1998 TOYOTA TACOMA Owners Manual

'98 Tacoma (U)89
3RZ- FE engine
Upshifting gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 24 (15)
2 to 3 40 (25)/58 (36) *
3 to 4 64 (40)/72 (45) *
4 to 5 72 (45)/85 (53) *
Downshifting gear km/h (mph)
2 to 1 24 (15)
3 to 2 40 (25)
4 to 3 64 (40)
5 to 4 72 (45)
* : Applicable under heavy acceleration
conditions.
5VZ- FE engine
gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 or 2 to 1 24 (15)
2 to 3 or 3 to 2 40 (25)
3 to 4 or 4 to 3 64 (40)
4 to 5 or 5 to 4 72 (45)
Downshift to the appropriate gear if accel-
eration is needed when you are cruising
below the above downshifting speeds. Upshifting too soon or downshifting too
late will cause lugging, and possibly ping-
ing. Regularly revving the engine to maxi-
mum speed in each gear will cause ex-
cessive engine wear and high fuel
consumption.
Maximum allowable speeds
To get on a highway or to pass slower
traffic, maximum acceleration may be nec-
essary. Make sure you observe the follow-
ing maximum allowable speeds in each
gear:
Two-wheel drive models
2RZ- FE engine
gear km/h (mph)1 48 (30)
2 88 (55)
3 136 (85)
4 165 (103)
5VZ- FE engine gear km/h (mph)
1 54 (34)
2 101 (63)
3 144 (89)
4 165 (103) Four-wheel drive models
3RZ- FE engine gear km/h(mph)
ºH2º and ºH4º ºL4º
1 46 (29) 17 (11)
2 86 (53) 33 (21)
3 135 (84) 52 (32)
4 165 (103) 66 (41)
5VZ- FE engine
gear km/h (mph)ºH2º and ºH4º ºL4º
1 48 (30) 18 (11)
2 88 (55) 34 (21)
3 128 (80) 49 (30)
4 165 (103) 72 (45)
NOTICE
Do not downshift if you are going
faster than the maximum allowablespeed for the next lower gear.

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Good driving practice
If it is difficult to shift into reverse, put
the transmission in neutral, release the
clutch pedal momentarily, and then try
again.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use the fifth gear.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
NOTICE
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before shifting into reverse.
Use the front drive control lever to se-
lect the following transfer modes.
ºH2º (high speed position, two-wheel
drive): Lever at ºH2º
Use this for normal driving on dry hard-
surfaced roads. This position gives greater
economy, quietest ride and least wear.
ºH4º (high speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at ºH4º
Use this for normal driving on wet, icy or
snow-covered roads. This position pro-
vides greater traction than two-wheel
drive. ºNº (neutral position):
Lever at ºNº
No power is delivered to the wheels. The
vehicle must be stopped.
ºL4º (low speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at ºL4º
Use this for maximum power and traction.
Use ºL4º for climbing or descending steep
hills, off-road driving, and hard pulling in
sand, mud or deep snow.
The four-wheel drive indicator light comes
on when the ºH4º, ºNº or ºL4º mode is
selected.
See º(d) Shifting procedure (lever type)º
for further instructions.
Four-wheel drive systemÐ
(a) Front drive control
(lever type)

'98 Tacoma (U)91
Use the front drive control lever and
º4WDº button to select the following
transfer modes.
ºH2º (high speed position, two-wheel
drive): Lever at ºHº, º4WDº button left out
Use this for normal driving on dry hard-
surfaced roads. This position gives greater
economy, quietest ride and least wear.
ºH4º (high speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at ºHº, º4WDº button pushed
in.
Use this for normal driving on wet, icy or
snow-covered roads. This position pro-
vides greater traction than two-wheel
drive. ºNº (neutral position):
Lever at ºNº
No power is delivered to the wheels. The
vehicle must be stopped.
ºL4º (low speed position, four-wheel
drive): Lever at ºL4º
Use this for maximum power and traction.
Use ºL4º for climbing or descending steep
hills, off-road driving, and hard pulling in
sand, mud or deep snow.
The four-wheel drive indicator light comes
on when the ºH4º, ºNº or ºL4º mode is
selected.
See º(d) Shifting procedure (lever/button
type)º for further instructions. (b) Free-wheeling hubsTo engage the free-wheeling hubs, turn
the hubs to ºLOCKº. To disengage, turn
the hubs to ºFREEº.
Make sure the triangle mark on the hub
aligns with the other one at the side you
wish to set.
Setting the free-wheeling hubs in ºFREEº
allows you to disengage the front axle and
driveshaft so that they are not revolving.
This reduces noise and wear when the
vehicle is in two-wheel drive.
You should drive with the hubs in ºLOCKº
for at least 16 km (10 miles) each month.
This will assure that the front drive com-
ponents are lubricated.
(a) Front drive control
(lever/button type)

