2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER service

1562003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has highspeed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are highspeed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a lon-
ger stopping distance, and it may
pull to one side when the brakes
are applied. Also, the parking brake
will not hold the vehicle securely.
Winter driving tips
Make sure your coolant is properly pro-
tected against freezing.
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
or similar high quality ethylene glycol
based nonsilicate, nonamine, nonnitrite,
and nonborate coolant with longlife hy-
brid organic acid technology.
See “Checking the engine coolant level” in
Section 72 for details of coolant type
selection.
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-
mixed with 50% coolant and 50% deion-
ized water. This coolant provides protec-
tion down to about 35C (31 F).
NOTICE
Do not use plain water alone.
Check the condition of the battery and
cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of
any battery, so it must be in top shape
to provide enough power for winter start-
ing. Section 73 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer
and most service stations will be pleased
to check the level of charge. Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See page 206 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.
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1572003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Do not use your parking brake when
there is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
“S(1)” or “R” (sequential manual transmis-
sion) or into first or reverse (manual
transmission) 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.
Dinghy towing
SB31003a
Your vehicle can be dinghy towed (with
four wheels on the ground) from the
front behind a motorhome.
CAUTION
Dinghy towing requires special equip-
ment and accessories. Please refer to
your service outlet of the motorhome
manufacture for the recommended
equipment.
NOTICE
Dinghy towing does not eliminate the
possibility of damage to your vehicle.
DINGHY TOWING TIPS
Before dinghy towing, be sure to ob-
serve the following in order to reduce
the damage to your vehicle.1. Shift the gear into neutral.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the “ACC” position. Make sure the audio is turned
off.
NOTICE
To avoid the locking of the steering
wheel, turn the ignition switch to the
“ACC” position.
3. Release the parking brake.
After dinghy towing, let the engine idle for
more than 3 minutes before driving the
vehicle.
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1632003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 sec-
onds at a time. This may overheat the
starter and wiring systems.
(c) Jump starting
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 can-
cer 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.
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1752003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
—After changing wheels
9. Check the air pressure of the re-placed tire.
Adjust the air pressu re to the specifi-
cation designated on page 242 in
Section 8. If the pressure is lower,
drive slowly to the nearest service
station and fill to the correct pressure.
Do not forget to reinstall the tire infla-
tion valve cap as dirt and moisture
c ould get int o the valv e cor e a nd pos-
sibly cause air leakage. If the cap is
missing, have a new one put on as
soon as possible.
10.Restow all the tools, jack and flat tire securely.
As soon as possible after changing
wheels, tighten the wheel nuts to the
torque specified on page 242 in Sec-
tion 8 with a torque wrench. Have a
technician repair the flat tire and re-
place the spare tire with it.CAUTION
Before driving, make sure all the
tools, jack and flat tire are se-
curely in place in their storage
location to reduce the possibility
of personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden braking.
SB41025
Remove the wheel ornament from the
flat tire before restowing the flat tire.
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1772003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
SB41062
—From rear
(b) Using flat bed truck (a) Towing with wheel lift type truck— —From front
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-
vice. In consultation with them, have
your vehicle towed using either (a) or
(b).
Only when you cannot receive a towing
service from a Toyota dealer or com-
mercial tow truck service, tow your ve-
hicle carefully in accordance with the
instructions given in “—Emergency
towing” on page 178 in this Section.
Proper equipment will help ensure that
your vehicle is not damaged while being
towed. Commercial operators are generally
aware of the state/provincial and local
laws pertaining to towing.
Your vehicle can be damaged if it is
towed incorrectly. Although most operators
know the correct procedure, it is possible
to make a mistake. To avoid damage to
your vehicle, make sure the following pre-
cautions are observed. If necessary, show
this page to the tow truck driver.
TOWING PRECAUTIONS:
Use a safety chain system for all towing,
and abide by the state/provincial and local
laws. The wheels and axle on the ground
must be in good condition. If they are
damaged, use a towing dolly. (a) Towing with wheel lift type truck
From front—
We recommend using a tow-
ing dolly under the rear wheels. If you do
not use a towing dolly, release the parking
brake and put the transmission in “N” (se-
quential manual transmission) or in neutral
(manual transmission). The key must be
in “ACC” (sequential manual transmission).
Sequential manual transmission only:
After shifting the selector lever to the “N”
position, always make sure that the gear
is actually disengaged and is in neutral by
pushing the vehicle by hand or other
means. In case the gear can not be put
in neutral, turn the ignition switch from the
“OFF” to “ON” position, and operate the
selector lever once from “N” to “S” or “R”,
then back to “N” again. Then turn the
ignition switch from the “ON” to “OFF”
position. These procedures may help put
the gear in neutral. If the gear still can
not be put in neutral, you can not tow
without a towing dolly.
From rear— Place the ignition key in the
“ACC” position.
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If your vehicle needs to be
towed—

1792003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-
vice.
If a towing service is not available in
an emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed by a cable or chain
secured to either the emergency towing
eyelet on the front of the vehicle or the
right emergency towing eyelet on the
rear of the vehicle. Use extreme caution
when towing vehicles.
To install the towing eyelet, see
“—Installing towing eyelet” on page 180 in
this Section.
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 hardsurfaced 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 a
vehicle. Avoid sudden starts or er-
ratic driving maneuvers which
would place excessive stress on the
emergency towing eyelets and tow-
ing cable or chain. The eyelets and
towing cable or chain may break
and cause serious injury or dam-
age.
