1998 TOYOTA COROLLA trunk release

1998 COROLLA(U)
14
CAUTION
Keep the trunk lid closed while driv-
ing. This not only keeps the luggage
from being thrown out but also pre-
vents exhaust gases from entering
the vehicle.
—Lock release lever
To open the trunk lid from the driver’s
seat, pull up on the lock release lever.After closing the trunk lid, insert the
master key and turn it counterclockwise
to deactivate the lock release lever.
After closing the trunk lid, try pulling it up
to make sure it is securely locked.
—Lock release lever
cancelling system
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1998 COROLLA(U)
23
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Pull the lever up. Then slide the seat
to the desired position with slight body
pressure and release the lever.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maxi-
mum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the pas-
senger are sitting up straight and
well back in the seats. If you are
reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. Therefore, in
the event of a frontal collision, the
risk of personal injury may increase
with increasing recline of the seat-
back.
Fold−down rear seat
(A) FOLDING DOWN REAR SEAT
1. To unlock the seatback, pull the le-
ver in the luggage compartment.2. Fold down the seatback.
Each seatback may be folded separately.
On vehicles with built−in child restraint,
only the left seatback can be folded down.
This will enlarge the trunk room as far as
the seatbacks. See ”Luggage stowage pre-
cautions” in Part 2 for precautions to ob-
serve in loading luggage.
NOTICE
Make sure the luggage loaded in the
enlarged trunk room will not damage
the webbing of the rear center seat
belt when the left seatback is folded
down.
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1998 COROLLA(U)
24
CAUTION
When returning the seatback to the
upright position:
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in the proper
position for ready to use.
Make sure the rear center seat belt
can be pulled out of the retractor.
If it cannot, firmly pull the belt and
release it. You will then be able to
smoothly pull the belt out of the
retractor.
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
(B) PREVENTING DAMAGE TO REAR
CENTER SEAT BELT WEBBING
When folding down the left seatback, if
the luggage loaded in the enlarged
trunk room will damage the webbing of
the rear center seat belt, separate the
rear center seat belt to prevent damage.
Insert the key into the hole (light gray)
on the buckle to release the tab 1 (light
gray), and allow the belt to retract.
CAUTION
Separate the rear center seat belt
only on the above mentioned case;
do not separate it in other cases.
(C) BEFORE RETURNING REAR SEAT
Make sure the shoulder belt pass
through the guide when returning the
seatback up.
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1998 COROLLA(U)
30
REAR CENTER SEAT BELT (WITH
FOLD−DOWN SEAT)
The rear center seat belt is a 3−point type
restraint with 2 buckles. Both seat belt
buckles must be correctly located and se-
curely latched for proper operation
Make sure the buckle 1 (with light gray
buckle−release button) is securely latched
for ready use of the center seat belt.
The buckle 1 should be separated only
when the rear left seatback is folded
down, if the luggage loaded in the en-
larged trunk room will damage the web-
bing of the rear center seat belt. (See
”Fold−down rear seat” in this chapter for
the instruction of how to correctly connect
the seat belt.)Two buckles and tabs for rear center
seat belt
The two buckles for the rear center seat
belt are distinguished with colors of the
buckle release button. Also the two tabs
have different shape for its end so that
the belt is not buckled in the wrong place.
Buckle 1—Properly matches with light
gray tab
Buckle 2—Properly matches with interi-
or color tab
CAUTION
Make sure the both buckles are cor-
rectly located and securely latched.
Failure to properly match the buckle
and tab may cause severe injury in
case of an accident or a collision.
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’98COROLLA(U) 512
173
Tire surface and wheel nuts
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage
or excessive wear. See Chapter 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 in-
formation.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, wa-
ter 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 trunk lid
operate smoothly and all latches lock se-
curely. Make sure the engine hood sec-
ondary latch secures the hood from open-
ing when the primary latch is released.
INSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be checked
regularly, e.g. while performing 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 indicators
and warning buzzers function properly.
Steering wheel
Be alert for changes in steering condition,
such as hard steering or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. op-
erate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in any position. Check that the
head restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks hold securely
in any latched position. For folding−down
rear seatbacks, check that the latches
lock securely.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as
buckles, retractors and anchors operate
properly and smoothly. Make sure that the
belt webbings 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.
Automatic transmission ”Park” mecha-
nism
Check the lock release button of the se-
lector lever for proper and smooth opera-
tion. On a safe incline, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the selector
lever in ”P” position and all brakes re-
leased.
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