Page 8 of 306
’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
22001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
Instrument panel overview
1. Instrument cluster
2. Center vents
3. Personal lights or interior light
4. Side vents
5. Rear view mirror remote control levers
6. Glove box
7. Power door lock switches
8. Power window switches
9. Manual transmission gear shift lever orautomatic transmission selector lever
10. Rear console box
11. Cup holder
12. Power rear view mirror control switch
13. Front drive control lever
14. Tilt steering lock release lever
15. Hood lock release lever
16. Window lock switch
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’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
92001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Keys and Doors
Keys10
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Side doors 10
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Power windows 12
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Quarter windows 14
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Rear window 14
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Tailgate 15
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Hood 15
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Fuel tank cap 16
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Detachable moon roof 18
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Detachable sun shade 21
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SECTION 1− 2
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’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
122001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
REAR DOOR CHILD−PROTECTORS
Move the lock lever to the LOCK"
position as shown on the label.
This feature allows you to lock a rear
door so it can be opened from the outside
only, not from inside. We recommend us-
ing this feature whenever small children
are in the vehicle.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the doors
are closed and locked, especially
when small children are in the ve-
hicle. Along with the proper use of
seat belts, locking the doors helps
prevent the driver and passengers
from being thrown out from the ve-
hicle during an accident. It also helps
prevent the doors from being opened
unintentionally.
Power windows
The windows can be operated with the
switch on each door.
The power windows work when the ignition
switch is in the ON" position.
Key off operation: If both front doors are
closed, they work for 43 seconds even
after the ignition switch is turned off. They
stop working when either front door is
opened.
OPERATING THE DRIVER’S WINDOW
Use the switch on the driver’s door.
Normal operation: The window moves as
long as you hold the switch.
To open: Lightly push down the switch.
To close: Pull up the switch.
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’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
132001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
Automatic operation (to open only):
Push the switch completely down and then
release it. The window will fully open. To
stop the window partway, lightly pull the
switch up and then release it.
Window lock
switch
OPERATING THE PASSENGERS’
WINDOWS
Use the switch on each passenger’s
door or the switches on the driver ’s
door that control each passenger ’s win-
dow.
The window moves as long as you hold
the switch.
To open: Push down the switch.
To close: Pull up the switch.
If you push in the WINDOW LOCK"
switch on the driver’s door, the passen-
gers’ windows cannot be operated.
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’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
142001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
Always make sure the head, hands
and other parts of the body of all
occupants are kept completely in-
side the vehicle before you close
the power windows. If someone’s
neck, head or hands gets caught in
a closing window, it could result in
a serious injury. When anyone
closes the power windows, be sure
that they operate the windows safe-
ly.
When small children are in the ve-
hicle, never let them use the power
window switches without supervi-
sion. Use the WINDOW LOCK"
switch to prevent them from making
unexpected use of the switches.
Never leave small children alone in
the vehicle, especially with the igni-
tion key still inserted. They could
use the power window switches and
get trapped in a window. Unat-
tended children can become in-
volved in serious accidents.
To open the quarter window, pull the
latch handle toward you and swing it
fully out.
When closing the window, make sure it is
completely closed.
Rear window
To unlock the rear window, pull the left
end of the latch handle toward you and
disengage the right end from the catch.
When closing the window, make sure it is
completely closed.
Quarter windows
(Xtra−cab models)
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’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
1712001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
Air flow selector settingsOperating tips
To cool off your Toyota after it has
been parked in the hot sun, drive with
the windows open for a few minutes.
This vents the hot air, allowing the air
conditioning to cool the interior more
quickly.
Make sure the air intake grilles in front
of the windshield are not blocked (by
leaves or snow, for example).
On humid days, do not blow cold air
on the windshield. The windshield could
fog up because of the difference in air
temperature on the inside and outside
of the windshield.
Keep the area under the front seats
clear to allow air to circulate through-
out the vehicle.
On cold days, move the fan speed to
HI" for a minute to help clear the in-
take ducts of snow or moisture. This
can reduce the amount of fogging on
the windows.
When driving on dusty roads, close all
windows. If dust thrown up by the ve-
hicle is still drawn into the vehicle after
closing the windows, it is recommended
that the air intake selector be set to
FRESH and the fan speed selector to
any setting except OFF".
Double cab models
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’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
1722001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
If following another vehicle on a dusty
road, or driving in windy and dusty
conditions, it is recommended that the
air intake selector be temporarily set to
RECIRCULATE, which will close off the
outside passage and prevent outside
air and dust from entering the vehicle
interior.Heating
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speed Any setting except OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s WA R M
(red zone)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowFLOOR
Air conditioningOFF
For quick heating, select recirculated
air for a few minutes. To keep the
windows from fogging, select fresh af-
ter the vehicle interior has been
warmed.
Press the A/C" button on for dehumidi-
fied heating.
Choose floor/windshield air flow to heat
the vehicle interior while defrosting or
defogging the windshield. Air conditioning
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speed Any setting except OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s COLD
(blue zone)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowPANEL
Air conditioningON
For quick cooling, move the air intake
selector to recirculate for a few min-
utes.
Ventilation
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speed Any setting except OFF"
Temperature To w a r d s COLD
(blue zone)
Air intakeFRESH (outside air)
Air flowPANEL
Air conditioningOFF
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’01 Tacoma U (L/O 0009)
1932001 TACOMA (OM35766U)
Engine exhaust cautions
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.
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. Have the cause immediately
located and corrected.
Toyota does not recommend occu-
pying the rear cargo area when it
is fitted with a slide−in camper,
camper shell or other type cover
while the engine is running. This
caution applies to both driving and
stopped or parked situations with
the engine running. Particular care
should be taken to prevent exhaust
gases from entering camper bodies,
trailers or other enclosures on or
around your vehicle. If exhaust
fumes are detected, open all win-
dows and thoroughly ventilate the
area.
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.
Facts about engine oil
consumption