
’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2162002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
CAUTION
Never turn off the engine to coast
down hills. Your power steering and
brake booster will not  function with-
out the engine running. Also, the
emission control system operates
properly only when the engine is run-
ning. 

’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2172002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
If your vehicle will not start218
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
If your engine stalls while driving 221
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
If your vehicle overheats 221
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
If you have a flat tire 222
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . 
If your vehicle needs to be towed 232
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
If you cannot shift automatic transmission selector lever 238
. . . . . . . . 
If you lose your keys 238
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . 
SECTION 4 

’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2182002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
Before making these checks, make sure
you have followed the correct starting pro-
cedure given in “How to start  the engine”
in Section 3 and that you have sufficient
fuel.
If the engine is not turning over or is
turning over too slowly—1. Check that the battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch on the interior light.
3. If the light is out, dim or goes out when the starter is cranked, the battery
is discharged. You may try jump start-
ing. See “(c)  Jump starting”  for further
instructions.
If the light is O.K., but the engine still will
not start, it needs adjustment or repair.
Call a Toyota dealer or qualified repair
shop.
NOTICE
Do not pull  or push start the ve-
hicle. It may damage the vehicle or
cause a collision when the engine
starts. Also the three way catalytic
converter may overheat and become a
fire hazard.
If the engine turns over at  its normal
speed but will not start— 1. The engine may be flooded because of repeated cranking. See “(b) Starting a
flooded engine” for further instructions.
2. If the engine still will not start, it needs adjustment or repair. Call a Toyota
dealer or qualified repair shop. If the engine will not start, your engine
may be flooded because of repeated
cranking.
If this happens, turn the key to “START”
with the accelerator pedal held down.
Keep the key and accelerator pedal in
these positions for 15 seconds and re-
lease them. Then try starting the engine
with your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the engine does not  start after 15 se-
conds of cranking, release the key, wait
a few minutes and try again.
If the engine still will not start, it needs
adjustment or repair. Call a Toyota dealer
or qualified repair shop for assistance.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 se-
conds at a time. This may overheat
the starter and wiring systems.
If your vehicle will not start—
(a) Simple checks
(b) Starting a flooded engine 

’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2192002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
To avoid serious personal injury and
damage to your vehicle which might re-
sult from battery explosion, acid burns,
electrical burns, or damaged electronic
components, these instructions must be
followed precisely.
If you are unsure about how to  follow this
procedure, we strongly recommend that
you seek the help of a competent me-
chanic or towing service.
CAUTION
Batteries contain sulfuric acid
which is poisonous and corrosive.
Wear protective safety glasses when
jump starting, and avoid spilling
acid on your skin, clothing, or ve-
hicle.
If you should accidentally get acid
on yourself or in your eyes, remove
any contaminated clothing and flush
the affected area with water imme-
diately. Then get immediate medical
attention. If possible, continue to
apply water with a sponge or cloth
while en route to the medical office.
The gas normally produced by a
battery will explode if a flame or
spark is brought near. Use only
standardized jumper cables and do
not smoke or light a match while
jump starting.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals
and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
NOTICE
The battery used for boosting must
be 12 V. Do not jump start unless you
are sure that  the booster battery is
correct.
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE1. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle, make sure the vehicles
are not touching. Turn off all unneces-
sary lights and accessories.
2. If required, remove all the vent plugs from the booster and discharged batter-
ies. Lay a cloth over the open vents
on the batteries. (This helps reduce the
explosion hazard, personal injuries and
burns.)
3. If the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery is not running, start it
and let it run for a few minutes. During
jump starting, run the engine at about
2000 rpm with the accelerator pedal
lightly depressed.
(c) Jump starting 

’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2202002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
Discharged batteryBooster 
battery
Positive terminal 
(“+” mark)
Jumper cable
Positive 
terminal 
(“+” mark)
4. Make the cable connections in the or-
der a, b, c, d.
a. Connect the clamp of the positive
(red) jumper cable to the positive (+)
terminal on the discharged battery.
b. Connect the clamp at the other end
of the positive (red) jumper cable to
the positive (+)  terminal on the booster
battery.
Jumper cable
Discharged battery Booster battery Negative 
terminal 
(“ ” mark)
c. Connect the clamp of  the negative
(black) jumper cable to the negative (–)
terminal on the booster battery.
d. Connect the clamp at the other end
of the negative (black) jumper cable to
a solid, stationary, unpainted, metallic
point of the vehicle with the discharged
battery.
The recommended connecting points
are shown in the following illustrations:Connecting point for 2RZ FE and 3RZ FE
engines
Connecting point for 5VZ FE engine 

