2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA check oil

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Idling for a long period with the air
conditioning on in stop±and±go traffic.

Towing a trailer.
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 ªIf your ve-
hicle overheatsº on page 386 in
Section 4.
Normal
driving
Idling
The oil pressure gauge indicates engine
oil pressure when the ignition switch is
on. Check it while driving to make sure
that the needle is in the proper range.
If the oil pressure should stay below the
normal range, pull off the road to a safe
place and stop the engine immediately.
Call a Toyota dealer or qualified repair
shop for assistance.
Oil pressure may not build up when the
oil level is too low. The oil pressure
gauge is not designed to indicate oil level,
and the oil level must be checked using
the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the oil
pressure below the normal range until
the cause is fixedÐit may ruin the
engine.
Oil pressure gauge

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(l) Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the tire pressure of
one or more of your tires (including the
spare tire) is low. The light comes on
when the ignition key is turned to the
ªONº position. It goes off after a few sec-
onds. This indicates that the tire pressure
warning system is functioning properly.
If the warning light comes on, stop your
vehicle in a safe place as soon as pos-
sible and check that the inflation pressure
of all tires (including the spare tire) is as
specified on the tire and loading informa-
tion label. (See ªChecking tire inflation
pressureº on page 429 in Section 7±2.)
The light should go off a few minutes after
the tire pressure is adjusted.
If the warning light blinks, the tire pres-
sure warning system may be malfunction-
ing. Contact your Toyota dealer.
For details, see ªTire pressure warning
systemº on page 198 in Section 1±7.
(m) Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level
Warning Light
This light warns that the windshield wash-
er fluid level is too low. Add washer fluid
at your earliest opportunity. (For instruc-
tions, see ªAdding washer fluidº on page
444 in Section 7±3.)(n) Engine Oil Replacement Reminder
Light (for vehicles sold in U.S.A.)
This light acts as a reminder to replace
the engine oil.
This light will come on when the ignition
key is turned to ªONº and will go off after
about a few seconds.
When you drive for about 7200 km (4500
miles) after the engine oil replacement,
this light illuminates for about 3 seconds
and then flashes for about 12 seconds
with the ignition key turned to the ªONº
position. If you continue driving without
replacing the engine oil, and if the dis-
tance driven exceeds 8000 km (5000
miles), the light will come on after the
ignition key is turned to ªONº position.
The light will remain on thereafter.
If the light is flashing, we recommend that
you replace the engine oil at an early
opportunity depending on the driving and
road conditions. If the light comes on,
replace it as soon as possible.The system must be reset after the en-
gine oil replacement. Reset the system by
the following procedure:
1. Turn the ignition key to the ªACCº or
ªLOCKº position with the odometer
reading shown. (For details, see
ªOdometer and two trip metersº on
page 160 in this Section.)
2. Turn the ignition key to the ªONº posi-
tion while holding down the trip meter
reset knob.
Hold down the knob for at least 5 sec-
onds. The odometer indicates ª000000º
and the light goes off.
If the system fails to reset, the light will
continue flashing.
(o) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer acts as a reminder to remove
the key when you open the driver's door
with the ignition key in the ªACCº or
ªLOCKº position.

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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 ªONº, but do
not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex-
cept the open door warning light should
come on. The ªABSº and ªVSC TRACº
warning lights, low tire pressure warn-
ing light and engine oil replacement
reminder light go off after a few sec-
onds. The SRS warning light goes off
after about 6 seconds. (The ªTRAC
OFFº (two±wheel drive models) or
ªVSC OFFº (four±wheel drive models),
ªRSCA OFFº indicator lights, height
control indicator light, manual control
mode indicator light and slip indicator
light also come on and go off after a
few seconds.)If any service reminder indicator or warn-
ing buzzer does not function as described
above, have it checked by your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible.

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Replace the battery by using the following
procedures:
1. Pull the case out while pushing the
lock release button to the side.2. Remove the discharged battery.
3. Put in a new battery with the positive
(+) side up.
Put in the case securely.
NOTICE

Make sure that the positive side of
the controller battery is facing cor-
rectly.

Do not replace the battery with wet
hands. Water may cause rust.

Do not touch or move any compo-
nents inside of the controller, or it
may interfere with proper operation.

Be careful not to bend the electrode
of the controller battery insertion
and that dust or oil does not ad-
here to the transmitter case.

Close the battery case securely.
After replacing the battery, check that the
controller operates properly. If the control-
ler still does not operate properly, contact
your Toyota dealer.

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Be careful not to bend the electrode
of the controller battery insertion
and that dust or oil does not ad-
here to the transmitter case.

