Toyota Matrix (2014 year). Manual — part 7

102

1-7. Safety information

MATRIX_U

CAUTION

■

When installing a booster seat

Do not fully extend the shoulder belt to prevent the belt from going to ALR
lock mode: (

→P. 49)

ALR mode causes the belt to tighten only which could cause injury or dis-
comfort to the child.

■

When installing a child restraint system

Follow the directions given in the child restraint system installation manual
and fix the child restraint system securely in place.
If the child restraint system is not correctly fixed in place, the child or other
passengers may be seriously injured or even killed in the event of sudden
braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

●

If the driver's seat interferes with the
child restraint system and prevents it
from being attached correctly, attach
the child restraint system to the right-
hand rear seat.

●

Adjust the front passenger seat so that
it does not interfere with the child
restraint system.

●

Only put a forward-facing or booster
child seat on the front seat when
unavoidable. When installing a forward-
facing or booster child seat on the front
passenger seat, move the seat as far
back as possible even if the “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated. Fail-
ing to do so may result in death or seri-
ous injury if the airbags deploy (inflate).

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CAUTION

■

When installing a child restraint system

●

When a booster seat is installed, always ensure that the shoulder belt is
positioned across the center of the child's shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from the child's neck, but not so that it could fall off the child's
shoulder. Failing to do so may result in death or serious injury in the event
of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

●

Ensure that the belt and tab are securely locked and the seat belt is not
twisted.

●

Push and pull the child seat from side to side and forward to be sure it is
secure.

●

After securing a child restraint system, never adjust the seat.

●

Follow all installation instructions provided by the child restraint system
manufacturer.

■

Do not use a seat belt extender

If a seat belt extender is used when installing a child restraint system, the
seat belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause
death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of sud-
den braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

■

To correctly attach a child restraint system to the anchors

When using the LATCH anchors, be sure that there are no foreign objects
around the anchors and that the seat belt is not caught behind the child
restraint. Make sure the child restraint system is securely attached, or it may
cause death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of
a sudden stop, sudden swerve or an accident.

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1-7. Safety information

MATRIX_U

When driving

2

105

MATRIX_U

2-1. Driving procedures

Driving the vehicle. . . 106
Engine (ignition) switch . 118
Automatic transmission. 122
Manual transmission . . 127
Turn signal lever . . . .. 129
Parking brake. . . . ... 130
Horn . . . . . . . . . 131

2-2. Instrument cluster

Gauges and meters . . . 132
Indicators and warning

lights . . . . . . . .. 135

2-3. Operating the lights and

wipers

Headlight switch. . . ... 138
Fog light switch . . . . 141
Windshield wipers and

washer . . . . . . ... 143

Rear window wiper and

washer . . . . . . ... 146

2-4. Using other driving

systems

Cruise control. . . . ... 148
Driving assist systems . . 152

2-5. Driving information

Cargo and luggage . . .. 157
Vehicle load limits . . . 161
Winter driving tips . . . 162
Trailer towing

(1.8 L 4-cylinder
[2ZR-FE] engine) . . ... 166

Trailer towing

(2.4 L 4-cylinder
[2AZ-FE] engine) . . ... 167

Dinghy towing (automatic

transmission) . . . . . 181

Dinghy towing (manual

transmission) . . . . . 182

106

MATRIX_U

2-1. Driving procedures

Driving the vehicle

The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driv-
ing.

■

Starting the engine
→P. 118

■

Driving
Automatic transmission

With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D.

(

→P. 122)

Release the parking brake.

(

→P. 130)

Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the
accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.

Manual transmission

With the clutch pedal fully depressed, shift the shift lever to
1.

(

→P. 127)

Release the parking brake.

(

→P. 130)

Gradually release the clutch pedal. At the same time, gently
depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.

■

Stopping
Automatic transmission

With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.

When the vehicle is stopped for an extended period of time, shift
the shift lever to P or N.

(

→P. 122)

Manual transmission

With the clutch pedal fully depressed, depress the brake
pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.

When the vehicle is stopped for an extended period of time, shift
the shift lever to N.

(

→P. 127)

STEP

1

STEP

2

STEP

3

STEP

1

STEP

2

STEP

3

STEP

1

STEP

2

STEP

1

STEP

2

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Parking the vehicle
Automatic transmission

With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake.

(

→P. 130)

Shift the shift lever to P.

(

→P. 122)

When parking on a hill, if necessary, block the wheels.

Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position and stop the
engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the key on your
person.

Manual transmission

With the clutch pedal fully depressed, depress the brake
pedal.
Set the parking brake.

(

→P. 130)

Shift the shift lever to N.

(

→P. 127)

When parking on a hill, shift the shift lever to 1 or R. If necessary,
block the wheels.

Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position and stop the
engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the key on your
person.

STEP

1

STEP

2

STEP

3

STEP

4

STEP

5

STEP

1

STEP

2

STEP

3

STEP

4

STEP

5

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2-1. Driving procedures

MATRIX_U

Starting on a steep uphill

Automatic transmission

Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.

Manual transmission

With the parking brake firmly set and the clutch pedal fully
depressed, shift the shift lever to 1.
Lightly depress the accelerator pedal at the same time as
gradually releasing the clutch pedal.
Release the parking brake.

■

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.

■

Engine speed while driving

In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving.
This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation
to meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.