’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2212002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
Do not connect the cable to or near
any part that moves when the engine
is cranked.
CAUTION
When making the connections, to
avoid serious injury, do not lean over
the battery or accidentally let the
jumper cables or clamps touch any-
thing except the correct battery termi-
nals or the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal way.After starting, run it at about 2000 rpm
for several minutes with the accelerator
pedal lightly depressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order: the negative cable
and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery  cover cloths—they may now contain sulfuric
acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharging is
not apparent (for example, lights left on),
you should have it checked. If your engine stalls while driving...
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line. Move cautiously off the
road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency  flashers.
3. Try  starting the engine again.
If the engine will not start, see “If your
vehicle will not start”.
CAUTION
If the engine is not  running,  the pow-
er assist for  the brakes and steering
will not work so steering and braking
will be much harder than usual.
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you ex-
perience a loss of power, or if you hear
a loud knocking or pinging noise, the
engine has probably overheated. You
should follow this procedure...
1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve- hicle and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the transmission in “P”
(automatic) or neutral (manual) and ap-
ply the parking brake. Turn off  the air
conditioning if it is being used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or reservoir, stop the engine.
Wait until the steam subsides before
opening the hood. If there is no coolant
boiling over or  steam, leave the engine
running.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury, keep
the hood closed until there is no
steam. Escaping steam or coolant is
a sign of very high pressure.
If your engine stalls while
driving If your vehicle overheats 

’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2222002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
3. Visually check to see if the enginedrive belt (fan belt) is broken or loose.
Look for obvious coolant leaks from the
radiator, hoses, and under  the vehicle.
However, note that water draining from
the air conditioning is normal if it has
been used.
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive belts.
4. If the engine drive belt is broken or thecoolant is leaking, stop the engine im-
mediately. Call a Toyota dealer for as-
sistance.
5. If the engine drive belt is O.K. and there are no obvious  leaks,  you may
help the engine cool down more quickly
by running it at about 1500 rpm for a
few minutes with the accelerator pedal
lightly depressed.
6. Check the coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add coolant to the reservoir while the
engine is running. Fill it about half full.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to remove the radiator
cap when the engine and radiator are
hot. Serious injury could result from
scalding hot fluid and steam blown
out under pressure.
7. After the engine coolant temperaturehas cooled to normal, again check the
coolant level in the reservoir. If neces-
sary, bring it up to half full again. Seri-
ous coolant loss indicates a leak in the
system. You s hould have it  checked as
soon as possible at your Toyota dealer. 1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping
a straight line. Move cautiously off the
road to a safe place well away from
the traffic. Avoid stopping on the center
divider of a highway. Park on a level
spot with firm ground.
2. Stop the engine and turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Firmly set the parking brake and put the transmission in “P” (automatic) or
reverse (manual).
4. Have everyone get out of  the vehicle on the side away from traffic.
5. Read the following instructions thor- oughly.
CAUTION
When jacking, be sure to observe the
following to reduce the possibility of
personal injury:
Follow jacking instructions.
Do not put any part of your body
under the vehicle supported by the
jack. Personal injury may occur.
Do not start or run the engine while
your vehicle is supported by the
jack.
If you have a flat tire— 

’02 Tacoma U (L/O 0109)
2352002 MY TACOMA_U (OM35786U)
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-
vice.
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be tempo-
rarily towed by a cable or chain se-
cured to one of the emergency towing
eyelets under the front of the vehicle.
Use extreme caution when towing the
vehicle.
NOTICE
Only use specified towing eyelet;
otherwise your vehicle may be dam-
aged.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer
it and operate the brakes.
Towing in this manner may be done only
on hard surfaced roads for a short dis-
tance and at low speeds. Also, the
wheels, axles, drive train, steering and
brakes must all be in good condition.
CAUTION
Use extreme caution when towing the
vehicle. Avoid sudden starts or errat-
ic driving maneuvers which would
place excessive stress on the emer-
gency towing eyelet and  towing cable
or chain. The eyelet and towing cable
or chain may break and cause serious
injury or damage.
NOTICE
Use only a cable or chain specifically
intended for use in towing vehicles.
Securely fasten the cable or chain to
the towing eyelet provided.
Before towing, release the parking brake
and put the transmission in neutral (manu-
al) or “N” (automatic). The key must be
in “ACC” (engine off) or “ON” (engine run-
ning).
CAUTION
If the engine is not  running,  the pow-
er assist for  the brakes and steering
will not work so steering and braking
will be much harder than usual.
—Emergency towing
(two wheel drive models
except Pre Runner)