2003 TOYOTA TACOMA Owners Manual (in English)

’03 Tacoma U (L/O 0209)
2992003 MY TACOMA (OM35800U)
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS FOR U.S.
OWNERS, UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING AND CAMPER INFORMATION
Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners300
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Uniform tire quality grading 300
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Camper information 301
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SECTION 9

’03 Tacoma U (L/O 0209)
3002003 MY TACOMA (OM35800U)
If you believe that your vehicle
has a defect which could cause a
crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately in-
form the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in
addition to notifying Toyota Motor
Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (Tollfree:
18003314331).
If NHTSA receives similar com-
plaints, it may open an investiga-
tion, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of ve-
hicles, it may order a recall and
remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between
you, your dealer, or Toyota Motor
Sales, U.S.A., Inc.To contact NHTSA, you may ei-
ther call the Auto Safety Hotline
tollfree at 18004249393 (or
3660123 in Washington, D.C.
area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S.
Department of Transportation,
Washington, D.C. 20590. You can
also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from the Hot-
line.This information has been prepared in ac-
cordance with regulations issued by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration of the U.S. Department of Trans-
portation. It provides the purchasers and/
or prospective purchasers of Toyota
vehicles with information on uniform tire
quality grading.
Your Toyota dealer will help answer any
questions you may have as you read this
information.
DOT quality grades—All passenger car
tires must conform to Federal Safety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example: Treadwear
200 Traction AA Temperature A
Reporting safety defects for
U.S. owners
Uniform tire quality grading

’03 Tacoma U (L/O 0209)
3012003 MY TACOMA (OM35800U)
Treadwear—The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test
course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (11/2) times
as well on the government course as a
tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may de-
part significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service prac-
tices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B, C— The traction
grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C, and they represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on spe-
cified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on braking (straight
ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction. Temperature A, B, C—
The temperature
grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissi-
pate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire to de-
generate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a lev-
el of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No.109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of perfor-
mance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades for this
tire are established for a tire that is prop-
erly inflated and not overloaded. Exces-
sive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure. This information has been prepared in ac-
cordance with regulation issued by the Na-
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administra-
tion of the U.S. Department of
Transportation. It provides the purchasers
and/or prospective purchasers of Toyota
vehicles with information on truckcamper
loading. Your Toyota dealer will help an-
swer any questions you may have as you
read this information.
Camper information—

’03 Tacoma U (L/O 0209)
3022003 MY TACOMA (OM35800U)
B
A
Rear end of truck bed
Recommended location
for cargo center of
gravity for cargo
weight rating
Twowheel drive models
except Pre Runner mm (in.)
AB
Regular cab
models1397
(55.0)965
(38.0)
Xtracab models 2RZFE engine
5VZFE engine
1372
(54.0) 1397
(55.0)927
(36.5) 927
(36.5)
Fourwheel drive models
and Pre Runner mm (in.)
A
B
1257
(49.5)901
(35.5)
The figures given in the illustration indi-
cate the recommended center of gravity
zone.
CAUTION
If a load is too far back, it can cause
dangerous handling. If it is too far
forward, the front axle may be over-
loaded.
Camper center of gravity
Recommended center of
gravity location zone
Cargo weight rating
Twowheel drive models
except Pre Runner Regular cab models with full options’
weight of 90 kg (205 lb.) With 2 occupants 430 kg (950 lb.)
With 3 occupants 375 kg (830 lb.)
—Center of gravity location —Cargo weight rating and
proper matching

