Page 9 of 306
’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
32001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
1. Headlight and turn signal switch
2. Wiper and washer switches
3. Emergency flasher switch
4. Passenger airbag manual on−off switch
5. Air conditioning controls
6. Car audio
7. Ashtray
8. Cigarette lighter
9. Power outlets
10. Clock
11. Parking brake lever
12. Ignition switch
13. Cruise control switch
14. Rear differential lock switch
15. Instrument panel light control knob
16. Clutch start cancel switch (manual transmission) or driving pattern selector
button (automatic transmission)
Page 112 of 306

’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
1062001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
Headlights and turn signals
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.
Position 1Parking, tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights
Position 2Headlights and all of the
aboveThe lights automatically turn off when the
driver ’s door is opened with the ignition
turned off. To turn the lights on again, turn
the key to the ON" position or turn the
headlight switch off, then on again. The
lights also automatically turn off if they
are left on for 30 minutes with the ignition
switch off. If you are going to park for
over one week, make sure the headlight
switch is off.
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 (all mod-
els in Canada and some models in the
U.S.A.)
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. They will not
go off until the ignition switch is turned
off.To turn on the other exterior lights and
instrument panel lights, twist the knob to
the position 1.
Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
to full intensity for driving at night.
Page 122 of 306

’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
11 62001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
Odometer and two trip meters
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. 3. Trip meter reset knobResets the two
trip meters to zero, and also change
the meter display.
To change the meter display, quickly
push and release the knob. The meter
display changes in the order from the
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter
B, then back to the odometer each
time you push.
To reset the trip meter A to zero, dis-
play the meter A reading, then push
and hold the knob until the meter is
set to zero. The same process can be
applied for resetting the trip meter B.
(d) Stop and check.
(a)
If parking brake is
off, stop
immediately and
contact Toyota
dealer.
(b) Fasten seat belt.
(c) Stop and check.
(e) Take vehicle to
Toyota dealer.
(indicator and buzzer)
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
Do this.
Service reminder indicators
an d warn in g bu zzers
Page 123 of 306
’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
11 72001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
(h)Take vehicle to
To y o t a
d ealer
immediately.
(g) Take vehicle to
Toyota dealer.
(i) Shift front drive control lever out of
N".
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
Do this.
or
(f) Fill up tank.
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
(l) Remove key. Key reminder
buzzer Do this.
(j) Stop and check.
(k) Add washer fluid.(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light comes on in the following cases
when the ignition key is in the ON" posi-
tion.
When the parking brake is applied...
When the brake fluid level is low...
CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level is
low.
Have your vehicle checked at your
Toyota dealer in the following case:
The light does not come on even if the
parking brake is applied when the igni-
tion key is in the ON" position.
Page 124 of 306

’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
11 82001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
CAUTION
If the light does not turn off even
after the parking brake is released
while the engine is running, immedi-
ately stop your vehicle at a safe
place and contact your Toyota dealer.
In this case, the brakes may not work
properly and your stopping distance
will become longer. Depress the brake
pedal firmly and bring the vehicle to
an immediate stop.
(b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzz-er
This light and buzzer remind you to
buckle up the driver’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to ON" or
START", the reminder light flashes and
buzzer comes on if the driver’s seat belt
is not fastened. Unless the driver fastens
the belt, the light stays on and the buzzer
sounds for about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 oneven for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(e) Malfunction indicator lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See Fuel gauge" in this section for
instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened se- curely. (See Fuel tank cap" 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.
Page 126 of 306

’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
1202001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
(j) Automatic Transmission Fluid Tem-perature Warning Light
This light warns that the automatic trans-
mission fluid temperature is too high.
If this light comes on while you are driv-
ing, slow down and pull off the road. Stop
the vehicle at a safe place and put the
selector lever in P". With the engine id-
ling, wait until the light goes off. If the
light goes off, you may start the vehicle
again. If the light does not go off, call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
(k) Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning Light (on some models)
The light warns that the windshield washer
fluid level is too low. Add washer fluid at
your earliest opportunity. (For instructions,
see Adding washer fluid" in Section 7−3.)
(l) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove the
key when you open the driver ’s door with
the ignition key in the ACC" or LOCK"
position. 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. Turn the ignition key to ACC". The SRS warning light should come on.
It goes off after about 6 seconds.
3. Turn the ignition key to ON", but do not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex-
cept the SRS warning light should
come on. The ABS" warning light goes
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.
Page 127 of 306

’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
1212001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Ignition switch, Transmission and Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock122
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission 123
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
Manual transmission 128
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . .
Four−wheel drive system 130
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
Rear differential lock system 134
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake 136
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 137
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Clutch start cancel switch 139
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
SECTION 1− 6
Page 129 of 306
’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
1232001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
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 P" position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ON" position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Selector lever
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
Overdrive
switch Selector lever
Lock release button
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock
release button in. (The ignition
switch must be in ON" position.) Shift while holding the
lock release button in.
Shift normally.
To prevent misshifting