1998 TOYOTA AVALON service

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If you perform maintenance by yourself,
be sure to follow the correct procedure
given in this part.
You should be aware that improper or in-
complete servicing may result in operating
problems.
Performing do −it−yourself maintenance
during the warranty period may affect your
warranty coverage. Read the separate
Toyota Warranty statement for details and
suggestions.
This part gives instructions only for those
items that are relatively easy for an owner
to perform. As explained in Part 6, there
are still a number of items that must be
done by a qualified technician with special
tools.
For information on tools and parts for do −
it −yourself maintenance, see ”Parts and
tools”.
Utmost care should be taken when work-
ing on your vehicle to prevent accidental
injury. Here are a few precautions that
you should be especially careful to ob-
serve:CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from the moving fan and engine
drive belts. (Removing rings,
watches, and ties is advisable.)
Right after driving, the engine
compartment—the engine, radiator,
exhaust manifold and spark plug
boots, etc.—will be hot. So be care-
ful not to touch them. Oil, fluids
and spark plugs may also be hot.
If the engine is hot, do not remove
the radiator cap or loosen the drain
plugs to prevent burning yourself.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames around fuel or the
battery. Their fumes are flammable.
Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
Do not get under your vehicle with
just the body jack supporting it. Al-
ways use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.
Do −it −yourself service
precautions
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Be sure that the ignition is off if
you work near the electric cooling
fans or radiator grille. With the
ignition on, the electric cooling fans
will automatically start to run if the
engine coolant temperature is high
and/or the air conditioning is on.
Use eye protection whenever you
work on or under your vehicle
where you may be exposed to flying
or falling material, fluid spray, etc.
Used engine oil contains potentially
harmful contaminants which may
cause skin disorders such as in-
flammation or skin cancer, so care
should be taken to avoid prolonged
and repeated contact with it. To re-
move 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 fil-
ter in household trash, in sewers or
onto the ground. Call your dealer or
a service station for information
concerning recycling or disposal.
NOTICE

Remember that battery and ignition
cables carry high currents or volt-
ages. Be careful of accidentally
causing a short circuit.
 Add only demineralized or distilled
water to fill the radiator. And if you
spill some of the coolant, be sure
to wash off with water to prevent it
from damaging the parts or paint.
 Do not allow dirt or anything else
to fall through the spark plug holes.
 Do not pry the outer electrode of a
spark plug against the center elec-
trode.
 Use only spark plugs of the speci-
fied type. Using other types will
cause engine damage, loss of per-
formance or radio noise.
Do not reuse platinum −tipped spark
plugs by cleaning or regapping.
 Do not overfill automatic transmis-
sion fluid, or the transmission
could be damaged.
 Do not drive with the air cleaner
filter removed, or excessive engine
wear could result. Also backfiring
could cause a fire in the engine
compartment.
 Be careful not to scratch the glass
surface with the wiper frame.
 When closing the engine hood,
check to see that you have not for-
gotten any tools, rags, etc.
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Engine oil selection
Use API grade SH, ”Energy −Conserving II”
or SJ, ”Energy −Conserving” multigrade en-
gine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil.
Recommended viscosity (SAE):
SAE 5W −30 is the best choice for your
vehicle, for good fuel economy and
good starting in cold weather.
If you use SAE 10W −30 engine oil in
extremely low temperatures, the engine
may become difficult to start, so SAE
5W −30 engine oil is recommended.
API service symbol
ILSAC certification mark
Oil identification marks
Either or both API registered marks are
added to some oil containers to help
you select the oil you should use.
The API Service Symbol is located any-
where on the outside of the container.
The top portion of the label shows the oil
quality by API (American Petroleum Insti-
tute) designations such as SJ. The center
portion of the label shows the SAE viscos-
ity grade such as SAE 5W −30. ”Energy −
Conserving” shown in the lower portion,
indicates that the oil has fuel −saving ca-
pabilities.
The ILSAC (International Lubricant Stan-
dardization and Approval Committee) Certi-
fication Mark is displayed on the front of
the container.
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Part 8
SPECIFICATIONS
 Dimensions and weight
 Engine
 Fuel
 Service specifications
 Ti r es
 Fuses
Dimensions and weight
Overall length mm (in.) 4875 (192.0)
Overall widthmm (in.) 1790 (70.5)
Overall height mm (in.) 1440 (56.7)∗
1
Wheelbase mm (in.) 2720 (107.0)
Front tread mm (in.) 1550 (61.0)
Rear treadmm (in.) 1525 (60.0)
∗
1: Unladen vechicle∗2: With floor shift type automatic transmission∗3: With column shift type automatic transmission
Vehicle capacity weight
(occupants  luggage kg (lb.) 410 (904)∗
2
475 (1047)∗3
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Engine
Model:
1MZ −FE
Type: 6 cylinder V type 4 cycle, gasoline
Bore and stroke, mm (in.): 87.5 x 83.0 (3.44 x 3.27)
Displacement, cm
3 (cu. in.):
2995 (182.8)
Fuel
Fuel type: Unleaded gasoline, Octane Rating 87
(Research Octane Number 91) or higher.