In case of installing the eyelet on
the vehicle, be sure to tighten the
eyelet securely. If the eyelet is
loose, it may come off when towing
and result in death or serious injury
to the passenger in the front ve-
hicle or damage to that vehicle.
NOTICE
Use only a cable or chain specifi-
cally intended for use in towing ve-
hicles. Securely fasten the cable or
chain to the towing eyelets pro-
vided.
 Do not use the left rear eyelet. It is
not designed for towing.
Before towing, release the parking brake
and put the transmission in “N” (sequential
manual transmission) or in neutral (manual
transmission).
Sequential manual transmission: The
key must be in “ACC”.
Manual transmission: The key must be
in “ACC” (engine off) or “ON” (engine run-
ning).
Sequential manual transmission only:
After shifting the selector lever to the “N”
position, always make sure that the gear
is actually disengaged and is in neutral by
pushing the vehicle by hand or other
means. In case the gear can not be put
in neutral, turn the ignition switch from the
“OFF” to “ON” position, and operate the
selector lever once from “N” to “S” or “R”,
then back to “N” again. Then turn the
ignition switch from the ”ON” to “OFF”
position. These procedures may help put
the gear in neutral. If the gear still can
not be put in neutral, you can not tow
with cables or chains.
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1922003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Maintenance requirements
Your Toyota vehicle has been designed for
fewer maintenance requirements with lon-
ger service intervals to save both your
time and money. However, each regular
maintenance, as well as daytoday care,
is more important than ever before to en-
sure smooth, troublefree, safe, and eco-
nomical drivings.
It is the owner ’s responsibility to make
sure the specified maintenance, including
general maintenance service, is performed.
Note that both the new vehicle and
emission control system warranties specify
that proper maintenance and care must be
performed. See “Owner ’s Warranty
Information Booklet” or “Owner ’s Manual
Supplement” for complete warranty
information.
General maintenance
General maintenance items are those day
today care practices that are important to
your vehicle for proper operation. It is the
owner ’s responsibility to insure that the
general maintenance items are performed
regularly.
These checks or inspections can be done
either by yourself or a qualified technician,
or if you prefer, your Toyota dealer will be
pleased to do them at a nominal cost.Scheduled maintenance
The scheduled maintenance items listed in
the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner ’s Manual Supplement” are those
required to be serviced at regular inter-
vals.
For details of your maintenance schedule,
read the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide”
or “Owner ’s Manual Supplement”.
It is recommend that only genuine
Toyota parts be used for maintenance
or for the repair of the emission
control system.
The owner may elect to use nonToyota
supplied parts for replacement pur-
poses without invalidating the emission
control system warranty. However, use
of replacement parts which are not of
equivalent quality may impair the effec-
tiveness of the emission control sys-
tems.
You may also elect to have
maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and
system performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual
without invalidating this warranty. See
“Owner ’s Warranty Information Booklet”
or “Owner ’s Manual Supplement” for
complete warranty information.Where to go for service?
Toyota technicians are welltrained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the
latest service information through technical
bulletins, service tips and indealership
training programs. They learn to work on
Toyotas before they work on your vehicle,
rather than while they are working on it.
You can be confident that your Toyota
dealer ’s service department performs the
best job to meet the maintenance require-
ments on your vehicle—reliably and eco-
nomically.
Your copy of the repair order is proof that
all required maintenance has been per-
formed for warranty coverage. If any prob-
lems should arise with your vehicle while
under warranty, your Toyota dealer will
promptly take care of it. Again, be sure
to keep a copy of the repair order for any
service performed on your Toyota.
What about doityourself maintenance?
Many of the maintenance items are easy
to do yourself if you have a little mechani-
cal ability and a few basic automotive
tools. Simple instructions for how to per-
form them are presented in Section 7.
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1932003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
If you are a skilled doityourself
mechanic, the Toyota service manuals are
recommended. Please be aware that
doityourself maintenance can affect your
warranty coverage. See “Owner ’s Warranty
Information Booklet” or “Owner ’s Manual
Supplement” for the details.
General maintenance
Listed below are the general maintenance
items that should be performed as fre-
quently as specified. In addition to check-
ing the items listed, if you notice any
unusual noise, smell or vibration, you
should investigate the cause or take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer or a quali-
fied service shop immediately. It is recom-
mended that any problem you notice be
brought to the attention of your dealer or
the qualified service shop for their advice.
CAUTION
Make these checks only with ade-
quate ventilation if you run the en-
gine.
IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Items listed below should be checked
from time to time, e.g. each time when
refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the
tank. See page 225 in Section 73 for
additional information.Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the “FULL” and “LOW” lines on the see
through reservoir when the engine is cold.
See page 208 in Section 72 for addition-
al information.
Radiator, condenser and hoses
Check that the front of the radiator and
condenser are clean and not blocked with
leaves, dirt, or insects. See page 209 in
Section 72 for additional information.
Battery electrolyte level
Make sure the electrolyte level of all bat-
tery cells is between upper and lower lev-
el lines on the case. Add only distilled
water when replenishing. See page 222 in
Section 73 for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See page 209 in Section 72 for addition-
al information.
Engine oil level
Check the level by the dipstick with the
engine turned off and the vehicle parked
on a level spot. See page 206 in Section
72 for additional information.
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