1996 TOYOTA COROLLA air condition

95 If the indicator light flashes, contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible. There
may be a slippage of the drive belt or
trouble in the compressor. If this happens,
the air conditioning is automatically turned
off to avoid damage to the drive belt.
(b) Heating
1. Place the temperature control lever
anywhere except the LOW position.
When dehumidified heating is desired,
place the lever between the HIGH and
middle positions.
If cooler air is desired at face level for bi-
level operation, place the lever around the
middle.
2. Move the air intake control lever to the
OUTSIDE AIR position.
If quick circulation of heated air is desired,
move the lever to the RECIRCULATED
AIR position.
For normal use, it is best to keep the lever
in the OUTSIDE AIR position. Otherwise
the windows will fog up more easily.
3. Move the air flow control lever to the
FLOOR position.
If cooler air is desired at face level for bi-
level operation, place the lever to the BI-
LEVEL position.If the windshield fogs up easily, move the
lever to the FLOOR/WINDSHIELD posi-
tion.
For detailed information on air flow control
including other settings, see (f) Air flow
selectionº.
4. Move fan speed control lever any-
where except the OFFº position.
5. Leave the air conditioning on-off but-
ton in the ºOFFº position.
If dehumidifed heating is desired, press in
the air conditioning on-off button.
(c) Cooling
1. Place the temperature control lever
anywhere between the middle and LOW
positions.
If warmer air is desired at floor level for bi-
level operation, place the lever around the
middle.
2. Move the air intake control lever to the
OUTSIDE AIR position.
If quick circulation of cooled air is desired,
move the lever to the RECIRCULATED
AIR position.
For normal use, it is best to keep the lever
in the OUTSIDE AIR position.3. Move the air flow control lever to the
FACE position.
If warmer air is desired at floor level for bi-
level operation, place the lever to the BI-
LEVEL position.
For detailed information on air flow control
including other settings, see (f) Air flow
selectionº.
4. Move the fan speed control lever any-
where except the OFFº position.
5. Press in the air conditioning on-off but-
ton.
(d) Ventilation
1. Place the temperature control lever at
the LOW position.
2. Move the air intake control lever to the
OUTSIDE AIR position.
3. Move the air flow control lever to the
FACE position.
For detailed information on air flow control
including other settings, see (f) Air flow
selectionº.
4. Move the fan speed control lever any-
where except the OFFº position.
5. Leave the air conditioning on-off but-
ton in the OFFº position.ProCarManuals.com

96(e) Windshield defogging and defrost-
ing
To remove interior fog on the windshield:
1. Place the temperature control lever at
any position.
2. Move the air intake control lever to the
OUTSIDE AIR position.
3. Move the air flow control lever to the
WINDSHIELD position.
For detailed information on air flow con-
trol, see (f) Air flow selectionº.
4. Move fan speed control lever any-
where except the OFFº position.
5. Press in the air conditioning on-off but-
ton.
To remove frost or exterior fog on the
windshield:
1. Place the temperature control lever at
the HIGH position.
2. Move the air intake control lever to the
OUTSIDE AIR position.
3. Move the air flow control lever to the
WINDSHIELD position.
For detailed information on air flow con-
trol, see (f) Air flow selectionº.
4. Move fan speed control lever to the
HIº position.
5. Leave the air conditioning on-off but-
ton in the OFF position.(f) Air flow selection
FACE positionÐThis position directs the
air flow to face level.
BI-LEVELÐThis position directs the air
flow to face level and floor. Except in ven-
tilation, the air to the floor is slightly warm-
er than that to the face level.
FLOOR positionÐThis position directs
the air flow mostly to the floor.
FLOOR / WINDSHIELD position Ð This
position directs the air flow to the wind-
shield and front side windows as well as
the floor.
WINDSHIELD positionÐThis position di-
rects the air flow mostly to the windshield,
front side windows.
Do not use the WINDSHIELD position
during cooling operation in extremely hu-
mid weather. The difference between the
temperature of the outside air and that of
the windshield could cause the outer sur-
face of the windshield to fog up blocking
your vision.
(g) Operating tips

Be sure the air inlet grilles in front of the
windshield are not blocked by leaves
or other obstructions.
If air flow control is not satisfactory,
check the side vents. (See Side
ventsº after Heater controlsº.)

