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If hot O.K.If hot add If cold add If cold O.K.
Open
Close
Check the fluid level through the reser-
voir. If necessary, add automatic trans-
mission fluid DEXRON II or III.
If the vehicle has been driven around 80
km/h (50 mph) for 20 minutes (a little
more in frigid temperatures), the fluid is
hot (60 C—80 C or 140 F—175 F). You
may also check the level when the fluid
is cold (about room temperature,
10 C—30 C or 50 F—85 F) if the engine
has not been run for about five hours. Clean all dirt from outside of the reservoir
tank and look at the fluid level. If the fluid
is cold, the level should be in the “COLD”
range. Similarly, if it is hot, the fluid level
should be in the “HOT” range. If the level
is at the low side of either range, add
automatic transmission fluid DEXRON
II
or III to bring the level within the range.
To remove the reservoir cap, turn it coun-
terclockwise and lift up. To reinstall it,
turn it clockwise. After replacing the reser-
voir cap, visually check the steering box
case, vane pump and hose connections
for leaks or damage.
CAUTION
The reservoir tank may be hot so be
careful not to burn yourself.
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the power steer-
ing could be damaged.
Keep your tire pressures at the proper
level.
The recommended cold tire pressures, tire
size and the vehicle capacity weight are
given on page 384 and 388 in Section 8.
The recommended cold tire pressures and
tire size are also on the tire pressure
label as shown.
You should check the tire pressure every
two weeks, or at least once a month. And
don’t forget the spare!
Incorrect tire pressure may waste fuel,
reduce the comfort of driving, reduce tire
life and make your vehicle less safe to
drive.
Checking power steering fluid Checking tire pressure
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If a tire frequently needs refilling, have it
checked by your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
Keep your tire pressure properly in-
flated. Otherwise, the following condi-
tions may occur and cause an acci-
dent resulting in death or serious in-
juries.
Low tire pressure (underinflation)—
Excessive wear
Uneven wear
Poor handling
Possibility of blowouts from over-
heated tire
Poor sealing of the tire bead
Wheel deformation and/or tire sepa-
ration
High tire pressure (overinflation)—
Poor handling
Excessive wear at the center of the
tire tread
A greater possibility of tire damage
from road hazards
The following instructions for checking
tire pressure should be observed:
The pressure should be checked only
when the tires are cold. If your ve-
hicle has been packed for at least 3
hours and has not been driven for
more than 1.5 km or 1 mile since, you
will get an accurate cold tire pressure
reading.
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of a tire can be mis-
leading. Besides, tire pressures that
are even just a few pounds off can
degrade ride and handling.
Do not bleed or reduce tire pressure
after driving. It is normal for the tire
pressure to be higher after driving.
Never exceed the vehicle capacity
weight. The passenger and luggage
weight should be located so that the
vehicle is balanced.
Be sure to reinstall the tire inflation
valve caps. Without the valve caps,
dirt or moisture could get into the valve
core and cause air leakage. If the caps
have been lost, have new ones put on
as soon as possible.
Tread wear indicator
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire tread for the tread wear
indicators. If the indicators show, re-
place the tires.
The tires on your Toyota have built in
tread wear indicators to help you know
when the tires need replacement. When
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06
in.) or less, the indicators will appear. If
you can see the indicators in two or more
adjacent grooves, the tire should be re-
placed. The lower the tread, the higher
the risk of skidding.
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost
if the tread wears down below 4 mm
(0.16 in.).
Checking and replacing tires
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If you have tire damage such as cuts,
splits, cracks deep enough to expose
the fabric, or bulges indicating internal
damage, the tire should be replaced.
If a tire often goes flat or cannot be prop-
erly repaired due to the size or location
of a cut or other damage, it should be
replaced. If you are not sure, consult with
your Toyota dealer.
If an air loss occurs while driving, do not
continue driving with a deflated tire. Driv-
ing even a short distance can damage a
tire beyond repair.
Any tires which are over 6 years old
must be checked by a qualified techni-
cian even if damage is not obvious.
Tires deteriorate with age even if they
have never or seldom been used.
This also applies to the spare tire and
tires stored for future use.REPLACING YOUR TIRES
When replacing a tire, use a tire of the
same size and construction, and the
same or greater load capacity as the
originally installed tires. Also, on four
wheel drive models, all the tires must
be the same brand and have the same
tread patterns.
Using any other size or type of tire may
seriously affect handling, ride, speedome-
ter/odometer calibration, ground clearance,
and clearance between the body and tires
or snow chains.CAUTION
Observe the following instructions.
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-
sulting in death or serious injuries.
Do not mix radial, bias belted, or
bias ply tires on your vehicle, as
this may cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in loss of
control.
Do not use tires other than the
manufacturer ’s recommended size,
as this may cause dangerous han-
dling characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
Four wheel drive models:
Do not use tires of different brands,
sizes, construction or tread pat-
terns, as this may cause dangerous
handling characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
For vehicles with vehicle skid control
system—
Do not use tires of different brands,
sizes and constructions. This may
damage the drive system and pre-
vent the vehicle skid control system
from functioning correctly.
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WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR
CHAINS
Snow tires or chains are recommended
when driving on snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires
provide better traction than snow tires.
SNOW TIRE SELECTION
If you need snow tires, select tires of
the same size, construction and load
capacity as the originally installed tires.
Also, on four wheel drive models, all
the tires must be the same brand and
have the same tread patterns.
Do not use tires other than those men-
tioned above. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions.
CAUTION
Observe the following instructions.
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-
sulting in death or serious injuries.
Do not use snow tires other than
the manufacturer ’s recommended si-
ze, as this may cause dangerous
handling characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
Four wheel drive models:
Do not use snow tires of different
brands, sizes, construction or tread
patterns, as this may cause danger-
ous handling characteristics result-
ing in loss of control.
SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION
Snow tires should be installed on all
wheels.
Installing snow tires on the front wheels
only can lead to an excessive difference
in road grip capability between the front
and rear tires which could cause loss of
vehicle control.
When storing removed tires, you should
store them in a cool dry place.
Mark the direction of rotation and be sure
to install them in the same direction when
replacing.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the snow tires
incorrectly inflated.
Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph)
with any type of snow tires.
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION
Use the tire chains of correct size.
Regulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary according to location or
type of road, so always check the local
regulations before installing chains.
CHAIN INSTALLATION
Install the chains on the rear tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the front tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5—1.0 km
(1/4—1/2 mile).
When installing chains on your tires, care-
fully follow the instructions of the chain
manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so remove
the covers before putting on the chains.
Installing snow tires and
chains