1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER check oil

4RUNNER (1998)
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light has the following functions:
Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the park-
ing 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 ve-
hicle carefully. There may be a prob-
lem 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
starting and stopping.
If you judge that the brakes still
work adequately, drive cautiously to
your nearest dealer or shop for re-
pairs.
If the brakes are not working, have
the vehicle towed in for repairs.
(For towing information, see Part
4.)CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driv-
ing normally when the brake fluid
level is low.
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
ºONº or ºSTARTº, the reminder light
and buzzer come on if the driver's
seat belt is not fastened. Unless the
driver fastens the belt, the light keeps
on flickering and the buzzer sounds
for 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
operate, however, until the battery is
discharged. Turn off the air condition-
ing, blower, radio, etc., and drive di-
rectly to the nearest Toyota dealer or
repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the en- gine drive belt is broken or loose.
(d) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil
pressure 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 immediate-
ly. Call a Toyota dealer or qualified
repair shop for assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker
when the engine is idling or it may
come on briefly after a hard stop.
There is no cause for concern if it
then goes out when the engine is ac-
celerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil
level is extremely low. It is not de-
signed to indicate low oil level, and
the oil level must be checked using
the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with thewarning light onÐeven for oneblock. It may ruin the engine.

4RUNNER (1998)
The diluting ingredients evaporate out
when the vehicle is then driven at
high speeds, as on an expressway,
making it appear that oil is excessive-
ly consumed after driving at high
speeds.
IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEV-
EL 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 essential that the oil
level be checked regularly. Toyota rec-
ommends that the oil level be checked
every time you refuel the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regu-
larly could lead to serious enginetrouble due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level
check, see ºChecking the engine oil
levelº in Chapter 7- 2. Twin ground electrode spa
r
plugs (5VZ- FE engine)

4RUNNER (1998)
The driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts
whenever the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE
If driving through water, such
as when crossing shallowstreams, first check the depth of the water and the bottom of
the river bed for firmness. Driveslowly and avoid deep water.
Take all necessary safety mea-
sures to ensure that water dam-age to the engine or other com- ponents does not occur.
Water entering the engine airintake will cause severe engine
damage.
Water can wash the grease fromwheel bearings, causing rustingand premature failure, and mayalso enter the differentials,
transmission and transfer case,reducing the gear oil's lubrica-ting qualities.
Sand and mud that has accum-
lated in brake drums andaround brake discs may affectbraking efficiency and may dam-
age brake system components.
Always perform a maintenanceinspection after each day of
off- road driving that has takenyou through rough terrain,sand, mud, or water. For sche-
duled maintenance information,refer to the separate ºOwner's Manual Supplement/Maintenance
Scheduleº.
Winter driving tips
Make sure you have ethylene- glycol
antifreeze in the radiator.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type anti-freeze.
Check the condition of the battery
and cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity
of any battery, so it must be in top
shape to provide enough power for
winter starting. Chapter 7- 3 tells you
how to visually inspect the battery.
Your Toyota dealer and most service
stations will be pleased to check the
level of charge.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity
is suitable for the cold weather.
See Chapter 7- 2 for recommended
viscosity. Leaving a heavy summer oil
in your vehicle during winter months
may cause harder starting. If you are
not sure about which oil to use, call
your Toyota dealerÐhe will be pleased
to help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de- icer or glycerine into
the locks to keep them from freezing.
To open a frozen lock, try heating the
key before inserting it.

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)
CAUTION
When making the connections, to
avoid serious injury, do not lean
over the battery or accidentally
let the jumper cables or clamps
touch anything except the correct
battery terminals or the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal
way. After starting, run it at about
2000 rpm for several minutes with
the accelerator pedal lightly de-
pressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order: the nega-
tive cable and then the positive
cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover clothsÐthey may now con-
tain sulfuric acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharg-
ing is not apparent (for example,
lights left on), you should have it
checked. If your engine stalls while driving...
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keep- ing a straight line. Move cautiously
off the road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try starting the engine again.
If the engine will not start, see ºIf
your vehicle will not startº.
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 your vehicle overheats
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you
experience a loss of power, or if
you hear a loud knocking or ping-
ing noise, the engine has probably
overheated. You should follow this
procedure... 1. Pull safely off the road, stop the vehicle and turn on your emergen-
cy flashers. Put the transmission in
ºPº (automatic) or neutral (manual)
and apply the parking brake. Turn
off the air conditioning if it is being
used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or reservoir, stop the
engine. Wait until the steam sub-
sides before opening the hood. If
there is no coolant boiling over or
steam, leave the engine running.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury,
keep the hood closed until there
is no steam. Escaping steam or
coolant is a sign of very high
pressure.
If your engine stalls while
driving

