2001 TOYOTA SOLARA automatic transmission

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
22001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Instrument panel overview
1. Side defroster outlets
2. Side vents
3. Instrument cluster
4. Garage door opener (convertible)
5. Convertible top latch handles
6. Center vents
7. Personal lights (convertible)
8. Electric moon roof switch andpersonal light (coupe)
9. Garage door opener, garage door opener box or aux iliary box (coupe)
10. Glove box 11. Power door lock switches
12. Power window switches
13. Traction control system off switch
14. Cup holders
15. Cup holder or rear ashtray
16. Parking brake lever
17. Automatic transmission selector lever or manual transmission gear shift lever
18. Auxiliary box
19. Hood lock release lever
20. Window lock switch

'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

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
962001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
(c) Front Passenger 's Seat Belt Re-minder Light
This light reminds you to buckle up the
front passenger 's seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to ªONº or
ªSTARTº, the reminder light comes on if
a passenger sits in the front passenger
seat and does not fasten the seat belt.
Unless the front passenger fastens the
belt, the light stays on. This light reminds
you to buckle up, the front passenger 's
seat belt.
If luggage load is placed on the front
passenger seat, depending on its weight
and how it is placed on the seat, built±in
sensors in the seat cushion may detect
the pressure, causing the reminder light to
come on.
(d) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being
discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, radio, etc., and drive directly to
the nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine drive belt is broken or loose.
(e) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See ªFuel gaugeº in this section for
instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened se- curely. (See ªFuel tank capº in Section
1±2 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your engine or automatic transmission elec-
trical system.
If it comes on while you are driving in
case c, have your vehicle checked/re-
paired by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
(f) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel level
in the tank becomes nearly empty. Fill up
the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual. (g) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light onÐeven for one block.It may ruin the engine.

'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
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Automatic transmission 101
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.
Manual transmission 105
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. . . .
Parking brake 106
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. . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 107
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SECTION 1± 6

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
1002001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
ªSTARTºÐStarter motor on. The key
will return to the ªONº position when
released.
For starting tips, see Section 3.
ªONºÐEngine on and all accessories
on.
This is the normal driving position.
ªACCºÐAccessories such as the radio
operate, but the engine is off.
If you leave the key in the ªACCº or
ªLOCKº position and open the driver's
door, a buzzer will remind you to remove
the key.ªLOCKºÐEngine is off and the steering
wheel is locked. The key can be re-
moved only at this position.
You must push in the key to turn the key
from ªACCº to the ªLOCKº position. On
vehicles with an automatic transmission,
the selector lever must be put in the ªPº
position before pushing the key.
Vehicles with engine immobiliser systemÐ
Once you remove the key, the engine im-
mobiliser system is automatically set. (See
ªEngine immobiliser systemº in Section
1±2.)
When starting the engine, the key may
seem stuck at the ªLOCKº position. To
free it, first be sure the key is pushed all
the way in, and then rock the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key gently.
CAUTION
For manual transmission:
Never remove the key when the ve-
hicle is moving, as this will lock the
steering wheel and result in loss of
steering control.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ªONº
position if the engine is not running.The battery will discharge and theignition could be damaged.
Ignition switch with steering
lock

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
1012001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Automatic transmission
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of ªPº position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ªONº position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and
key removal
R: Reverse
N: Neutral
D: Normal driving (with overdrive on)
2: Stronger engine braking
L: Maximum engine braking
Lock release button
To prevent misshifting
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock release
button in. (The ignition switch must
be in ªONº position.) Shift while holding the
lock release button in.
Shift normally. Selector lever
Overdrive
switch

'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) . . . . .

'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.