2004 TOYOTA xA brakes

81
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light comes on in the following cases
when the ignition key is in the “ON” posi-
tion.
When the parking brake is applied...
The light comes on for a few seconds
when the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position even after the parking brake
is released.
When the brake fluid level is low...
CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level is
low.
Have your vehicle checked at your
Scion dealer in the following cases:
The light does not come on even if the
parking brake is applied when the igni-
tion key is in the “ON” position.
The light does not come on even if the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion with the parking brake released.
A warning light turning on briefly during
operation does not indicate a problem.
CAUTION
If either of the following conditions
occurs, immediately stop your vehicle
at a safe place and contact your
Scion dealer.
The light does not turn off even
after the parking brake is released
while the engine is running.
In this case, the brakes may not
work properly and your stopping
distance will increase. Depress the
brake pedal firmly and bring the ve-
hicle to an immediate stop.
The brake system warning light re-
mains on together with the “ABS”
warning light.
In this case, not only the antilock
brake system will fail but also the
vehicle will become extremely un-
stable during braking.
(b) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
and Buzzer
This light and buzzer remind you to
buckle up the driver’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” or “START” position, the reminder
light flashes and the buzzer sounds if the
driver ’s seat belt is not fastened. Unless
the driver fastens the belt, the light keeps
flashing and the buzzer sounds for about
5 seconds.
(c) Front Passenger ’s Seat Belt
Reminder Light
This light reminds you to buckle up the
front passenger ’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” or “START” position, the reminder
light flashes if a passenger sits in the
front passenger seat and does not fasten
the seat belt. Unless the front passenger
fastens the belt, the light keeps flashing.
If luggage or other load is placed on the
front passenger seat, depending on its
weight and how it is placed on the seat,
built−in sensors in the seat cushion may
detect the pressure, causing the reminder
light to flash.

11 7
As an example, if a vehicle is used for re-
peated short trips, and consumes a normal
amount of oil, the dipstick may not show any
drop in the oil level at all, even after 1000
km (600 miles) or more. This is because the
oil is gradually becoming diluted with fuel or
moisture, making it appear that the oil level
has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when
the vehicle is then driven at high speeds, as
on an express way, making it appear that oil
is excessively consumed after driving at high
speeds.
IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEVEL
CHECK
One of the most important points in proper
vehicle maintenance is to keep the engine oil
at the optimum level so that oil function will
not be impaired. Therefore, it is essential that
the oil level be checked regularly. Scion rec-
ommends that the oil level be checked every
time you refuel the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regularly
could lead to serious engine trouble
due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level check,
see “Checking the engine oil level” on page
186.
Brake system
The tandem master cylinder brake system is
a hydraulic system with two separate sub
systems. If either subsystem should fail, the
other will still work. However, the pedal will
be harder to press, and your stopping dis-
tance will increase. Also, the brake system
warning light may come on.
CAUTION
Do not drive your vehicle with only a
single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
BRAKE BOOSTER
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to
powerassist the brakes. If the engine should
quit while you are driving, you can bring the
vehicle to a stop with normal pedal pressure.
There is enough reserved vacuum for one or
two stops but no more!

11 8
CAUTION
Do not pump the brake pedal if the
engine stalls. Each push on the
pedal uses up your reserved vacu-
um.
Even if the power assist is com-
pletely lost, the brakes will still
work. But you will have to push the
pedal hard, much harder than nor-
mal. And your braking distance will
increase.
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
The antilock brake system is designed
to automatically help prevent lockup of
the wheels during a sudden braking or
braking on slippery road surfaces. This
assists in providing directional stability
and steering performance of the vehicle
under these circumstances.
Effective way to press the ABS brake
pedal:
When the anti−lock brake system func-
tion is in action, you may feel the brake
pedal pulsating and hear a noise. In this
situation, to let the anti−lock brake sys-
tem work for you, just hold the brake
pedal down more firmly. Do not pump
the brake in a panic stop. This will re-
sult in reduced braking performance.
The antilock brake system becomes opera-
tive after the vehicle has accelerated to a
speed in excess of approximately 10 km/h (6
mph). It stops operating when the vehicle
decelerates to a speed below approximately
5 km/h (3 mph).
Depressing the brake pedal on slippery road
surfaces such as on a manhole cover, a steel
plate at a construction site, joints in a
bridge, etc. on a rainy day tends to activate
the antilock brake system.
You may hear a click or motor sound in the
engine compartment for a few seconds when
the engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This means that the anti
lock brake system is in the selfcheck mode,
and does not indicate a malfunction.When the antilock brake system is ac-
tivated, the following conditions may
occur. They do not indicate a malfunc-
tion of the system:
You may hear the anti−lock brake sys-
tem operating and feel the brake pedal
pulsating and the vibrations of the ve-
hicle body and steering wheel. You
may also hear the motor sound in the
engine compartment even after the ve-
hicle is stopped.
At the end of the anti−lock brake sys-
tem activation, the brake pedal may
move a little forward.

