tow TOYOTA YARIS HATCHBACK 2009 Owner's Manual

167
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
n
Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
lEnsure that your vehicle’
s tires are properly inflated. ( →P. 351)
l T
railer tires should be inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s rec -
ommendation.
l All trailer light
s work to be legal.
l Confirm all light
s work each time you connect them.
l Check
that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded trailer
is hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle is not level, and check for improper
tongue load, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
l Make s
ure the trailer cargo is securely loaded.
lCheck
that your rear view mirrors c onform to any federal, state/provincial
or local regulations. If they do not, inst all rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.
n Break-in schedule
l T
oyota recommends that you do not use a new vehicle or a vehicle with
any new power train components (engine, transmission, differential,
wheel bearings, etc.) to tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (800 km) of
driving.
n Main
tenance
lIf you tow a trailer
, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance
due to the additional load. (See “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
l Retighten the fixing
bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approxi -
mately 600 miles (1000 km).

168 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
nTo avoid accident or injury
lThe total trailer weight (trailer weight plus the weight of cargo) must not
exceed 700 lb. (318 kg)
l Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue load capacities.
n Hitches
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the
hitch manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be rated for towing a
higher weight, the operator must never exceed the maximum weight rating
specified for the trailer hitch.
lIf you wish to install a trailer hitch, your Toyota dealer should be consulted.
l Use only a hitch that conforms to the total trailer weight requirement.
l Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
l Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.
l Remove the trailer hitch whenever y ou are not towing a trailer to reduce
the possibility of additional damage caused by the hitch if your vehicle is
struck from behind.
n When towing a trailer
lNever tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.
l Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both
the trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.

169
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer. The three
main causes of vehicle-trailer ac cidents are driver error, excessive
speed and improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when towing.
l Before st
arting out, check the trailer’s light and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
l Practice tu
rning, stopping and revers ing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until y ou become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle.
NOTICE
n When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Toyota dealer. Do not install the
trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
n Brakes
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
n Safety chain
A safety chain must always be used between the towing vehicle and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns. The chain should cross
under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground in
the case that it becomes damaged or separated. For the correct safety chain
installation procedure, ask your Toyota dealer.
n Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing may damage your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a
malfunction.

170 2-5. Driving information
lReversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to the right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci -
dent.
l As stopp
ing distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least o ne vehicle and trailer length.
l A
void sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of control. This is especiall y true on wet or slippery surfaces.
l A
void jerky starts or sudden acceleration. Vehicles with a manual
transmission, prevent excessive clut ch slippage by keeping engine
rpm low and not racing the engine. Always start out in first gear.
l A
void jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak -
ing a turn.
l Note
that when making a turn, th e trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a larger than normal turning radius.
l Cr
osswinds and rough roads will adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway. Periodically check the rear to
prepare for being passed by large trucks or buses, which may
cause your vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying occurs, firmly grip
the steering wheel, reduce speed immediately but gradually, and
steer straight ahead. Never increase speed. If you make no
extreme correction with the steeri ng or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer will stabilize.
l T
ake care when passing other v ehicles. Passing requires consider -
able distance. After passing a vehi cle
, do not forget the length of
your trailer, and be sure you have plenty of room before changing
lanes.

172 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
nTo avoid an accident
lDo not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or posted towing speed limit, whichever
is lower. As instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination
increases as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may cause
loss of control.
l Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts.
l Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.

173
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Dinghy towing (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
NOTICE
nTo avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on
the ground) behind a motor home.

174
2-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing (vehicles with a manual transmission)
Towing your vehicle with 4 wheels on the ground
To prevent damage to your vehicle, perform the following procedures
before towing.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Turn the engine switch to the ACC position.
Ensure that the audio system and other powered devices have been
turned off.
Release the parking brake.
After towing, leave the engine in idle for at least 3 minutes before
driving the vehicle.
nNecessary equipment and accessories
Specialized equipment and accessories are required for dinghy towing. Con -
tact the service branch of the motor home manufacturer regarding recom -
mended equipment.
Your vehicle can be dinghy towed in a forward direction (with 4
wheels on the ground) behind a motor home.
Dinghy towing does not elimi -
nate the possibility of damage
t

o your vehicle.

175
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
NOTICE
n
Dinghy towing direction
n To prevent the steering from locking
Ensure the engine switch is in the ACC position.
Do not tow the vehicle backwards.
Doing so may cause serious damage.

182 3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Direct air flow to the left or right,
up or down.
When defrosting the side win -
dows, face the right and left
side ou
tlets toward them.
Opening and closing the air outlets
Center outlets
Open the vent.
Close the vent.

216 3-4. Using the storage features
Rear (5-door models)
nBottle holders
Depending on their size or shape, some bottles may not fit in the holders.
NOTICE
n Items that should not be stowed in the bottle holders
Put the cap on before stowing a bottle. Do not place open bottles in the bot-
tle holders, or glasses and paper cups containing liquid. The contents may
spill and glasses may break.
Bottle holders