Close the battery case securely.
After replacing the battery, check that the
controller operates properly. If the control-
ler still does not operate properly, contact
your Toyota dealer.
The DVD player is set in the console
box.
The DVD player can play audio CDs,
DVD video discs, CD texts, dts±CDs
and video CDs.
For appropriate discs for this player, see
ªAudio/video system operating hintsº on
page 283.
To access the DVD player, pull up the
console box lid while pushing the lock
release button.
The DVD player works when the ignition
key is in the ªACCº or ªONº position.
To turn on the DVD player, a disc must
be loaded in the player.
To turn off the player, eject the disc.
Error messages
If the player malfunctions, your audio sys-
tem will display one of the three following
error messages.
If ªDISC CHECKº appears on the
screen: It indicates that the disc is dirty,
damaged or it was inserted upside down.
Clean the disc or insert it correctly.
If ªREGION CODE ERRORº appears on
the screen: It indicates that the DVD re-
gion code is not set properly.
ÐDVD player

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CAUTION

Avoid inhaling the engine exhaust.
It contains carbon monoxide, which
is a colorless and odorless gas. It
can cause unconsciousness or even
death.

Make sure the exhaust system has
no holes or loose connections. The
system should be checked from
time to time. If you hit something,
or notice a change in the sound of
the exhaust, have the system
checked immediately.

Do not run the engine in a garage
or enclosed area except for the
time needed to drive the vehicle in
or out. The exhaust gases cannot
escape, making this a particularly
dangerous situation.

Do not remain for a long time in a
parked vehicle with the engine run-
ning. If it is unavoidable, however,
do so only in an unconfined area
and adjust the heating or cooling
system to force outside air into the
vehicle.

Keep the back door and back win-
dow closed while driving. An open
or unsealed back door and back
window, may cause exhaust gases
to be drawn into the vehicle.

To allow proper operation of your
vehicle's ventilation system, keep
the inlet grilles in front of the wind-
shield clear of snow, leaves, or oth-
er obstructions.

If you smell exhaust fumes in the
vehicle, drive with the windows
open and the back door and back
window closed. Have the cause im-
mediately located and corrected.
FUNCTIONS OF ENGINE OIL
Engine oil has the primary functions of
lubricating and cooling the inside of the
engine, and plays a major role in main-
taining the engine in proper working order.
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
It is normal that an engine should con-
sume some engine oil during normal
engine operation. The causes of oil
consumption in a normal engine are as
follows.

Oil is used to lubricate pistons, piston
rings and cylinders. A thin film of oil
is left on the cylinder wall when a pis-
ton moves downwards in the cylinder.
High negative pressure generated when
the vehicle is decelerating sucks some
of this oil into the combustion chamber.
This oil as well as some part of the oil
film left on the cylinder wall is burned
by the high temperature combustion
gases during the combustion process.
Engine exhaust cautionsFacts about engine oil
consumption

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Oil is also used to lubricate the stems
of the intake valves. Some of this oil
is sucked into the combustion chamber
together with the intake air and is
burned along with the fuel. High tem-
perature exhaust gases also burn the
oil used to lubricate the exhaust valve
stems.
The amount of engine oil consumed de-
pends on the viscosity of the oil, the
quality of the oil and the conditions the
vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed by high±speed driv-
ing and frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
A new engine consumes more oil, since
its pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls
have not become conditioned.
Oil consumption: Max. 1.0 L per 1000
km (1.1 qt./600 miles, 0.9 lmp. qt./600
miles)When judging the amount of oil con-
sumption, note that the oil may become
diluted and make it difficult to judge
the true level accurately.
As an example, if a vehicle is used for
repeated short trips, and consumes a nor-
mal amount of oil, the dipstick may not
show any drop in the oil level at all, even
after 1000 km (600 miles) or more. This
is because the oil is gradually becoming
diluted with fuel or moisture, making it
appear that the oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out
when the vehicle is then driven at high
speeds, as on an expressway, making it
appear that oil is excessively consumed
after driving at high speeds.
IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEVEL
CHECK
One of the most important points in prop-
er vehicle maintenance is to keep the en-
gine oil at the optimum level so that oil
function will not be impaired. Therefore, it
is essential that the oil level be checked
regularly. Toyota recommends that the oil
level be checked every time you refuel
the vehicle.NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regularly
could lead to serious engine trouble
due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level check,
see ªChecking the engine oil levelº on
page 424 in Section 7±2.

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After driving through tall grass,
mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check
that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or
trapped on the underbody. Clear off
any such matter from the under-
body. If the vehicle is used with
these materials trapped or adhering
to the underbody, a breakdown or
fire could occur.

In a rollover crash, an unbelted per-
son is significantly more likely to
die than a person wearing a seat
belt. Therefore, the driver and all
passengers should fasten their seat
belts whenever the vehicle is mov-
ing.

When driving off±road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle's suspension and
chassis.
NOTICE

If driving through water, such as
when crossing shallow streams,
first check the depth of the water
and the bottom of the river bed for
firmness. Drive slowly and avoid
deep water.

Take all necessary safety measures
to ensure that water damage to the
engine or other components does
not occur.
Water entering the engine air intake
will cause severe engine damage.
Water can wash the grease from
wheel bearings, causing rusting and
premature failure, and may also en-
ter the differentials, transmission
and transfer case, reducing the gear
oil's lubricating qualities.

Sand and mud that has accumulated
in brake drums and around brake
discs may affect braking efficiency
and may damage brake system com-
ponents.

Always perform a maintenance in-
spection after each day of off±road
driving that has taken you through
rough terrain, sand, mud, or water.
For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, refer to the ªScheduled Main-
tenance Guideº or ªOwner's Manual
Supplementº.