1999 TOYOTA CAMRY CNG fuel pressure

63
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS—
Chapter 1−5
Gauges, Meters and
Service reminder
indicators
Fuel gauge
Engine coolant temperature
gauge
Tachometer
Odometer and two trip meters
Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzers
Fuel gauge
Low fuel level
warning light
The gauge works when the ignition
switch is on and indicates the approxi-
mate quantity of fuel remaining in the
tank.
Nearly full—Needle at “F”
Nearly empty—Needle at around 1/5 posi-
tion
It is a good idea to keep the tank over
1/4 full.
This fuel gauge has a non−return type
needle which remains at the last indicated
position when the ignition switch is turned
off.This gauge indicates the amount of fuel
remaining in the tank is calculated from
the pressure of the natural gas and the
temperature inside the tank. The actual
amount may be slightly above or below
that indicated, depending on the outside
temperature and environment.
If the low fuel level warning light comes
on, fill the fuel tank as soon as possible.
If you continue to drive the vehicle after
the low fuel level warning light comes on,
the light will begin to blink, and at the
same time you will not be able to drive
at speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph).
NOTICE
If the low fuel warning light begins to
blink, the fuel tank will soon be
empty. Move to a safe place as soon
as possible.

67
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, radio, etc., and drive directly to
the nearest authorized Toyota CNG dealer
or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine
drive belt is broken or loose.
(d) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp warns that there is a problem
somewhere in your engine or automatic
transmission electrical system.
If it comes on while you are driving, have
your vehicle checked/repaired by your au-
thorized Toyota CNG dealer as soon as
possible.
(e) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the amount of
natural gas remaining in the tank drops to
about 1/5.
If you continue to drive the vehicle after
the low fuel level warning light comes on,
the light will begin to blink, and at the
same time you will not be able to drive
at speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph).When the outside temperature is below
−30°C (−22°F), the fuel gauge may indi-
cate an amount less than actual amount
and the indicator may come on.
NOTICE
If the low fuel warning light begins to
blink, the fuel tank will soon be
empty. Move to a safe place as soon
as possible.
(f) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call your
authorized Toyota CNG dealer or qualified
repair shop for assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light on—even for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(g) “ABS” Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem
somewhere in your anti−lock brake sys-
tem.
If the light comes on while you are driv-
ing, have your vehicle checked by your
authorized Toyota CNG dealer as soon as
possible.
The light will come on when the ignition
key is turned to the “ON” position. After
a few seconds, the light will go off.
When the “ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
brake system operates conventionally but
anti−lock brake system is not assisting
brake performance so that the wheels can
lock−up during sudden braking or braking
on slippery road surfaces.
(h) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the doors
and back door are completely closed.

105
CAUTION
This tank contains high pressure
flammable natural gas. You must
ensure that the tank is checked and
inspected and properly maintained,
as well as avoid overfilling or dril-
ling holes in it, or damaging it in
any other way because death or se-
rious injury may result.
Do not allow any person other than
a qualified technician to remove
this tank from the vehicle. If residu-
al gas in the tank is not discharged
correctly, static electricity may be
ignited, causing fire or explosion.
Do not leave the fuel tank where
the temperature can exceed 80C
(176F). The tank’s built−in pressure
relief device may open and release
all the fuel from under the floor.
NOTICE
Do not damage the tank. If the tank
is damaged, have it inspected by
your authorized Toyota CNG dealer
as soon as possible.
Do not expose the tank to chlorine,
oxygen or other corrosive liquids.
This tank is intended for use with
compressed natural gas—the fuel
for this vehicle. Do not use it for
any other purpose.
SERVICE PRESSURE:
24800 kPa (3600 psig)
Equivalent gasoline capacity:
43 L (11.4 gal., 9.5 lmp.gal.)
Water volume:
135 L (35.7 gal., 29.7 lmp.gal.)
—Fuel shut off system
If the engine stalls, fuel flow from the tank
is automatically shut off. When restarting
the engine after fuel flow is shut off, turn
the ignition switch to “ACC” or “LOCK”
once and then start it. The fuel flow from
the tank will also be shut off automatically
when an airbag inflates upon collision or
if the piping is disconnected.
CAUTION
If the vehicle is involved in a colli-
sion and there is a chance that there
may be fuel leakage, never restart the
engine. Ignition of leaked natural gas
may cause death or serious injury.
Manual shut off valve
This valve is for manually shutting off
fuel from the tank. It is usually left
open. Use this valve to shut off fuel if
you suspect that the fuel is leaking or
after you have been involved in a colli-
sion.
Refer to “If you suspect the fuel is
leaking” in Part 4 for how to operate the
valve.

