2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER brake

1022000 4Runner (OM35762U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of Pº position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ONº position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and
key removal
R:Reverse
N:Neutral
D:Normal driving (with overdrive on)
2:Stronger engine braking
L:Maximum engine braking
Automatic transmission

Four- wheel drive control
Selector lever
Lock release button
To prevent misshifting
Shift while holding the lock
release button in
Shift normally With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock release
button in. (The ignition switch must
be in ONº position.)
Overdrive switch
Driving pattern selector button
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1032000 4Runner (OM35762U)
(b) Overdrive switch
You can select either a third gear (with
overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-
drive on) by pushing this switch.
To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.
The O/D OFFº indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The O/D OFFº indicator
light should go off.
Always drive your vehicle with the over-
drive on for better fuel economy and
quieter driving.
If the engine is turned off when the over-
drive is off and restarted, the overdrive
will be on automatically.Vehicles with cruise controlÐWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking will not be applied because the
cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see Cruise controlº in this section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in How
to start the engineº in Section 3. The
transmission must be in Pº or Nº.
When the front drive control lever is in
L4º (low- speed position, four- wheel
drive), the driving pattern selector setting
has no effect on gear shift timing. (See
Four- wheel drive systemº in this section
for information of the front drive control
lever.)
2. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, shift the selector lever to Dº.
When the lever is in the Dº position, the
automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for running condi-
tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-
ing, hard towing, etc.Always turn the overdrive on for better
fuel economy and quieter driving. If the
engine coolant temperature is low or when
the front drive control lever is in L4º
(low- speed position, four- wheel drive), the
transmission will not shift into
the overdrive gear even with the overdrive
on. (See Four- wheel drive systemº in this
section for information of the front drive
control lever.)
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(d) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Push the overdrive switch. The O/D
OFFº indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to the
third gear.
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1052000 4Runner (OM35762U)
Front drive control lever in L4º
3RZ- FE engine
2º 43 km/h (26 mph). . . . . . . . . .
Lº 23 km/h (14 mph). . . . . . . . . .
5VZ- FE engine
2º 46 km/h (28 mph). . . . . . . . . .
Lº 25 km/h (15 mph). . . . . . . . . .

Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
2º or Lº position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission dam-
age from overheating. To prevent
such damage, Dº position should
be used in hill climbing or hard
towing.
(f) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with
your foot, shift the selector lever to the
Rº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(g) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever fully to
securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down,
shift the selector lever to the Pº posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into Pº position under any cir-
cumstances while the vehicle is mov-
ing. Serious mechanical damage and
loss of vehicle control may result.
(h) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up
and down between third gear and over-
drive when climbing a gentle slope, the
overdrive should be turned off. Be sure
to turn the switch on immediately after-
ward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use overdrive.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping.
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an up-
grade with the accelerator pedal. It
can cause the transmission to over-
heat. Always use the brake pedal or
parking brake.
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1072000 4Runner (OM35762U)
(k) If you cannot shift the selector le-
ver out of Pº position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the Pº position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override lever. For instructions, see If you
cannot shift automatic transmission selec-
tor leverº in Section 4.
Manual transmission
The shift pattern is as shown above.
Press the clutch pedal down fully while
shifting, and then release it slowly. Do not
rest your foot on the pedal while driving,
because it will cause clutch trouble. And
do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle
when stopped on an uphill gradeÐuse the
parking brake.
Recommended shifting speeds
The transmission is fully synchronized and
upshifting or downshifting is easy.
For the best compromise between fuel
economy and vehicle performance, you
should upshift or downshift at the following
speeds:3RZ- FE engine
Upshifting
gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 24 (15)
2 to 3 40 (25)/58 (36)
*
3 to 4 64 (40)/72 (45)*
4 to 5 72 (45)/85 (53)*
Downshifting
gear km/h (mph)
2 to 1 24 (15)
3 to 2 40 (25)
4 to 3 64 (40)
5 to 4 72 (45)
*: Applicable under heavy acceleration
conditions.
5VZ- FE engine
gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 or 2 to 1 24 (15)
2 to 3 or 3 to 2 40 (25)
3 to 4 or 4 to 3 64 (40)
4 to 5 or 5 to 4 72 (45)
Downshift to the appropriate gear if accel-
eration is needed when you are cruising
below the above downshifting speeds.
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11 22000 4Runner (OM35762U)
SHIFTING BETWEEN H2º AND H4º
To shift from H2º to H4º, reduce your
speed to less than 80 km/h (50 mph) and
move the front drive control lever.
If you have trouble shifting in cold weath-
er, reduce your speed or stop the vehicle
and reshift.
CAUTION
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop the
slipping or spinning before shifting.
To shift from H4º to H2º, simply move
the front drive control lever.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into H2º, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse.
SHIFTING BETWEEN H4º AND L4º
To shift between H4º and L4º, stop
the vehicle and put the transmission in
Nº. With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever.SHIFTING BETWEEN H2º MODE AND
H4º MODE
To shift from H2º mode to H4º mode,
reduce your speed to less than 100 km/h
(62 mph) and push in the 4WDº button.
If the indicator light flashes when you
push in the 4WDº button, drive straight
ahead while accelerating or decelerating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you push in the 4WDº
button, reduce your speed or stop the
vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never push the 4WDº button if
wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping
or spinning before shifting.
To shift from H4º mode to H2º mode,
push the 4WDº button again to turn it off.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light flashes when you
push in the 4WDº button, drive straight
ahead while accelerating or decelerating,
or drive in reverse.
SHIFTING BETWEEN H2´H4º AND
H4Lº
To shift from H2´H4º to H4Lº, reduce
your speed to less than 100 km/h (62
mph) and move the front drive control
lever.
If the indicator light flashes when you
move the front drive control lever, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you move the front drive
control lever, reduce your speed or stop
the vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop the
slipping or spinning before shifting.
(c) Shifting procedure
(lever type with automatic
transmission)(c) Shifting procedure
(lever/button type)
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11 32000 4Runner (OM35762U)
NOTICE
Do not drive on a dry paved surface
in H4Lº mode. This may damage the
locking mechanism and the drive sys-
tem.
To shift from H4Lº to H2´H4º move
the front drive control lever.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light flashes when you shift
the transfer into H2´H4º, drive straight
ahead while accelerating or decelerating,
or drive in reverse.
SHIFTING BETWEEN H4Lº AND L4Lº
To shift from H4Lº to L4Lº, stop the
vehicle and put the transmission in Nº.
With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, move the front drive control lever.
NOTICE
Do not drive on a dry paved surface
in H4Lº or L4Lº mode. This may
damage the locking mechanism and
the drive system.
To shift from L4Lº to H4Lº, stop the
vehicle and put the transmission in Nº.
With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, move the front drive control lever.
NOTICE
Do not drive on a dry paved surface
in H4Lº or L4Lº mode. This may
damage the locking mechanism and
the drive system.
Rear differential lock system
The rear differential lock system is pro-
vided for use only when wheel spinning
occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or
ragged surface.
This differential lock system is effective in
case one of the rear wheels is spinning.
Before using the rear differential lock sys-
tem, first shift the front drive control into
L4º (lever type) or L4Lº (lever/button
type) to see if it works. If this has no
effect, additionally use the rear differential
lock system.
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11 42000 4Runner (OM35762U)
CAUTION
Do not use the rear differential lock
in the conditions other than above.
Large steering effort and careful cor-
nering control will be required.
To lock the rear differential, push the
switch.
Be sure to stop the wheels before locking
the differential.
Vehicles with manual transmissionÐFor
easy locking, depress the clutch pedal,
push the lock switch and slowly release
the clutch pedal.
The indicator light will blink when the
switch is turned on. Wait a few seconds
for the system to complete operation. Af-
ter the differential is locked, the light will
stop blinking and remain on.The anti- lock brake system does not oper-
ate when the rear differential is locked. It
is normal operation for the ABSº warning
light to be on at this time.
CAUTION
Do not lock the differential until the
wheels have stopped spinning.
Otherwise, the vehicle may move in
an unexpected direction when the
differential lock is engaged, result-
ing in an accident. This may also
lead to possible damage to differen-
tial lock component parts.
Do not drive over 8 km/h (5 mph)
when the differential is locked.
To unlock the differential, push the
switch once again.
Unlock the differential as soon as the ve-
hicle moves out.
For easy unlocking, slightly turn the steer-
ing wheel in either direction while the ve-
hicle is in motion.
When the differential lock is disengaged,
the indicator light will go out.
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11 52000 4Runner (OM35762U)
The differential will also unlock if you shift
the front drive control lever out of L4º
(lever type) or L4Lº (lever/button type).
Never forget to turn off the switch after
using this feature.
To check the indicator bulb, turn the igni-
tion key to the ONº position, but do not
start the engine.
CAUTION
Do not keep driving with the differen-
tial lock switch on.
Parking brake
When parking, firmly apply the parking
brake to avoid inadvertent creeping.
To set: Pull up the lever. For better hold-
ing power, first depress the brake pedal
and hold it while setting the parking
brake.
To release: Pull up the lever slightly,
press the thumb button, and lower.
To remind you that the parking brake is
set, the parking brake reminder light in
the instrument panel remains on until you
release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure the parking
brake is fully released and the park-
ing brake reminder light is off.
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