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92
Steel wheels
Aluminum wheels The A.D.D. can be engaged or disen-
gaged by the shifting operations de-
scribed in º(d) Shifting procedureº.
You should drive in four-wheel drive for at
least 16 km (10 miles) each month. This
will assure that the front drive components
are lubricated.
SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH2º AND ºH4º
With free-wheeling hubs
To shift from ºH2º to ºH4º,
move the
front drive control lever. Also, engage both
the free-wheeling hubs.
This can be done when the vehicle is
stopped, or moving straight ahead at
speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or less. You
need not depress the clutch pedal. If you
have trouble shifting, depress or release
the accelerator pedal momentarily while
pushing the front drive control lever.
CAUTION
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop
the slipping or spinning before
shifting.
Never drive with only one hub en-gaged.
To shift from ºH4º to ºH2º, simply move
the front drive control lever. Also, disen-
gage both the free-wheeling hubs for con-
tinued ºH2º use.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
You need not depress the clutch pedal.
(c) A.D.D. (automatic
disconnecting differential)
(d) Shifting procedure
(lever type with manual
transmission)

'98 Tacoma (U)93
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into ºH2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse.
With A.D.D.
To shift from ºH2º to ºH4º,
reduce your
speed to less than 80 km/h (50 mph) and
move the front drive control lever. You
need not depress the clutch pedal.
If you have trouble shifting in cold weath-
er, reduce your speed or stop the vehicle
and reshift.
CAUTION
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop the
slipping or spinning before shifting.
To shift from ºH4º to ºH2º, simply move
the front drive control lever.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
You need not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into ºH2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse. SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH4º AND ºL4º
To shift from ºH4º to ºL4º,
stop the
vehicle or reduce your speed to less than
8 km/h (5 mph). With your foot off the
accelerator pedal, depress the clutch ped-
al and move the front drive control lever.
To shift from ºL4º to ºH4º, depress the
clutch pedal and move the front drive con-
trol lever.
This can be done at any vehicle speed. SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH2º AND ºH4º
With free-wheeling hubs
To shift from ºH2º to ºH4º,
move the
front drive control lever. Also, engage both
the free-wheeling hubs.
This can be done when the vehicle is
stopped, or moving straight ahead at
speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or less. If
you have trouble shifting, depress or re-
lease the accelerator pedal momentarily
while pushing the front drive control lever.
CAUTION
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop
the slipping or spinning before
shifting.
Never drive with only one hub en-gaged.
To shift from ºH4º to ºH2º, simply move
the front drive control lever. Also, disen-
gage both the free-wheeling hubs for con-
tinued ºH2º use.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
(d) Shifting procedure
(lever type with automatic
transmission)

'98 Tacoma (U)
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If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into ºH2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse.
With A.D.D.
To shift from ºH2º to ºH4º,
reduce your
speed to less than 80 km/h (50 mph) and
move the front drive control lever.
If you have trouble shifting in cold weath-
er, reduce your speed or stop the vehicle
and reshift.
CAUTION
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop the
slipping or spinning before shifting.
To shift from ºH4º to ºH2º, simply move
the front drive control lever.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into ºH2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse. SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH4º AND ºL4º
To shift between ºH4º and ºL4º,
stop
the vehicle and put the transmission in
ºNº. With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever. SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH2º AND ºH4º
To shift from ºH2º to ºH4º,
reduce your
speed to less than 100 km/h (62 mph)
and push in the º4WDº button. You need
not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not come on
when you push in the º4WDº button, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you push in the º4WDº
button, reduce your speed or stop the
vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never push the º4WDº button if
wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping
or spinning before shifting.
(d) Shifting procedure
(lever/button type with manual
transmission)

'98 Tacoma (U)95
To shift from ºH4º to ºH2º,
push the
º4WDº button again to turn it off.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
You need not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into ºH2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse. SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH2º OR ºH4º AND
ºL4º
To shift from ºH2º or ºH4º to ºL4º,
stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to
less than 8 km/h (5 mph). With your foot
off the accelerator pedal, depress the
clutch pedal and move the front drive con-
trol lever.
To shift from ºL4º to ºH2º or ºH4º,
depress the clutch pedal and move the
front drive control lever. When the º4WDº
button is pushed in, the transfer shifts into
ºH4º; when the button is left out, the
transfer shifts into ºH2º.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into ºH2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse.SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH2º AND ºH4º
To shift from ºH2º to ºH4º,
reduce your
speed to less than 100 km/h (62 mph)
and push in the º4WDº button.
If the indicator light does not come on
when you push in the º4WDº button, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you push in the º4WDº
button, reduce your speed or stop the
vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never push the º4WDº button if
wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping
or spinning before shifting.
(d) Shifting procedure
(lever/button type with
automatic transmission)

'98 Tacoma (U)
96
To shift from ºH4º to ºH2º,
push the
º4WDº button again to turn it off.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into `'H2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse. SHIFTING BETWEEN ºH2º OR ºH4º AND
ºL4º
To shift from ºH2º or `'H4º to ºL4º,
stop the vehicle and put the transmission
in ºNº. With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever.
To shift from ºL4º to ºH2º or ºH4º,
stop the vehicle and put the transmission
in ºNº. With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever. When the º4WDº button is pushed
in, the transfer shifts into ºH4º; when the
button is left out, the transfer shifts into
ºH2º.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into ºH2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse. Rear differential lock system
The rear differential lock system is pro-
vided for use only when wheel spinning
occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or
ragged surface.
This differential lock system is effective in
case one of the rear wheels is spinning.
Except for Pre Runner models
'
Before using the rear differential lock sys-
tem, first shift the front drive control into
ºL4º with the free-wheeling hubs engaged
to see if it works. If this has no effect,
additionally use the rear differential lock
system.