’03 Tacoma U (L/O 0209)
3032003 MY TACOMA (OM35800U)
Xtracab models with full options’
weight of 85 kg (195 lb.)With 2 occupants in the front
seats and no occupants in the
rear seats 365 kg (815 lb.)
With 3 occupants in the front
seats and no occupants in the
rear seats 365 kg (810 lb.)
With 3 occupants in the front
seats and 2 occupants in the rear
seats 265 kg (590 lb.)
Fourwheel drive models
and Pre Runner Regular cab models with full options’
weight of 120 kg (265 lb.)
With 2 occupants 500 kg (1100 lb.)
With 3 occupants 465 kg (1025 lb.) Xtracab models with full options’
weight of 125 kg (280 lb.)
Vehicles with off road package
With 2 occupants in the front
seats and no occupants in the
rear seats 340 kg (750 lb.)
With 2 occupants in the front
seats and 2 occupants in the rear
seats 135 kg (300 lb.)
Vehicles without off road package With 2 occupants in the front
seats and no occupants in the
rear seats 440 kg (975 lb.)
With 3 occupants in the front
seats and no occupants in the
rear seats 370 kg (825 lb.)
With 3 occupants in the front
seats and 2 occupants in the rear
seats 235 kg (525 lb.) When the truck is used to carry a slidein
camper, the total cargo load of the truck
consists of the manufacturer ’s camper
weight figure, the weight of installed addi-
tional camper equipment not included in
the manufacturer ’s camper weight figure,
the weight of camper cargo, and the
weight of passengers in the camper.
The total cargo load should not exceed
the truck’s cargo weight rating and the
camper ’s center of gravity should fall with-
in the truck’s recommended center of
gravity zone when installed.
CAUTION
Be careful—overloading can cause
dangerous braking and handling prob-
lems, and can damage your vehicle
and its tires.

’03 Tacoma U (L/O 0209)
3042003 MY TACOMA (OM35800U)
Gross axle weight ratingFront GAWR Rear GAWR
Secure loose items to prevent weight
shifts that could affect the balance of your
vehicle. When the truck camper is loaded,
drive to a scale and weigh on the front
and on the rear wheels separately to de-
termine axle loads. Individual axle loads
should not exceed either of the Gross
Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR). The total of
the axle loads should not exceed the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
These ratings are given on the vehicle
certification label which is located on the
door latch post on the left side of the
vehicle. See “Your Toyota’s identification”
in Section 2 for the Certification Label
location. If weight ratings are exceeded,
move or remove items to bring all weights
below the ratings.
Gross vehicle weight rating
Not exceed GVWR
GAWR
Twowheel drive models
except Pre RunnerFront 1000 kg (2200 lb.)
Rear 1135 kg (2500 lb.)
Fourwheel drive models
and Pre Runner Front 1200 kg (2650 lb.)
Rear 1270 kg (2800 lb.) GVWR
Twowheel drive models
except Pre Runner
Regular cab models 1920 kg (4250 lb.)
Xtracab models
2040 kg (4500 lb.)
Fourwheel drive models
and Pre Runner 2315 kg (5100 lb.)
If weight ratings are exceeded, move or
remove items to bring all weights below
the ratings.
—Gross axle and vehicle
weight ratings

'03 Tacoma U (L/O 0209)
2003 MY TACOMA (OM35800U)
Publication No. OM35800U
Part No. 01999-35800
Printed in Japan 01±0209±00
(U)
Quick index

If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 119 . . . . . . . .

If your vehicle will not start 222 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. .

If your engine stalls while driving 225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you cannot increase the engine speed 225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If your vehicle overheats 226 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . .

If you have a flat tire 227 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . .

If your vehicle becomes stuck 237 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\


If your vehicle needs to be towed 238 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tips for driving during break±in period 193 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How to start the engine 208 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
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General maintenance 253 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
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Complete index NO TAG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
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Gas station information
Fuel type:
UNLEADED gasoline, Octane Rating 87 (Research Octane Number 91)
or higher
See page 193 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity: Two±wheel drive models except Pre Runner60 L (16.0 gal., 13.3 lmp. gal.)
Four±wheel drive models and Pre Runner
70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 lmp. gal.)
Engine oil:
API grade SL ªEnergy±Conservingº or ILSAC multigrade engine oil is recom-
mended.
See page 267 for detailed information.
Tire information: See pages 271 through 276.
Tire pressure: See page 296.
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