1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Back door

4RUNNER (1998)
To turn on the luggage compart-
ment light, slide the switch.
The luggage compartment light switch
has the following positions:
ºONº'Keeps the light on all the time.
ºOFFº 'Turns the light off.
ºDOORº 'Turns the light on when the
back door is opened. The light goes
off when the back door is closed. Ignition switch light

4RUNNER (1998)
(e) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See ºFuel gaugeº in Chapter
1- 5 for instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened
securely. (See ºFuel tank capº in
Chapter 1- 2 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in
your engine or automatic transmis-
sion electrical system.
If it comes on while you are driving
in case c, have your vehicle checked/
repaired by your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
(f) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel
level in the tank becomes nearly
empty. Fill up the tank as soon as
possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the
movement of fuel in the tank, the low
fuel level warning light may come on
earlier than usual.
(g) ºABSº Warning Light
This light warns that there is a prob-
lem somewhere in your anti- lock
brake system. If the light comes on while you are
driving, have your vehicle checked by
your Toyota dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
The light will come on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ºONº posi-
tion. After about 3 seconds, the light
will go off.
When the ºABSº warning light is on
(and the brake system warning light is
off), the brake system operates con-
ventionally but anti- lock brake system
is not assisting brake performance so
that the wheels can lock- up during
sudden braking or braking on slippery
road surfaces.
Vehicles with rear differential lock sys-
temÐ
The anti-lock brake system does not
operate when the rear differential is
locked. It is normal operation for the
ºABSº warning light to be on at this
time.
(h) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the
doors and back door are completely
closed.
(i) SRS Airbag Warning Light
This light will come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ºACCº
or ºONº position. After about 6 se-
conds, the light will go off. This
means the airbag system is operat-
ing properly.
The warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, inflators,
warning light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources.
If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction
somewhere in the parts monitored by
the warning light system. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when
the ignition key is turned to the
ºACCº or ºONº position or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
(j) Light Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer will sound if the driver 's
door is opened while the ignition
switch is turned to the ºLOCKº posi-
tion with the headlight switch on. Re-
moving the key will not stop the buzz-
er as long as the headlight switch is on.

4RUNNER (1998)
(k) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove
the key when you open the driver's
door with the ignition key in the ºACCº
or ºLOCKº position.
(l) Unengaged ºParkº Warning
Light
( vehicles with automatic
transmission)
This light warns that the transmission
ºParkº mechanism is not engaged. If
the front drive control lever is in the
ºNº position while the selector lever is
in the ºPº position, the transmission
will disengage and the wheels will not
lock.
CAUTION
To restore the park function, shift
the front drive control lever out
of ºNº, or the vehicle can move.
(m) Automatic Transmission Fluid Temperature Warning Light
This light warns that the automatic
transmission 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 ºPº. 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 as-
sistance.
NOTICE
Continued driving with the warn- ing light on may damage the auto-matic transmission.
(n) Low windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning Light (Canada)
The light warns that the windshield
washer fluid level is too low. Add
washer fluid at your earliest opportuni-
ty. (For instructions, see ºAdding
washer fluidº in Chapter 7- 3.) CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER
INDICATORS
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Open one of the side doors or the back door.
The open door warning light should
come on.
3. Close the door. The open door warning light should
go off.
4. Turn the ignition key to ºACCº. The SRS airbag warning light
should come on. It goes off after
about 6 seconds.
5. Turn the ignition key to ºONº, but do not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators
except the open door warning light
and SRS airbag warning light
should come on. The ºABSº warn-
ing light goes off after about 3 se-
conds.

4RUNNER (1998)
To use the luggage cover, pull it
out of the retractor and hook it to
the anchors.
When opening the back door, turn
back the dropleaf of the luggage cover
to gain access to the back door lever
inside the vehicle.

