1998 TOYOTA TERCEL ECU

159
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
Check that it has the specified freeplay.
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. 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 the belt
webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-aged.
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.

160
Automatic transmission ºParkº 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 ºPº position and all brakes re-
leased.
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 additional in-
formation.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the ºFULLº and ºLOWº lines on the see-
through reservoir when the engine is cold.
See Chapter 7- 2 for additional information
when the engine is cold.
Battery electrolyte level
Make sure the electrolyte level of all bat-
tery cells is between upper and lower lev-
el lines on the case. Add only distilled
water when replenishing. See Chapter 7- 3
for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
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 addi-
tional 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 immedi-
ately. (See engine exhaust cautions in
Part 2.)
Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip- offs that
indicate service is needed. Some impor-
tant clues are as follows:
Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A leak under the vehicle (however, wa-
ter dripping from the air conditioning
after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked im-
mediately.)
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 suspension
movement
Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy
feeling brake or clutch pedal; pedal al-
most touches floor; vehicle pulls to one
side when braking
Engine coolant temperature continually
higher than normal
Does your vehicle need
repairing?

'98 TERCEL (U)183
Upper line
Lower line
CHECKING BY THE FLUID LEVEL LINES
(MAINTENANCE TYPE BATTERY ONLY)
The fluid (electrolyte) level must be be-
tween the upper and lower lines.
When checking the fluid level, look at all
six cells, not just one or two.
If the level is lower than the lower line,
add distilled water. (See
º ADDING DIS-
TILLED WATERº.)
Type A
Type B Green Dark
Clear or light yellow
Blue White Red
CHECKING BY THE HYDROMETER
(NON- MAINTENANCE BATTERY ONLY)
Check the battery condition by the
hydrometer color. Hydrometer color
ConditionTy p e ATy p e BCondition
GREENBLUEGood
DARKWHITECharging necessary. Have
battery checked by your
Toyota dealer.
CLEAR orLIGHT
YELLOWREDHave battery checked by
your Toyota dealer.
Low O.K
ADDING DISTILLED WATER
(MAINTENANCE TYPE BATTERY ONLY) 1. Remove the vent plugs.
2. Add distilled water to cells n eeding
fluid.
If the side of your battery is covered,
check the water level by looking down
directly above the cell as illustrated
above.
3. Retighten the vent plugs securely.

'98 TERCEL (U)195
Engine compartment (Canada only)
13. HEAD (LH- UPR) 10 A: Left- hand
headlight (high beam)
14. STOP 10 A: Stop lights, high mounted
stoplight, anti- lock brake system, shift
lock control system
15. A/C 10 A: Air conditioning system
16. TAIL 15 A: Tail lights, parking lights,
license plate lights, instrument panel
lights, air conditioning system, emer-
gency flashers, air conditioning system,
rear window defogger, car audio sys-
tem, cigarette lighter, clockInstrument panel
17. GAUGE 10 A: Gauge and meters, ser-
vice reminder indicator (except head-
light high beam indicator) and warning
buzzers (except discharge, open door
and SRS warning lights), back- up
lights, rear window defogger, power
windows
18. TURN 7.5 A: Turn signal lights
19. WIPER 20 A: Windshield wipers and
washer
20. ECU- IG 5 A: Anti- lock brake system,
air conditioning system, shift lock con-
trol system, daytime running light sys-
temInstrument panel
21. CIG&RADIO 15 A: Cigarette lighter,
car audio system, clock, theft deterrent
system, shift lock control system, SRS airbag system, seat belt pretensioners
22. IGN 5 A: Charging system, discharge
warning light, multiport fuel injection
system/s equential multiport fuel injec-
tion system, SRS airbag system, seat
belt pretensioners
23. ECU- B 5 A: SRS airbag warning light
Fuses (type B)
24. CDS FAN 30 A: Electric cooling fans
25. RAD FAN 30 A: Electric cooling fans
26. HEATER 40 A: Air conditioning system,
``A/C'' fuses

'98 TERCEL (U)
196
27. DIMMER 30 A:
ºHEAD RL (LWR)º,
ºHEAD LL (LWR)º, ºHEAD RH (UPR)º
and ºHEAD LH (UPR)º fuses
28. MAIN 30 A: Starter system
29. DEF 30 A: Rear window defogger
30. PWR 30 A: Power windows, power
door lock system
Fuses (type C)
31. ABS 60 A: Anti- lock brake system
32. AM1 50 A: ºDEFº, ºWIPERº, ºGAUGEº,
ºECU- IGº, ºTURNº, ºIGNº, ºPWRº
and CIG/RADIOº fuses
33. ALT 100 A: ºABSº, ºSTOPº, ºTAILº,
ºECU- Bº, ºDEFº, ºAM1º, ºWIPERº,
ºGAUGEº, ºECU- IGº, ºTURNº, ºPWRº
and CIG/RADIOº fuses