1997 TOYOTA CELICA tow

Publication No. OM20695U
Part No. 01999-20695
Printed in Japan 04- 9702- 02
Quick index

If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 61 . . . . .

If your vehicle will not start 137 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If your engine stalls while driving 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If your vehicle overheats 140, 141 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you have a flat tire 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . .

If your vehicle needs to be towed 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tips for driving during break- in period 115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How to start the engine 127 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. .

General maintenance 164 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . .

Complete index 213 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . . .
Gas station information
Fuel type:
7A- FE engineÐUNLEADED gasoline, Research Octane Number 91 (Octane
Rating 87) or higher.
5S- FE engineÐUNLEADED gasoline, Research Octane Number 91 (Octane
Rating 87) or higher. For improved vehicle performance, the use of premium
unleaded gasoline with a Research Octane Number of 96 (Octane Rating
91) or higher is recommended.
See page 115 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity:
60 L (15.9 gal., 13.2 lmp. gal.)
Engine oil: API SH, ''Energy- Conserving II'' multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade
engine oil is recommended.
See page 178 for detailed information.
Tire information: See pages 181 through 186.
Tire pressure: See page 208.
-8
c
ProCarManuals.com

11
The windows can be operated with
switches on the center console.
The windows move as long as you hold
the switch.
To open: Push on the lower side of the
switch.
To close: Push on the upper side of the
switch.To open the trunk lid or back door from
the outside, insert the master key and
turn it clockwise.
See Luggage stowage precautionsº in
Part 2 for precautions to observe in load-
ing luggage.
To close the trunk lid or back door, lower
it and press down on it. After closing the
trunk lid or back door, try pulling it up to
make sure it is securely closed.
Keep the trunk lid or back door
closed while driving. This not only
keeps the luggage from being
thrown out but also prevents ex-
haust gases from entering the ve-
hicle.
CAUTION!
To open the trunk lid or back door
from the driver's seat, pull up on the
lock release lever.
ÐLock release lever
ÐQuarter windows
(convertible) Trunk lid (c
oupe and convertible)/
Back door (liftback)Ð
ProCarManuals.com

23
CAUTION!

After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat forward and rear-
ward to make sure it is secured in
place.

Never allow anyone to rest their
foot on the release pedal while the
vehicle is moving.
1. Pull up the seatback security lock
lever 1 to the unlock position.
2. Pull up the lock release button 2.
3. Fold down the seatback.
Each seatback may be folded separately.
This w ill enlarge the trunk room (coupe) or
luggage compartment (liftback) as far as
the front seatbacks. See Luggage stow-
age precautionsº in Part 2 for precautions
to observe in loading luggage.
CAUTION!
When returning the seatback to the
upright position:

Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in the proper
position for ready to use.

Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and
rearward on the top of the seat-
back.
Fold-down rear seat
ProCarManuals.com

60
The gauge indicates the engine cool-
ant temperature when the ignition
switch is on. The engine operating
temperature will vary with changes in
weather and engine load.
If the needle moves into the red zone,
your engine is too hot. If your vehicle
overheats, stop your vehicle and allow the
engine to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe
operating conditions, such as:

Driving up a long hill on a hot day.

Reducing speed or stopping after high
speed driving.

Idling for a long period with the air con-
ditioning on in stop-and-go traffic.

Towing a trailer
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat. The thermostat is designed tocontrol the flow of coolant to keep
the temperature of the engine within the specified operatingrange.
Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See If yourvehicle overheatsº in Part 4.The tachometer indicates engine
speed in thousands of rpm (revolu-
tions per minute). Use it while driving
to select correct shift points and to
prevent engine lugging and overrev-
ving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Tachometer
Engine coolant temperature
gauge
ProCarManuals.com

62
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light has the following functions:
Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the parking
brake is fully released. The light should go
off.
Low brake fluid level warning
If this light comes on and stays on while
you are driving, slowdown and pull off the
road. Then stop the vehicle carefully.
There maybe a problem somewhere in
the brake system. Check the fluid level of
the see-through reservoir.
To make sure the parking brake has not
caused the warning light to come on,
check to see that the parking brake is fully
released.
If the brake fluid level is low...
At a safe place, test your brakes by start-
ing and stopping.