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.

4RUNNER (1998)
Automatic transmission ºParkº mech- anism
Check the lock release button of the
selector lever for proper and smooth
operation. On a safe incline, check
that your vehicle is held securely with
the selector lever in ºPº position and
all brakes released.
IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Items listed below should be
checked from time to time, e.g.
each time when refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in
the tank. See Chapter 7- 3 for addi-
tional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is be-
tween the ºFULLº and ºLOWº lines on
the see- through reservoir when the
engine is cold. See Chapter 7- 2 for
additional information.
Battery electrolyte level
Make sure the electrolyte level of all
battery cells is between upper and
lower level lines on the case. Add
only distilled water when replenishing.
See Chapter 7- 3 for additional in-
formation. Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is cor-
rect. See Chapter 7- 2 for additional
information.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with
the engine turned off and the vehicle
parked on a level spot. See Chapter
7- 2 for additional information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir.
The level should be in the ºHOTº or
ºCOLDº range depending on the fluid
temperature. See Chapter 7- 2 for
additional information.
Exhaust system
If you notice any change in the sound
of the exhaust or smell exhaust
fumes, have the cause located and
corrected immediately. (See engine ex-
haust cautions in Part 2.)
Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip- offs
that indicate service is needed. Some
important clues are as follows:
Engine missing, stumbling, or ping-
ing
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A leak under the vehicle (however,
water dripping from the air condi-
tioning after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This
may indicate a dangerous carbon
monoxide leak. Drive with the win-
dows open and have the exhaust
system checked immediately.)
Flat- looking tire; excessive tire
squeal when cornering; uneven tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when
driving straight on a level road
Strange noises related to suspen-
sion movement
Loss of brake effectiveness;
spongy feeling brake or clutch ped-
al; pedal almost touches floor; ve-
hicle pulls to one side when brak-
ing
Engine coolant temperature continu-
ally higher than normal
Does your vehicle need
repairing?

4RUNNER (1998)
Use eye protection whenever
you work on or under your ve-
hicle where you may be ex-
posed to flying or falling mate-
rial, fluid spray, etc.
Used engine oil contains poten-
tially harmful contaminants
which may cause skin disorders
such as inflammation or skin
cancer, so care should be taken
to avoid prolonged and repeated
contact with it. To remove used
engine oil from your skin, wash
thoroughly with soap and water.
Do not leave used oil within the
reach of children.
Dispose of used oil and filter
only in a safe and acceptable
manner. Do not dispose of used
oil and filter in household
trash, in sewers or onto the
ground. Call your dealer or a
service station for information
concerning recycling or dispos-
al.NOTICE
Remember that battery and igni-
tion cables carry high currentsor voltages. Be careful of acci-dentally causing a short circuit.
Add only demineralized or dis-tilled water to fill the radiator.And if you spill some of the
coolant, be sure to wash it offwith water to prevent it from
damaging the parts or paint.
Do not allow dirt or anythingelse to fall through the spark
plug holes.
Do not pry the outer electrode
of a spark plug against the cen-ter electrode.
Use only spark plugs of the
specified type. Using othertypes will cause engine damage,loss of performance or radio
noise.
Do not overfill automatic trans-mission fluid, or the transmis-sion could be damaged.
Do not drive with the air clean-
er filter removed, or excessiveengine wear could result. Alsobackfiring could cause a fire in
the engine compartment.
Be careful not to scratch theglass surface with the wiper
frame.
When closing the engine hood,check to see that you have notforgotten any tools, rags, etc.