120
When the “ABS” warning light is on (and the
brake system warning light is off), the anti
lock brake system does not operate so that
the wheels could lock up during a sudden
braking or braking on slippery road surfaces.
If either of the following conditions oc-
curs, this indicates a malfunction some-
where in the components monitored by
the warning light system. Contact your
Scion dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion, or remains on.
The light comes on while you are driv-
ing.
A warning light turning on briefly during
operation does not indicate a problem.
CAUTION
If the “ABS” warning light remains on
together with the brake system warn-
ing light, immediately stop your ve-
hicle at a safe place and contact your
Scion dealer.
In this case, not only the antilock
brake system will fail but also the
vehicle will become extremely unsta-
ble during braking.
Brake pad wear limit indicators
The brake pad wear limit indicators on
your disc brakes give a warning noise
when the brake pads are worn to where
replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise
while driving, have the brake pads checked
and replaced by your Scion dealer as soon as
possible. Expensive rotor damage can result
if the pads are not replaced when necessary.

128Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire infration pressure when the vehicle has been parked at least 3 hours or
more, or it has not been driven more than 1.5 km or 1 mile under that condition
Maximum inflation pressureThe maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire may be inflated and shown
on the sidewall of the tire
Recommended inflation pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a manufacturer
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those standard items which may be re-
placed) of automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power win-
dows, power seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that these items are avail-
able as factory−installed equipment (whether installed or not)
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air conditioning and addi-
tional weight optional engine
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
T he sum of —
(a) Curb weight;
(b) Accessory weight;
(c) Vehicle capacity weight; and
(d) Production options weight
Normal occupant weight68 kg (150 lb.) times the number of occupants specified in the second column
of Table 1 on page 130
Production options weight
The combined weight of those installed regular production options weighing
over 2.3 kg (5 lb.) in excess of those standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or accessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim
— Tire relat ed terms

137
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 se-
conds at a time. This may overheat
the starter and wiring systems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to
start or stalls frequently, have the
engine checked immediately.
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
This will allow you much better control.
Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving
onto high, sharp−edged objects and
other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire damage such
as a tire burst.
Drive slowly when passing over bumps
or travelling on a bumpy road. Other-
wise, the impact could cause severe
damage to the tires and/or wheels.
When parking on a hill, turn the front
wheels until they touch the curb so
that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the
parking brake, and place the transmis-
sion in “P” (automatic) or in first or
reverse (manual). If necessary, block
the wheels.
Washing your vehicle or driving through
deep water may get the brakes wet. To
see whether they are wet, check that
there is no traffic near you, and then
press the pedal lightly. If you do not
feel a normal braking force, the brakes
are probably wet. To dry them, drive
the vehicle cautiously while lightly
pressing the brake pedal with the park-
ing brake applied. If they still do not
work safely, pull to the side of the road
and call a Scion dealer for assistance.
CAUTION
Before driving off, make sure the
parking brake is fully released and
the parking brake reminder light is
off.
Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is running.
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. It can cause
dangerous overheating, needless
wear, and poor fuel economy.
To drive down a long or steep hill,
reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly.
Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, downshifting or braking on
a slippery surface. Sudden accelera-
tion or engine braking could cause
the vehicle to spin or skid.
Tips for driving in various
conditions

138
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
longer stopping distance, and it
may pull to one side when the
brakes are applied. Also, the park-
ing 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 non−silicate, non−amine, non−nitrite,
and non−borate coolant with long−life
hybrid organic acid technology.
See “Checking the engine coolant level”
on page 188 for details of coolant type
selection.
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is
premixed with 50% coolant and 50%
distilled water. This coolant provides
protection down to about −35C (−31F).
NOTICE
Do not use plain water alone.
When it is extremely cold, we recommend
to use 60% solution for your Scion, to
provide protection down to about −50°C
(−58°F). Do not use more than 70% solu-
tion for better coolant performance.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 7−3 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Scion 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 187 for recommended viscosity.
Leaving a heavy summer oil in your ve-
hicle during winter months may cause
harder starting. If you are not sure about
which oil to use, call your Scion deal-
er—they will be pleased to help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de−icer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing. To open
a frozen lock, try heating the key before
inserting it.

141
Tr ailer to win g
Scion does not recommend towing a trail-
er with your vehicle. It is not designed for
trailer towing.Improving fuel economy is easy–just take
it easy. It will help make your vehicle last
longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and
repairs:
Keep your tires inflated at the cor-
rect pressure. Underinflation causes
tire wear and wastes fuel. See page
191 for instructions.
Do not carry unneeded weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts a
heavier load on the engine, causing
greater fuel consumption.
Avoid lengthy warmup idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving—but gently. Remember, howev-
er, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.
Keep the automatic transmission
overdrive turned on when engine
braking is not required. Driving with
the overdrive off will reduce the fuel
economy. (For details, see “Automatic
transmission” on page 89.)
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high
gear as quickly as possible.
Avoid long engine idling. If you have
a long wait and you are not in traffic,
it is better to turn off the engine and
start again later.
Avoid engine lugging or overrev-
ving. Use a gear position suitable for
the road on which you are travelling.
Avoid continuous speeding up and
slowing down. Stop−and−go driving
wastes fuel.
Avoid unnecessary stopping and
braking. Maintain a steady pace. Try
to time the traffic signals so you only
need to stop as little as possible or
take advantage of through streets to
avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper dis-
tance from other vehicles to avoid sud-
den braking. This will also reduce wear
on your brakes.
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams
whenever possible.
Do not rest your foot on the clutch
or brake pedal. This causes needless
wear, overheating and poor fuel econo-
my.
Maintain a moderate speed on high-
ways. The faster you drive, the greater
the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel con-
sumption.
How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer, too