To help cool down the interior after
parking in the hot sun, drive for the first
few minutes with the windows open.
After the excess heat has blown away,
close the windows.

When driving on dusty roads, close all
windows. If dust thrown up by the ve-
hicle is still drawn into the vehicle after
closing the windows, it is recom-
mended that the air intake control le-
ver be set to the OUTSIDE AIR posi-
tion and the fan speed control lever
anywhere except the OFFº position.

If following another vehicle on a dusty
road, or driving in windy and dusty con-
ditions, it is recommened that the air
intake control lever be temporarily set
to the RECIRCULATED AIR position,
which will close off the outside pas-
sage and prevent outside air and dust
from entering the vehicle interior.ProCarManuals.com

109 The amount of engine oil consumed
depends on the viscosity of the oil, the
quality of the oil and the conditions
the vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed by high-speed driv-
ing and frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
A new engine consumes more oil, since
its pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls
have not become conditioned.
When judging the amount of oil con-
sumption, note that the oil may be-
come diluted and make it difficult to
judge the true level accurately.
As an example, if a vehicle is used for re-
peated short trips, and consumes a nor-
mal amount of oil, the dipstick may not
show any drop in the oil level at all, even
after 1000 km (600 miles) or more. This
is because the oil is gradually becoming
diluted with fuel or moisture, making it ap-
pear that the oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out
when the vehicle is then driven at high
speeds, as on an expressway, making it
appear that oil is excessively consumed
after driving at high speeds.IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEVEL
CHECK
One of the most important points in proper
vehicle maintenance is to keep the engine
oil at the optimum level so that oil function
will not be impaired. Therefore, it is essen-
tial that the oil level be checked regularly.
Toyota recommends that the oil level be
checked every time you refuel the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level
regularly could lead to serious
engine trouble due to insufficient
oil.
For detailed information on oil level check,
see Checking the engine oil levelº in
Chapter 7-2.TANDEM MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE
SYSTEM
The tandem master cylinder brake system
is a hydraulic system with two separate
sub-systems. If either sub-system should
fail, the other will still work. However, the
pedal will be harder to press, and your stop-
ping distance will be longer. Also, the brake
system warning light may come on.
CAUTION!
Do not drive your vehicle with only
a single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
BRAKE BOOSTER
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to
power-assist the brakes. If the engine
should quit while you are driving, you can
bring the vehicle to a stop with normal
pedal pressure. There is enough reserve
vacuum for one or two stopsÐbut no
more!
CAUTION!

Do not pump the brake pedal if the
engine stalls. Each push on the
pedal uses up your vacuum re-
serve.
Brake system
ProCarManuals.com

11 6 Before starting the engine, be sure to fol-
low the instructions in (a) Before crank-
ingº.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/se-
quential multiport fuel injection system in
your engine automatically controls the
proper air-fuel mixture for starting. You
can start a cold or hot engine as follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator ped-
al, crank the engine by turning the key to
STARTº. Release it when the engine
starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 sec-
onds, you are ready to drive.
If the weather is below freezing, let the en-
gine warm up for a few minutes before
driving.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct proce-
dure given in normal starting.
If the engine will not startÐ
See If your vehicle will not startº in Part 4.

Do not crank for more than 15 sec-
onds 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.
NOTICE

Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. This will allow you much better
control

Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving
onto high, sharp-edged objects and
other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire damage result-
ing in tire bursts.

When parking on a hill, turn the front
wheels until they touch the curb so that
the vehicle will not roll. Apply the park-
ing brake, and place the transmission
in Pº (automatic) or in first or reverse
(manual). If necessary, block the
wheels.

