
New L/C100(U)95
(g)Take vehicle to 
To y o t a
d ealer 
immediately.
(i) Close all side doors 
and back door.
(k) Stop and check.
(j)Shift four-wheel 
drive control out 
of ºNº.
Key reminder 
buzzer
(h) Take vehicle to  
Toyota dealer.
If the indicator Do this. 
or buzzer 
comes on...
(l) Remove key.(a) Brake System Warning Light and
Buzzer
This light has the following functions: 
Parking brake reminder 
If this light is on, make sure the parking 
brake is fully released. The light should 
go off. 
Low brake fluid level warning 
If this light comes on and stays on while 
you are driving,  slow down and pull off 
the road. Then stop the vehicle carefully. 
Remember that stopping distance and ped-
al effort may be increased. There may be 
a problem somewhere in the brake sys- 
tem. Check  the fluid level of  the see- 
through reservoir. 
To make sure the parking brake has not 
caused the warning light to come on, 
check to see that the parking brake is 
fully released. 
If the brake fluid level is low... 
At a safe place, test your brakes by start- 
ing and stopping.
  If you judge that the brakes still work
adequately, drive cautiously to your 
nearest dealer or shop for repairs.  
If the brakes are not working, have the 
vehicle towed in for repairs. (For tow-
ing information, see Part 4.)
CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving 
normally when the brake fluid level is 
low.
If the brake fluid level is correct... 
Have the warning system checked by your 
Toyota dealer. 
Brake system failure warning 
The light may stay on for about 60 sec- 
onds after the engine is started. It is nor- 
mal if it goes out after a while. 
If the brake system warning light stays on 
even with the parking brake being re- 
leased, the brake system may fail. Con- 
tact your Toyota dealer. 
If the hydraulic boost pressure is lowered, 
the warning light comes on and buzzer
sounds continuously. Immediately stop 
your vehicle at a safe place and contact 
your Toyota dealer.  In this  case, the
brakes may not work properly. if they do 
not work well, depress the brake pedal 
firmly.  

New L/C100(U)
98
CAUTION
To restore the park function, shift the 
four- wheel drive control out of ºNº, 
or the vehicle can move.
(k) Automatic Transmission Fluid Tem- perature Warning Light
This light warns that the automatic trans- 
mission fluid temperature is too high. 
If this light comes on while you are driv- 
ing, slow down and pull off  the road. Stop
the vehicle at a safe place and put the 
selector lever in ºPº and leave the engine 
idling until the light goes off. If the light
goes off, you can start the vehicle again. 
If the light does not go off, call a Toyota 
dealer or qualified repair shop for assis- 
tance.
NOTICE
Continued driving with the warning light on may damage the automatictransmission.
(l) Key Reminder Buzzer 
This buzzer reminds  you to remove the 
key when you open the driver 's door with 
the ignition key in the ºACCº or ºLOCKº 
position. 
CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER INDICA- 
TORS (except the low fuel level warning
light)
1. Apply the parking brake. 
2. Open one of the side doors or back door. 
The open door warning light should
come on.
3. Close the door. The open door warning light  should go 
off.
4. Place the four- wheel drive control lever in ºNº position and the selector lever
in ºPº position. 5. Turn the ignition key to ºACCº.
The SRS warning light should come on. 
It goes off after 6 seconds.
6. Turn the ignition key to ºONº, but do not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex- 
cept the open door warning light and 
SRS warning light should come on. The
ºABSº warning light goes off after a 
few seconds. 
There may be the case that the ºABSº 
warning light stays on for about 60 
seconds after the engine is  started. It
is normal if it goes out after a while.
If any service reminder indicator or warn-
ing buzzer does not function as described
above, either the bulb is burned out or the 
circuit is in need of repair. Have it 
checked by your Toyota dealer as soon as 
possible. 

New L/C100(U)
158
For detailed information on oil  level  check, 
see ºChecking the engine oil levelº in
Chapter 7- 2.
Your engine is fitted with iridium- tipped 
spark plugs.
NOTICE
Use only iridium- tipped spark spark
plugs for your engine performanceand smooth drivability.
Brake system 
BRAKE SYSTEM 
This brake system has  two independent 
hydraulic circuits. If either circuit 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 brake  fluid pres- 
surized by the pump to power- assist the 
brakes. If the brake booster fails during
driving, the brake system warning light 
comes on and buzzer  sound continuously. 
In this case the brakes may not work
properly. If they do not work well, depress 
the brake pedal firmly. If the brake system 
warning light comes on, immediately stop
your vehicle and  contact  your  Toyota deal- 
er.
Iridium- tipped spark plugs  

