2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER tow

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
216
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
The compass indicates the direction
that the vehicle is heading. In the
above case, it shows that the vehicle is
heading north.
Displays
Directions
N
NE E
SE
S
SW W
NWNorth
Northeast East
Southeast
South
Southwest West
Northwest
The compass may not show the correct
direction in the following conditions:
The vehicle is stopped immediately af-
ter turning.
The compass does not adjust while the
vehicle is stopped.
The ignition switch is turned off imme-
diately after turning.
The vehicle is on an inclined surface.
The vehicle is in a place where the
earth’s magnetic field is subject to in-
terference by artificial magnetic fields
(underground parking, under a steel
tower, between buildings, roof parking,
near a crossing, near a large vehicle,
etc.).
The vehicle is magnetized. (There is a
magnet or a metal object on or near
the inside rear view mirror.)
The battery has been disconnected.
Your vehicle is out of the set zone. Refer
to the “CALIBRATING THE COMPASS” be-
low to set the zone number.
The compass works to calibrate the direc-
tion automatically while the vehicle is in
motion, if deviation is small.
For additional precision or for complete
calibrating, see “CALIBRATING THE
COMPASS” below.
Compass sensor
The compass sensor is on the wind-
shield.
NOTICE
Do not put magnets or a metal object
on or near the inside rear view mirror
of the vehicle. Doing this may cause
malfunction of the compass sensor.

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
219
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
CALIBRATING THE COMPASS (circling
calibration)
Sometimes the direction display on the
compass may not change after a turn. To
rectify this, stop the vehicle and push and
hold the “COMP” switch until “C” appears
on the display.
If “C” appears on the display because of
a drastic change in the magnetic field,
perform circling calibration.Drive the vehicle in a circle at 8 km/h (5
mph) or less. If there is not enough space
to drive in a circle, drive around the
block.
After driving 1 to 3 circles in the above
method, calibration is completed when the
direction is shown on the display.
If calibration cannot be performed because
of the magnetized vehicle etc., take your
vehicle to Toyota dealer. Perform circling calibration just after
you have purchased your Toyota. And
then always perform circling calibration
after the battery has been removed, re-
placed or disconnected.
Do not perform circling calibration of
the compass in a place where the
earth’s magnetic field is subject to in-
terference by artificial magnetic fields
(underground parking, under a steel
tower, between buildings, roof parking,
near a crossing, near a large vehicle,
etc.).
During calibration, do not operate elec-
tric systems (moon roof, power win-
dows, etc.) as they may interfere with
the calibration.

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
234
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
Front doors
Rear doors
The bottle holders are designed to hold
bottles securely.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to use the holder for
any other purpose for which it was
intended. Inappropriately sized or
shaped objects may be thrown about
in the compartment and possibly in-
jure people in the vehicle during a
sudden braking or an accident.
NOTICE
Do not put a cup or open bottle in
the bottle holder because the con-
tents may spill when the door opens
or closes.
To secure your luggage, use the tie
down hooks as shown above.
See “Luggage stowage precautions” on
page 253 in Section 2 for precautions
when loading luggage.
CAUTION
To avoid personal injury, keep the tie
down hooks folded in place on the
floor when not in use.
NOTICE
Do not use the seat anchors instead
of the tiedown hooks.
Bottle holders Tiedown hooks

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
241
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR
TOYOTA
Information before driving your Toyota
Offroad vehicle precautions 242
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Breakin period 243
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . .
Fuel 243
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel pump shut off system 245
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation in foreign countries 245
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Threeway catalytic converters 246
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust cautions 247
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
Facts about engine oil consumption 248
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Iridiumtipped spark plugs 249
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system 249
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Brake pad wear limit indicators 253
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Luggage stowage precautions 253
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Limitedslip differential 254
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Your Toyota’s identification 254
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft prevention labels 256
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Suspension and chassis 256
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
Types of tires 256
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 2