Washing your vehicle or driving
through deep water may get the
brakes wet. To see whether they are
wet, check that there is no traffic near
you, and then press the pedal lightly. If
you do not feel a normal braking force,
the brakes are probably wet. To dry
them, drive the vehicle cautiously
while lightly pressing the brake pedal
with the parking brake pulled. If they
still do not work safely, pull to the side
of the road and call a Toyota dealer for
assistance.
CAUTION!

Before driving off, make sure the
parking brake is fully released and
the parking brake reminder light is
off.

Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is run-
ning.

Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. It can cause
dangerous overheating, needless
wear, and poor fuel economy.

To drive down a long or steep hill,
reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat
and not work properly.

Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, downshifting or braking
on a slippery surface. Sudden ac-
celeration or engine braking could
cause the vehicle to spin or skid.
(b) Starting the engineTips for driving
in various conditions
ProCarManuals.com

121
Because stopping distance may be in-
creased, vehicle-to-vehicle distance
should be increased when towing a
trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and
trailer length between you and the ve-
hicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as
you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.

Avoid jerky starts or sudden accelera-
tion. If your vehicle has manual trans-
mission, prevent excessive clutch slip-
page by keeping engine rpm low and
not racing the engine. Always start out
in first gear.

Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns.
The trailer could hit your vehicle in a
tight turn. Slow down before making a
turn to avoid the necessity of sudden
braking.

Remember that when making a turn,
the trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Therefore, compensate for this
by making a larger than normal turning
radius with your vehicle.
Crosswinds and rough roads will ad-
versely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing sway. Pay atten-
tion to the rear from time to time to pre-
pare yourself for being passed by large
trucks or buses, which may cause your
vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering wheel
and reduce speed immediately but
gradually. Never increase speed.
Steer straight ahead. If you make no
extreme correction with the steering or
brakes, the vehicle and trailer will sta-
bilize.

Be careful when passing other ve-
hicles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer and
be sure you have plenty of room be-
fore changing lanes.

In order to maintain engine braking effi-
ciency, do not use fifth gear (manual
transmission or overdrive (automatic
transmission).
Because of the added load of the trail-
er, your vehicle's engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
305C [855F]) when going up a long or
steep grade with a trailer. If the engine
coolant temperatue gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the
air conditioning (if in use), pull off the
road and stop in a safe spot. Refer to
If your vehicle overheatsº in Part 4 of
this manual.

Always place wheel blocks under both
the vehicle and trailer wheels when
parking. Apply the parking brake firm-
ly. Put the transmission in Pº (auto-
matic) or in first or reverse (manual).
Avoid parking on a slope with a trailer,
but if it cannot be avoided, do so only
after performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-
der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place,
release your brakes slowly until the blocks
absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into first or reverse (manual) or
Pº (automatic) and turn off the engine.ProCarManuals.com

123
Keep the bottom of your vehicle
free from mud, etc. This not only
lessens weight but also helps prevent
corrosion.

Keep your vehicle tuned-up and in
top shape. A dirty air cleaner, carbu-
retor out of adjustment, improper valve
clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil and
grease, brakes not adjusted, etc. all
lower engine performance and con-
tribute to poor fuel economy. For lon-
ger life of all parts and lower operating
costs, keep all maintenance work on
schedule, and if you often drive under
severe conditions, see that your ve-
hicle receives more frequent mainte-
nance. (For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the sepa-
rate Owner's Manual Supplement/
Maintenance Scheduleº).
CAUTION!
Never turn off the engine to coast
down hills. Your power steering and
brake booster will not function with-
out the engine running. Also, the
emission control system operates
properly only when the engine is
running.
ProCarManuals.com

