2001 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER engine overheat

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
2001 MR2 (OM17482U)
Publication No. OM17482U
Part No. 01999-17482
Printed in Japan 01−0008−00
C
MR2(U)
Quick index
If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 70 . . . . . . . . . . .
 If your vehicle will not start 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . .
 If your engine stalls while driving 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 If your vehicle overheats 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
 If you have a flat tire 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . .
 If your vehicle needs to be towed 145 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Tips for driving during break−in period 110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 How to start the engine 124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
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 General maintenance 177 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
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 Complete index 227 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
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Gas station information
Fuel type:
1ZZ−FE engine: UNLEADED gasoline, Octane Rating 87
(Research Octane Number 91) or higher
See page 110 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity:
48 L (12.7 gal., 10.6 lmp. gal.)
Engine oil:
API grade SJ, Energy−Conserving" or ILSAC multigrade engine oil is
recommended.
See page 190 for detailed information.
Tire information: See pages 194 through 199.
Tire pressure: See page 219.
U2

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
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Fuel gauge
SB15009
Low fuel level
warning light
The gauge works when the ignition
switch is on and indicates the approxi-
mate quantity of fuel remaining in the
tank.
Nearly fullNeedle at F"
Nearly emptyNeedle at E"
It is a good idea to keep the tank over
1/4 full.
The needle moves when braking, acceler-
ating or making turns. This is cause by
the movement of the fuel in the tank.
If the fuel level approaches E" or the low
fuel level warning light comes on, fill the
fuel tank as soon as possible.On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the fuel gauge
needle may fluctuate or the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual.
If the fuel tank is completely empty, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Fill
the fuel tank immediately.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
SB15007
The gauge indicates the engine coolant
temperature when the ignition switch is
on. The engine operating temperature
will vary with changes in weather and
engine load.
If the needle moves to the H" position,
your engine is too hot. If your vehicle
overheats, stop your vehicle and allow the
engine to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe
operating conditions, such as:
Driving up a long hill on a hot day.
Reducing speed or stopping after high
speed driving.
Idling for a long period with the air
conditioning on in stop−and−go traffic.
Engine coolant temperature
gauge

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
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If the engine coolant temperature gauge
needle is not displayed, there may be a
problem in the system. In this case, con-
tact your Toyota dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to con-
trol the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within
the specified operating range.
 Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See If your
vehicle overheats" on page 135 in
Section 4.
Tachometer
SB15008
The tachometer indicates engine speed
in thousands of rpm (revolutions per
minute). Use it while driving to select
correct shift points and to prevent en-
gine lugging and over−revving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get
into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Odometer and two trip meters
SB15005
This meter displays the odometer and
two trip meters.
1. OdometerShows the total distance the vehicle has been driven.
2. Two trip metersShow two different distances independently driven since
the last time each trip meter was set
to zero.
You can use one trip meter to calculate
the fuel economy and the other to
measure the distance on each trip. All
trip meter data is cancelled if the elec-
trical power source is disconnected.

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
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Three−way catalytic converter
SB21013
The three−way catalytic converter is an
emission control device installed in the
exhaust system.
Its purpose is to reduce pollutants in the
exhaust gas.
CAUTION
Keep people and combustible mate-
rials away from the exhaust pipe
while the engine is running. The
exhaust gas is very hot.
Do not drive, idle or park your ve-
hicle over anything that might burn
easily such as grass, leaves, paper
or rags.
NOTICE
A large amount of unburned gases
flowing into the three−way catalytic
converter may cause it to overheat
and create a fire hazard. To prevent
this and other damage, observe the
following precautions:
Use only unleaded gasoline.
 Do not drive with an extremely low
fuel level; running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, creat-
ing an excessive load on the three−
way catalytic converter.
 Do not allow the engine to run at
idle speed for more than 20 min-
utes.
 Avoid racing the engine.
 Do not push−start or pull−start your
vehicle.
 Do not turn off the ignition while
the vehicle is moving.
 Keep your engine in good running
order. Malfunctions in the engine
electrical system, electronic ignition
system/distributor ignition system
or fuel system could cause an ex-
tremely high three−way catalytic
converter temperature.
If the engine becomes difficult to
start or stalls frequently, take your
vehicle in for a check−up as soon
as possible. Remember, your Toyota
dealer knows your vehicle and its
three−way catalytic converter sys-
tem best.
 To ensure that the three−way
catalytic converter and the entire
emission control system operate
properly, your vehicle must receive
the periodic inspections required by
the Toyota Maintenance Schedule.
For scheduled maintenance
information, refer to the Scheduled
Maintenance Guide" or Owner’s
Manual Supplement".

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NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 sec-
onds 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 first or reverse. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Tips for driving in various
conditions

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
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Avoid continuous speeding up and
slowing down. Stop−and−go driving
wastes fuel.
Avoid unnecessary stopping and
braking. Maintain a steady pace. Try
to time the traffic signals so you only
need to stop as little as possible or
take advantage of through streets to
avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper dis-
tance from other vehicles to avoid sud-
den braking. This will also reduce wear
on your brakes.
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams
whenever possible.
Do not rest your foot on the clutch
or brake pedal. This causes premature
wear, overheating and poor fuel econo-
my.
Maintain a moderate speed on high-
ways. The faster you drive, the greater
the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel con-
sumption.
Keep the front wheels in proper
alignment. Avoid hitting the curb and
slow down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire
wear but also puts an extra load on
the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.
Keep the bottom of your vehicle free
from mud, etc. This not only lessens
weight but also helps prevent corro-
sion.
Keep your vehicle tuned−up and in
top shape. A dirty air cleaner,
improper valve clearance, dirty plugs,
dirty oil and grease, brakes not
adjusted, etc. all lower engine
performance and contribute to poor fuel
economy. For longer life of all parts
and lower operating costs, keep all
maintenance work on schedule, and if
you often drive under severe
conditions, see that your vehicle
receives more frequent maintenance.
(For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the
Scheduled Maintenance Guide" or
Owner ’s Manual Supplement").
CAUTION
Never turn off the engine to coast
down hills. Your power steering and
brake booster will not function with-
out the engine running. Also, the
emission control system operates
properly only when the engine is run-
ning.

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1312001 MR2 (OM17482U)
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
If your vehicle will not start132
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your engine stalls while driving 135
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle overheats 135
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If you have a flat tire 136
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . .
If your vehicle needs to be towed 145
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you lose your keys 148
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SECTION 4

01MY MR2(U) L/O 0008
1322001 MR2 (OM17482U)
Before making these checks, make sure
you have followed the correct starting
procedure given in How to start the
engine" on page 124 in Section 3 and that
you have sufficient fuel. Also check
whether the other keys will start the
engine. If they work, your key may be
broken. Have the key checked at your
Toyota dealer. If none of your keys work,
the engine immobiliser system is possibly
broken. Call your Toyota dealer. (See
Keys" on page 8 in Section 1−2.)
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" on page
133 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. The engine may be flooded because of repeated cranking. See (b) Starting a
flooded engine" on page 132 for further
instructions.
2. If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or repair. Call a Toyota
dealer or qualified repair shop.
(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 in
these positions for 15 seconds and re-
lease them. Then try starting the engine
with your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the engine does not start after 15 sec-
onds 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 sec-
onds at a time. This may overheat the
starter and wiring systems.
If your vehicle will not start
(a) Simple checks