brakes TOYOTA VERSO S 2012 Owners Manual

155 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
VERSO-S_EE
Driving in the rain
Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially slippery.
Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road
surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is rec-
ommended:
For the first 300 km (186 miles):
Avoid sudden stops.
For the first 800 km (500 miles):
Do not tow a trailer.
For the first 1000 km (621 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.
Idling time before stopping the engine (diesel engine)
To prevent damage to the turbocharger, allow the engine to idle immediately
after high-speed driving or driving up a hill.
Driving conditionIdling time
Normal city driving Not necessary
High-speed driv-
ingConstant speed of approx.
80 km/h (50 mph)Approximately 20
seconds
Constant speed of approx.
100 km/h (63 mph)Approximately 1 minute
Steep hill driving or continuous driving at 100
km/h (63 mph) or more (race track driving etc.)Approximately 2
minutes

158 2-1. Driving procedures
VERSO-S_EE
CAUTION
Do not shift the shift lever to D (vehicles with a Multidrive), E, M (vehicles
with a multi-mode manual transmission) or 1 (vehicles with a manual
transmission) while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the
engine from the transmission. Engine braking is not available when N is
selected.
During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off
while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the
power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more difficult to
steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it
is safe to do so.
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible
to stop the vehicle in the normal way: P. 496
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. 181, 186)
When stopped on an inclined surface, use the brake pedal and parking
brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or forward and causing
an accident.
Do not adjust the positions 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 that can cause accidents,
resulting in death or serious injury.
Always check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their body
are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
When driving on slippery road surfaces
Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-
shifting and down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.

159 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
VERSO-S_EE
CAUTION
After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in
an accident.
When shifting the shift lever (except vehicles with a manual transmis-
sion)
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to a gear other than P (vehicles with a Multidrive only)
or N may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by any authorized Toyota dealer
or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional 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 race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P (vehicles with a Multidrive only) or
N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an
accident.
Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space
and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
Except vehicles with a manual transmission: In order to prevent accidents
due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing the brake pedal
while the engine is running, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake as needed.

162 2-1. Driving procedures
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CAUTION
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 power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow 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.
Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
The brake system consists of 2 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.
If this happens, do not continue to drive the vehicle. Have your brakes
fixed immediately.

233
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
VERSO-S_EE
Driving assist systems
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following sys-
tems operate automatically in response to various driving situations.
Be aware, however, that these systems are supplementary and
should not be relied upon too heavily when operating the vehicle.
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if
the brakes are applied while driving on a slippery road surface
Brake assist
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a panic stop situation
VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) (if equipped)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning
on slippery road surfaces
VSC+ (Vehicle Stability Control +) (if equipped)
Provides cooperative control of the ABS, TRC, VSC and EPS.
Helps to maintain stability when swerving on slippery road surfaces by
controlling steering performance.
TRC (Traction Control) (if equipped)
Helps to maintain drive power and prevent the drive wheels from spin-
ning when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads
Hill-start assist control (with Stop & Start system and Multi-
drive)
Helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when the brake
pedal is released to restart the engine
EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce the amount of effort needed to turn
the steering wheel

243
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
VERSO-S_EE
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving
the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropri-
ate to the prevailing weather conditions.
Pre-winter preparations
Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tem-
peratures.
• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Washer fluid
Have a service technician inspect the level and specific grav-
ity of battery electrolyte.
Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set
of tire chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand and that their wear
level is not noticeably different with each other. Also make sure that
chains match the size of the tires.
Before driving the vehicle
Perform the following according to the driving conditions:
Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is
frozen. Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice.
Wipe away the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.
To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan,
remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents
in front of the windshield.
Remove any ice that has accumulated on the vehicle chassis.
Periodically check for and remove any excess ice or snow
that may have accumulated in the wheel well or on the
brakes.

254 2-5. Driving information
VERSO-S_EEIncreasing vehicle-to-vehicle distance
At a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph), the distance to the vehicle running
ahead of you should be equivalent to or greater than the combined
length of your vehicle and trailer. Avoid sudden braking that may
cause skidding. Otherwise, the vehicle may spin out of control.
This is especially true when driving on wet or slippery road sur-
faces.
Sudden acceleration/steering input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing may result in the trailer collid-
ing with your vehicle. Decelerate well in advance when approach-
ing turns and take them slowly and carefully to avoid sudden
braking.
Important points regarding turning
The wheels of the trailer will travel closer to the inside of the curve
than the wheels of the vehicle. To make allowance for this, take the
turns wider than you would normally do.
Important points regarding stability
Vehicle movement resulting from uneven road surfaces and strong
crosswinds will affect handling. The vehicle may also be rocked by
passing buses or large trucks. Frequently check behind when mov-
ing alongside such vehicles. As soon as such vehicle movement
occurs, immediately start to decelerate smoothly by slowly apply-
ing the brakes. Always steer the vehicle straight ahead while brak-
ing.
Passing other vehicles
Consider the total combined length of your vehicle and trailer and
ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is sufficient before exe-
cuting lane changes.

420 5-1. Essential information
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Emergency towing
If a tow truck is not available in
an emergency, your vehicle may
be temporarily towed using a
cable or chain secured to the
emergency towing eyelet(s).
This should only be attempted
on hard surfaced roads for short
distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to
steer and operate the brakes.
The vehicle’s wheels, drive train,
axles, steering and brakes must
be in good condition.
For vehicles with a Multidrive,
only the front towing eyelet may
be used.

5
425 5-1. Essential information
When trouble arises
VERSO-S_EE
CAUTION
Caution while towing
Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive
stress on the emergency towing eyelets and the cables or chains. Always
be cautious of the surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
Vehicles with a smart entry & start system: Do not turn the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch off.
Doing so will lock the steering wheel and prevent operation, possibly caus-
ing an accident and resulting in death or serious injury.
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering
will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.
Installing towing eyelet to the vehicle
Make sure that towing eyelet is installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelet may come loose during towing. This
may lead to accidents that cause serious injury or even death.

5
453 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
VERSO-S_EE
CAUTION
Only use the tire jack that comes with this vehicle for replacing a flat tire.
Do not use it on other vehicles, and do not use other tire jacks for replac-
ing tires on this vehicle.
Always check that the tire jack is securely set to the jack point.
Do not put any part of your body under the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack.
Do not start or run the engine while your vehicle is supported by the jack.
Do not raise the vehicle while someone is inside.
When raising the vehicle, do not put an object on or under the jack.
Do not raise the vehicle to a height greater than that required to replace
the tire.
Use a jack stand if it is necessary to get under the vehicle.
Take particular care when lowering the vehicle to ensure that no one working
on or near the vehicle may be injured.
Replacing a flat tire
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of death or serious
injury:
Do not attach a heavily damaged wheel ornament, as it may fly off the
wheel while the vehicle is moving.
Do not touch the disc wheels or the area around the brakes immediately
after the vehicle has been driven.
After the vehicle has been driven the disc wheels and the area around the
brakes will be extremely hot. Touching these areas with hands, feet or
other body parts while changing a tire, etc. may result in burns.
Have the wheel nuts tightened with a torque wrench to 103 N•m (10.5
kgf•m, 76 ft•lbf) as soon as possible after changing wheels.
When installing a tire, only use wheel nuts that have been specifically
designed for that wheel.
If there are any cracks or deformations in the bolt screws, nut threads or
bolt holes of the wheel, have the vehicle inspected by any authorized
Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-
sional.