Page 4 of 274

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
iv2001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Spark ignition system ofyour Toyota
The spark ignition system in your Toyota meets all re-
quirements of the Canadian Interference±Causing Equip-
ment Standard.
Installation of a mobiletwo±way radio system
As the installation of a mobile two±way radio system in
your vehicle could affect electronic systems such as
multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel
injection system, cruise control system, anti±lock brake
system, traction control system, SRS airbag system and
seat belt pretensioner system, be sure to check with
your Toyota dealer for precautionary measures or special
instructions regarding installation.
Scrapping of your Toyota
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in
your Toyota contain explosive chemicals. If the vehicle
is scrapped with the airbags and pretensioners left as
they are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be
sure to have the systems of the SRS airbag and seat
belt pretensioner removed and disposed of by the quali-
fied service shop or by your Toyota dealer before you
dispose of your vehicle.
Page 7 of 274
'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
32001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
1. Power rear view mirror control switch
2. Headlight and turn signal switch
3. Wiper and washer switches
4. Emergency flasher switch
5. Clock and front passenger 's seat beltreminder light
6. Car audio
7. Rear window and outside rear view mirror defoggers switch
8. Air conditioning controls
9. Auxiliary box
10. Front ashtray 11. Quarter window control switch
12. Convertible top control switch
13. Power outlet (convertible)
14. Power outlet (coupe)
15. Cigarette lighter
16. Ignition switch
17. Cruise control switch
18. Tilt steering lock release lever
19. Instrument panel light control knob
Page 9 of 274
'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
52001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel
Brake system warning light*1
Driver 's seat belt reminder light*1
Discharge warning light*1
Malfunction indicator lamp*1
Low oil pressure warning light*1
or
Anti±lock brake system warning light*1
Open door warning light*1
Rear light failure warning light*1
SRS warning light*1
Low windshield washer fluid level warning
light*1
Traction control system off indicator/warning
light*1
Front passenger 's seat belt reminder light*1
Overdrive±off indicator light
Cruise control indicator light
*2
Headlight high beam indicator light Turn signal indicator lights
or
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'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
62001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Automatic transmission indicator lights
*1: For details, see ªService reminder indicators and warning
buzzersº in Section 1±5.
*2: If this light flashes, see ªCruise controlº in Section 1±6. Slip indicator light
Page 103 of 274
'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
992001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Ignition switch,Transmission and Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock100
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission 101
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
Manual transmission 105
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . .
Parking brake 106
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 107
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1± 6
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'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
1022001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
(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 ªO/D OFFº indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The ªO/D OFFº 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 controlÐWhen 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 ªCruise controlº in this section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in ªHow to start the engineº in Section 3. The
transmission must be in ªPº or ªNº.
2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to ªDº.
When the lever is in the ªDº 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 overdrive
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 ªO/D
OFFº indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to third
gear.
Shift into the ª2º position. The trans-
mission will downshift to second gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
stronger engine braking will be en-
abled.
5S±FE engine 112 km/h (69 mph) . . . . .
1MZ±FE engine 122 km/h (75 mph) . . . .
Shift into the ªLº position. The trans-
mission will downshift to first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.
5S±FE engine 50 km/h (31 mph). . . . . .
1MZ±FE engine 54 km/h (33 mph) . . . . .
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'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
1032001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Vehicles with cruise controlÐWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing off the overdrive switch, engine
braking is not enabled because the cruise
control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see ªCruise controlº in this section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
(e) Using ª2º and ªLº positions
The ª2º and ªLº positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in ª2º or ªLº, you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in ªDº.
With the selector lever in ª2º, the vehicle
will start in first gear and automatically
shift to second gear.
With the selector lever in ªLº, the trans-
mission is engaged in first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to over±rev the en-gine. Watch the tachometer to keepengine rpm from going into the redzone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position isgiven below for your reference:
ª2º 125 km/h (77 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
ªLº 69 km/h (42 mph). . . . . . . . . . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time in theª2º or ªLº position. This may causesevere automatic transmission dam-
age from overheating. To preventsuch damage, ªDº position shouldbe used in hill climbing or hard
towing.
(f) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the selector lever to the
ªRº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(g) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever up fully to securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down, shift the selector lever to the ªPº posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into ªPº position under any cir-
cumstances while the vehicle is mov-
ing. Serious mechanical damage and
loss of vehicle control may result.
(h) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up
and down between third gear and over-
drive when climbing a gentle slope, the
overdrive should be turned off. Be sure
to turn the switch on immediately after-
ward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use overdrive.
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'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
1072001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Cruise control
The cruise control allows you to cruise
the vehicle at a desired speed over 40
km/h (25 mph) even with your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained up
or down grades within the limits of engine
performance, although a slight speed
change may occur when driving up or
down the grades. On steeper hills, a
greater speed change will occur so it is
better to drive without the cruise control.
CAUTION
To help maintain maximum control
of your vehicle, do not use the
cruise control when driving in
heavy or varying traffic, or on slip-
pery (rainy, icy or snow±covered) or
winding roads.
Avoid vehicle speed increases when
driving downhill. If the vehicle
speed is too fast in relation to the
cruise control set speed, cancel the
cruise control then downshift the
transmission to use engine braking
to slow down.
TURNING ON THE SYSTEM
To operate the cruise control, press the
ªCRUISE ON±OFFº button. This turns the
system on. The indicator light in the
instrument panel shows that you can now
set the vehicle at a desired cruising
speed. Another press will turn the system
completely off.
CAUTION
To avoid accidental cruise control en-
gagement, keep the ªCRUISE
ON ±OFFº switch off when not using
the cruise control.
SETTING AT A DESIRED SPEED
On vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission must be in ªDº before
you set the cruise control speed.
Bring your vehicle to the desired speed,
push the lever down in the ªSET/COASTº
direction and release it. This sets the ve-
hicle at that speed. If the speed is not
satisfactory, tap the lever up for a faster
speed, or tap it down for a slower speed.
Each tap changes the set speed by 1.6
km/h (1.0 mph). You can now take your
foot off the accelerator pedal.