2000 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD

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On−pavement and off−roaddriving tips
(4WD models and Pre Runner)
This vehicle will handle and maneuver differently from
an ordinary passenger car because it is designed for
off−road use also. It has a significantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles. In addition, this ve-
hicle has a higher ground clearance and center of gravi-
ty than that of an ordinary passenger car. This vehicle
design feature causes this type of vehicle to be more
likely to rollover. Failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control, accidents or vehicle rol-
lover causing death or serious injury. Be sure to read
Off−road vehicle precautions" in Section 2 and Off−
road driving precautions" in Section 3.

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Use the front drive control lever to se-
lect the following transfer modes.
H2" (high speed position, two−wheel
drive): Lever at H2"
Use this for normal driving on dry hard−
surfaced roads. This position gives greater
economy, quietest ride and least wear.
H4" (high speed position, four−wheel
drive): Lever at H4"
Use this for normal driving on wet, icy or
snow−covered roads. This position pro-
vides greater traction than two−wheel
drive. N" (neutral position):
Lever at N"
No power is delivered to the wheels. The
vehicle must be stopped.
L4" (low speed position, four−wheel
drive): Lever at L4"
Use this for maximum power and traction.
Use L4" for climbing or descending steep
hills, off−road driving, and hard pulling in
sand, mud or deep snow.
The four−wheel drive indicator light comes
on when the H4", N" or L4" mode is
selected.
See (d) Shifting procedure (lever type)"
for further instructions.Use the front drive control lever and
4WD" button to select the following
transfer modes.
H2" (high speed position, two−wheel
drive): Lever at H", 4WD" button left out
Use this for normal driving on dry hard−
surfaced roads. This position gives greater
economy, quietest ride and least wear.
H4" (high speed position, four−wheel
drive): Lever at H", 4WD" button pushed
in.
Use this for normal driving on wet, icy or
snow−covered roads. This position pro-
vides greater traction than two−wheel
drive.
Four−wheel drive system
(a) Front drive control
(lever type) (a) Front drive control
(lever/button type)

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SHIFTING BETWEEN H4" AND L4"
To shift between H4" and L4", stop
the vehicle and put the transmission in
N". With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever. SHIFTING BETWEEN H2" AND H4"
To shift from H2" to H4",
reduce your
speed to less than 100 km/h (62 mph)
and push in the 4WD" button. You need
not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not come on
when you push in the 4WD" button, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you push in the 4WD"
button, reduce your speed or stop the
vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never push the 4WD" button if
wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping
or spinning before shifting.
To shift from H4" to H2", push the
4WD" button again to turn it off.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
You need not depress the clutch pedal.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into H2", drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse. SHIFTING BETWEEN H2" OR H4" AND
L4"
To shift from H2" or H4" to L4",
stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to
less than 8 km/h (5 mph). With your foot
off the accelerator pedal, depress the
clutch pedal and move the front drive con-
trol lever.
To shift from L4" to H2" or H4",
depress the clutch pedal and move the
front drive control lever. When the 4WD"
button is pushed in, the transfer shifts into
H4"; when the button is left out, the
transfer shifts into H2".
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into H2", drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse.
(d) Shifting procedure
(lever/button type with manual
transmission)

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SHIFTING BETWEEN H2" AND H4"
To shift from H2" to H4", reduce your
speed to less than 100 km/h (62 mph)
and push in the 4WD" button.
If the indicator light does not come on
when you push in the 4WD" button, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you push in the 4WD"
button, reduce your speed or stop the
vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never push the 4WD" button if
wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping
or spinning before shifting.
To shift from H4" to H2", push the
4WD" button again to turn it off.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into H2", drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse. SHIFTING BETWEEN H2" OR H4" AND
L4"
To shift from H2" or H4" to L4",
stop the vehicle and put the transmission
in N". With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever.
To shift from L4" to H2" or H4",
stop the vehicle and put the transmission
in N". With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever. When the 4WD" button is pushed
in, the transfer shifts into H4"; when the
button is left out, the transfer shifts into
H2".
If the indicator light does not go off when
you shift the transfer into H2", drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating, or drive in reverse.
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.
Except for Pre Runner models
⎯
Before using the rear differential lock sys-
tem, first shift the front drive control into
L4" with the free−wheeling hubs engaged
to see if it works. If this has no effect,
additionally use the rear differential lock
system.
(d) Shifting procedure
(lever/button type with
automatic transmission)

