Scion iA. Service Manual - part 11

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3-3. Transaxle

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Manually shifting up

●

When driving slowly, the gears may not shift up.

●

In manual shift mode, do not run the engine with the tachometer needle in
the RED ZONE. When the engine rpm is high, a gear may shift up automat-
ically to protect the engine.

●

When depressing the accelerator fully, the transaxle will shift to a lower
gear, depending on vehicle speed.

■

Manually shifting down

●

When driving at high speeds, the gear may not shift down.

●

During deceleration, the gear may automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.

●

When depressing the accelerator fully, the transaxle will shift to a lower
gear, depending on vehicle speed.

WARNING

■

Do not use engine braking on slippery road surfaces or at high speeds
Shifting down while driving on wet, snowy, or frozen roads, or while driving
at high speeds causes sudden engine braking, which is dangerous. The
sudden change in tire speed could cause the tires to skid. This could lead to
loss of vehicle control and an accident.

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3-3. Transaxle

■

Passing

For extra power when passing another vehicle or climbing steep
grades, depress the accelerator fully. The transaxle will shift to a
lower gear, depending on vehicle speed.

Some models:
The accelerator pedal may initially feel heavy as it is being depressed,
then feel lighter as it is depressed further. This change in pedal force
aids the engine control system in determining how much the accelerator
pedal has been depressed for performing kickdown, and functions to
control whether or not kickdown should be performed.

■

Climbing steep grades from a stop

To climb a steep grade from a stopped position:

Depress the brake pedal.

Shift to D or M1, depending on the load weight and grade steep-
ness.

Release the brake pedal while gradually accelerating.

■

Descending steep grades

When descending a steep grade, shift to lower gears, depending on
load weight and grade steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them from overheating.

Driving Tips

WARNING

■

Do not let the vehicle move in a direction opposite to the direction
selected by the selector lever
Do not let the vehicle move backward with the selector lever in a forward
position, or do not let the vehicle move forward with the selector lever in the
reverse position. Otherwise, the engine may stop, causing the loss of the
power brake and power steering functions, and make it difficult to control
the vehicle which could result in an accident.

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3-4. Switches and Controls

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Lighting Control

Turn the headlight switch to turn
the headlights, other exterior
lights and dashboard illumination
on or off.

When the lights are turned on, the
lights-on indicator light in the com-
bination meter turns on.

●

If the light switch is left on, the lights will automatically switch off approxi-
mately 30 seconds after switching the ignition off.
The time setting can be changed.
Refer to Customizable Features on P. 572.

●

To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while the
engine is off unless safety requires them.

Headlights

Switch Position

Ignition Position

ON

ACC 

or 

OFF

ON

ACC 

or 

OFF

ON

ACC 

or 

OFF

Headlights

Off

Off

Off

Off

On

On

Daytime running lights 
(if equipped)

On

Off

On

Off

Off

Off

Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lights
Dashboard illumination

Off

Off

On

On

On

On

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3-4. Switches and Controls

The headlights switch between
high and low beams by moving
the lever forward or backward.

When the headlight high-beams
are on, the headlight high-beam
indicator light is turned on.

Can be used when the ignition is switched ON.

OFF

Flashing

To flash the headlights, pull the
lever fully towards you (the head-
light switch does not need to be
on).

The headlight high-beam indicator
light in the combination meter illu-
minates simultaneously. The lever
will return to the normal position
when released.

Headlight High-Low Beam

Low beam

High beam

Flashing the Headlights

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3-4. Switches and Controls

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The coming home light system turns on the headlights (low beams)
when the lever is operated.

■

To turn on the system

When the lever is pulled with
the ignition switched to ACC or
OFF, the low beam headlights
turn on.

The headlights turn off after a
certain period of time has
elapsed after the doors are
closed.

●

The time until the headlights turn off after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to Customizable Features on P. 572.

●

If no operations are done for 3 minutes after the lever is pulled, the head-
lights turn off.

●

The headlights turn off if the lever is pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.

The leaving home light system turns on the lights when the smart key
unlock button is pressed while away from the vehicle.

