1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Owners Manual

70
Vehicles with cruise controlÐWhen the cruise control is being used, even if you downshift the transmission by turning off the overdrive
switch, engine braking will not be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For ways to decrease the vehicle speed, see
Cruise controlº in this chapter.
Automatic transmission
FourÐwheel drive control

71
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of Pº position when the brake
pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ONº position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in How
to start the engineº in Part 3. The trans- mission must be in Pº or Nº.
When the front drive control lever is in L4º
(low-speed position, four-wheel drive),
the driving pattern selector setting has no
effect on gear shift timing. (See Four-
wheel drive systemº in this chapter for in-
formation of the front drive control lever.)
2. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, shift the selector lever to Dº.
In Dº position, the automatic transmis-
sion system will select the most suitable
gear for running conditions such as nor-
mal cruising, hill climbing, hard towing, etc. Always turn the overdrive switch on for
better
fuel economy and quieter driving. If
the engine coolant temperature is low or
when the front drive control lever is in L4º
(low-speed position, four-wheel drive)
the transmission will not shift into the
overdrive gear even with the overdrive
switch on. (See Four-wheel drive sys-
temº in this chapter for information of the
front drive control lever.)
Never put your foot on the accelera- tor pedal while shifting. CAUTION
!
3. Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(b) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift the transmission as follows: Turn off the overdrive switch. The O/D
OFFº indicator light will come on andthe transmission will downshift to the
third gear.
Shift into the 2º position. The trans-
mission will downshift to the second
gear when the vehicle speed dropsdown to or lower than the followingspeed, and more powerful engine
braking will be obtained.
Front drive control lever in H2º or H4º 3RZ-FE engine 105 km/h (65 mph) . .
5VZ-FE engine 114 km/h (70 mph) . . .
Front drive control lever in L4º
3RZ-FE engine 38 km/h (23 mph) . . . .
5VZ-FE engine 41 km/h (25 mph) . . . .
Shift into the Lº position. The trans-mission will downshift to the first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
maximum engine braking will be ap-plied.
Front drive control lever in H2º or H4º 3RZ-FE engine 51 km/h (31 mph) . . . .
5VZ-FE engine 55 km/h (34 mph) . . . .
Front drive control lever in L4º
3RZ-FE engine 11 km/h (6 mph) . . . . .
5VZ-FE engine 12 km/h (7 mph) . . . . .

72Vehicles with cruise controlÐWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by turning offthe overdrive switch, engine braking will
not be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see Cruise controlº in this chapter.
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin orskid.
CAUTION
!
(c) Using the 2º and Lº positions The 2º and Lº positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously. With the selector lever in 2º or Lº, you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in Dº. With the selector lever in 2º, the vehicle
will start in the first gear and automatically
shift to the second gear.
With the selector lever in Lº, the trans-
mission is engaged in the first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the en- gine. Watch the tachometer to
keep engine rpm from going intothe red zone. The approximate
maximum allowable speed foreach position is given below for
your reference:
Front drive control lever in H2º or
H4º
3RZ-FE engine 2º 111 km/h (88 mph) . . . . . . . .
Lº 60 km/h (37 mph) . . . . . . . .
5VZ-FE engine
2º 118 km/h (73 mph). . . . . . . .
Lº 64 km/h (40 mph) . . . . . . . .
Front drive control lever in L4º 3RZ-FE engine 2º 43 km/h (26 mph) . . . . . . . . .
Lº 23 km/h (14 mph) . . . . . . . .
5VZ-FE engine 2º 46 km/h (28 mph) . . . . . . . . .
Lº 25 km/h (15 mph) . . . . . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the 2º
or Lº position. This may cause se- vere automatic transmission dam-age from overheating. To preventsuch damage, Dº position should be used in hill climbing or hard tow-ing.
(d) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the selector lever to the Rº
position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle is moving.
(e) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever fully to se- curely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down,
shift the selector lever to the P position.

73
While the vehicle is moving, never
attempt to move the selector lever
into Pº position under any circum-
stances. Serious mechanical dam-
age and loss of vehicle control mayresult.CAUTION
!
(f) Good driving practice If the transmission is repeatedly up-
shifted and downshifted between third
gear and overdrive when climbing a
gentle slope, the overdrive switch
should be turned off. Be sure to turn the switch on immediately afterward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do notuse overdrive.
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping. CAUTION
!
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an upgrade with the accelerator pedal.
It can cause the transmission tooverheat. Always use the brake pedal or parking brake.
(g) Driving in PWRº(Power) mode
In the PWRº mode, the transmission is shifted up and down at a higher vehicle
speed than in the NORMº (Normal) mode
and a more powerful acceleration is
achieved. To set the PWRº mode, push
in the driving pattern selector button. The
PWRº mode indicator light comes on.
For ordinary driving, Toyota recommends
using the NORMº mode to improve fuel
economy.
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever
out of Pº position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from the Pº position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override lever. For instructions, see If you
cannot shift automatic transmission se- lector leverº in Part 4.
The shift pattern is as shown above.
Press the clutch pedal down fully while
shifting, and then release it slowly. Do not
rest your foot on the pedal while driving, because it will cause clutch trouble. And do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle
when stopped on an uphill gradeÐuse the
parking brake.
Manual transmission

