’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
22001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Instrument panel overview
1. Side vents
2. Tilt steering lock release lever
3. Instrument cluster
4. Center vents
5. Garage door opener
6. Garage door opener box or auxiliary
box
7. Electric moon roof switch
8. Personal lights
9. Glove box
10. Power door lock switches
11. Power window switches
12. Automatic transmission selector lever
13. Parking brake lever
14. Ashtray
15. Cup holders
16. Front drive control lever
17. Lower vent
18. Hood lock release lever
19. Fuel filler door opener
20. Window lock switch
21. Power rear view mirror control switches
(with power windows)
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
62001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel
or
Driver ’s seat belt reminder light∗
1
Low oil pressure warning light∗
1
Low fuel level warning light∗
1
Brake system warning light∗
1
Malfunction indicator lamp∗
1
Discharge warning light∗
1
Anti lock brake system warning light∗
1
Automatic transmission fluid temperature
warning light∗
1
SRS warning light∗
1
Unengaged “Park” warning light∗
1
Open door warning light∗
1
Low windshield washer fluid level warning
light∗
1
Headlight high beam indicator light Turn signal indicator lights
Front passenger ’s seat belt reminder light∗
1
Vehicle skid control system and traction control
system (two wheel drive models) or active
traction control system (four wheel drive models)
warning light
∗
1
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
72001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Cruise control indicator light∗
2
Driving pattern (“PWR” mode) indicator light
∗
1: For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers” in Section 1 5.
∗
2: If this light flashes, see “Cruise control” in Section 1 6.Four wheel drive and center differential lock
indicator lights
Automatic transmission indicator lights
Traction control system off indicator light∗
1
(two wheel drive models)
Vehicle skid control system off indicator light
∗
1
(four wheel drive models) Slip indicator light
Overdrive off indicator light
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
972001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
(e) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light on—even for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(f) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty.
(See “Fuel gauge” in this section for
instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened se-
curely. (See “Fuel tank cap” in Section
1 2 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your
engine, automatic transmission electri-
cal system or electronic throttle control
system.
If it comes on while you are driving in
case c, have your vehicle checked/re-
paired by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.If this lamp comes on and the engine
speed does not increase with the acceler-
ator pedal depressed down to about the
middle position, there may be a problem
somewhere in your electronic throttle con-
trol system. At this time, if you depress
the accelerator pedal more firmly and
slowly, you can drive your vehicle at low
speeds. Have your vehicle checked by
your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
Even if the abnormality of the electronic
throttle control system is corrected during
low speed driving, the system may not be
recovered until the engine is stopped and
the ignition key is turned to “ACC” or
“LOCK” position.
(g) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
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.
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
1002001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
(n) Automatic Transmission Fluid
Temperature 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.
NOTICE
Continued driving with the warning
light on may damage the automatic
transmission.
(o) Low windshield Washer Fluid Level
Warning Light (Canada)
The light warns that the windshield washer
fluid level is too low. Add washer fluid at
your earliest opportunity. (For instructions,
see “Adding washer fluid” in Section 7 3.)CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER
INDICATORS (except the low fuel level
warning light and low windshield
washer fluid level warning light)
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Open one of the side doors or back
door.
The open door warning light should
come on.
3. Close the door.
The open door warning light should go
off.
4. Turn the ignition key to “ON”, but do
not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex-
cept the open door warning light should
come on. The “ABS” and “VSC/TRAC”
warning lights, “TRAC OFF” (two wheel
drive models) or “VSC OFF” (four
wheel drive models) indicator light and
slip indicator light go off after a few
seconds. The SRS warning light goes
off after about 6 seconds.There may be the case that the “ABS”
warning light (brake assist system
warning light), “VSC/TRAC” warning
light and “TRAC OFF” (two wheel drive
models) or “VSC OFF” (four wheel
drive models) indicator light stay on for
about 60 seconds after the ignition key
is turned to the “ON” position. It is
normal if they go out after a while.
If any service reminder indicator or warn-
ing buzzer does not function as described
above, either the bulb is burned out or the
circuit is in need of repair. Have it
checked by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
1012001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Four wheel drive system11 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction control system11 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Active traction control system120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle skid control system122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1 6
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
1032001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of “P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in “ON” 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
Two wheel drive models
Lock release button
To prevent misshifting
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock release
button in. (The ignition switch must
be in “ON” position.)
Shift while holding the lock
release button in.
Shift normally.Selector lever
Overdrive switch
Driving pattern
selector button
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
1042001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
(b) Overdrive switch
You can select either 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 OFF” indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The “O/D OFF” 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 control—When the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking will not be enabled because the
cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” in this section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in “How
to start the engine” in Section 3. The
transmission must be in “P” or “N”.
2. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, shift the selector lever to “D”.
When the lever is in the “D” 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, the
transmission will not shift into the over-
drive gear even with the overdrive on.
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
OFF” indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to third
gear.
Shift into the “2” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to second gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 119 km/h (73 mph), and
stronger engine braking will be en-
abled.
Shift into the “L” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to first gear
When the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 58 km/h (36 mph), and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.
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