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(f) Low Fuel Level Warning Light(on some models with tachometer)
This light comes on when the fuel level
in the tank becomes nearly empty. Fill up
the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual.
(g) ABS" Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem
somewhere in your anti−lock brake sys-
tem.
If the light comes on while you are driv-
ing, have your vehicle checked by your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
The light will come on when the ignition
key is turned to the ON" position. After
a few seconds, the light will go off.
When the ABS" 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. Vehicles with rear differential lock sys-
tem
The anti−lock brake system does not oper-
ate when the rear differential is locked. It
is normal operation for the ABS" warning
light to be on at this time.
(h) SRS Warning Light
This light will come on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ACC" or
ON" 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 sensors
seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflat-
ors, warning light, interconnecting wiring
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 ACC" or
ON" position or remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving.(i) Unengaged Park" Warning Light
(vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion)
This light warns that the transmission
Park" mechanism is not engaged. If the
front drive control lever is in the N" posi-
tion while the selector lever is in the P"
position, the transmission will disengage
and the wheels will not lock.
CAUTION
To restore the park function, shift the
front drive control lever out of N",
or the vehicle can move.
(j) Automatic Transmission Fluid Tem- perature Warning Light
This light warns that the automatic trans-
mission fluid temperature is too high.
If this light comes on while you are driv-
ing, slow down and pull off the road. Stop
the vehicle at a safe place and put the
selector lever in P". With the engine id-
ling, wait until the light goes off. If the
light goes off, you may start the vehicle
again. If the light does not go off, call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
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Your engine is fitted with twin ground
electrode spark plugs.
NOTICE
Use only twin ground electrode spark
plugs and do not adjust gaps for your
engine performance.
Brake system
TANDEM MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE
SYSTEM
The tandem master cylinder brake system
is a hydraulic system with two separate
sub−systems. If either sub−system 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 stopsbut 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 hardmuch harder than nor-
mal. And your braking distance will
be longer.
ANTI−LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(with ABS" 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).
Twin ground electrode spark
plugs (5VZ−FE engine)
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NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 se-
conds at a time. This may overheat
the starter and wiring systems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to
start 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 P" (automatic) or in first or
reverse (manual). 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 applied. If they still do not
work safely, pull to the side of the road
and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.
Four−wheel drive modelsToyota rec-
ommends not using four−wheel drive on
dry hard−surfaced roads, because four−
wheel driving will cause unnecessary
noise and wear, and poor fuel econo-
my.
Four−wheel drive modelsIn cold tem-
peratures, noise may occur when driv-
ing in two−wheel drive before the trans-
fer is warmed up. Therefore, first drive
in four−wheel drive until the transfer is
warmed up.
Tips for driving in various
conditions
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Before making these checks, make sure
you have followed the correct starting pro-
cedure given in How to start the engine"
in Section 3 and that you have sufficient
fuel.
If the engine is not turning over or is
turning over too slowly1. Check that the battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch on the interior light.
3. If the light is out, dim or goes out when the starter is cranked, the battery
is discharged. You may try jump start-
ing. See (c) Jump starting" for further
instructions.
If the light is O.K., but the engine still will
not start, it needs adjustment or repair.
Call a Toyota dealer or qualified repair
shop.
NOTICE
Do not pull− or push−start the ve-
hicle. It may damage the vehicle or
cause a collision when the engine
starts. Also the three−way catalytic
converter may overheat and become a
fire hazard.
If the engine turns over at its normal
speed but will not start 1. Check that all the push−on connectors are tight. (For example, connectors at
the spark plugs, ignition coil and/or dis-
tributor)
2. If the connectors are O.K., the engine may be flooded because of repeated
cranking. See (b) Starting a flooded
engine" for further instructions.
(b) Starting a flooded engine
If the engine will not start, your engine
may be flooded because of repeated
cranking.
If this happens, turn the key to START"
with the accelerator pedal held down.
Keep the key and accelerator pedal so for
15 seconds and release them. Then try
starting the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
If the engine does not start after 15 se-
conds of cranking, release the key, wait
a few minutes and try again.