128If your engine stalls while driving0
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping
a straight line. Move cautiously off the
road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try starting the engine again.
If the engine will not start, see If your ve-
hicle will not startº.
If the engine is not running, the
power assist for the brakes and
steering will not work so steering
and braking will be much harder
than usual.CAUTION
!
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you
experience a loss of power, or if you
hear a loud knocking or pinging noise,
the engine has probably overheated.
You should follow this procedure0
1. Pull safely off the road, stop the vehicle
and turn on your emergency flashers. Put
the transmission in Pº (automatic) or neu-
tral (manual) and apply the parking brake.
Turn off the air conditioning if it is being
used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the
radiator or reservoir, stop the engine. Wait
until the steam subsides before opening
the hood. If there is no coolant boiling over
or steam, leave the engine running and
make sure the electric cooling fan is oper-
ating. If it is not, turn the ignition off.
To help avoid personal injury, keep
the hood closed until there is no
steam. Escaping steam or coolant is
a sign of very high pressure.CAUTION
!
3. Visually check to see if the engine drive
belt (water pump belt) is broken or loose.
Look for obvious coolant leaks from the
radiator, hoses, and under the vehicle.
However, note that water draining from
the air conditioning is normal if it has been
used.
When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive belts.CAUTION
!
4. If the engine drive belt is broken or the
coolant is leaking, stop the engine imme-
diately. Call a Toyota dealer for assis-
tance.
5. If the engine drive belt is O.K. and
there are no obvious leaks, check the
coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add coolant to
the reservoir while the engine is running.
Fill it about half full.
Do not attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap when the engine and radiator
are hot. Serious injury could result
from scalding hot fluid and steam
blown out under pressure.CAUTION
!
6. After the engine coolant temperature
has cooled to normal, again check the
coolant level in the reservoir. If necessary,
bring it up to half full again. Serious cool-
ant loss indicates a leak in the system.
You should have it checked as soon as
possible at your Toyota dealer.
If your engine stalls while
drivingIf your vehicle overheats
ProCarManuals.com

Part 5
Protecting your Toyota
from corrosion
139
CORROSION
PREVENTION AND
APPEARANCE
CARE

Protecting your Toyota from
corrosion

Washing and waxing your
Toyota

Cleaning the interior
Toyota, through its diligent research, de-
sign and use of the most advanced
technology available, has done its part to
help prevent corrosion and has provided
you with the finest quality vehicle
construction. Now, it is up to you. Proper
care of your Toyota can help ensure long-
term corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corro-
sion to your vehicle are:

The accumulation of road salt, dirt and
moisture in hard-to-reach areas un-
der the vehicle.

Chipping of paint, or undercoating
caused by minor accidents or by
stones and gravel.
Care is especially important if you live
in particular areas or operate your ve-
hicle under certain environmental
conditions:

Road salt or dust control chemicals will
accelerate corrosion, as will the pres-
ence of salt in the air near the sea-
coast or in areas of industrial pollution.

High humidity accelerates corrosion
especially when temperatures range
just above the freezing point.

Wetness or dampness to certain parts
of your vehicle for an extended period
of time, may cause corrosion even
though other parts of the vehicle may
be dry.
High temperatures will cause corro-
sion to those components of the ve-
hicle which are prevented from quick-
drying due to lack of proper ventilation.
The above signifies the necessity to keep
your vehicle, particularly the underside,
as clean as possible and to repair any
damage to paint or protective coatings as
soon as possible.
To help prevent corrosion on your To-
yota, follow these guidelines:
Wash your vehicle frequently. It is, of
course, necessary to keep your vehicle
clean by regular washing, but to prevent
corrosion, the following points should be
observed:

If you drive on salted roads in the win-
ter or if you live near the ocean, you
should hose off the undercarriage at
least once a month to minimize corro-
sion.

High pressure water or steam is effec-
tive for cleaning the vehicle's under-
side and wheel housings. Pay particu-
lar attention to these areas as it is
difficult to see all the mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to simply
wet the mud and debris without remov-
ing them. The lower edge of doors,
rocker panels and frame members
have drain holes which should not be
allowed to clog with dirt as trapped wa-
ter in these areas can cause corrosion.
ProCarManuals.com