Toyota Sequoia (2018 year). Manual - part 13

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If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability.

●

If trailer swaying occurs:

• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.

Do not try to control trailer swaying by turning the steering wheel.

• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal immediately but very gradually to

reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.

If you make no extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle
and trailer should stabilize. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can also help to
stabilize the vehicle and trailer.)

●

After the trailer swaying has stopped:

• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.

Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.

• Check the load in the vehicle.

Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.

If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the
towing vehicle-trailer increases as speed increases.

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WARNING

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Trailer towing precautions

●

To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accor-
dance with the trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to
do so could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle
stability and braking performance are affected by trailer stability, brake set-
ting and performance, and the hitch. Your vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer.

●

Vehicles with electronically modulated air suspension: Set the vehicle
height to the “N” mode and turn off the rear height control air suspension
when you connect a trailer, otherwise the vehicle height may change due
to the automatic leveling function, and you may catch part of your body in
the vehicle, resulting in an accident.

■

To avoid accident or injury

●

Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.

●

If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device
with sufficient capacity is required.

●

If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight distributing
hitch with sufficient capacity is required.

●

Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads
as close to the trailer axle as possible.

●

Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the
speed limit for your trailer as set forth in your trailer owner’s manual,
whichever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently before making a turn, in cross
winds, on wet or slippery surface, etc. to help avoid an accident. If you
experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing a certain speed, slow
down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the speed of
which you experience the instability.

●

Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.

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WARNING

●

Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery sur-
faces.

●

Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.

●

Do not use cruise control when towing.

●

Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long
downhill grades.

●

Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely on steep long downhills. Before
descending steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts when descending steep or long downhill
grades. Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the
brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result
in reduced braking efficiency.

●

Do not tow a trailer when the temporary spare tire is installed on your vehi-
cle.

■

Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the
hitch manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of
towing a higher weight, the operator must determine the maximum weight
rating of the particular hitch assembly and never exceed the maximum
weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight
rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause an accident resulting
in death or serious personal injuries.

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WARNING

■

When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.

●

If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.

●

Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.

●

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.

NOTICE

■

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.

■

Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing trailer lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

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Dinghy towing

Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels
on the ground) behind a motor home. 

NOTICE

■

To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground.

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Engine (ignition) switch

Check that the parking brake is set.

Check that the shift lever is set in P.

Firmly depress the brake pedal.

Turn the engine switch to the “START” position to start the engine.

“LOCK”

The steering wheel is locked and
the key can be removed. (The key
can be removed only when the
shift lever is in P.)

“ACC”

Some electrical components such
as the audio system can be used.

“ON”

All electrical components can be used.

“START”

For starting the engine.

Starting the engine

Changing the engine switch positions

1

2

3

4

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Turning the key from “ACC” to “LOCK”

Shift the shift lever to P. 

■

If the engine does not start
The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (

→P. 74)

Contact your Toyota dealer.

■

When the steering lock cannot be released

■

Key reminder function
A buzzer sounds if the driver’s door is opened, while the engine switch is in
the “LOCK” or “ACC” position to remind you to remove the key.

Push in the key and turn to the “LOCK”
position.

When starting the engine, the engine
switch may seem stuck in the “LOCK”
position. To free it, turn the key while turn-
ing the steering wheel slightly left and
right.

1

2

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WARNING

■

When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.

■

Caution when driving
Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position while driving. If, in an
emergency, you must turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, turn
the engine switch only to the “ACC” position to stop the engine. An accident
may result if the engine is stopped while driving.

NOTICE

■

To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the engine switch in the “ACC” or “ON” position for long peri-
ods of time without the engine running.

■

When starting the engine

●

Do not crank the engine for more than 30 seconds at a time. This may
overheat the starter and wiring systems.

●

Do not race a cold engine.

●

If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the engine
checked immediately.

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Automatic transmission

While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, move the shift
lever with the brake pedal depressed.

When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped.

*

1

: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in the D

position for normal driving.

*

2

: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the possible

gear ranges, controls engine braking forces, and prevents unnecessary
upshifting

Shifting the shift lever

Shift position purpose

Shift position

Objective or function

P

Parking the vehicle/starting the engine

R

Reversing

N

Neutral

D

Normal driving

*

1

S

S mode driving

*

2

 (

→P. 202)

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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 set to 3 if
AI-SHIFT has operated while the shift lever was in the D position.
(

→P. 203)

■

Shift ranges and their functions

● Automatically selecting gears between 1 and 6 according to vehicle

speed and driving conditions. But, the gear is limited according to
selected shift range.

● You can choose from 6 levels of engine braking force.
● A lower shift range will provide greater engine braking force than a

higher shift range, and the engine speed will also increase.

Changing shift ranges in S mode

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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 toward “+” 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 function.)

The engine speed may remain high after releasing the accelerator pedal. This
does not indicate a malfunction.

■

When driving with dynamic radar cruise control system
Engine braking will not occur in S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or 4.
(

→P. 257)

■

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 switch is in the
“ON” position and the brake pedal is being depressed.

“TOW/HAUL” switch (with towing package)

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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 brake 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 ensure that
the shift lever can be shifted.

Releasing the shift lock:

Set the parking brake.

Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position. 

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

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If the “S” indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to
S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately. 
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when
the shift lever is in D.)

■

Downshift restriction warning buzzer (S mode)
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may
sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may 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 locking 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 could 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 set the parking
brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of the brake pedal
when the shift lock override button is pressed and the shift lever is shifted
out of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, possibly leading to an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.

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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 the “ON” position.

■

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

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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. 460

■

Parking the vehicle
→P. 160

■

Usage in winter time
→P. 316

U.S.A. Canada

NOTICE

■

Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake
wear.

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Headlight switch

Turning the end of the lever turns on the lights as follows:



For U.S.A.

The headlights, daytime
running lights (

→P. 210)

and all the lights listed
below turn on and off
automatically. (When the
engine switch is in the
“ON” position)

The side marker, park-
ing, tail, license plate,
instrument panel lights,
and daytime running
lights (

→P. 210) 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