If the engine still will not start, it needs
adjustment or repair. Call a Toyota dealer
or qualified repair shop for assistance.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 se-
conds at a time. This may overheat
the starter and wiring systems.
If your vehicle will not start
(a) Simple checks
’00 Tacoma(U)
187
Do not connect the cable 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 vehicle overheats
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.
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
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201
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer
it and operate the brakes.
Towing in this manner may be done only
on hard−surfaced roads for a short dis-
tance and at low speeds. Also, the
wheels, axles, drive train, steering and
brakes must all be in good condition.
CAUTION
Use extreme caution when towing the
vehicle. Avoid sudden starts or errat-
ic driving maneuvers which would
place excessive stress on the emer-
gency towing eyelet and towing cable
or chain. The eyelet and towing cable
or chain may break and cause serious
injury or damage.
NOTICE
Use only a cable or chain specifically
intended for use in towing vehicles.
Securely fasten the cable or chain to
the towing eyelet provided.
Before towing, release the parking brake
and put the transmission in neutral (manu-
al) or N" (automatic). The key must be
in ACC" (engine off) or ON" (engine run-
ning).
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 towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-
vice.
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be tempo-
rarily towed by a cable or chain se-
cured to the emergency towing hook
under the front of the vehicle. Use ex-
treme caution when towing the vehicle.
NOTICE
Only use specified towing hook;
otherwise your vehicle may be dam-
aged.
Emergency towing
(four−wheel drive models and
Pre Runner)
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202
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer
it and operate the brakes.
Towing in this manner may be done only
on hard−surfaced roads for a short dis-
tance and at low speeds. Also, the
wheels, axles, drive train, steering and
brakes must all be in good condition.
CAUTION
Use extreme caution when towing the
vehicle. Avoid sudden starts or errat-
ic driving maneuvers which would
place excessive stress on the emer-
gency towing hook and towing cable
or chain. The hook and towing cable
or chain may break and cause serious
injury or damage.
NOTICE
Use only a cable or chain specifically
intended for use in towing vehicles.
Securely fasten the cable or chain to
the towing hook provided.
Before towing, release the parking brake,
put the transmission in neutral (manual) or
N" (automatic) and set the transfer in
H2" mode. The key must be in ACC"
(engine off) or ON" (engine running).
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.
Before emergency towing, check that
the hook is not broken or damaged and
that the installation bolts are not loose.
Fasten the towing cable or chain se-
curely to the hook.
Do not jerk the hook. Apply steady and
even force.
To avoid damaging the hook, do not
pull from the side or at a vertical
angle. Always pull straight ahead.
Emergency towing hook
precautions
(four−wheel drive models)
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203
CAUTION
If the emergency towing hook is used
to get out when your vehicle becomes
stuck in the mud, sand or other
condition from which the vehicle can-
not be driven out under its own pow-
er, make sure to observe the precau-
tions mentioned below. Otherwise, ex-
cessive stress will be put on the
hook and the towing cable or chain
may break, causing serious injury or
damage.
If the towing vehicle can hardly
move, do not forcibly continue the
towing. Contact your Toyota dealer
or a commercial tow truck service
for assistance.
Tow the vehicle as straight ahead
as possible.
Keep away from the vehicle during
towing.
The following methods are effective to
use when your vehicle is stuck in the
mud, sand or other condition from
which the vehicle cannot be driven out
under its own power. Use extreme cau-
tion when towing the vehicle. In addi-
tion, keep away from the vehicles and
towing cable or chain when towing.
Remove the sand and soil in the front
and the back of the tires.
Place stones or wood under the tires.
If you cannot shift the selector lever
out of P" position to other positions
even though the brake pedal is de-
pressed, use the shift lock override but-
ton as follows:1. Turn the ignition key to LOCK" position. Make sure the parking
brake is set.
2. Pry up the cover with a flat−bladed screwdriver or equivalent.
Tips for towing a stuck
vehicle
(four−wheel drive models) If you cannot shift automatic
transmission selector lever
(column shift)