1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Owners Manual

4RUNNER (1998)
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 is not broken or
damaged and that the installation
bolts are not loose.
Fasten the towing cable or chain
securely to the hook.
Do not jerk the hook. Apply steady
and even force.
To avoid damaging the hook, do
not pull from the side or at a verti-
cal angle. Always pull straight ahead.CAUTION
If the emergency towing eyelet is
used to get out when your vehicle
becomes struck in mud, sand or
other condition from which the
vehicle cannot be driven out un-
der its own power, make sure to
observe the precautions men-
tioned below. Otherwise, exces-
sive stress will be put on the
eyelet and the towing cable or
chain may break, causing serious
injury or damage. If the towing vehicle can hardly
move, do not forcibly continue
the towing. Contact your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow
truck service for assistance.
Tow the vehicle as straight
ahead as possible.
Keep away from the vehicle
during towing.
ÐEmergency towing hook pr
cautions

4RUNNER (1998)
The following methods are effective to
get out when your vehicle is struck in
mud, sand or other condition from
which the vehicle cannot be driven out
under its own power. Use extreme
caution when towing vehicles. In addi-
tion, keep away from the vehicles and
towing cable or chain when towing.
Remove the soil and sand in the
front and the back of the tires.
Place a stone or wood under the
tires.
If you cannot shift the selector le-
ver out of ºPº position to other
positions even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift
lock override button as follows: 1. Turn the ignition key to ºLOCKº
position. Make sure the parking
brake is set.
2. Pry up the cover with a flat- bladed screwdriver or equivalent.
ÐTips for towing a stuck
vehicle
If you cannot shift automa
t
transmission selector lever
(two- wheel drive models)

4RUNNER (1998)
3. Insert the screwdriver or equiva-
lent into the hole to push down
the shift lock override button.
You can shift out of ºPº position
only while pushing the button.
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 cannot shift automa
t
transmission selector lever
(four- wheel drive models)

4RUNNER (1998)
If you cannot shift the selector le-
ver out of ºPº position to other
positions even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift
lock override button as follows:
1. Turn the ignition key to ºLOCKº position. Make sure the parking
brake is set.
2. Pry up the cover with a flat- bladed screwdriver or equivalent.

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)
Part 5
CORROSION
PREVENTION AND
APPEARANCE CARE
Protecting your Toyota from
corrosion
Washing and waxing your
To y o t a
Cleaning the interior
Toyota, through its d iligent research,
design and use of the most advanced
technology available, has done its part
to help prevent corrosion and has pro-
vided you with the finest quality ve-
hicle construction. Now, it is up to
you. Proper care of your Toyota can
help ensure long- term corrosion pre-
vention.
The most common causes of corro-
sion to your vehicle are:
The accumulation of road salt, dirt
and moisture in hard- to- reach
areas under 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 vehicle under certain environ-
mental conditions: Road salt or dust control chemicals
will accelerate corrosion, as will
the presence of salt in the air near
the sea- coast or in areas of indus-
trial 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 ex-
tended 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
vehicle which are prevented from
quick- drying due to lack of proper
ventilation.
The above signifies the necessity to
keep your vehicle, particularly the un-
derside, as clean as possible and to
repair any damage to paint or protec-
tive coatings as soon as possible.
To help prevent corrosion on your
Toyota, follow these guidelines:
Wash your vehicle frequently. It is,
of course, necessary to keep your ve-
hicle clean by regular washing, but to
prevent corrosion, the following points
should be observed:
If you drive on salted roads in the
winter or if you live near the
ocean, you should hose off the un-
dercarriage at least once a month
to minimize corrosion.
Protecting your Toyota
from corrosion

