1998 TOYOTA TACOMA four wheel drive

'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)101
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE WARNING
If the ºCRUISEº indicator light in the
instrument cluster flashes when using the
cruise control, press the ºCRUISE ON-
OFFº button to turn the system off and
then press it again to turn it on.
If any of the following conditions then oc-
curs, there is some trouble in the cruise
control system.
The indicator light does not come on.
The indicator light flashes again.
The indicator light goes out after it
comes on.
If this is the case, contact your Toyota
dealer and have your vehicle inspected.
To crank the engine without depressing
the clutch pedal, push the switch with
the ignition on.
The switch stays on as long as the igni-
tion is on. And it will automatically turn off
when the ignition is off. An indicator light
will illuminate to indicate the system is
operating.
This switch cancels the clutch start sys-
tem, which is designed to keep the starter
motor from operating if the clutch pedal is
not depressed all the way down.
The switch allows the vehicle to be driven
out of difficult situations by cranking the
engine with the clutch engaged. Never use the switch for normal engine
starting. Be sure to follow the starting
procedure instructed in ºHow to start the
engineº in Part 3.
Clutch start cancel switch
(four-wheel drive models with
manual transmission)

'98 Tacoma (U)137
Part 2
INFORMATION
BEFORE DRIVING
YOUR TOYOTA
Off- road vehicle precautions
Break- in period
Fuel
Operation in foreign countries
Three- way catalytic converter
Engine exhaust cautions
Facts about engine oil
consumption
Twin ground electrode spark plugs
Brake system
Brake pad wear limit indicators
Luggage stowage precautions
Rear step bumper
Your Toyota's identification
Suspension and chassis
Types of tires
This vehicle is one of the class of ve-
hicles which have higher ground clear-
ance and narrower tread in relation to
the height of their center of gravity to
make them capable of performing in a
wide variety of off-road applications.
Specific design characteristics give it a
higher center of gravity than ordinary
cars. An advantage of the higher
ground clearance is a better view of the
road allowing you to anticipate prob-
lems. It is not designed for cornering
at the same speeds as conventional
two-wheel drive vehicles any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions.
CAUTION
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of serious
personal injury or damage to your ve-
hicle:
Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers, if at all possible. As with oth-
er vehicles of this type, failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover.
Avoid loading any items on the roof
that will make the center of gravity
even higher.
Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. Because of its high center of
gravity, your vehicle is more sensi-
tive to side winds than an ordinary
passenger car. Slowing down will
allow you to have much better con-
trol.
Do not drive horizontally across
steep slopes. Driving straight up or
straight down is preferred. Your ve-
hicle (or any similar off-road ve-
hicle) can tip over sideways much
more easily than forward or back-
ward.
Off-road vehicle pr ecautions
(four-wheel drive models only)

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When driving off-road or in r ugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump the vehicle, or strike
objects, etc. This may cause loss of
control or vehicle rollover. You are
also risking expensive damage to
your vehicle's suspension and chas-
sis.
Break-in period
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But following a few simple tips
for the first 1600 km (1000 miles) can add
to the future economy and long life of
your vehicle:
Do not drive over 88 km/h (55 mph).
Run the engine at moderate speed be-
tween 2000 and 4000 rpm.
Avoid full-throttle starts.
Try to avoid hard stops during the first
300 km (200 miles).
Do not drive slowly with the manual
transmission in a high gear.
Do not drive for a long time at any
single speed, either fast or slow.
Do not tow a trailer during the first 800
km (500 miles).
Four-wheel drive models with free-
wheeling hubs onlyÐ
For the first 500 km (300 miles):
We recommend that you use high range,
two-wheel drive, with both free-wheeling
hubs engaged. For information on the
four-wheel drive system and the front
hubs, see ºFour-wheel drive systemº in
Chapter 1- 6. Fuel
FUEL TYPE
Your new vehicle must use only un-
leaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mixups, your
Toyota has a new smaller fuel tank open-
ing. The special nozzle on pumps with
unleaded fuel will fit it, but the larger
standard nozzle on pumps with leaded gas
will not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use
should meet specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB 3.5- M93
in Canada.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of
leaded gasoline will cause the three-way catalytic converter to lose its ef-
fectiveness and the emission control
system to function improperly. Also,this can increase maintenance costs.