108
Keep the trunk lid closed while
driving. An open or unsealed trunk
lid may cause exhaust gases to be
drawn into the vehicle.
To allow proper operation of your
vehicle’s ventilation system, keep
the inlet grilles in front of the wind-
shield clear of snow, leaves, or oth-
er obstructions.
If you smell exhaust fumes in the
vehicle, drive with the windows
open and the trunk lid closed. Have
the cause immediately located and
corrected.
FUNCTIONS OF ENGINE OIL
Engine oil has the primary functions of
lubricating and cooling the inside of the
engine, and plays a major role in main-
taining the engine in proper working order.
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
It is normal that an engine should con-
sume some engine oil during normal
engine operation. The causes of oil
consumption in a normal engine are as
follows.
Oil is used to lubricate pistons, piston
rings and cylinders. A thin film of oil
is left on the cylinder wall when a pis-
ton moves downwards in the cylinder.
High negative pressure generated when
the vehicle is decelerating sucks some
of this oil into the combustion chamber.
This oil as well as some part of the oil
film left on the cylinder wall is burned
by the high temperature combustion
gases during the combustion process.
Oil is also used to lubricate the stems
of the intake valves. Some of this oil
is sucked into the combustion chamber
together with the intake air and is
burned along with the fuel. High tem-
perature exhaust gases also burn the
oil used to lubricate the exhaust valve
stems.
The amount of engine oil consumed de-
pends on the viscosity of the oil, the
quality of the oil and the conditions the
vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed by high−speed driv-
ing and frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
A new engine consumes more oil, since
its pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls
have not become conditioned.
When judging the amount of oil con-
sumption, note that the oil may become
diluted and make it difficult to judge
the true level accurately.
As an example, if a vehicle is used for
repeated short trips, and consumes a nor-
mal amount of oil, the dipstick may not
show any drop in the oil level at all, even
after 1000 km (600 miles) or more. This
is because the oil is gradually becoming
diluted with fuel or moisture, making it
appear that the oil level has not changed.
Facts about engine oil
consumption

109
The diluting ingredients evaporate out
when the vehicle is then driven at high
speeds, as on an express way, making it
appear that oil is excessively consumed
after driving at high speeds.
IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEVEL
CHECK
One of the most important points in prop-
er vehicle maintenance is to keep the en-
gine oil at the optimum level so that oil
function will not be impaired. Therefore, it
is essential that the oil level be checked
regularly. Toyota recommends that the oil
level be checked every time you refuel
the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regularly
could lead to serious engine trouble
due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level check,
see “Checking the engine oil level” in
Chapter 7−2.
Your engine is fitted with twin ground
electrode platinum−tipped spark plugs.
NOTICE
For your engine performance, use
only twin ground electrode platinum−
tipped spark plugs specially designed
for CNG vehicles. Spark plugs for
gasoline−engined vehicles cannot be
used for your vehicle.
Brake system
TANDEM MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE
SYSTEM
The tandem master cylinder brake system
is a hydraulic system with two separate
sub−systems. If either sub−system should
fail, the other will still work. However, the
pedal will be harder to press, and your
stopping distance will be longer. Also, the
brake system warning light may come on.
CAUTION
Do not drive your vehicle with only a
single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
BRAKE BOOSTER
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to
power−assist the brakes. If the engine
should quit while you are driving, you can
bring the vehicle to a stop with normal
pedal pressure. There is enough reserved
vacuum for one or two stops—but no
more!
Twin ground electrode
platinum−tipped spark plugs