4RUNNER (1998)
Keep the back door and back
window closed while driving. An
open or unsealed back door and
back window, may cause ex-
haust gases to be drawn into
the vehicle. If you must drive
with the trunk lid open to ac-
commodate a large object, close
the windows, open all the
instrument panel vents and
have the heating or cooling sys-
tem deliver fresh air into the
vehicle by turning the fan to
high speed with the air intake
control set at the outside air
position.
To allow proper operation of
your vehicle's ventilation sys-
tem, keep the inlet grilles in
front of the windshield clear of
snow, leaves, or other obstruc-
tions.
If you smell exhaust fumes in
the vehicle, drive with the win-
dows open and the back door
and back window closed. Have
the cause immediately located
and corrected.FUNCTIONS OF ENGINE OIL
Engine oil has the primary functions
of lubricating and cooling the inside of
the engine, and plays a major role in
maintaining the engine in proper work-
ing order.
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
It is normal that an engine should
consume some engine oil during
normal engine operation. The
causes of oil consumption in a nor-
mal engine are as follows.
Oil is used to lubricate pistons,
piston rings and cylinders. A thin
film of oil is left on the cylinder
wall when a piston moves down-
wards in the cylinder. High nega-
tive pressure generated when the
vehicle is decelerating sucks some
of this oil into the combustion
chamber. This oil as well as some
part of the oil film left on the cylin-
der wall is burned by the high tem-
perature combustion gases during
the combustion process.
Oil is also used to lubricate the
stems of the intake valves. Some
of this oil is sucked into the com-
bustion chamber together with the
intake air and is burned along with
the fuel. High temperature exhaust
gases also burn the oil used to
lubricate the exhaust valve stems.
The amount of engine oil consumed
depends on the viscosity of the oil,
the quality of the oil and the condi-
tions the vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed by high- speed
driving and frequent acceleration and
deceleration.
A new engine consumes more oil,
since its pistons, piston rings and cyl-
inder walls have not become condi-
tioned.
When judging the amount of oil
consumption, note that the oil may
become diluted and make it difficult
to judge the true level accurately.
As an example, if a vehicle is used
for repeated short trips, and consumes
a normal 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 appear that
the oil level has not changed.
Facts about engine oil
consumption

4RUNNER (1998)
Part 3
STARTING AND
DRIVING
Before starting the engine
How to start the engine
Tips for driving in various
conditions
Off- road driving precautions
Winter driving tips
Tr ailer towing
How to save fuel and make
your
vehicle last longer, too
Before starting the engine
1. Check the area around the vehicle before entering it.
2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle, seat cushion angle, head re-
straint height and steering wheel
angle.
3. Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors.
4. Lock all doors.
5. Fasten seat belts. 1. Apply the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and ac-
cessories.
3. Manual transmission: Press the
clutch pedal to the floor and shift
the transmission into neutral. Hold
the clutch pedal to the floor until
the engine is started. A starter
safety device will prevent the start-
er from operating if the clutch ped-
al is not fully depressed.
Automatic transmission: Put the
selector lever in ºPº. If you need to
restart the engine while the vehicle
is moving, put the selector lever in
ºNº. A starter safety device will pre-
vent the starter from operating if the
selector lever is in any drive position.
4. Automatic transmission only: De-
press the brake pedal and hold it
to the floor until driving off.
How to start the engineÐ
(a) Before cranking

4RUNNER (1998)
3. Insert your finger into the hole
to move the shift lock overdrive
lever backward. You can shift out
of ºPº position only while hold-
ing back the lever.
4. Shift into ºNº position.
5. Insert the cover.
6. Start the engine. For your safety, keep the brake pedal depressed.
Be sure to have the system checked
by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible. If you lose your keys
Many Toyota dealers can make a
new key if you can give them the
key number.
See the suggestion given in ºKeysº in
Chapter 1- 2.
If your keys are locked in the vehicle
and you cannot get a duplicate, many
Toyota dealers can still open the door
for you, using their special tools. If
you must break a window to get in,
we suggest breaking the smallest side
window because it is the least expen-
sive to replace. Be extremely cautious
to avoid cuts from the glass.

4RUNNER (1998)
Tire surface and wheel nuts
Check the tires carefully for cuts,
damage or excessive wear. See Chap-
ter 7- 2 for additional information.
When checking the tires, make sure
no nuts are missing, and check the
nuts for looseness. Tighten them if
necessary.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires every 12000 km (7500
miles). See Chapter 7- 2 for additional
information.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil,
water or other fluid after the vehicle
has been parked for a while. If you
smell fuel fumes or notice any leak,
have the cause found and corrected
immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors including back
door operate smoothly and all latches
lock securely. Make sure the engine
hood secondary latch secures the
hood from opening when the primary
latch is released. INSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be
checked regularly, e.g. while per-
forming periodic services, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlights, stop lights,
tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all working. Check headlight
aim.
Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzers
Check that all service reminder indica-
tors and warning buzzers function
properly.
Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified free-
play. Be alert for changes in steering
condition, such as hard steering or
strange noise.
Seats
Check that all seat controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc.
operate smoothly and that all latches
lock securely in any position. Check
that the head restraint move up and
down smoothly and that the locks hold
securely in any latched position. For
folding- down rear seatbacks, swing- up
rear seat cushions and detachable
temporary third seat, check that the
latches lock securely.Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such
as buckles, retractors and anchors op-
erate properly and smoothly. Make
sure the belt webbing is not cut,
frayed, worn or damaged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation
and uneven pedal effort or catching.
Clutch pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation
and that the pedal has the proper
clearance. Check the brake booster
function.
Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes
do not pull to one side when applied.
Parking brake
Check that the lever has the proper
travel and that, on a safe incline, your
vehicle is held securely with only the
parking brake applied.