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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
Because of the added load of the trail-
er, your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
30°C [85 °F]) when going up a long or
steep grade with a trailer. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the air
conditioning (if in use), pull off the road
and stop in a safe spot. Refer to “If
your vehicle overheats” on page 255.
Always place wheel blocks under both
the vehicle and trailer wheels when
parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.
Put the transmission in “P”. Avoid park-
ing on a slope with a trailer, but if it
cannot be avoided, do so only after
performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into “P” and turn off the en- gine. When restarting out after parking on a
slope:
1. With the transmission in “P” posi- tion, start the engine. Be sure to
keep the brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift into the “3”, “2”, “L” or “R” position.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal and slowly pull or back
away from the wheel blocks. Stop
and apply your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blo cks.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph)
or the posted towing speed limit,
whichever is lower. Because in-
stability (swaying) of a towing
vehicle trailer combination usual-
ly increases as the speed in-
creases, exceeding 72 km/h (45
mph) may cause loss of control.
Slow down and downshift before
descending steep or long down-
hill grades. Do not make sudden
downshifts.
Avoid holding the brake pedal
down too long or too frequently.
This could cause the brakes to
overheat and result in reduced
braking efficiency.
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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
If the engine speed does not increase
when the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed, the electronic throttle control
system may be faulty. Move the vehicle
to a safe place by means of creeping
and call a Toyota dealer for assistance:1. Depress the brake pedal and shift to the “D” position.
2. Gradually release the brake pedal, and the vehicle starts to move by creeping.
After arriving at a safe place, stop the
vehicle and call a Toyota dealer for
assistance.
CAUTION
The above method of moving the
vehicle is for emergency. Use it
only for moving minimum distances
to a safe place.
Be especially careful to prevent er-
roneous pedal operation.
If your vehicle overheats
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you ex-
perience a loss of power, or if you hear
a loud knocking or pinging noise, the
engine has probably overheated. You
should follow this procedure...
1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve- hicle and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the transmission in “P”
and apply the parking brake. Turn off
the air conditioning if it is being used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or reservoir, stop the engine.
Wait until the steam subsides before
opening the hood. If there is no coolant
boiling over or steam, leave the engine
running.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury, keep
the hood closed until there is no
steam. Escaping steam or coolant is
a sign of very high pressure.
3. Visually check to see if the enginedrive belt (fan belt) is broken or loose.
Look for obvious coolant leaks from the
radiator, hoses, and under the vehicle.
However, note that water draining from
the air conditioning is normal if it has
been used.
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive belts.
4. If the engine drive belt is broken or thecoolant is leaking, stop the engine im-
mediately. Call a Toyota dealer for as-
sistance.
5. If the engine drive belt is O.K. and there are no obvious leaks, you may
help the engine cool down more quickly
by running it at about 1500 rpm for a
few minutes with the accelerator pedal
lightly depressed.
6. Check the coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add coolant to the reservoir while the
engine is running. Fill it about half full.
If you cannot incr ease the en-
gine speed
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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
CAUTION
Do not attempt to remove the radiator
cap when the engine and radiator are
hot. Serious injury could result from
scalding hot fluid and steam blown
out under pressure.
7. After the engine coolant temperaturehas cooled to normal, again check the
coolant level in the reservoir. If neces-
sary, bring it up to half full again. Seri-
ous coolant loss indicates a leak in the
system. You s hould have it checked as
soon as possible at your Toyota dealer.
If you have a flat tire—
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a straight line. Move cau-
tiously off the road to a safe place
well away from the traffic. Avoid
stopping on the center divider of
a highway. Park on a level spot
with firm ground.
2. Stop the engine and turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Firmly set the parking brake and put the transmission in “P”.
4. Have everyone get out of the ve- hicle on the side away from traffic.
5. Read the following instructions thoroughly.CAUTION
When jacking, be sure to observe
the following to reduce the possi-
bility of personal injury:
Follow jacking instructions.
Do not put any part of your
body under the vehicle sup-
ported by the jack. Otherwise,
personal injury may occur.
