2000 TOYOTA SOLARA cooling

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Idling for a long period with the air
conditioning on in stop−and−go traffic.
Towing a trailer.
NOTICE

Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to con-
trol the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within
the specified operating range.
 Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See "If your ve-
hicle overheats" in Section 4.
Tachometer
The tachometer indicates engine speed
in thousands of rpm
( revolutions per
minute). Use it while driving to select
correct shift points and to prevent en-
gine lugging and overrevving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get
into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Odometer and two trip meters
This meter displays the odometer and
two trip meters.
1. OdometerShows the total distance the vehicle has been driven.
2. Two trip metersShow two different distances independently driven since
the last time each trip meter was set
to zero.
You can use one trip meter to calculate
the fuel economy and the other to
measure the distance on each trip. All
trip meter data is cancelled if the elec-
trical power source is disconnected.

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Fan speed selector
Turn the knob to adjust the fan speedto
the right to increase, to the left to de-
crease.
Temperature selector
Turn the knob to adjust the temperature
to the right to warm, to the left to cool.
Air flow selector
Turn the knob to select the vents used for
air flow.1. Panel Air flows mainly from the
instrument panel vents.
2. Bi−level Air flows from both the floor
vents and the instrument panel vents.
3. Floor Air flows mainly from the floor
vents.
4. Floor/Windshield Air flows mainly
from the floor vents and windshield
vents.
This position allows the air intake to
select FRESH automatically. This is to
clean up the front view more quickly. If you want to return the setting to
RECIRCULATE mode, press the air in-
take selector button once again.
Press the A/C" button for dehumidified
heating or cooling. This setting clears
the front view more quickly.
5. Windshield Air flows mainly from the
windshield vents.
Turning the air flow selector to the
windshield position turns on the defog-
ging function with the purpose of clear-
ing the front view.
This position allows the air intake to
select FRESH automatically. This is to
clean up the front view more quickly.
If you want to return the setting to
RECIRCULATE mode, press the air in-
take selector button once again.
Press the A/C" button for dehumidified
heating or cooling. This setting clears
the front view more quickly.
For details about air flow selector settings,
see Air flow selector settings" described
blow.

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If following another vehicle on a dusty
road, or driving in windy and dusty
conditions, it is recommended that the
air intake selector be temporarily set to
RECIRCULATE, which will close off the
outside passage and prevent outside
air and dust from entering the vehicle
interior.
Heating
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speed Any setting except "OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s WA R M
(red zone)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowFLOOR
Air conditioningOFF
For quick heating, select recirculated
air for a few minutes. To keep the
windows from fogging, select fresh af-
ter the vehicle interior has been
warmed.
Press the "A/C" button on for dehumidi-
fied heating.
Choose floor/windshield air flow to heat
the vehicle interior while defrosting or
defogging the windshield. Air conditioning
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speed Any setting except "OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s COLD
(blue zone)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowPANEL
Air conditioningON
For quick cooling, select recirculated
air for a few minutes.
Ventilation
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speed Any setting except "OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s COLD
(blue zone)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowPANEL
Air conditioningOFF

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Defogging
The inside of the windshield
For best results, set controls to:Fan speed Any setting except OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s WARM
(red zone) to heat;
COLD (blue zone) to
cool
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowWINDSHIELD
Turning the air flow selector to the wind-
shield position turns on the defogging
function with the purpose of clearing the
front view.
When turning the air flow control knob to
windshield position, the air intake selects
FRESH automatically. This is to clean up
the front view more quickly.
Press the A/C" button for dehumidified
heating or cooling. This setting clears the
front view more quickly.
On humid days, do not blow cold air
on the windshieldthe difference be-
tween the outside and inside tempera-
tures could make the fogging worse. Defrosting
The outside of the windshield
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speed Any setting except OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s WA R M
(red zone)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowWINDSHIELD
Turning the air flow selector to the wind-
shield position turns on the defrosting
function with the purpose of clearing the
front view.
When turning the air flow control knob to
windshield position, the air intake selects
FRESH automatically. This is to clean up
the front view more quickly.
Press the A/C" button for dehumidified
heating. This setting clears the front view
more quickly.
To heat the vehicle interior while de-
frosting the windshield, choose
floor/windshield air flow.