For improved vehicle performance, the
use of premium unleaded gasoline with
an Octane Rating of 91 (Research Oc-
tane Number 96) or higher is recom-
mended.
Fuel tank capacity, L (gal., Imp. gal.): 70 (18.5, 15.4)
Service specifications
ENGINE
Valve clearance (engine cold), mm (in.):
Intake 0.15—0.25 (0.006—0.010)
Exhaust 0.25—0.35 (0.010—0.014)
Spark plug type: DENSO PK20TR11
NGK BKR6EKPB11
Spark plug gap, mm(in.): 1.1 (0.043)
Drive belt tension measured with Borroughs
drive belt tension gauge No. BT −33− 73F
(used belt), Ibf: Generator belt
11 510
Power steering pump belt 11 520
ENGINE LUBRICATION
Oil capacity (drain and refill), L (qt., Imp.
qt.): With filter 4.7 (5.0, 4.1)
Without filter 4.5 (4.8, 4.0)
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Tires
Tire size:
P205/65R15 92H
Tire pressure, kPa (kPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar,
psi): Front 220 (2.2, 32)
Rear 220 (2.2, 32)
Wheel size: 15 x 6JJ
Wheel nut torque, N m (kgfm, ft lbf):
103 (10.5, 76)
Fuses
Engine compartment (U.S.A)
Fuses (type A)
1. SPARE 7.5 A: Spare fuse
2. EFI 15 A: Multiport fuel injection sys-
tem/sequential multiport fuel injection
system, air c onditioning system, electri-
cal idle −up system, electronically con-
trolled automatic transmission system
3. HORN 10 A: Horn
4. OBD. TRAC 7.5 A: On−board diagnosis
system
5. OBD 7.5 A: On−board diagnosis sys-
tem
Engine compartment (Canada)
6. HAZ 10 A: Turn signal lights, emergen-
cy flasher
7. DOME 7.5 A: Interior light, personal
light, vanity mirror light, door courtesy
light, ignition switch light, trunk light,
power door lock control, locking with
wireless remote control system, theft
deterrent system, automatic light con-
trol system, daytime running light sys-
tem, service reminder indicators and
warning buzzer, clock
8. HEAD (LH) 15 A: Left−hand headlight
9. HEAD (RH) 15 A: Right−hand headlight
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Instrument panel
30. GAUGE 7.5 A: Gauge and meter,
buck −up lights, interior lights, charging
system, electronically controlled auto-
matic transmission system, cruise con-
trol system, power door lock system,
service reminder indicators and warning
buzzer, automatic light control system,
daytime running light system
31. TAIL 15 A: Parking lights, license plate
lights, tail lights, front side marker
lights
Passenger’s side kick panel
32. STOP 15 A: Stop lights, cruise control
system, high m ounted stoplight, anti/
lock brake system, shift lock system,
multiport fuel injection system/sequen-
tial multiport fuel injection system
33. PANEL 5 A: Gauge and meter, car
audio system, cigarette lighter, glove-
box light, clock, electronically controlled
automatic transmission system, air
conditioning system, service reminder
indicators, turn signal lights, emergency
flasher, headlight cleaner, seat heater
34. MIRROR HEATER 10 A: Mirror heaters35. CIG/RADIO 15 A:
Cigarette lighter, in-
terior lights, clock, SRS airbag system,
seat belt pretensioners, shift lock sys-
tem, electronically controlled automatic
transmission system, air conditioning
system, ignition system, theft deterrent
system, outside rear view mirror control
system, car audio system, service re-
minder indicators
36. HEATER 10 A: Air conditioning system,
rear window defogger, starter system
37. STARTER 5 A: Starter system
38. A.C 10 A: Air conditioning system
Fuses (type B)
39. MAIN 40 A: ”HEAD (LH)”, ”HEAD HI
(LH)”, ”HEAD (RH)” and ”HEAD HI
(RH)” fuses
40. RDI 30 A: Electric cooling fans
41. CDS 30 A: Electric cooling fans
42. DOOR 30 A: Power door lock system,
power seat
43. RR DEF 40 A: Rear window defogger
44. POWER 30A: Power window, electric
moon roof
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Uniform tire quality grading
This information has been prepared in ac-
cordance with regulations issued by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration of the U.S. Department of Trans-
portation. It provides the purchasers and/
or prospective purchasers of Toyota
vehicles with information on uniform tire
quality grading.
Your Toyota dealer will help answer any
questions you may have as you read this
information.
DOT quality grades—All passenger ve-
hicle tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to
these grades. These quality grades are
molded on the sidewall.
Treadwear —The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test
course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1 −1/2) times
as well on the government course as a
tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may de-
part significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service prac-
tices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate. Traction A, B, C
—The traction grades,
from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C,
and they represent the tire’s ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A
tire marked C may have poor traction per-
formance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on braking (straight
ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A, B, C —The temperature
grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissi-
pate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire to de-
generate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a lev-
el of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of perfor-
mance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law. Warning: The temperature grades for this
tire are established for a tire that is prop-
erly inflated and not overloaded. Exces-
sive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
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