Do not start or run the engine
while your vehicle is supported
by the jack.
Stop the vehicle on a level firm
ground, firmly set the parking
brake and put the transmission
in reverse. Block the wheel di-
agonally opposite to the one
being changed if necessary.
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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
If you are a skilled do−it−yourself
mechanic, the Toyota service manuals are
recommended. Please be aware that
do− it−yourself 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 314 for additional informa-
tion. 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 296 for additional 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 297 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 310 for
additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See page 298 for additional information.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the
engine turned off and the vehicle parked
on a level ground. See page 294 for addi-
tional information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir. The
level should be in the “HOT” or “COLD”
range depending on the fluid temperature.
See page 299 for additional information.
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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
Tire inflation pressure
Check the pressure with a gauge ev-
ery two weeks, or at least once a
month. See page 299 for additional
information.
Tire surface and wheel nuts
Check the tires carefully for cuts,
damage or excessive wear. See page
302 for additional information. When
checking the tires, make sure no nuts
are missing, and check the nuts for
looseness. Tighten them if necessary.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the
maintenance schedule. (For sched-
uled maintenance information, please
refer to the “Scheduled Maintenance
Guide” or “Owner ’s Manual Supple-
ment”.) See page 304 for additional
information.Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip −offs that
indicate service is needed. Some impor-
tant clues are as follows:
Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A fluid leak under the vehicle (however,
water dripping from the air conditioning
after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked im-
mediately.)
Flat −looking tire; excessive tire squeal
when cornering; uneven tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when driving
straight on a level road
Strange noises related to suspension
movement
Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy
feeling brake pedal; pedal almost
touches floor; vehicle pulls to one side
when braking
Engine coolant temperature continually
higher than normal
Engine continually runs hot; oil pres-
sure gauge stays low
If you notice any of these clues, take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible. It probably needs adjustment or
repair.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving with the ve-
hicle unchecked. It could result in se-
rious vehicle damage and possibly
personal injury.
Does your vehicle need
repairing?
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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
Engine compartment overview
1. Engine oil filler cap
2. Brake fluid reservoir
3. Fuse block
4. Battery
5. Windshield and rear window washerfluid tank
6. Engine oil level dipstick
7. Condenser
8. Radiator
9. Engine coolant reservoir
10. Power steering fluid reservoir
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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
Be sure that the ignition is off if
you work near the electric cool-
ing fan or radiator grille. With
the ignition on, the electric cool-
ing fan will automatically start to
run if 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 poten-
tially harmful contaminants which
may cause skin disorders such
as inflammation or skin cancer,
so care should be taken to avoid
prolonged and repeated contact
with it. To remove used engine
oil from your skin, wash thor-
oughly 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 filter in household trash,
in sewers or onto the ground.
Call your dealer or a service sta-
tion for information concerning
recycling or disposal.
NOTICE
Remember that battery and ignition
cables 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 non silicate,
non amine, non nitrite and non bo-
rate coolant with long life 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 plug holes.
Do not pry the outer electrode of a
spark plug against the center elec-
trode.
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 iridium tipped spark
plugs by cleaning or regapping.
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2004 L/C100 from Aug ’03 Prod. (OM60A04U)
Do not overfill automatic transmis-
sion fluid, transfer oil and power
steering fluid, or the transmission,
transfer 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.
Parts and tools
Here is a list of parts and tools you will
need to perform do− it−yourself mainte-
nance. Remember all Toyota parts are de-
signed in metric sizes, so your tools must
be metric.
CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL
Parts (if level is low):
“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equiva-
lent. See “Checking the engine oil lev-
el” on page 294 for instructions.
Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding oil)
CHECKING THE ENGINE COOLANT LEV-
EL
Parts (if level is low):
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or
similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non −silicate, non −amine, non− ni-
trite, and non −borate coolant with long −
life hybrid organic acid technology.
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is
pre− mixed with 50% coolant and 50%
deionized water. Tools:
Funnel (only for adding coolant)
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
\b 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)