Page 167 of 234
01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1602001 MR2 (OM17482U)
CAUTION
Never get under the vehicle when the
vehicle is supported by the jack
alone.
Changing wheels
SB41028
6. Remove the wheel nuts and changetires.
Lift the flat tire straight off and put it
aside.
Roll the compact spare wheel into position
and align the holes in the wheel with the
bolts. Then lift up the wheel and get at
least the top bolt started through its hole.
Wiggle the tire and press it back over the
other bolts.
SB41044
Before putting wheels on, remove any cor-
rosion on the mounting surfaces with a
wire brush or such. Installation of wheels
without good metal−to−metal contact at the
mounting surface can cause wheel nuts to
loosen and eventually cause a wheel to
come off while driving. Therefore after the
first 1600 km (1000 miles), check to see
that the wheel nuts are tight.
Page 168 of 234
01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1612001 MR2 (OM17482U)
Reinstalling wheel nuts
SB41030
7. Reinstall all the wheel nuts with fin-ger tight.
Reinstall the wheel nuts (tapered end in-
ward) and tighten them as much as you
can by finger. Press back on the tire back
and see if you can tighten them more.
Lowering your vehicle
SB41031
8. Lower the vehicle completely and tighten the wheel nuts.
Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to
lower the vehicle.
Use only the wheel nut wrench and turn
it clockwise to tighten the nuts. Do not
use other tools or any additional leverage
other than your hands, such as a hammer,
pipe or your foot. Make sure the wrench
is securely engaged over the nut.
Tighten each nut a little at a time in the
order shown. Repeat the process until all
the nuts are tight.
CAUTION
When lowering the vehicle, make sure
all portions of your body and all oth-
er persons around will not be injured
as the vehicle is lowered to the
ground.
Page 169 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1622001 MR2 (OM17482U)
After changing wheels
9. Check the air pressure of the re-placed tire.
Adjust the air pressure to the specification
designated on page 219 in Section 8. If
the pressure is lower, drive slowly to the
nearest service station and fill to the cor-
rect pressure.
Do not forget to reinstall the tire inflation
valve cap as dirt and moisture could get
into the valve core and possibly cause air
leakage. If the cap is missing, have a new
one put on as soon as possible.
10. Restow all the tools, jack and flat tire securely.
As soon as possible after changing
wheels, tighten the wheel nuts to the
torque specified on page 219 in Section
8 with a torque wrench. Have a technician
repair the flat tire and replace the com-
pact spare tire with it.CAUTION
Before driving, make sure all the
tools, jack and flat tire are securely
in place in their storage location to
reduce the possibility of personal in-
jury during a collision or s udden
braking.
SB41025
Remove the wheel ornament from the flat
tire before restowing the flat tire.
Page 170 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1632001 MR2 (OM17482U)
SB41037
NOTICE
The size of the front wheel and the
rear wheel is different. In order to
prevent the wrong installation, there
is a pin on the assembly surface in-
side the rear wheel as shown above.
Therefore, the rear wheels cannot be
installed on the front.
SB41062
From rear
(b) Using flat bed truck (a) Towing with wheel lift type truck From front
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-
vice. In consultation with them, have
your vehicle towed using either (a) or
(b).
Only when you cannot receive a towing
service from a Toyota dealer or
commercial tow truck service, tow your
vehicle carefully in accordance with the
instructions given in Emergency
towing" on page 164 in this section.
Proper equipment will help ensure that
your vehicle is not damaged while being
towed. Commercial operators are generally
aware of the state/provincial and local
laws pertaining to towing.
Your vehicle can be damaged if it is
towed incorrectly. Although most operators
know the correct procedure, it is possible
to make a mistake. To avoid damage to
your vehicle, make sure the following pre-
cautions are observed. If necessary, show
this page to the tow truck driver.
TOWING PRECAUTIONS:
Use a safety chain system for all towing,
and abide by the state/provincial and local
laws. The wheels and axle on the ground
must be in good condition. If they are
damaged, use a towing dolly.
If your vehicle needs to be
towed
Page 171 of 234
01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1642001 MR2 (OM17482U)
(a) Towing with wheel lift type truck
From frontWe recommend using a tow-
ing dolly under the rear wheels. If you do
not use a towing dolly, release the parking
brake and put the transmission in neutral.
From rear Place the ignition key in the
ACC" position.
NOTICE
When lifting wheels, take care to
ensure adequate ground clearance
for towing at the opposite end of
the raised vehicle. Otherwise, the
bumper and/or underbody of the
towed vehicle will be damaged dur-
ing towing.
Do not tow with the key removed or
in the LOCK" position, as the
steering lock mechanism is not
strong enough to hold the front
wheels straight while towing.
(b) Using flat bed truck
SB41057
(c) Towing with sling type truck
(c) Towing with sling type truck
NOTICE
Do not tow with sling type truck, ei-
ther from the front or rear. This may
cause body damage.