If you judge that the brakes still work
adequately, drive cautiously to your
nearest dealer or shop for repairs.

If the brakes are not working, have the
vehicle towed in for repairs. (For tow-
ing information, see Part 4.)
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level
is low. CAUTION
!
If the brake fluid level is correct...
Have the warning system checked by
your Toyota dealer.
(b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and
Buzzer
Once the ignition key is turned to ONº or
STARTº, the reminder light and buzzer
come on if the driver's seat belt is not fas-
tened. Unless the driver fastens the belt,
the light stays on and the buzzer stops af-
ter about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being
discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, radio, e ct., and drive directly to the
nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine drive belt is broken or loose.
(d) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are driv-
ing, pull off the road to a safe place and
stop the engine immediately. Call a Toyo-
ta dealer or qualified repair shop for assis-
tance.
The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on brief-
ly after a hard stop. There is no cause for
concern if it then goes out when the en-
gine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to indi-
cate low oil level, and the oil level must be
checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the warning light onÐeven for one
block. It may ruin the engine.
ProCarManuals.com

67
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.
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, the
transmission will not shift the overdrive
gear even with the overdrive switch on.
Never put your foot in 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 and
the 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 drops
down to or lower than the following
speed, and more powerful engine
braking will be obtained.
7A-FE engine 92 km/h (56 mph) . . . .
5S-FE engine 94 km/h (58 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.
7A-FE engine 44 km/h (27 mph) . . . .
5S-FE engine 45 km/h (28 mph) . . . . Vehicles with cruise controlÐWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by turning off
the overdrive switch, engine braking is not
applied because the cruise control is not
cancelled. For ways to decrease the ve-
hicle speed, see Cruise controlº in this
chapter.
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
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.
ProCarManuals.com

68
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:
7A-FE engine
2º 100 km/h (62 mph) . . . . . . . .
Lº 48 km/h (30 mph) . . . . . . . .
5S-FE engine 2º 120 km/h (63 mph) . . . . . . . .
Lº 48 km/h (30 mph) . . . . . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the2º or Lº position. This may
cause severe automatic transmis-sion damage from overheating.
To prevent such damage, Dºposition should be used in hill
climbing or hard towing.
(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 up fully to
securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down,
shift the selector lever to the Pº position.
While the vehicle is moving, never
attempt to move the selector lever
into Pº position under any circu-
mstances. Serious mechanical da-
mage and loss of vehicle control
may result. 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 not
use 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) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
If you rock your vehicle to make it
out when it becomes stuck in snow,
mud, sand, etc., first check that
there is no physical object or people
around the vehicle. During oper-
ation, the vehicle may suddenly
move forward or backward, causing
injury or damage to nearby people
or objects. CAUTION
!
ProCarManuals.com

69
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the following precautions to prevent
damage to the transmission andother parts.
Do not depress the acceleratorpedal while shifting the selectorlever or before the transmission is
completely shifted to forward orreverse gear.
Do not race the engine and avoidspinning the wheels.
If your vehicle remains stuck afterrocking the vehicle several times,
consider other ways such as tow-ing.
(h) If you cannot shift the selector lever
out of Pº position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
Pº position even though the brake pedal
is depressed, use the shift lock override
button. For instructions, see If you can-
not shift automatic transmission selector
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 grade-use the
parking brake.
Recommended 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: 7A-FE engine
Low altitude
-1219 m (4000 ft) or lower gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 or 2 to 1 24 (15)
2 to 3 or 3 to 2 37 (23)
3 to 4 or 4 to 3 64/45*
1 (40/28*1)
4 to 5 or 5 to 4 72/64*2 (45/40*1)
*1: For constant-speed cruise or constant speed cruise after deceleration.
High altitude
-Higher than 1219 m (4000 ft) 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)
5S-FE engine 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.
Manual transmission
ProCarManuals.com