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"AUTO" button
For automatic operation of the air condi-
tioning, press the "AUTO" button. An indi-
cator light will illuminate to show that the
automatic operation mode has been se-
lected.
In the automatic operation mode, the air
conditioning selects the most suitable fan
speed, air flow, air intake and on−off of
the air conditioning according to the tem-
perature.
When you adjust the temperature selector
button to maximum cooling, a MAX
COLD" message will appear on the display
and the air intake mode will be automati-
cally changed to RECIRCULATE.
You may use manual controls if you want
to select your own settings.
To turn off the automatic operation, press
the "OFF" button.
Fan speed selector
Push the ">" (increase) or "<" (decrease)
side of the button to adjust the fan speed.
In automatic operation, you do not have
to adjust the fan speed unless you desire
another fan speed mode.Temperature selector
Turn the knob to adjust the temperature
to the right to warm, to the left to cool.
"OFF" button
Push the button to turn off the air condi-
tioning system.
MODE" button (air flow selector)
Push the "MODE" button to select the
vents used for air flow.
In automatic operation, you do not have
to select the air flow unless you desire
another air flow mode.
1. Panel Air flows mainly from the
instrument panel vents.
2. Bi−level Air flows from both the floor
vents and the instrument panel vents.
3. Floor Air flows mainly from the floor
vents.
4. Floor/Windshield Air flows mainly
from the floor vents and windshield
vents.

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If following another vehicle on a dusty
road, or driving in windy and dusty
conditions, it is recommended that the
air intake selector be temporarily set to
RECIRCULATE, which will close off the
outside passage and prevent outside
air and dust from entering the vehicle
interior.
Heating
For best results, set controls to:
For automatic operation
Press in the "AUTO " button.
Temperature To the desired
temperature
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air conditioningOFF
For manual operation
Fan speed To the desired fan speed
Temperature To w a r d s WARM
(to the right)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowFLOOR
Air conditioningOFF
For quick heating, select recirculated
air for a few minutes. To keep the
windows from fogging, select fresh af-
ter the vehicle interior has been
warmed.
Press the "A/C" button on for dehumidi-
fied heating.
Choose floor/windshield air flow to heat
the vehicle interior while defrosting or
defogging the windshield.
Air conditioning
For best results, set controls to:
For automatic operation
Press in the "AUTO " button .
Temperature To the desired
temperature
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air conditioningON
For manual operation
Fan speed To the desired fan speed
Temperature To w a r d s COLD
(to the left)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowPANEL
Air conditioningON
For quick cooling, select recirculated
air for a few minutes.
Ventilation
For best results, set controls to:
For automatic operation
Press in the "AUTO " button .
Temperature To w a r d s COLD
(to the left)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air conditioningOFF
For manual operation
Fan speed To the desired fan speed
Temperature To w a r d s COLD
(to the left)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowPANEL
Air conditioningOFF

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Engine exhaust cautions
CAUTION
Avoid inhaling the engine exhaust.
It contains carbon monoxide, which
is a colorless and odorless gas. It
can cause unconsciousness or even
death.
Make sure the exhaust system has
no holes or loose connections. The
system should be checked from
time to time. If you hit something,
or notice a change in the sound of
the exhaust, have the system
checked immediately.
Do not run the engine in a garage
or enclosed area except for the
time needed to drive the vehicle in
or out. The exhaust gases cannot
escape, making this a particularly
dangerous situation.
Do not remain for a long time in a
parked vehicle with the engine run-
ning. If it is unavoidable, however,
do so only in an unconfined area
and adjust the heating or cooling
system to force outside air into the
vehicle.
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.
Facts about engine oil
consumption

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Do not connect it to or near any part that
moves when the engine is cranked.
CAUTION
When making the connections, to
avoid serious injury, do not lean over
the battery or accidentally let the
jumper cables or clamps touch any-
thing except the correct battery termi-
nals or the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal way.After starting, run it at about 2000 rpm
for several minutes with the accelerator
pedal lightly depressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order: the negative cable
and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover clothsthey may now contain sulfuric
acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharging is
not apparent (for example, lights left on),
you should have it checked. If your engine stalls while driving...
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line. Move cautiously off the
road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try starting the engine again.
If the engine will not start, see "If your
vehicle will not start".
CAUTION
If the engine is not running, the pow-
er assist for the brakes and steering
will not work so steering and braking
will be much harder than usual.
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you ex-
perience a loss of power, or if you hear
a loud knocking or pinging noise, the
engine has probably overheated. You
should follow this procedure...
1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve- hicle and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the transmission in "P"
(automatic) or neutral (manual) and ap-
ply the parking brake. Turn off the air
conditioning if it is being used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or reservoir, stop the engine.
Wait until the steam subsides before
opening the hood. If there is no coolant
boiling over or steam, leave the engine
running and make sure the electric
cooling fan is operating. If it is not,
turn the ignition off.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury, keep
the hood closed until there is no
steam. Escaping steam or coolant is
a sign of very high pressure.
If your engine stalls while
driving If your vehicle overheats