Lock button

Unlock button

Coming Home Light System

Leaving Home Light System

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3-4. Switches and Controls

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To turn on the system

When the ignition switch and the headlight switch are as indicated
below, the headlights will illuminate when the smart key unlock but-
ton is pressed and the vehicle receives the smart key signal. The
headlights turn off after a certain period of time has elapsed (30
seconds).

• Ignition switch: off
• Headlight switch: 

 or 

The following lights turn on when the leaving home light system is
operated.

Low beams, Parking lights, Taillights, License lights

●

Operation of the leaving home light system can be turned on or off.
Refer to Customizable Features on P. 572.

●

When the smart key lock button is pressed and the vehicle receives the
smart key signal, the headlights turn off.

●

When the headlight switch is in a position other than 

 or 

, the head-

lights turn off.

Some countries require moving vehicles to have their lights on (day-
time running lights) during the daytime.

The daytime running lights turn on automatically when the vehicle
starts moving.
They turn off when the parking brake is operated or the shift lever is
shifted to the P position (automatic transaxle vehicle).

Except Canada:
The daytime running lights can be deactivated.
Refer to Customizable Features on P. 572.

Daytime Running Lights

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3-4. Switches and Controls

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Fog Lights



The foglights can be used when the ignition is switched ON.

The fog lights turn on when the
fog light switch is turned to the 
position and turn off when the
switch is turned to the 

 posi-

tion.

The fog lights turn on when the
headlights are turned on. They will
not turn on if the headlight switch is
in the 

 position or 

 posi-

tion.

The fog lights will turn off when the headlights are set at high beams.



: If equipped

Use this switch to turn on the fog lights. The fog lights will
improve visibility at night and during foggy conditions.

Fog light switch

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3-4. Switches and Controls

Turn and Lane-Change Signals

The ignition must be switched ON to use the turn and lane-change
signals.

Move the signal lever down (for a
left turn) or up (for a right turn) to
the stop position. The signal will
self-cancel after the turn is com-
pleted.

If the indicator light continues to
flash after a turn, manually return
the lever to its original position.

The turn signal indicators (green)
in the combination meter flash
according to the operation of the
turn signal lever to show which
signal is working.

●

If an indicator light stays on without flashing or if it flashes abnormally, one
of the turn signal bulbs may be burned out.

●

A customized function is available to change the turn indicator sound vol-
ume. (

P. 572)

Move the lever halfway toward the direction of the lane change—until
the indicator flashes—and hold it there. It will return to the off position
when released.

Turn Signals

Right turn

Right lane change

OFF

Left lane change

Left turn

Lane-Change Signals

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After releasing the turn signal lever, the turn signal indicator flashes
three times. The operation can be cancelled by moving the lever in
the direction opposite to which it was operated.

The three-flash turn signal function can be switched to operable/inoperable
using the customization function.
Refer to Customizable Features on P. 572.

Three-Flash Turn Signal

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3-4. Switches and Controls

Windshield Wipers and Washer

The ignition must be switched ON to use the wipers.

Because heavy ice and snow can jam the wiper blades, the wiper motor is
protected from motor breakdown, overheating and possible fire by a circuit
breaker. This mechanism will automatically stop operation of the blades, but
only for about 5 minutes.

If this happens, turn off the wiper switch and park off the right-of-way, and
remove the snow and ice.

After 5 minutes, turn on the switch and the blades should operate normally. If
they do not resume functioning, consult your Scion dealer as soon as possi-
ble. Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way. Wait until the
weather clears before trying to drive with the wipers inoperative.

WARNING

■

Use only windshield washer fluid or plain water in the reservoir
Using radiator antifreeze as washer fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the windshield, affect your visibility, and could result
in an accident.

■

Only use windshield washer fluid mixed with anti-freeze protection in
freezing weather conditions
Using windshield washer fluid without anti-freeze protection in freezing
weather conditions is dangerous as it could freeze on the windshield and
block your vision which could cause an accident. In addition, make sure the
windshield is sufficiently warmed using the defroster before spraying the
washer fluid.

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Turn the wipers on by pressing
the lever up or down.