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
243
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. Because of its profile and
higher center of gravity, your ve-
hicle is more sensitive to side
winds than an ordinary passenger
car. Slowing down will allow you to
have better control.
When driving offroad or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle’s suspension and
chassis.
Do not drive horizontally across
steep slopes. Driving straight up or
straight down is preferred. Your ve-
hicle (or any similar offroad ve-
hicle) can tip over sideways much
more easily than forward or back-
ward.
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
breakin. But following a few simple tips
for the first 1600 km (1000 miles) can add
to the future economy and long life of
your vehicle:
Avoid full throttle acceleration when
starting and driving.
Avoid racing the engine.
Try to avoid hard stops during the first
300 km (200 miles).
Do not drive for a long time at any
single speed, either fast or slow.
Do not tow a trailer during the first 800
km (500 miles). FUEL TYPE
Your new vehicle must use only un-
leaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mixups, your
Toyota has a smaller fuel tank opening.
The special nozzle on pumps with un-
leaded fuel will fit it, but the larger stan-
dard nozzle on pumps with leaded gas will
not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use
should meet the specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB 3.5M93
in Canada.NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of
leaded gasoline will cause the three
way catalytic converter to lose its ef-
fectiveness and the emission control
system to function improperly. Also,
this can increase maintenance costs.
Breakin period
Fuel

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
253
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
Have your Toyota dealer perform the bed-
dingdown.
BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM
When you slam the brakes on, the
brake assist system judges as an emer-
gency stop and provides more powerful
braking for a driver who cannot hold
down the brake pedal firmly.
When you slam the brakes on, more pow-
erful braking will be applied. At this time,
you may hear a sound in the engine
compartment and feel the vibrations of the
brake pedal. This does not indicate a mal-
function.
The brake assist system becomes opera-
tive after the vehicle has accelerated to
a speed in excess of approximately 10
km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the
vehicle decelerates to a speed below
approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).
For an explanation of this system’s warn-
ing light, see “Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers” on page 117 in Sec-
tion 15.
The brake pad wear limit indicators on
your disc brakes give a warning noise
when the brake pads are worn to where
replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise
while driving, have the brake pads
checked and replaced by your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. Expensive ro-
tor damage can result if the pads are not
replaced when necessary. When stowing luggage or cargo in the
vehicle, observe the following:
Put luggage or cargo in the luggage
compartment when at all possible. Be
sure all items are secured in place.
Be careful to keep the vehicle bal-
anced. Locating the weight as far for-
ward as possible helps maintain bal-
ance.
For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded weight.
CAUTION
To prevent luggage or packages
from sliding forward during braking,
do not stack anything in the lug-
gage compartment higher than the
seatbacks. Keep luggage or pack-
ages low, as close to the floor as
possible.
Do not exceed 66 kg (145 lb.) of
cargo load in the luggage compart-
ment.
Do not place anything on the flat-
tened seat or it may slide forward
during braking.
Brake pad wear limit
indicators
Luggage stowage pr
ecautions

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
259
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Before starting the engine 260
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to start the engine 260
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Tips for driving in various conditions 261
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Offroad driving precautions 263
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 264
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . .
Dinghy towing 265
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Trailer towing 266
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer 275
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 3

’03 4Runner_U (L/O 0305)
265
2003 4RUNNER from Apr. ’03 Prod. (OM 35820U)
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See page 324 in Section 72 for recom-
mended viscosity. Leaving a heavy sum-
mer oil in your vehicle during winter
months may cause harder starting. If you
are not sure about which oil to use, call
your Toyota dealer—he will be pleased to
help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock deicer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing.
Use a washer fluid containing an anti-
freeze solution.
This product is available at your Toyota
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow
the manufacturer ’s directions for how
much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitute because it may dam-
age your vehicle’s paint.
Do not use your parking brake when
there is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
“P” and block the front wheels. Do not
use the parking brake, or snow or water
accumulated in and around the parking
brake mechanism may freeze, making it
hard to release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating
under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders
can make steering difficult. During bad
winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving,
we recommend you carry some emer-
gency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.
Your vehicle is not designed to be
dinghy towed (with four wheels on the
ground) behind a motorhome.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle with four
wheels on the ground. This may
cause serious damage to your vehicle.
Dinghy towing