2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER tow

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
When all the side doors and back door
are unlocked simultaneously with a key,
the interior light, luggage compartment
light, ignition switch light and running
board lights (on some models) will come
on and remain on for about 15 seconds
before fading out. (For details, see “Interi-
or light” on page 105, “Luggage compart-
ment light” on page 107, “Ignition switch
light” on page 108 and “Running board
lights” on page 108 in Section 14.)
The back window can be opened and
closed with the key operation in the back
door keyhole. (For details, see “Power
back window” on page 26 in this Section.)
When closing the back door, the inside
strap can be used to make the reach
easier.
To close the back door, lower it and press
down on it. After closing the back door,
try pulling it up to make sure it is secure-
ly closed.
Back door closer: When the back door
has not been fully closed, it is automati-
cally closed completely.
See “Luggage stowage precautions” on
page 253 in Section 2 for precautions
when loading luggage.
CAUTION
Keep the back window and back
door closed while driving. This not
only keeps the luggage from being
thrown out but also prevents ex-
haust gases from entering the ve-
hicle.
Careful attention is needed so as
not to get your fingers trapped as
the back door automatically closes
when it has not been fully closed.
Never allow a child to operate the
back door.
NOTICE
 To avoid damage to the back door
dampers, do not apply any force,
paint or let any other foreign matter
on them.
 Do not apply excessive force when
the back door closer is operating.
Otherwise, the back door closer
may become defective.

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow passengers to sit on top
of a foldeddown seatback, or in
the luggage compartment or cargo
area. Persons not properly seated
and/or properly restrained by seat
belts can be severely injured in the
event of emergency braking or a
collision.
During driving, do not allow pas-
sengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Otherwise,
severe injuries can occur in the
event of emergency braking or a
collision.
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with
considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if
the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag
is the first 50—75 mm (2—3 in.) of
inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10
in.) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety.
This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your
breastbone. If you sit less than 250
mm (10 in.) away now, you can
change your driving position in sever-
al ways:
Move your seat to the rear as far
as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
Slightly recline the back of the
seat. Although vehicle designs vary,
many drivers can achieve the 250
mm (10 in.) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply by reclining the back of the
seat somewhat. If reclining the back
of your seat makes it hard to see
the road, raise yourself by using a
firm, nonslippery cushion, or raise
the seat if your vehicle has that
feature.
If your steering wheel is adjustable,
tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as rec-
ommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
Seats Front seats—
—Front seat precautions (on vehicles with SRS front airbags)

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
CAUTION
Do not allow passengers to ride on
the flattened seat while driving; use
the seat in the normal position.
After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat and seatback for-
ward and rearward to make sure it
is secured in place. Be certain to
replace head restraint.
BEFORE FOLDING DOWN REAR SEAT
Stow the rear center seat belt buckle as
shown in the illustration.
This prevents the seat belt buckle from
falling out when you fold the seatback.
NOTICE
The seat belt buckle must be stowed
before you fold the seatback.
If you are using a trash holder, lower
it.
Folddown rear seats

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
1. Lower the head restraint to the lowe-
st position.2. Swing the bottom cushion up bypulling the lock rel ease strap.
If desired, each bottom cushion may be
swung up separately.3. Push the lock release button and fold down the seatback.
This will enlarge the luggage compartment
as far as the raised seat cushion. See
“Luggage stowage precautions” on page
253 in Section 2 for precautions when
loading luggage.
If desired, each seatback may be folded
separately.

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
To release the belt, press the bucklere-
lease button and allow the belt to re-
tract.
If the belt does not retract smoothly, pull
it out and check for kinks or twists. Then
make sure it remains untwisted as it re-
tracts.The rear center seat belt buckle can be
stowed when not in use.
Seat belt buckle must be stowed before
you fold the seat back. (See “Folddown
rear seats” on page 46 in this Section.) If your seat belts cannot be fastened se-
curely because they are not long enough,
a personalized seat belt extender is avail-
able from your Toyota dealer free of
charge.
Please contact your local Toyota dealer so
that the dealer can order the proper re-
quired length for the extender. Bring the
heaviest coat you expect to wear for prop-
er measurement and selection of length.
Additional ordering information is available
at your Toyota dealer.
—Stowing rear center seat belt
buckle
—Seat belt extender

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
To change the steering wheel angle,
hold the steering wheel, pull the lock
release lever toward you, tilt the steer-
ing wheel to the desired angle and re-
lease the lever.
When the steering wheel is in a low posi-
tion, it will spring up as you release the
lock release lever.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while the vehicle is moving. Doing
so may cause the driver to mishan-
dle the vehicle and an accident may
occur resulting in death or serious
injuries.
After adjusting the steering wheel,
try moving it up and down to make
sure it is locked in position.
ADJUSTMENT OF STEERING WHEEL
TILT
To change the steering wheel angle,
hold the steering wheel, pull the lock
release lever toward you, tilt the steer-
ing wheel to the desired angle and re-
lease the lever.
When the steering wheel is in a low posi-
tion, it will spring up as you release the
lock release lever.
Tilt steering wheel Tilt and telescopic steering
wheel

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
When any of the side doors and back
door is unlocked using either the key or
the wireless remote control transmitter, the
lights will come on and remain on for
about 15 seconds before fading out.
To prevent the battery being discharged,
the light will automatically turn off when
the key is removed and the door is left
opened for 30 minutes or more.
To turn on the windshield wipers, move
the lever to the desired setting.
The key must be in the “ON” position.
Lever position
Speed setting
Position 1Intermittent
Position 2Slow
Position 3Fast
The “INT TIME” band lets you adjust the
wiping time interval when the wiper lever
is in the intermittent position (position 1).
Twist the band upward to increase the
time between sweeps, and downward to
decrease it. To squirt washer fluid, pull the lever
toward you.
If the windshield wipers are off, they will
operate a couple of times after the washer
squirts.
For instructions on adding washer fluid,
see “Adding washer fluid” on page 343 in
Section 73.
In freezing weather, warm the windshield
with the defroster before using the washer.
This will help prevent the washer fluid
from freezing on your windshield, which
can block your vision.
NOTICE
Do not operate the wipers if the wind-
shield is dry. It may scratch the
glass.
Windshield wipers and washer

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2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
Idling for a long period with the air
conditioning on in stopandgo traffic.
Towing a trailer.
It is not a malfunction even if the needle
of the engine coolant temperature gauge
returns to “C” when the ignition switch is
turned to the “START” position.
NOTICE
 Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to con-
trol the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within
the specified operating range.
 Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See “If your ve-
hicle overheats” on page 282 in
Section 4.
The tachometer indicates engine speed
in thousands of rpm (revolutions per
minute). Use it while driving to select
correct shift points and to prevent en-
gine lugging and overrevving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
It is not a malfunction even if the needle
of the tachometer returns to the bottom
position when the ignition switch is turned
to the “START” position.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get
into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Tachometer