1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER ignition

4RUNNER (1998)
NOTICE
A large amount of unburned
gases flowing into the three- waycatalytic converter may cause itto overheat and create a fire haz-
ard. To prevent this and otherdamage, observe the followingprecautions:
Use only unleaded gasoline.
Do not drive with an extremely
low fuel level; running out offuel could cause the engine to misfire, creating an excessive
load on the three- way catalyticconverter.
Do not allow the engine to runat idle speed for more than 20 minutes.
Avoid racing the engine.
Do not push- start or pull- start
your vehicle.
Do not turn off the ignitionwhile the vehicle is moving.
Keep your engine in good run-
ning order. Malfunctions in theengine electrical system, elec-tronic ignition system/distribu-
tor ignition system or fuel sys-tems could cause an extremelyhigh three- way catalytic con-
verter temperature.
If the engine becomes difficultto start or stalls frequently,
take your vehicle in for acheck- up as soon as possible.
Remember, your Toyota dealer
knows your vehicle and itsthree- way catalytic converter
system best.
To ensure that the three- waycatalytic converter and the en-
tire emission control system op-erate properly, your vehiclemust receive the periodic in-
spections required by the Toyo-ta Maintenance Schedule. For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, refer to the separateºOwner 's Manual Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.
Engine exhaust cautions
CAUTION
Avoid inhaling the engine ex-
haust. It contains carbon mon-
oxide, which is a colorless and
odorless gas. It can cause un-
consciousness or even death.
Make sure the exhaust system
has no holes or loose connec-
tions. The system should be
checked from time to time. If
you hit something, or notice a
change in the sound of the ex-
haust, have the system checked
immediately.
Do not run the engine in a ga-
rage or enclosed area except
for the time needed to drive the
vehicle in or out. The exhaust
gases cannot escape, making
this a particularly dangerous
situation.
Do not remain for a long time
in a parked vehicle with the en-
gine running. If it is unavoid-
able, however, do so only in an
unconfined area and adjust the
heating or cooling system to
force outside air into the ve-
hicle.

4RUNNER (1998)
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
ºABSº warning light This light comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the ºONº position.
After about 3 seconds, the light will
go off.

4RUNNER (1998)
Part 4
IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY
If your vehicle will not start
If your engine stalls while
driving
If your vehicle overheats
If you have a flat tire
If your vehicle needs to be
towed
If you cannot shift automatic
transmission selector lever
If you lose your keys
Before making these checks, make
sure you have followed the correct
starting procedure given in ºHow to
start the engineº in Part 3 and that
you have sufficient fuel.
If the engine is not turning over or
is turning over too slowlyÐ
1. Check that the battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch on the interior light.
3. If the light is out, dim or goes out when the starter is cranked, the
battery is discharged. You may try
jump starting. See º(c) Jump start-
ingº for further instructions.
If the light is O.K., but the engine still
will not start, it needs adjustment or
repair. Call a Toyota dealer or quali-
fied repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not pull- or push- start the ve- hicle. It may damage the vehicleor cause a collision when the en-
gine starts. Also the three- way
catalytic converter may overheatand become a fire hazard.
If the engine turns over at its nor-
mal speed but will not startÐ
1. Check that all the push- on connec- tors are tight. (For example, con-
nections at the spark plugs, ignition
coil and/or distributor)
2. If the connectors are O.K., the en- gine may be flooded because of
repeated cranking. See º(b) Start-
ing a flooded engineº for further
instructions.
If your vehicle will not start
Ð
(a) Simple checks

4RUNNER (1998)
Only when you cannot receive a
towing service from a Toyota dealer
or commercial tow truck service,
tow your vehicle carefully in accor-
dance with the instructions given in
ºÐEmergency towingº in this Part.
Proper equipment will help ensure that
your vehicle is not damaged while be-
ing towed. Commercial operators are
generally aware of the state/provincial
and local laws pertaining to towing.
Your vehicle can be damaged if it is
towed incorrectly. Although most oper-
ators know the correct procedure, it is
possible to make a mistake. To avoid
damage to your vehicle, make sure
the following few precautions are ob-
served. If necessary, show this page
to the tow truck driver. TOWING PRECAUTIONS:
Use a safety chain system for all tow-
ing, and abide by the state/provincial
and local laws. The wheels and axle
on the ground must be in good condi-
tion. If they are damaged, use a tow-
ing dolly.
Two- wheel drive modelsÐ
(a) Towing with wheel lift type
truck
From frontÐ Manual transmission:
We recommend using a towing dolly
under the rear wheels. If you do not
use a towing dolly, release the park-
ing brake and put the transmission
in neutral.
Automatic transmission:
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
NOTICE
Never tow a vehicle with an auto-
matic transmission from the frontwith the rear wheels on theground, as this may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
From rearÐ Place the ignition key in
the ºACCº position.
NOTICE
When lifting wheels, take care
to ensure adequate groundclearance for towing at the op-posite end of the raised vehicle.
Otherwise, the bumper and/orunderbody of the towed vehiclewill be damaged during towing.
Do not tow with the key re-moved or in the ºLOCKº posi-tion, as the steering lock mech-
anism is not strong enough tohold the front wheels straight
while towing.
(b) Using flat bed truck

4RUNNER (1998)
Four-wheel drive modelsÐ
(a) Towing with wheel lift type truck From frontÐ
Manual transmission:
We recommend using a towing dol-
ly under the rear wheels. If you do
not use a towing dolly, release the
parking brake, put the transmission
in neutral and the transfer in ºH2º.
Automatic transmission:
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
NOTICE
Never tow a vehicle with an auto-
matic transmission from the frontwith the rear wheels on the
ground, as this may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
From rearÐ We recommend using a
towing dolly under the front wheels. If
you do not use a towing dolly, place
the ignition key in the ºACCº position,
put the transmission in neutral and the
transfer in ºH2º.
NOTICE
Do not tow with the key removed
or in the ºLOCKº position whentowing from the rear without atowing dolly. The steering lock
mechanism is not strong enoughto hold the front wheels straight.
(b) Using flat bed truck

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)
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)
If the headlights or other electrical
components do not work, check the
fuses. If any of the fuses are blown,
they must be replaced.
See ºFuse locationsº in Chapter 7- 1
for locations of the fuses.
Turn the ignition switch and inop-
erative component off. Pull a sus-
pected fuse straight out and check it.
Determine which fuse may be causing
the problem. The lid of the fuse box
shows the name of the circuit for
each fuse. See Part 8 of this manual
for the functions controlled by each
circuit. Type A fuses can be pulled out by
using the pull- out tool. The location of
the pull- out tool is shown in the il-
lustration.
If you are not sure whether the fuse
has blown, try replacing the suspected
fuse with one that you know is good.
If the fuse has blown, push a new
fuse into the clip.
Only install a fuse with the amperage
rating designated on the fuse box lid.
If you do not have a spare fuse, in
an emergency you can pull out the
ºDOMEº or ºA/Cº fuse, which may be
dispensable for normal driving, and
use it if its amperage rating is the
same.If you cannot use one of the same
amperage, use one that is lower, but
as close as possible to the rating. If
the amperage is lower than that speci-
fied, the fuse might blow out again but
this does not indicate anything wrong.
Be sure to get the correct fuse as
soon as possible and return the sub-
stitute to its original clip.
It is a good idea to purchase a set
of spare fuses and keep them in your
vehicle for emergencies.