●

The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill

●

When the accelerator pedal is released

STEP

1

STEP

2

STEP

3

STEP

1

STEP

2

STEP

3

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■

Breaking in your new Toyota

To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended
to observe:

●

For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.

●

For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.

●

For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):

• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive slowly with the manual transmission in a high gear.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

■

Drum-in-disc type parking brake system (if equipped)

Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of
brake system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or when-
ever the parking brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Toyota
dealer perform the bedding down operation.

■

Operating your vehicle in a foreign country

Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. (

→P. 442)

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CAUTION

■

When starting the vehicle (vehicles with an automatic transmission)

Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine run-
ning. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.

■

When driving the vehicle

●

Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.

• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake

pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident
that could result in death or serious injury.

• 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, allowing you to depress the brake and accelerator
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.

●

Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. This may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.

●

Vehicles with an automatic transmission: Do not let the vehicle roll back-
wards while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll forward while the
shift lever is in R. Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor
brake and steering performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the
vehicle.

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CAUTION

●

If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check that the back door is closed. Large amounts of exhaust in the vehi-
cle can cause driver drowsiness and an accident, resulting in death or a
serious health hazard. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.

●

Vehicles with an automatic transmission: Do not shift the shift lever to P
while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission 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 transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.

●

Do not shift the shift lever to D (vehicles with an automatic transmission) or
1 (vehicles with a manual transmission) while the vehicle is moving back-
ward.
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. 435

●

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. 123)

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CAUTION

●

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 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 that can cause accidents that may result in death or serious
injury.

●

Always check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their bod-
ies are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.

●

Do not drive the vehicle off-road.
This is not a AWD vehicle designed for real off-road driving. Proceed with
all due caution if it becomes unavoidable to drive off-road.

●

Do not drive across river crossings or through other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/electronic components to short circuit, damage
the engine or cause other serious damage to the vehicle.

●

Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire
failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer
to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.

■

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 or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.

●

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.

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CAUTION

■

When shifting the shift lever (vehicles with an automatic transmission)

Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.

■

When the vehicle is stopped

●

Do not race the engine. If the vehicle is in any gear other than P (vehicles
with an automatic transmission) or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, and may cause 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.

●

Vehicles with an automatic 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.

●

Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, 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 following.

• 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 eye glasses to deform or crack.

• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the

interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehi-
cle's electrical components.

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CAUTION

●

Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P (vehicles with an
automatic transmission), stop the engine and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.

●

Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the engine is running or immediately
after turning the engine off. Doing so may cause burns.

●

Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it
is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is
running, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. This may lead
to death or a serious health hazard.

■

Exhaust gases

Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO) that is colorless and
odorless. Inhaling exhaust gases may lead to death or a serious health haz-
ard.

●

If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area, stop the engine. In a closed
area, such as a garage, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle.
This may lead to death or a serious health hazard.

●

The exhaust should be checked occasionally. If there is a hole or crack
caused by corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise, be
sure to have the vehicle inspected and repaired by your Toyota dealer.
Failure to do so may allow exhaust gases to enter the vehicle, resulting in
death or a serious health hazard.

■

When taking a nap in the vehicle

Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, you may accidentally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal, which could cause an accident or fire
due to engine overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to
death or a serious health hazard.

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CAUTION

■

When braking the vehicle

●

When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously. Braking distance
increases when the brakes are wet, and 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 downhills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but it will require more force on the
pedal than usual. Braking distance may also increase. Have your brakes
fixed immediately.

●

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 braking distance
becomes longer.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.

■

If the vehicle becomes stuck or bogged (AWD models)

Do not spin the wheels recklessly when any of the tires is up in the air, or
stuck in sand or mud, etc. This may damage the drive system components
or propel the vehicle forward (or in another direction) and cause an accident.

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NOTICE

■

When driving the vehicle

●

Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during
driving, as this may restrain driving torque.

Manual transmission

●

Do not shift gears unless the clutch pedal is fully depressed. After shifting,
do not release the clutch pedal abruptly. Doing so may damage the clutch,
transmission and gears.

●

Observe the following to prevent the clutch from being damaged.

• Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving.

Doing so may cause clutch trouble.

• Do not use any gears other than the 1st gear when starting off and

moving forward.
Doing so may damage the clutch.

• Do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle when stopping on an uphill

grade.
Doing so may damage the clutch.

●

Do not shift the shift lever to R when the vehicle is still moving. Doing so
may damage the clutch, transmission and gears.

Automatic transmission

●

Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.

■

When parking the vehicle (vehicles with an automatic transmission)

Always put the shift lever in P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to
move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed.

■

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, underside of the vehicle, etc.

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NOTICE

■

If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)

Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon
as possible.
Rotor damage can 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.

■

If you get a flat tire while driving

A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.

●

It may be difficult to control your vehicle.

●

The vehicle will make abnormal sounds.

●

The vehicle will behave abnormally.

Replace a flat tire with a new one. (

→P. 411)

■

When encountering flooded roads

Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle.

●

Engine stalling

●

Short in electrical components

●

Engine damage caused by water immersion

In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be
sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following.

●

Brake function

●

Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine,
transaxle, transfer (AWD vehicles), differential, etc.

●

Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft (AWD vehicles), bearings and
suspension joints (where possible) and the function of all joints, bearings,
etc.