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This vehicle has higher ground clear-
ance and narrower tread in relation to
the height of its center of gravity to
make it capable of performing in a wide
variety of off−road applications. Specific
design characteristics give it a higher
center of gravity than ordinary passen-
ger cars. This vehicle design feature
causes this type of vehicle to be more
likely to rollover. And, it has a signifi-
cantly higher rollover rate than other
types of vehicles. An advantage of the
higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road allowing you to antici-
pate problems. It is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as ordi-
nary passenger cars any more than
low−slung sports cars designed to per-
form satisfactorily under off−road
conditions. Therefore, sharp turns at
excessive speeds may cause rollover.
CAUTION
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of serious
personal injury or damage to your ve-
hicle:
In a rollover crash, an unbelted per-
son is significantly more likely to
die than a person wearing a seat
belt. Therefore, the driver and all
passengers should fasten their seat
belts whenever the vehicle is mov-
ing.
Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers, if at all possible. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover causing death or serious
injury.
Avoid loading any items on the roof
that will raise the vehicle’s center
of gravity.
Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. Because of its profile and
higher center of gravity, your ve-
hicle is more sensitive to side
winds than an ordinary passenger
car. Slowing down will allow you to
have much better control.
Off−road vehicle precautions
(4WD models and Pre Runner)

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CAUTION
Before driving off, make sure that
the parking brake is fully released
and the parking brake reminder
light is off.
Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is running.
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. It can cause
dangerous overheating, needless
wear, and poor fuel economy.
Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, downshifting or braking on
a slippery surface. Sudden accelera-
tion or engine braking, could cause
the vehicle to spin or skid.
To drive down a long or steep hill,
reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly.
Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a
longer stopping distance, and it
may pull to one side when the
brakes are applied. Also, the park-
ing brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.
Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has high−speed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are high−speed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
When driving your vehicle off−road, please
observe the following precautions to en-
sure your driving enjoyment and to help
prevent the closure of areas to off−road
vehicles.a. Drive your vehicle only in areas where off−road vehicles are permitted to trav-
el.
b. Respect private property. Get owner ’s permission before entering private prop-
erty.
c. Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers and signs that re-
strict travel.
d. Stay on established roads. When condi- tions are wet, driving techniques should
be changed or travel delayed to pre-
vent damage to roads.
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining
to driving your vehicle off−road, consult
the following organizations.
State and Local Parks and Recreation
Departments
State Motor Vehicle Bureau
Recreational Vehicle Clubs
Off−road driving precautions
(4WD models and Pre Runner)

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Engine compartment (with daytime run-
ning light system)
6. HEAD (LO LH) 10 A: Left−hand head-
light (low beam)
7. TAIL 10 A: Tail lights, licence plate
lights
8. PANEL 10 A: Emergency flashers,
heater control system, air conditioning
system, g auges and meters, clock, car
audio system, overdrive indicator light,
glove box light, cigarette lighter, instru-
ment panel lights, rear differential lock
system, Multiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection sys-
tem, electronically controlled automatic
transmission system
Instrument panel
9. A.C 10 A: Air conditioning system
10. STOP 15 A: Stop lights, high mounted
stoplight, cruise control system
11. ALT−S 7.5 A: Charging system
12. DOME 15 A: Car audio system, power
antenna, interior light, clock, ignition
switch light, personal lights, door cour-
tesy lights
13. OBD 10 A: On−board diagnosis system
14. HORN 15 A: Emergency flashers,
horns 15. EFI 20 A:
Multiport fuel injection sys-
tem/sequential multiport fuel injection
system
16. HEAD (RH) 10 A: Right−hand headlight
17. HEAD (LH) 10 A: Left−hand headlight
18. STA 7.5 A: Clutch start cancel system,
starting system, gauges and meters
19. 4WD 20 A: A.D.D. control system,
four−wheel drive control system, rear
differential lock system
20. GAUGE 10 A: Gauges and meters,
back−up lights, cruise control system,
power antenna, power door lock control
system, electronically controlled auto-
matic transmission system, starting
system, charging system, air c ondition-
ing system
21. TURN 10 A: Turn signal lights, emer-
gency flashers
22. ECU−IG 15 A: Cruise control system,
anti−lock brake system, automatic
transmission shift lock system
23. WIPER 20 A: Windshield wipers and
washer
24. IGN 7.5 A: Discharge warning light,
SRS airbag system, seat belt preten-
sioners, multiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection sys-
tem