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CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on the ve-
hicle skid control system. Even if
the vehicle skid control system is
operating, it is not that your vehicle
is absolutely safe. Reckless driving
will result in an unexpected acci-
dent. Always keep safety driving in
mind. If the slip indicator light fla-
shes and/or an alarm sounds, spe-
cial care should be taken while
driving.
Only use tires of specified size. The
size, manufacturer, brand and tread
pattern for all 4 tires should be the
same. If you use the tires other
than specified, or different type or
size, the vehicle skid control sys-
tem may not function correctly.
When replacing the tires or wheels,
contact your Toyota dealer.VEHICLE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM
FAILURE WARNING
These lights warn that when there is a
problem somewhere in the vehicle skid
control system.
The lights will come on when the ignition
key is turned to ONº, and will go off after
about a few seconds.
If the VSCº warning light and VSC OFFº
indicator light come on, the vehicle skid
control system does not work. However,
as conventional braking operates when ap-
plied, there is no problem to continue your
driving.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 VSCº warning light and/or VSC
OFFº indicator light do/does not come
on after the ignition is turned to on.
The VSCº warning light and VSC
OFFº indicator light are left on after the
ignition is turned to on.
The VSCº warning light and VSC
OFFº indicator light comes on while
driving without pushing VSC OFFº
switch.
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However, a faster way to reset is to de-
press the brake pedal and then push
ºCOAST SETº button.
Even if you turn off the overdrive switch
with the cruise control on, engine braking
will not be applied because the cruise
control is not cancelled. To decrease the
vehicle speed, reset to a slower speed
with the cruise control button or depress
the brake pedal. If you use the brake
pedal, cruise control is cancelled.
RESUMING THE PRESET SPEED
If the preset speed is cancelled by push-
ing CANCELº button or by depressing the
brake pedal, pushing ºRES ACCº button
will restore the speed set prior to can-
cellation. However, once the vehicle speed
falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the
preset speed will not be resumed.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE WARNING
If CRUISEº indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when using the
cruise control, push ON/OFFº button to
turn the system off and then push it again
to turn it on.
If any of the following conditions then oc-
curs, there is some trouble in the cruise
control system.The indicator light does not come on.
The indicator light flashes again.
The indicator light goes out after it
comes on.
If this is the case, contact your Toyota
dealer and have your vehicle inspected.
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ERASING THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER
MEMORY
Push and hold down the 2 outside buttons
until the indicator light flashes. All memo-
rized data will be erased.
FCC ID: CB2V94800
CANADA: 1763 102 264
This device complies with FCC Pules
Part 15. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interfer-
ence that may be received, including
interference that may cause undersired
operation.
WARNING: This transmitter has been
tested and complies with FCC and
DOC/MPAC rules. Changes or modifi-
cations not expressly approved by the
partly responsible for compliance
could void the user's authority to op-
erate the device.
Auxiliary box (type A)
To use the box, push the lid to open.
CAUTION
To reduce the chance of injury in
case of an accident or a sudden stop,
always keep the auxiliary box closed
while driving.
NOTICE
In hot weather, inside of the vehiclebecomes very hot. Do not leave any-thing flammable or deformable suchas a lighter, the glasses, etc. inside.
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Iridium- tipped spark plugs
Your engine is fitted with iridium- tipped
spark plugs.
NOTICE
Use only iridium- tipped spark plugsand do not adjust gaps for your en-gine performance and smooth drive-ability.
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 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 stopsÐbut no
more!
CAUTION
Do not pump the brake pedal if the
engine stalls. Each push on the
pedal uses up your reserved vacu-
um.
Even if the power assist is com-
pletely lost, the brakes will still
work. But you will have to push the
pedal hard, much harder than nor-
mal. And your braking distance will
be longer.
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Anti- lock brake system is not de-
signed to shorten the stopping dis-
tance: Always drive at the moderate
speed and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you.
Compared with vehicles not fitted
with an anti- lock brake system, your
vehicle may require a longer stopping
distance in the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snow-
covered roads.
Driving with tire chains installed.
Driving over the steps such as the
joints on the road
Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.
Install all 4 tires of specified size at
appropriate pressure: The anti- lock
brake system detects vehicle speeds
using the speed sensors for respec-
tive wheels' turning speeds. The use
of tires other than specified may fail
to detect the accurate turning speed,
resulting in a longer stopping dis-
tance.
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
ABSº warning light
The lights come on with the ignition
key turned to ONº. If the anti- lock
brake system and the brake assiste sys-
tem work properly, the light goes out
after a few seconds. Thereafter, if either
of the system malfunctions, the lights
come on.
When the ABSº warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti- lock brake system, the brake assist
system, the traction control system and/or
the vehicle skid control system do/does
not operate, but the brake system still
operates conventionally.
When the ABSº warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti- lock brake system does not operate
so that the wheels could lock up during
a sudden brake or braking on slippery
road surfaces.
If 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 with the
ignition key turned to ONº or remainds
on.
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The light comes on while driving.
If the light lit during driving goes out and
does not come on again, it is a normal
operation.
CAUTION
If the ABSº warning light remains on
together with the brake system warn-
ing light, immediately stop your ve-
hicle at a safe place and contact your
Toyota dealer.
In this case, the vehicle may become
harder to control or skid during hard
braking or braking on slippery road
surfaces.
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 ASSIST SYSTEM
When you slam the brakes on, the
brake assist system judges as an emer-
gency stop and provides more powerful
braking for a driver who cannot hold
down the brake pedal firmly.
When you slam the brakes on, more pow-
erful braking will be applied. At this time,
you may hear a sound in the engine
compartment and feel the vibration of the
brake pedal. This does not indicate a mal-
function.
The brake assist system becomes opera-
tive 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).
For an explanation of this system's warn-
ing light, see Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzersº in Section 1- 5.
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.
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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 free play.
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 restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks hold securely
in any latched position.
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.
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 pedal has the proper travel
and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle
is held securely with only the parking
brake applied.
Automatic transmission Parkº 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 Pº 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 Section 7- 3 for additional infor-
mation.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the FULLº and LOWº lines on the see-
through reservoir when the engine is cold.
See Section 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 Section 7- 3
for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See Section 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 Section 7- 2 for addi-
tional information.
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If the new fuse immediately blows out,
there is a problem with the electrical sys-
tem. Have your Toyota dealer correct it as
soon as possible.
CAUTION
Never use a fuse with a higher am-
perage rating, or any other object, in
place of a fuse. This may cause ex-
tensive damage and possibly a fire.
Adding washer fluid
If any washer does not work or low
windshield washer fluid level warning
light comes on, the washer tank may be
empty. Add washer fluid.
You may use plain water as washer fluid.
However, in cold areas where tempera-
tures range below freezing point, use
washer fluid containing antifreeze. 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 anyother substitute because it may dam-age your vehicle's paint.
Replacing light bulbsÐ
The following illustrations show how to
gain access to the bulbs. When replacing
a bulb, make sure the ignition switch and
light switch are off. Use bulbs with the
wattage ratings given in the table.
CAUTION
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas
inside and require special handling.
They can burst or shatter if scratched
or dropped. Hold a bulb only by its
plastic or metal case. Do not touch
the glass part of a bulb with bare
hands.
NOTICE
Only use a bulb of the listed type.
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