
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)97
(g) SRS Warning Light
This light will come on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ºACCº or
ºONº position. After about 6 seconds,
the light will go off. This means the
system of the airbag and front seat belt
pretensioners are operating properly.
The warning light system monitors the air-
bag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
inflators, warning light, interconnecting wir-
ing and power sources.
If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction somewhere in
the parts monitored by the warning light
system. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ºACCº or
ºONº position or remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving. (h) ºABSº Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem
somewhere in your anti- lock brake sys-
tem.
If it comes on while you are driving, have
your vehicle checked by your Toyota deal-
er as soon as possible. However, it is
normal if the light goes out.
The light will come on when the ignition
key is turned to the ºONº position. After
a few seconds, the light will go off. 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.
Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly
may turn on the light. It is normal if it
goes off after a few seconds.
When the ºABSº 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.
However, the anti- lock brake system does
not operate when the rear differential is
locked. It is normal operation for the
ºABSº warning light to be on at this time.
CAUTION
While the ºABSº warning light is on,
if either of the following conditions
occurs, immediately stop your vehicle
at a safe place and contact your
Toyota dealer.
The brake system warning light
stays on even with the parking
brake being released.
The brake system warning light and
buzzer come on.
In either case, the brakes may not
work properly. If they do not work
well, depress the brake pedal firmly.
(i) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the side
doors and back door are completely
closed.
(j) Unengaged ºParkº Warning Light
This light warns that the transmission
ºParkº mechanism is not engaged. If the
four- wheel drive control is in the ºNº posi-
tion while the selector lever is in the ºPº
position, the transmission will disengage
and the wheels will not lock.

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)161
DRUM- IN- DISC TYPE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM
Your vehicle has a drum- in- disc type
parking brake system. This type of brake
system n
eeds bedding- down of the brake
shoes periodically or whenever the parking
brake shoes and/or drums are replaced.
Have your Toyota dealer perform the bed-
ding- down. Brake pad wear limit indicators
The brake pad wear limit indicators on
your disc brakes give a warning noise
when the brake pads are worn to where
replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise
while driving, have the brake pads
checked and replaced by your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. Expensive ro-
tor damage can result if the pads are not
replaced when necessary.Luggage stowage pr
ecautions
When stowing luggage or cargo in or on
the vehicle, observe the following: Put luggage or cargo in the luggage
compartment when at all possible. Be
sure all items are secured in place.
Be careful to keep the vehicle bal-
anced. Locating the weight as far for-
ward as possible helps maintain the
balance.
For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded weight.CAUTION
To prevent luggage or packages
from sliding forward during braking,
do not stack anything in the lug-
gage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
Do not place anything on the flat-
tened seat or it may slide forward
during braking.

New L/C100(U)
168
(b) Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to fol-
low the instructions in º(a) Before crank-
ingº.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/sequen-
tial multiport fuel injection system in your
engine automatically controls the proper
air- fuel mixture for starting. You can start
a cold or hot engine as follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator ped- al, crank the engine by turning the key
to ºSTARTº. Release it when the en-
gine starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 se- conds, you are ready to drive.
If the weather is below freezing, let the
engine warm up for a few minutes be-
fore driving.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct proce-
dure given in normal starting.
If the engine will not start...
See ºIf your vehicle will not startº in Part 4.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 se- conds at a time. This may overheatthe starter and wiring systems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult tostart or stalls frequently, have the
engine checked immediately.
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
This will allow you much better control.
Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving
onto high, sharp- edged objects and
other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire damage result-
ing in tire bursts.
When parking on a hill, turn the front
wheels until they touch the curb so
that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the
parking brake, and place the transmis-
sion in ºPº. If necessary, block the
wheels.
Washing your vehicle or driving through
deep water may get the brakes wet. To
see whether they are wet, check that
there is no traffic near you, and then
press the pedal lightly. If you do not
feel a normal braking force, the brakes
are probably wet. To dry them, drive
the vehicle cautiously while lightly
pressing the brake pedal with the park-
ing brake pulled. If they still do not
work safely, pull to the side of the road
and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.
Tips for driving
in various conditions