Page 69 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
622001 MR2 (OM17482U)
Headlights and turn signals
SB14009
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.
Position 1Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights
Position 2Headlights and all of the
above
Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer will remind you to turn the lights
off when the driver ’s door is opened if you
remove the key with the headlights left
on.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not leave the lights on
for a long period when the engine is
not running.
Daytime running light system
The headlights turn on at  reduced intensi-
ty when the parking brake is  released with
the engine started, even with the light
switch in the OFF" position or position 1.
They will not go off until the ignition
switch is turned off.
Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
to full intensity for driving at night.
SB14019
High−low beamsFor high beams, turn
the headlights on and push the lever away
from you (position 1). Pull the lever to-
ward you (position 2) for low beams.
The headlight high beam indicator light
(blue light) on the instrument panel will
tell you that the high beams are on.
Flashing the high beam headlights
(position 3)Pull the lever all  the way
back. The high beam headlights  turn off
when you release the lever.
You can flash the high beam headlights
with the knob turned to OFF". 
     
        
        Page 105 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
982001 MR2 (OM17482U)
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, move the air intake
selector to recirculate for a few min-
utes.
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 
     
        
        Page 106 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
992001 MR2 (OM17482U)
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  WA R M
(red zone) to heat;
COLD  (blue zone) to
cool
Air intakeFRESH  (outside air)
Air flowWINDSHIELD
Turning the air flow control knob to wind-
shield position turns on the defroster−
linked air conditioning. At this time, the
A/C" button indicator comes on regard-
less of whether or not the A/C" button is
pressed in. This is to clean up the front
view more quickly.
When the A/C" button is not pressed in,
turning the air  flow control  knob to a posi-
tion other  than windshield or floor/wind-
shield turns off the air conditioning.
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 control knob to wind-
shield position turns on the defroster−
linked air conditioning. At this time, the
A/C" button indicator comes on regard-
less of whether or not the A/C" button is
pressed in. This is to clean up the front
view more quickly.
When the A/C" button is not pressed in,
turning the air  flow control  knob to a posi-
tion other  than windshield or floor/wind-
shield turns off the air conditioning.
To heat the vehicle interior while de-
frosting the windshield, choose floor/
windshield air flow.
Side vents
SB18005
Open
Close
If air flow control is not satisfactory, check
the side vents. The side vents may be
opened or closed as shown. 
     
        
        Page 210 of 234

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
2032001 MR2 (OM17482U)
NOTICE
Be sure the engine and all accesso-
ries are off before performing main-
tenance.
 When checking the battery, remove
the ground cable from the negative
terminal (−" mark) first and rein-
stall it last.
 Be careful not to cause a short cir-
cuit with tools.
 Take care no solution gets into the
battery when washing it.
Checking battery fluid
Z73001
Ty p e A
Ty p e  B Green Dark
Clear or
light yellow
Blue White Red
CHECKING BY HYDROMETER
Check the battery condition by the
hydrometer color. Hydrometer color
ConditionTy p e  ATy p e  B
GreenBlueGood
DarkWhite
Charging 
necessary. Have
battery checked
by your Toyota
dealer.
Clear orlight
yellow
Red
Have battery
checked by  your
Toyota dealer.
Battery recharging precautions
During recharging, the battery is pro-
ducing hydrogen gas.
Therefore, before recharging:
1. If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect
the ground cable.
2. Be sure the power  switch on the re- charger is off when connecting the
charger cables to the battery and when
disconnecting them.
CAUTION
Always charge the battery in an un-
confined area. Do not charge the
battery in a garage or closed room
where there is not sufficient ventila-
tion.
Only do a slow charge (5 A or
less). Charging at a quicker rate is
dangerous. The battery may explode
causing personal injuries.
NOTICE
Never recharge the battery while the
engine is running. Also, be sure all
accessories are turned off.