74Recommended shifting speeds
The transmission is fully synchronized
and upshifting or downshifting is easy.
For the best compromise between fuel
economy and vehicle performance, you
should upshift or downshift at the follow-
ing speeds:
gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 or 2 to 1 24 (15)
2 to 3 or 3 to 2 40 (25)
3 to 4 or 4 to 3 64 (40)
4 to 5 or 5 to 4 72 (45)
Downshift to the appropriate gear if accel-
eration is needed when you are cruising
below the above downshifting speeds.
Upshifting too soon or downshifting too late will cause lugging, and possibly, ping-
ing. Regularly revving the engine to maxi-
mum speed in each gear will cause exces-
sive engine wear and high fuel consumption. Maximum allowable speeds
To get on a highway or to pass slower traf- fic, maximum acceleration may be neces-
sary.
Make sure you observe the following
maximum allowable speeds in each gear:
Two-wheel drive models gear km/h (mph)
1 48 (29)
2 90 (55)
3 139 (86)
4 165 (102)
Four-wheel drive models 3RZ-FE enginegear km/h (mph)
H2º and H4º L4º
1 45 (28) 17 (11)
2 84 (52) 32 (20)
3 130 (81) 50 (31)
4 165 (102) 64 (39)
5VZ-FE engine
gear km/h (mph) H2º and H4º L4º
1 48 (29) 18 (11)
2 89 (55) 34 (21)
3 127 (79) 49 (31)
4 165 (102) 64 (39)
NOTICE
Do not downshift if you are going faster than the maximum allowable
speed for the next lower gear.
Good driving practice If it is difficult to shift into reverse, put
the transmission in neutral, release
the clutch pedal momentarily, and then
try again.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use the fifth gear.
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin orskid. CAUTION
!
NOTICE
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before shifting into re-
verse.

75
Use the front drive control lever to se-
lect the following transfer modes. H2º (high speed position, two-wheel
drive): Lever at H2º
Use this for normal driving on dry hard-
surfaced roads. This position gives great-
er economy, quietest ride and least wear.
H4º (high speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at H4º
Use this for normal driving on wet, icy or
snow-covered roads. This position pro-
vides greater traction than two-wheel drive. Nº (neutral position):
Lever at Nº
No power is delivered to the wheels. The vehicle must be stopped.
L4º (low speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at L4º
Use this for maximum power and traction. Use L4º for climbing or descending steep
hills, off-road driving, and hard pulling in
sand, mud or deep snow.
The four-wheel drive indicator light
comes on when the H4º, Nº or L4º mode is selected. See (c) Shifting procedure (lever type)º
for further instructions.Use the front drive control lever and
4WDº button to select the following transfer modes. H2º (high speed position, two-wheel
drive): Lever at Hº, 4WDº button left out
Use this for normal driving on dry hard-
surfaced roads. This position gives great-
er economy, quietest ride and least wear.
H4º (high speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at Hº, 4WDº button pushed
in
Use this for normal driving on wet, icy or
snow-covered roads. This position pro-
vides greater traction than two-wheel drive.
Four-wheel drive systemÐ (a) Front drive control (lever type)
(a) Front drive control (lever/button type)

76Nº (neutral position):
Lever at Nº
No power is delivered to the wheels. The vehicle must be stopped.
L4º (low speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at L4º
Use this for maximum power and traction. Use L4º for climbing or descending steep
hills, off-road driving, and hard pulling in
sand, mud or deep snow.
The four-wheel drive indicator light
comes on when the H4º, Nº or L4º mode is selected.
See (c) Shifting procedure (lever/button
type)º for further instructions.
Steel wheels
Aluminum wheels The A.D.D. can be engaged or disen-
gaged by the shifting operations de-
scribed in (c) Shifting procedureº.
You should drive in four-wheel drive for at least 16 km (10 miles) each month. This
will assure that the front drive compo- nents are lubricated.
(b) A.D.D. (automatic disconnecting differential)

77
SHIFTING BETWEEN H2º AND H4º
To shift from H2º to H4º
, move the
front drive control lever.
This can be done when the vehicle is stopped, or moving straight ahead at
speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or less. Youneed not depress the clutch pedal. If you
have trouble shifting, depress or release the accelerator pedal momentarily while
pushing the front drive control lever.
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting. CAUTION
!
To shift from H4º to H2º , simply move
the front drive control lever.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
You need not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not go off when you shift the transfer into H2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or de- celerating, or drive in reverse. With A.D.D.
To shift from H2º to H4º,
reduce your
speed to less than 80 km/h (50 mph) and
move the front drive control lever. You
need not depress the clutch pedal.
If you have trouble shifting in cold weath-
er, reduce your speed or stop the vehicle and reshift.Never move the front drive control
lever if wh eels are slipping. Stop the
slipping or spinning before shifting. CAUTION
!
To shift from H4º to H2º , simply move
the front drive control lever.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
You need not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not go off when you shift the transfer into H2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or de-celerating, or drive in reverse. SHIFTING BETWEEN H4º AND L4º
To shift from H4º to L4º
, stop the ve-
hicle or reduce your speed to less than 8
km/h (5 mph). With your foot off the accel- erator pedal, depress the clutch pedal and
move the front drive control lever.
To shift from L4º to H4º , depress the
clutch pedal and move the front drive con-
trol lever.This can be done at any vehicle speed.
(c) Shifting procedure (levertype with manual transmission)