Em erg en cy to win g
SB41045
Remove the cover (front)
SB41033
Install the eyelet (front)
Page 172 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1652001 MR2 (OM17482U)
SB41046
Remove the cover (rear)
SB41034
Install the eyelet (rear)
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-
vice.
If a towing service is not available in
an emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed by a cable or chain
secured to either the emergency towing
eyelet
∗ on the front of the vehicle or
the right emergency towing eyelet∗ on
the rear of the vehicle. Use extreme
caution when towing vehicles.
NOTICE
Only use specified towing eyelet;
otherwise your vehicle may be dam-
aged.
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.
∗: Eyelet
The eyelet is stored in the luggage space
with the jack handle.
To install: Remove the cover of eyelet and
firmly install it as shown in the illustration.
Page 175 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1682001 MR2 (OM17482U)
Toyota, through its diligent research, de-
sign and use of the most advanced
technology available, has done its part to
help prevent corrosion and has provided
you with the finest quality vehicle
construction. Now, it is up to you. Proper
care of your Toyota can help ensure long−
term corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corrosion
to your vehicle are:
The accumulation of road salt, dirt and
moisture in hard−to−reach areas under
the vehicle.
Chipping of paint, or undercoating
caused by minor accidents or by
stones and gravel.
Care is especially important if you live
in particular areas or operate your ve-
hicle under certain environmental condi-
tions:
Road salt or dust control chemicals will
accelerate corrosion, as will the pres-
ence of salt in the air near the sea−
coast or in areas of industrial pollution.
High humidity accelerates corrosion es-
pecially when temperatures range just
above the freezing point.
Wetness or dampness to certain parts
of your vehicle for an extended period
of time, may cause corrosion even
though other parts of the vehicle may
be dry.
High ambient temperatures can cause
corrosion to those components of the
vehicle which are prevented from
quick−drying due to lack of proper ven-
tilation.
The above signifies the necessity to keep
your vehicle, particularly the underside, as
clean as possible and to repair any dam-
age to paint or protective coatings as
soon as possible.
To help prevent corrosion on your
Toyota, follow these guidelines:
Wash your vehicle frequently. It is, of
course, necessary to keep your vehicle
clean by regular washing, but to prevent
corrosion, the following points should be
observed:
If you drive on salted roads in the
winter or if you live near the ocean,
you should hose off the undercarriage
at least once a month to minimize cor-
rosion.
High pressure water or steam is effec-
tive for cleaning the vehicle’s underside
and wheel housings. Pay particular
attention to these areas as it is difficult
to see all the mud and dirt. It will do
more harm than good to simply wet the
mud and debris without removing them.
The lower edge of doors, rocker panels
and frame members have drain holes
which should not be allowed to clog
with dirt as trapped water in these
areas can cause corrosion.
Wash the underside of the vehicle thor-
oughly when winter is over.
See Washing and waxing your Toyota" on
page 169 for more tips.
Check the condition of your vehicle’s
paint and trim. If you find any chips or
scratches in the paint, touch them up im-
mediately to prevent corrosion from start-
ing. If the chips or scratches have gone
through the bare metal, have a qualified
body shop make the repair.
Protecting your Toyota from
corrosion
Page 176 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1692001 MR2 (OM17482U)
Check the interior of your vehicle. Wa-
ter and dirt can accumulate under the
floor mats and could cause corrosion. Oc-
casionally check under the mats to make
sure the area is dry. Be particularly care-
ful when transporting chemicals, cleans-
ers, fertilizers, salt, etc.; these should be
transported in proper containers. If a spill
or leak should occur, immediately clean
and dry the area.
Use mud shields on your wheels. If you
drive on salted or gravel roads, mud
shields help protect your vehicle. Full−size
shields, which come as near to the ground
as possible, are the best. We recommend
that the fittings and the area where the
shields are installed be treated to resist
corrosion. Your Toyota dealer will be
happy to assist in supplying and installing
the shields if they are recommended for
your area.
Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated
garage or a roofed place. Do not park
your vehicle in a damp, poorly venti-
lated garage. If you wash your vehicle in
the garage, or if you drive it in covered
with water or snow, your garage may be
so damp it will cause corrosion. Even if
your garage is heated, a wet vehicle can
corrode if the ventilation is poor. Washing your Toyota
Keep your vehicle clean by regular
washing.
The following cases may cause weakness
to the paint or corrosion to the body and
parts. Wash your vehicle as soon as pos-
sible.
When driving in a coastal area
When driving on a road sprinkled with
antifreeze
When having coal tar, tree sap, bird
droppings and carcass of an insect
When driving in the areas where there
is a lot of smoke, soot, dust, iron dust
and chemical substance
When the vehicle becomes remarkably
dirty with dust and mud
Hand−washing your Toyota
Work in the shade and wait until the
vehicle body is not hot to the touch.
CAUTION
When cleaning under floor or chassis,
be careful not to injure your hands.
For washing instructions for soft top, see
Soft top" on page 171. 1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose. Re- move any mud or road salt from the
underside of the vehicle or in the
wheel wells.
Washing and waxing your
To y o t a