1997 TOYOTA TACOMA wheel

75
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
accelerator 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 and H4º 3RZ-FE engine 106km/h (66 mph)
.
5VZ-FE engine 114 km/h (71 mph) .
Front drive control lever in L4º
3RZ-FE engine 36 km/h (22 mph) . .
5VZ-FE engine 38 km/h (24 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 and H4º 3RZ-FE engine 51km/h (32 mph) . .
5VZ-FE engine 55 km/h (34 mph) . .
Front drive control lever in L4º
3RZ-FE engine 9km/h (6 mph) . . . .
5VZ-FE engine 10 km/h (6 mph) . .

78
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 or reverse gear.
Do not race the engine and avoid
spinning the wheels.
If your vehicle remains stuck afterrocking the vehicle several times,
consider other ways such as tow-ing.
(i) 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 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: 2RZ-FE engine Low altitude Ð1219 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 40 (25)
3 to 4 or 4 to 3 64 (40)
4 to 5 or 5 to 4 72 (45)
High altitude
ÐHigher than 1219 m (4000 ft) Upshifting
gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 24 (15)
2 to 3 40 (25)/58 (36)*
3 to 4 64 (40)/72 (45)*
4 to 5 72 (45)/85 (53)*
Downshifting gear km/h (mph)
2 to 1 25 (15)
3 to 2 40 (25)
4 to 3 64 (40)
5 to 4 72 (45)
*: Applicable under heavy acceleration
conditions.
Manual transmission

79
3RZ-FE engine Upshifting
gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 24 (15)
2 to 3 40 (25)/58 (36)*
3 to 4 64 (40)/72 (45)*
4 to 5 72 (45)/85 (53)*
Downshifting gear km/h (mph)
2 to 1 24 (15)
3 to 2 40 (25)
4 to 3 64 (40)
5 to 4 72 (45)
*: Applicable under heavy acceleration conditions.
Downshift to the appropriate gear if accel-
eration is needed when you are cruising
below the above downshifting speeds. Upshifting too soon or downshifting toolate
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 consump- tion.
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 2RZ-FE engine
gear km/h (mph)
1 48 (30)
2 88 (55)
3 136 (85)
4 165 (103)
5VZ-FE engine
gear km/h (mph)
1 54 (34)
2 101 (63)
3 144 (89)
4 165 (103) Four-wheel drive models
3RZ-FE engine
gear km/h (mph) H2º and H4º L4º
1 46 (29) 17 (11)
2 86 (53) 33 (21)
3 135 (84) 52 (32)
4 165 (103) 66 (41)
5VZ-FE engine gear km/h (mph)
H2º and H4º L4º
1 48 (30) 18 (11)
2 88 (55) 34 (21)
3 128 (80) 49 (30)
4 165 (103) 72 (45)
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.

80
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
reverse.
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 hardsur- faced roads. This position gives greater
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. Thevehicle must be stopped.
L4º (low speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at L4º
Use the 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 (d) Shifting procedure (lever type)º
for further instructions.
Four-wheel drive systemÐ (a) Front drive control(lever type)

81
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 hardsur- faced roads. This position gives greater
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. Nº (neutral position):
Lever at Nº
No power is delivered to the wheels. Thevehicle 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 (d) Shifting procedure (lever/button
type)º for further instructions.To engage the free-wheeling hubs,
turn the hubs to LOCKº. To disen-
gage, turn the hubs to FREEº Make sure the triangle mark on the jub
aligns with the other one at the side you
wish to set.
Setting the free-wheeling hubs in FREEº
allows you to disengage the front axle and
driveshaft so that they are not revolving.
This reduces noise and wear when the ve-
hicle is in two-wheel drive.
You should drive with the hubs in LOCKº for at least 16 km (10 miles) each month.
This will assure that the front drive compo-
nents are lubricated.
(a) Front drive control (lever/button type)
(b) Free-wheeling hubs

82
Steel wheels
Aluminum wheelsThe A.D.D. can be engaged or disen-
gaged by the shifting operations de-
scribed in (d) 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.
SHIFTING BETWEEN H2º AND H4º With free-wheeling hubs
To shift from H2º to H4º
, move the
front drive control lever. Also, engage both the free-wheeling hubs.
This can be done when the vehicle is stopped, or moving straight ahead at
speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or less. You need not depress the clutch pedal. If you
have trouble shifting, depress or releasethe 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.
Never drive with only one hub en- gaged. CAUTION
!
To shift from H4º to H2º , simply move
the front drive control lever. Also, disen-
gage both the free-wheeling hubs for con-
tinued H2º use.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
You Need not depress the clutch pedal.
(c) A.D.D. (automatic disconnecting differential)
(d) Shifting procedure (lever
type with manual transmission)

83
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. SHIFTING BETWEEN H2º AND H4º With free-wheeling hubs
To shift from H2º to H4º
, move the
front drive control lever. Also, engage both the free-wheeling hubs.
This can be done when the vehicle is stopped, or moving straight ahead at
speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or less. If you
have trouble shifting, depress or releasethe 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.
Never drive with only one hub en- gaged. CAUTION
!
To shift from H4º to H2º , simply move
the front drive control lever. Also, disen-
gage both the free-wheeling hubs for con-
tinued H2º use. This can be done at any vehicle speed.
(d) Shifting procedure (lever type with automatictransmission)

84If 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.
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.
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 between H4º and L4º
, stop
the vehicle and put the transmission in
Nº. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, move the front drive control lever. SHIFTING BETWEEN H2º AND H4º
To shift from H2º to H4º
, reduce your
speed to less than 100 km/h (62 mph) and
push in the 4WDº button. You need not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not come on
when you push in the 4WDº button, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or de-celerating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzzer
sounds when you push in the 4WDº but-
ton, reduce your speed or stop the vehicle
and reset.
Never push the 4WDº button if
wheels are slipping. Stop the
slipping or spinning before shifting. CAUTION
!
(d) Shifting procedure (lever/button type withmanual transmission)