
60(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, slow down and pull off the 
road. Then stop the vehicle carefully.There may be 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 yournearest 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, ra
dio, ect., 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 
driving, pull off the road to a safe place 
and stop the engine immediately. Call a 
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop forassistance. 
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. 

62(k) Unengaged  Parkº Warning  Light
(vehicles with automatic tranmis- sion)
This light warns that the transmission 
Parkº mechanism is not engaged. If the 
front drive control lever is in the Nº posi-
tion while the selector lever is in the Pº 
position, the transmission will disengage 
and the wheels will not lock.
To restore the park function, shift 
the  four-wheel drive control lever 
out of Nº, or the vehicle can move. CAUTION
!
(l) Automatic Transmission Fluid Tem- perature Warning  Light
This light warns that the automatic trans- mission fluid temperature is too high. 
If this light comes on while you are driving, 
slow down and pull off the road. Stop the
vehicle at a  safe place and put the selector
lever in Pº. With the engine idling, wait
until the light  goes off. If the light goes off,
you may start the vehicle again. If the light 
does not go off, call a Toyota dealer or 
qualified repair shop for assistance. (m)Low Windshield Washer Fluid
Level Warning Light (Canada)
The light warns that the windshield wash-
er fluid level is too low. Add washer fluid at 
your earliest opportunity. (For instruc- 
tions, see Adding washer fluidº in Chap-ter 7-3.) 
CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER  INDI-
CATORS (except the low fuel level 
warning  light) 
1. Apply the parking brake. 
2. Turn ignition key to ACCº. The SRS airbag warning light should 
come on. It goes off after about 6 sec- onds.
3. Turn the ignition key to ONº, but do not start the engine. 
All the service reminder indicators ex- 
cept the SRS airbag warning light 
should come on. The ABSº warning
light goes off after about 3 seconds.
If any service reminder indicator or warn-
ing buzzer does not function as describedabove, either the bulb is burned out or the 
circuit is in  need of repair.  Have it checked
by your Toyota dealer as soon as pos- sible. 

11 3
The diluting ingredients evaporate out 
when the vehicle is then driven at high 
speeds, as on an expressway, making itappear that oil is excessively consumed 
after driving as 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 bechecked  every time you refuel the vehicle.
Failure to check the oil level
regularly could lead to serious
engine trouble due to insufficient oil.
NOTICE
For detailed information on the oil level 
check,  see Checking the engine oil levelº
in Chapter 7-2.
Your engine is fitted with twin ground elec- trode spark plugs.
Use only twin ground electrode
spark plugs for your engine
performance.
NOTICE
TANDEM MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE SYSTEM 
The tandem master cylinder brake sys- 
tem is a hydraulic system with two sepa-
rate sub-systems. If either  sub-system 
should fail, the other w ill still work. Howev-
er, the pedal will be harder to press, and 
your stopping 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 stops - but no more!
Twin ground electrode spark  
plugs (5VZ-FE engine) Brake system  

122Before 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 en-
gine 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 30 
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 theengine checked immediately.
NOTICE  Always slow down in gusty cross- winds. This will allow you much bettercontrol.
  Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid drivingonto 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 thewheels.
  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 T oyota dealer for
assistance.
(b) Starting the engine
Tips for driving in various conditions 

134If the engine will not start, your engine 
may be flooded because of repeated cranking. 
Turn the key to STARTº with the acceler- 
ator pedal held down. Keep the key and accelerator pedal so for 15 seconds and 
release 
them. Then try starting the engine
with your foot off the accelerator pedal. 
If the engine does not start after 15 sec- 
onds of cranking, release the key, wait afew minutes and try again. 
If the engine still will not start, it needs ad- 
justment or repair. Call a Toyota dealer or
qualified repair shop for assistance.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 sec- onds at a time. This may overheat
the starter and wiring systems.
To avoid serious personal injury and 
damage to your vehicle which might 
result from battery explosion, acid
burns, electrical burns, or damaged
electronic components, these instruc-
tions must be followed precisely. 
If you are unsure about how to follow this procedure, we strongly recommend that you seek the help of a competent me- 
chanic or towing service.
  Batteries contain sulfuric acid 
which is  poisonous and corrosive.
Wear protective safety glasses
when jump starting, and avoid 
spilling  acid on your skin, cloth-
ing, or vehicle.
  If you should accidentally get acid
on yourself or in your eyes, re- move any contaminated clothing 
and flush the affected area with water  for at least 15 minutes.  Then
get immediate medical attention. If 
possible,  continue to apply water 
with a sponge or cloth while en 
route to the medical office. CAUTION
!
 
The gas normally produced by a battery will explode if a flame or 
spark is brought near.  Use only 
standardized jumper cables and 
do not smoke or light a match
while jump starting.
NOTICE
The battery used for boosting must be 12 V. Do not jump start unless
you are sure that the booster batteryis correct.
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE 
1. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle, make sure the ve- 
hicles are not touching. T urn off all un-
necessary lights and accessories.
2. If required, remove all the vent plugs from the booster and discharged bat- 
teries.  Lay a cloth over the open vents
on the batteries. (This helps reduce 
the explosion hazard, personal injuries 
and burns.)
(b) Starting a flooded engine (c) Jump starting 

149
Towing in this manner may be done only 
on hard-surfaced roads for a short dis- 
tance and at low speeds. Also, the 
wheels, axles, drive train, steering and brakes must all be in good condition.
CAUTION!
Use extreme caution when towing 
vehicles. Avoid sudden starts or 
erratic driving maneuvers which 
would   place excessive stress on the
emergency towing eyelet and
towing  cable or chain. The eyelet 
and towing cable or chain may break and cause serious injury or damage.
NOTICE
Use only a cable or chain specific- ally intended for use in towing
vehicles. Securely fasten the cableor chain to the towing eyelet provided.
Before towing, release the parking brake 
and put the transmission in neutral 
(manual) or  Nº (automatic) and the trans-
fer in H2º (four-wheel drive models). The 
key must be in ACCº (engine off) or ONº 
(engine running).
CAUTION!
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.
If towing is necessary, we recommend 
you to have it done by your Toyota 
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-vice. 
If towing service is not available in an 
emergency, your vehicle may be tem- 
porarily towed by a cable or chain se- 
cured to the emergency towing hook
under the front of the vehicle. Use ex-
treme caution when towing the ve-hicle. 
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer it and operate the brakes.
ÐEmergency towing (type B)  

150Towing in this manner may be done only 
on hard-surfaced roads for a short dis- 
tance and at low speeds. Also, the
wheels, axles, drive train, steering and brakes must all be in good condition.
CAUTION!
Use extreme caution when towing 
vehicles. Avoid  sudden starts or er- ratic driving maneuvers which
would   place excessive stress on the
emergency towing hook and towing
cable or  chain. The hook and towing
cable or chain may break and cause 
serious injury or damage.
NOTICE
Use only a cable or chain  specific- ally intended for use in towing
vehicles. Securely fasten the cableor chain to the towing hook provided.
Before towing, release the parking brake, put the transmission in neutral (manual) 
or Nº (automatic) and the transfer in H2º.
The key must be in ACCº (engine off) or ONº (engine running).
CAUTION!
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.  
Before emergency towing, check that the hook or eyelet is not broken or 
damaged  and that the installation bolts
are not loose.
  Fasten the towing cable or chain se-curely to the hook or eyelet.
  Do not jerk the hook or eyelet. Apply 
steady and even force.
  To avoid damaging the hook or eyelet, do not pull from the side or at a vertical
angle. Always pull straight ahead.
ÐEmergency towing hookor eyelet precautions (four-wheel drive models)