New L/C100(U)159
There may be the case that the brake 
system warning light stays on for a
bout
60 seconds after the engine is started. It 
is normal if the light goes out after a 
while. 
Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly 
may  turn on the brake system warning 
light and buzzer. It is normal if the light
goes out and the buzzer stops sounding 
after a few seconds. 
You may hear a small sound in the engine 
compartment after the engine is  started or 
the brake pedal is depressed repeatedly.
This is a pump pulsating sound of the 
brake system, and it is not a malfunction.
CAUTION
  Do not pump the brake pedal if the 
engine stalls. Each push on the 
pedal uses up your  brake fluid
pressure reserve.
 Even if the power assist is com- 
pletely lost, the brakes will still 
work. But you will have to push the
pedal hardÐmuch harder than nor- 
mal. And your braking distance will 
be longer.
ANTI- LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (with 
ºABSº warning light) 
The anti-lock brake system is designed to 
automatically help prevent lock-up of the 
wheels during sudden braking or braking 
on slippery road surfaces. This assists in 
providing directional stab ility and steering
performance of the vehicle under these 
circumstances. 
The anti- lock brake system becomes op- 
erative after the vehicle has accelerated
to a speed in excess of approximately 10 
km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the 
vehicle decelerates to a speed below
approximately 5 km/h (3 mph). 
You may hear a sound in the engine 
compartment for a few seconds when the 
engine is started or just after the vehicle 
is started. This means that the anti- lock
brake system is in the self check mode, 
and does not indicate a malfunction.
Effective way  to press the ºABSº brake 
pedal: When the anti- lock brake system 
function is in action, you may feel the
brake pedal pulsating and hear a noise. 
In this situation, to let the anti- lock 
brake system work for you, just hold the
brake pedal down more firmly. Do not 
pump the brake in a panic  stop. Pump- 
ing the brake pedal makes  the stopping
distance longer.
The brake pedal pulsation caused by the
anti- lock brake system may indicate haz- 
ardous road surface conditions. Although 
the anti- lock brake system assists  in pro-
viding vehicle control, it is still important 
to drive with all due care, because the 
anti- lock brake system cannot overcome
the laws of physics that act on your ve- 
hicle:   Braking capab ility is dependent on tire
friction with the road surface.
  Even though the anti- lock brake sys- 
tem is operating, a driver cannot main- 
tain full control on certain slippery road 
surfaces, when cornering at high
speeds, or in violent maneuvers. 

New L/C100(U)171
Winter driving tips 
Make sure you have a proper freeze 
protection of engine coolant. 
Your coolant must contain ethylene- glycol 
type coolant for a proper corrosion 
protection of aluminum components. Use
ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or equivalent. 
See Chapter 7- 2 for details about coolant 
type selection.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or
plain water alone.
When it is extremely cold, we recommend 
to use 60% solution for your Toyota, to 
provide protection down to about  -50 5C
(- 58 5F). Do not use more than 70% solu-
tion for better coolant performance. 
Check the condition of  the battery and 
cables. 
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of 
any battery, so it must be in top shape 
to provide enough power for  winter  start- 
ing. Chapter 7- 3 tells  you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer 
and most service stations will be pleased 
to check the level of charge. Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather. 
See Chapter 7- 2 for  recommended viscos- 
ity. Leaving a heavy summer oil  in your 
vehicle during winter months may cause
harder starting. If you are not sure about 
which oil to use,  call  your  Toyota dealer± 
he will be pleased to help. 
Keep the door locks from freezing. 
Squirt lock de- icer or glycerine into the 
locks to keep them from freezing. 
Use a washer fluid containing an anti- 
freeze solution. 
This product is available at your Toyota 
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow 
the manufacturer 's directions for how 
much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitute as washer fluid be-cause it may damage your vehicle's paint.
Do not use your parking brake when 
there is a possibility it could freeze. 
When parking, put the transmission into 
ºPº and block the front wheels. Do not 
use the parking brake, or snow or water
accumulated in and around  the parking 
brake mechanism may freeze, making it 
hard to release. 
Keep ice and snow from accumulating 
under the fenders. 
Ice and snow built up under  your fenders 
can make steering difficult.  During bad 
winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally. 
Depending on where you are driving, 
we recommend you carry some emer- 
gency equipment. 
Some of the things you might put  in the 
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper, 
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc. 

New L/C100(U)209
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 and back door oper- 
ate smoothly and all latches lock securely. 
Make sure the engine hood secondary
latch secures the hood from opening 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 restraint move up and down smooth- 
ly and that the locks hold securely in any 
latched position. For folding- down rear
seatbacks, swing- up rear seat cushions 
and detachable third seats, 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 webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or
damaged. 
Accelerator pedal 
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
uneven pedal effort or catching. 
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. 

New L/C100(U)
210
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. 
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 pedal; pedal almost 
touches floor; vehicle pulls to one side
when braking
  Engine coolant temperature continually
higher than normal
Does your vehicle need  
repairing? 

New L/C100(U)
214
Engine compartment overview
1. Engine oil filler cap 
2. Brake fluid reservoir 
3. Fuse blocks 
4. Battery 
5. Windshield and rear window washerfluid tank
6. Engine oil level dipstick 
7. Engine coolant reservoir 
8. Electric cooling fan 
9. Power steering fluid reservoir