125
1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-
der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place,
release your brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into “P” and turn off the engine.
When restarting out after parking on a
slope:
1. With the transmission in “P” position,
start the engine. (Be sure to keep the
brake pedal depressed.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also foot
brake on automatic transmission ve-
hicles) and slowly pull or back away
from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply
your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.CAUTION
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or
the posted towing speed lim-
it,whichever is lower. Because insta-
bility (swaying) of a towing vehicle−
trailer combination usually in-
creases as the speed increases,ex-
ceeding 72 km/h (45 mph) may
cause loss of control.
Slow down and downshift before
descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden down-
shifts.
Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This
could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking effi-
ciency.
Getting more kilometers/mileage from a
liter/gallon of fuel is easy—just take it
easy. It will help make your vehicle last
longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and
repairs:
Keep your tires inflated at the cor-
rect pressure. Underinflation causes
tire wear and wastes fuel. See Chapter
7−2 for instructions.
Do not carry unneeded weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts a
heavier load on the engine, causing
greater fuel consumption.
Avoid lengthy warm−up idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving—but gently. Remember, howev-
er, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high
gear as quickly as possible.
Avoid long engine idling. If you have
a long wait and you are not in traffic,
it is better to turn off the engine and
start again later.
How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer, too

167
Clean all dirt from outside of the reservoir
tank and look at the fluid level. If the fluid
is cold, the level should be in the “COLD”
range. Similarly, if it is hot, the fluid level
should be in the “HOT” range. If the level
is at the low side of either range, add
automatic transmission fluid DEXRONII
or III to bring the level within the range.
To remove the filler cap, turn it counter-
clockwise and lift up. To reinstall it, turn
it clockwise. After replacing the filler cap,
visually check the steering box case, vane
pump and hose connections for leaks or
damage.
CAUTION
The reservoir tank may be hot so be
careful not to burn yourself.
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the power steer-
ing could be damaged.
Checking tire pressure
Keep your tire pressures at the proper
level.
The recommended cold tire pressures, tire
size and the vehicle capacity weight are
given in Part 8. They are also on the tire
pressure label as shown.
You should check the tire pressures every
two weeks, or at least once a month. And
don’t forget the spare!
Incorrect tire pressure can reduce tire
life and make your vehicle less safe to
drive.Low tire pressure results in excessive
wear, poor handling, reduced fuel econo-
my, and the possibility of blowouts from
overheated tires. Also, low tire pressure
can cause poor sealing of the tire bead.
If the tire pressure is excessively low,
there is the possibility of wheel deforma-
tion and/or tire separation.
High tire pressure produces a harsh ride,
handling problems, excessive wear at the
center of the tire tread, and a greater
possibility of tire damage from road haz-
ards.
If a tire frequently needs refilling, have it
checked by your authorized Toyota CNG
dealer.
The following instructions for checking
tire pressure should be observed:
The pressure should be checked only
when the tires are cold. If your ve-
hicle has been parked for at least 3
hours and has not been driven for
more than 1.5 km or 1 mile since, you
will get an accurate cold tire pressure
reading.
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of a tire can be mis-
leading. Besides, tire pressures that
are even just a few pounds off can
degrade handling and ride.

186
Fuel
Fuel type:
Compressed natural gas
Service pressure:
24800 kPa (3600 psig)
Equivalent gasoline capacity:
43 L (11.4 gal., 9.5 lmp.gal.)
Water volume:
135 L (35.7 gal., 29.7 lmp.gal.)
Service specifications
ENGINE
Valve clearance (engine cold), mm (in.):
Intake 0.19—0.29 (0.007—0.011)
Exhaust 0.28—0.38 (0.011—0.015)
Spark plug type:
DENSO PK20TR8−G
Spark plug gap, mm(in.):
0.8 (0.031)
Drive belt tension measured with Bor-
roughs drive belt tension gauge
No.BT−33−73F (used belt), Ibf:
With air conditioning
Generator belt 13010
Power steering pump belt 8020
Without air conditioning
Generator belt 6520
Power steering pump belt 8020ENGINE LUBRICATION
Oil capacity (drain and refill), L (qt., Imp.
qt.):
With filter 3.6 (3.8, 3.2)
Without filter 3.4 (3.6, 3.0)
Oil grade:
API grade SJ, “Energy−Conserving” or
ILSAC multigrade engine oil is recom-
mended.
Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):