■

Variable-speed intermittent wipers

Set the lever to the intermittent
position and choose the interval
timing by rotating the ring.

Windshield Wipers

Switch Position

Wiper operation

Single wipe cycle (mist)

Intermittent

Low speed

High speed

INT ring

Slow

Fast

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3-4. Switches and Controls

OFF

Washer

Pull the lever toward you and hold
it to spray washer fluid.

If the washer does not work, inspect the fluid level (

P. 435). If the

fluid level is normal, consult your Scion dealer.

With the wiper lever in the 

 or 

 position, the wipers will operate contin-

uously until the lever is released.

Windshield Washer

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3-4. Switches and Controls

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Rear Window Defogger

The ignition must be switched ON to use the defogger.

Press the switch to turn on the
rear window defogger. The rear
window defogger operates for
about 15 minutes and then turns
off automatically.
The indicator light illuminates
when the defogger is operating.

To turn off the rear window defog-
ger before the 15 minutes has
elapsed, press the switch again.

This defogger is not designed for melting snow. If there is an accumulation of
snow on the rear window, remove it before using the defogger.

To turn on the mirror defoggers, switch the ignition ON and press the
rear window defogger switch (

P. 185).

The rear window defogger clears fog from the rear window.

Indicator light

NOTICE

Do not use sharp instruments or window cleaners with abrasives to clean
the inside of the rear window surface. They may damage the defogger grid
inside the window.

Mirror Defogger (if equipped)

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3-4. Switches and Controls

Hazard Warning Flasher

The hazard warning lights warn
other drivers that your vehicle is a
traffic hazard and that they must
take extreme caution when near
it.

Depress the hazard warning
flasher and all the turn signals will
flash. The hazard warning indica-
tor lights in the combination meter
flash simultaneously.

●

The turn signals do not work when the hazard warning lights are on.

●

Check local regulations about the use of hazard warning lights while the
vehicle is being towed to verify that it is not in violation of the law.

The hazard warning lights should always be used when you stop
on or near a roadway in an emergency.

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3-5. Brake

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Brake System

This vehicle has power-assisted brakes that adjust automatically
through normal use.

Should power-assist fail, you can stop by applying greater force than
normal to the brake pedal. But the distance required to stop will be
greater than usual.

Foot Brake

WARNING

■

Do not coast with the engine stalled or turned off, find a safe place to
stop
Coasting with the engine stalled or turned off is dangerous. Braking will
require more effort, and the brake’s power-assist could be depleted if you
pump the brake. This will cause longer stopping distances or even an acci-
dent.

■

Shift to a lower gear when going down steep hills
Driving with your foot continuously on the brake pedal or steadily applying
the brakes for long distances is dangerous. This causes overheated brakes,
resulting in longer stopping distances or even total brake failure. This could
cause loss of vehicle control and a serious accident. Avoid continuous
application of the brakes.

■

Dry off brakes that have become wet by driving slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying the brakes several times until
the brake performance returns to normal
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous. Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when braking could result in a serious accident.
Light braking will indicate whether the brakes have been affected.

■

To apply the brakes correctly

●

Wear shoes appropriate for driving in order to avoid your shoe contacting
the brake pedal when depressing the accelerator pedal.

●

Always depress the brake pedal with
the right foot. Applying the brakes with
the unaccustomed left foot could slow
your reaction time to an emergency sit-
uation resulting in insufficient braking
operation.

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3-5. Brake

■

Setting the parking brake

Depress the brake pedal and
then firmly pull the parking
brake lever fully upwards with
sufficient force to hold the vehi-
cle in a stationary position.

■

Releasing the parking brake

Depress the brake pedal and
pull the parking brake lever
upwards, then press the
release button. While holding
the button, lower the parking
brake lever all the way down to
the released position.

NOTICE

Do not drive with your foot held on the clutch pedal or brake pedal, or hold
the clutch pedal depressed halfway unnecessarily. Doing so could result in
the following:

●

The clutch and brake parts will wear out more quickly.

●

The brakes can overheat and adversely affect brake performance.

Parking Brake