.618)
When towing a trailer, use a friction
coupler or friction stabilizer (sway con-
trol device).
Permissible drawbar load
Allocate the trailer load so that the
drawbar load is greater than 25 kg
(55.1 lb.) or 4% of the towing capacity.
Do not let the drawbar load exceed the
indicated weight. ( P.618)
■Information tag (manufac-
turer’s label)
Gross vehicle mass
The combined weight of the driver, pas-
sengers, luggage, towing hitch, total
curb mass and drawbar load should not
exceed the gross vehicle mass by more
than 100 kg (220.5 lb.). Exceeding this
weight is dangerous.
Maximum permissible rear axle
capacity
The weight borne by the rear axle
should not exceed the maximum per-
missible rear axle capacity by 15% or
more. Exceeding this weight is danger-
ous.
The values for towing capacity were
derived from testing conducted at sea
level. Take note that hybrid system out-
put and towing capacity will be reduced
at high altitudes.
B
A
B
WARNING
■When the gross vehicle mass or
maximum permissible axle capacity is exceeded
Failing to observe this precaution may
lead to an accident causing death or serious injury.
●Add an additional 20.0 kPa (0.2
kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi) to the recom- mended tire inflation pressure
value. ( P.624)
●Do not exceed the established
speed limit for towing a trailer in built-up areas or 100 km/h (62 mph), whichever is lower.