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140
NOTICE
Do not use gasohol other than stated above. It will cause fuel sys-tem damage or vehicle performance problems.
If driveab ility problems occur ( poor
hot starting, vaporizing, engine knock, etc.), discontinue the use.
Take care not to spill gasohol dur-ing refueling. Gasohol may cause
paint damage.
FUEL TANK CAPACITY
Two-wheel drive models
except Pre Runner 57 L (15.1 gal., 12.5 Imp. gal.)
Four-wheel drive models
and Pre Runner 68 L (18.0 gal., 15.0 Imp. gal.) Operation in foreign countries
If you plan to drive your Toyota in
another country...
First,
comply with the vehicle registration
laws.
Second, confirm the availability of the cor-
rect fuel (unleaded and minimum octane
number).

'98 Tacoma (U)153

Four-wheel drive modelsÐToyota rec-
ommends not using four-wheel drive on
dry hard-surfaced roads, because four-
wheel driving will cause unnecessary
noise and wear, and poor fuel econo-
my.
Four-wheel drive modelsÐIn cold tem-
peratures, noise may occur when driv-
ing in two-wheel drive before the trans-
fer is warmed up. Therefore, first drive
in four-wheel drive until the transfer is
warmed up.
CAUTION
Before driving off, make sure that
the parking brake is fully released
and the parking brake reminder
light is off.
Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is running.
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. It can cause
dangerous overheating, needless
wear, and poor fuel economy.
Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, downshifting or braking on
a slippery surface. Sudden accelera-
tion or engine braking, could cause
the vehicle to spin or skid.To drive down a long or steep hill,
reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly.
Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has high-speed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are high-speed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a
longer stopping distance, and it
may pull to one side when the
brakes are applied. Also, the park-
ing brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.

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154
When driving your vehicle off-road, please
observe the following precautions to en-
sure your driving enjoyment and to help
prevent the closure of areas to off-road
vehicles.
a. Drive your vehicle only in areas where
off-road vehicles are permitted to travel.
b. Respect private property. Get owner 's
permission before entering private proper-
ty.
c. Do not enter areas that are closed.
Honor gates, barriers and signs that re-
strict travel.
d. Stay on established roads. When condi-
tions are wet, driving techniques should
be changed or travel delayed to prevent
damage to roads.
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining
to driving your vehicle off-road, consult
the following organizations.
State and Local Parks and Recreation
Departments
State Motor Vehicle Bureau
Recreational Vehicle Clubs
U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management
CAUTION
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of serious
personal injury or damage to your ve-
hicle: Drive carefully when off the road.
Do not take unnecessary risks by
driving in dangerous places.
Do not grip the steering wheel
spokes when driving off-road. A
bad bump could jerk the wheel and
injure your hands. Keep both hands
and especially your thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
Always check your brakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.
After driving through tall grass,
mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check
that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or
trapped on the underbody. Clear off
any such matter from the under-
body. If the vehicle is used with
these materials trapped or adhering
to the underbody, a breakdown or
fire could occur.
The driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts when-
ever the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE
If driving through water, such as
when crossing shallow streams,first check the depth of the waterand the bottom of the river bed for
firmness. Drive slowly and avoiddeep water.
Take all necessary safety measures
to ensure that damage to the en-gine or other components does notoccur.
Water entering the engine air intakewill cause severe engine damage.
Water can wash the grease fromwheel bearings, causing rusting and
premature failure, and may also en-ter the differentials, transmission and transfer case, reducing the gear
oil's lubricating qualities.
Off-road driving pr ecautions
(four-wheel drive models only)