2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER power steering

’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
367
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
If you perform maintenance by yourself,
be sure to follow the correct procedure
given in this Section.
You should be aware that improper or in-
complete servicing may result in operating
problems.
Performing do−it−yourself maintenance
during the warranty period may affect your
warranty coverage. Read the separate
Toyota Warranty statement for details and
suggestions.
This Section gives instructions only for
those items that are relatively easy for an
owner to perform. As explained in Section
6, there are still a number of items that
must be done by a qualified technician
with special tools.
For information on tools and parts for do −
it −yourself maintenance, see “Parts and
tools” on page 369 in this Section.
Utmost care should be taken when work-
ing on your vehicle to prevent accidental
injury. Here are a few precautions that
you should be especially careful to ob-
serve:CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from the moving fan and engine
drive belts. (Removing rings,
watches, and ties is advisable.)
Right after driving, the engine
compartment—the engine, radiator,
exhaust manifold, power steering
fluid reservoir and spark plug
boots, etc.—will be hot. So be care-
ful not to touch them. Oil, fluids
and spark plugs may also be hot.
If the engine is hot, do not remove
the radiator cap or loosen the drain
plugs to prevent burning yourself.
Do not leave anything that may
burn easily, such as paper or rags,
in the engine compartment.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames around fuel or the
battery. Their fumes are flammable.
Do not get under your vehicle with
just the body jack supporting it. Al-
ways use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.
Be sure that the ignition is off if
you work near the electric cooling
fans or radiator grille. With the
ignition on, the electric cooling fans
will automatically start to run if the
engine coolant temperature is high
and/or the air conditioning is on.
Use eye protection whenever you
work on or under your vehicle
where you may be exposed to flying
or falling material, fluid spray, etc.
Used engine oil contains potentially
harmful contaminants which may
cause skin disorders such as in-
flammation or skin cancer, so care
should be taken to avoid prolonged
and repeated contact with it. To re-
move used engine oil from your
skin, wash thoroughly with soap
and water.
Do not leave used oil within the
reach of children.
Dispose of used oil and filter only
in a safe and acceptable manner.
Do not dispose of used oil and fil-
ter in household trash, in sewers or
onto the ground. Call your dealer or
a service station for information
concerning recycling or disposal.
Doityourself service
precautions

’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
368
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
NOTICE
Remember that battery and ignition
cable carry high currents or volt-
ages. Be careful of accidentally
causing a short circuit.
 Add only “Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” or similar high quality eth-
ylene glycol based nonsilicate,
nonamine, nonnitrite, and nonbo-
rate coolant with longlife hybrid
organic acid technology to fill the
radiator. And if you spill some of
the coolant, be sure to wash it off
with water to prevent it from dam-
aging the parts or paint.
 Do not allow dirt or anything else
to fall through the spark plug holes.
 Use only spark plugs of the speci-
fied type. Using other types will
cause engine damage, loss of per-
formance or radio noise.
 Do not reuse iridiumtipped spark
plugs by cleaning or regapping.
Do not overfill automatic transmis-
sion fluid and power steering fluid,
or the transmission and power
steering could be damaged.
 Do not drive with the air cleaner
filter removed, or excessive engine
wear could result. Also backfiring
could cause a fire in the engine
compartment.
 Be careful not to scratch the glass
surface with the wiper frame.
 When closing the engine hood,
check to see that you have not for-
gotten any tools, rags, etc.
Front
Rear (twowheel drive models)
Positioning the jack

’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
370
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
CHECKING BRAKE FLUID
Parts (if level is low):
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
brake fluid
Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
CHECKING POWER STEERING FLUID
Parts (if level is low):
Automatic transmission fluid
DEXRON II or III
Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
CHECKING BATTERY CONDITION
Tools:
Warm water
Baking soda
Grease
Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
CHECKING AND REPLACING FUSES
Parts (if replacement is necessary):
Fuse with same amperage rating as
original ADDING WASHER FLUID
Parts:
Water
Washer fluid containing antifreeze
(for winter use)
Tools:
Funnel
REPLACING LIGHT BULBS
Parts:
Bulb with same number and wattage
rating as original (See charts in
“Replacing light bulbs” on page 392 in
Section 7 −3.)
Tools:
Screwdriver

’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
371
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
DOITYOURSELF MAINTENANCE
Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level 372
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the engine coolant level 375
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the radiator and condenser 376
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking brake fluid 376
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . .
Checking power steering fluid 377
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking tire inflation pressure 377
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking and replacing tires 380
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotating tires 382
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . .
Installing snow tires and chains 382
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels 384
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . .
Aluminum wheel precautions 385
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 7 2

’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
377
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
OpenIf hot O.K.
If hot add
If cold add If cold O.K.
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 (80 C or 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.
Checking power steering fluid Checking tire inflation
pressure

’04 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0308)
401
2004 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM48478U)
Notice: Using automatic transmission
fluid other than “Toyota Genuine ATF
Type TIV” may cause deterioration in
shift quality, locking up of your trans-
mission accompanied by vibration, and
ultimately damage the automatic trans-
mission of your vehicle.
Please contact your Toyota dealer for fur-
ther details.
TRANSFER
(fourwheel drive models)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.9 (1.0, 0.8)
Oil type: Hypoid gear oil API GL −5
Recommended oil viscosity: Above −18 C (0 F)
SAE 90
Below −18 C (0 F)
SAE 80W or 80W −90 REAR DIFFERENTIAL
(fourwheel drive models)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.9 (1.0, 0.8)
Oil type: Hypoid gear oil API GL −5
Recommended oil viscosity: Above −18 C (0 F)
SAE 90
Below −18 C (0 F)
SAE 80W or 80W −90
BRAKES
Minimum pedal clearance when depressed
with the force of 490 N (50 kgf, 110 lbf)
with the engine running, mm (in.): 83 (3.3)
Pedal free play, mm (in.): 2—3 (0.08—0.12)
Pad wear limit, mm (in.): 1.0 (0.04)
Lining wear limit, mm (in.): 1.0 (0.04)
Parking brake adjustment when depressed
with the force of 294 N (30 kgf, 66 lbf): 5—7 clicks
Fluid type: SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 STEERING
Wheel free play:
Less than 30 mm (1.2 in.)
Power steering fluid type: Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON II
or III