4RUNNER (1998)
High pressure water or steam is
effective for cleaning the vehicle's
underside and wheel housings. Pay
particular 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 removing 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 water
in these areas can cause corro-
sion.
Wash the underside of the vehicle
thoroughly when winter is over.
See ºWashing and waxing your Toyo-
taº for more tips.
Check the condition of your ve-
hicle's paint and trim. If you find any
chips or scratches in the paint, touch
them up immediately to prevent corro-
sion from starting. If the chips or
scratches have gone through the bare
metal, have a qualified body shop
make the repair. Check the interior of your vehicle.
Water and dirt can accumulate under
the floor mats and could cause corro-
sion. Occasionally check under the
mats to make sure the area is dry. Be
particularly careful when transporting
chemicals, cleansers, fert
ilizers, salt,
etc; these should be transported in
proper containers. If a spill or leak
should occur, immediately clean and
dry the area.
Use mud shields on your wheels. If
you drive on salted or gravel roads,
mud shields help protect your vehicle.
Full- size shields, which come as near
to the ground as possible, are the
best. We recommend that the fittings
and the area where the shields are
installed be treated to resist corrosion.
Your Toyota dealer will be happy to
assist in supplying and insta lling the
shields if they are recommended for
your area.
Keep your vehicle in a well venti-
lated garage or a roofed place. Do
not park your vehicle in a damp,
poorly ventilated garage. If you wash
your vehicle in the garage, or if you
drive it in covered with water or snow,
your garage may be so damp it will
cause corrosion. Even if your garage
is heated, a wet vehicle can corrode
if the ventilation is poor. Washing your Toyota
Keep your vehicle clean by regular
washing.
The following cases may cause weak-
ness to the paint or corrosion to the
body and parts. Wash your vehicle as
soon as possible.
When driving in a coastal area
When driving on a road sprinkled
with antifreeze
When having stuck of coal tar, tree
sap, bird droppings and carcass of
an insect
when driving in the areas where
there are a lot of smoke, soot,
dust, iron dust and chemical sub-
stance
When the vehicle becomes remark-
ably dirty with dust and mud
Hand- washing your Toyota
Work in the shade and wait until
the vehicle body is not hot to the
touch.
CAUTION
When cleaning under floor or
chassis, be careful not to injure
your hands.
Washing and waxing your
To y o t a

4RUNNER (1998)
1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose.
Remove any mud or road salt from
the underside of the vehicle or in
the wheel wells.
2. Wash with a mild car- wash soap, mixed according to the manufactur-
er's instructions. Use a soft cotton
mitt and keep it wet by dipping it
frequently into the wash water. Do
not rub hardÐlet the soap and wa-
ter remove the dirt.
Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild
soap or neutral detergent.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or
cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces.
NOTICE
Do not use gasoline or strong solvents, which may be toxic orcause damage.
3. Rinse thoroughlyÐdried soap can
cause streaking. In hot weather
you may need to rinse each sec-
tion right after you wash it.
4. To prevent water spots, dry the ve- hicle using a clean soft cotton tow-
el. Do not rub or press hardÐyou
might scratch the paint. Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an
automatic car wash, but remember
that the paint can be scratched by
some type of brushes, unfiltered
washing water, or the washing process
itself. Scratching reduces paint dura-
bility and gloss, especially on darker
colors. The manager of the car wash
should be able to advise you whether
the process is safe for the paint on
your vehicle.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the anten-
na, make sure it is retracted be-fore driving your Toyota throughan automatic car wash. On mod-
els with detachable antenna, re-move the antenna before using an automatic car wash.
Waxing your Toyota
Polishing and waxing is recom-
mended to maintain the original
beauty of your Toyota's finish.
Once a month or if the vehicle does
not repel water well, apply wax.
1. Always wash and dry the vehicle before you begin waxing, even if
you are using a combined cleaner
and wax.
2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If the finish has become extremely
weathered, use a car- cleaning pol-
ish, followed by a separate wax.
Carefully follow the manufacturer 's
instructions and precautions. Be
sure to polish and wax the chrome
trim as well as the paint.
3. Wax the vehicle again when water does not bead but remains on the
surface in large patches.