2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER engine

168
(g) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up
and down between fourth gear and
overdrive when climbing a gentle slope,
shift the selector lever to the 4" posi-
tion. Be sure to shift the selector lever
to the D" position immediately after-
ward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use D" position.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping.
NOTICE
Always use the brake pedal or the
parking brake to hold the vehicle on
an upgrade. Do not attempt to hold
the vehicle using the accelerator ped-
al, as this can cause the transmission
to overheat.
(h) If you cannot shift the selector le-ver out of P" position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the P" position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see If
you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever" on page 410 in Section 4.
CY16060
Four−wheel drive control switch knob
CY16061
Center differential lock switch
Four−wheel drive system (full−time
four−wheel drive models)
(a) Four−wheel drive control

169
Use the four−wheel drive control switch
knob and center differential lock switch
to select the transfer and center differ-
ential modes.
The H4" and L4" positions of the four−
wheel drive control switch knob provide
either lock or unlock mode of the center
differential. The center differential can be
locked or unlocked by pushing the center
differential lock switch.
Use the center differential lock system if
your wheels get stuck in a ditch, or when
you are driving on a slippery or bumpy
surface. When the center differential is
locked, the vehicle stability control system
is automatically turned off and the center
differential lock and VSC OFF" indicator
lights come on because the function that
controls engine performance interferes
with the process of freeing your wheels.NOTICE
As soon as the center differential lock
switch is turned on, the VSC OFF"
indicator light comes on. After the
wheels are out of the ditch or off the
slippery or bumpy surface, turn the
center differential lock switch off.
Make sure that the center differential
lock indicator and VSC OFF" indica-
tor lights turn off.
H4" (high speed position) and center
differential unlocked: Four−wheel drive
control switch knob at H4", center differ-
ential unlocked
Use this for normal driving on all types of
roads, from dry hard−surfaced roads to
wet, icy or snow−covered roads. This
position gives greater economy, quietest
ride, least wear and better vehicle control.
H4" (high speed position) and center
differential locked: Four−wheel drive con-
trol switch knob at H4", center differential
locked
Use this for greater traction when you
experience a loss of power, such as
wheel slipping, in the center differential
unlock mode. L4" (low speed position) and center
differential unlocked:
Four−wheel drive
control switch knob at L4", center differ-
ential unlocked
The 4LO" (low speed four−wheel drive)
indicator light comes on when the L4"
mode is selected.
Use this for maximum power and traction.
Use this for climbing or descending steep
hills, off−road driving, and hard pulling in
sand or mud.
In this mode, the braking feeling that oc-
curs when the wheels are negotiating a
sharp corner is further reduced than in the
L4" (low speed position) and center differ-
ential locked mode.
L4" (low speed position) and center
differential locked: Four−wheel drive con-
trol switch knob at L4", center differential
locked
The 4LO" (low speed four−wheel drive)
indicator light comes on when the L4"
mode is selected.

172
The center differential can be locked or
unlocked by pushing the center differential
lock switch.
Use the center differential lock system if
your wheels get stuck in a ditch, or when
you are driving on a slippery or bumpy
surface. When the center differential is
locked, the vehicle stability control system
is automatically turned off and the center
differential lock and VSC OFF" indicator
lights come on because the function that
controls engine performance interferes
with the process of freeing your wheels.
NOTICE
As soon as the center differential lock
switch is turned on, the VSC OFF"
indicator light comes on. After the
wheels are out of the ditch or off the
slippery or bumpy surface, turn the
center differential lock switch off.
Make sure that the center differential
lock indicator light and VSC OFF"
indicator light turn off.
H2" (high speed position, two−wheel
drive): Multi−mode control switch knob at
H2"
Use this for normal driving on dry hard−
surfaced roads. This position gives greater
economy, quietest ride, least wear and
better vehicle control.
H4" (high speed position, four−wheel
drive) and center differential unlocked:
Multi−mode control switch knob at H4",
center differential unlocked
The four−wheel drive indicator light comes
on when the H4" mode is selected.
Use this for greater traction than two−
wheel drive. (When you experience a loss
of power, such as wheel slipping.) This
position provides greater traction than
two−wheel drive.
H4" (high speed position, four−wheel
drive) and center differential locked:
Multi−mode control switch knob at H4",
center differential locked
The four−wheel drive indicator light comes
on when the H4" mode is selected.
Use this for greater traction when you
experience a loss of power, such as
wheel slipping, in the center differential
unlock mode. L4" (low speed position, four−wheel
drive) and center differential unlocked:
Multi−mode control switch knob at L4",
center differential unlocked
The four−wheel drive and 4LO" (low
speed four−wheel drive) indicator lights
come on when the L4" mode is selected.
Use this for maximum power and traction.
Use this for climbing or descending steep
hills, off−road driving, and hard pulling in
sand or mud.
In this mode, the braking feeling that oc-
curs when the wheels are negotiating a
sharp corner is further reduced than in the
L4" (low speed position, four−wheel drive)
and center differential locked mode.
L4" (low speed position, four−wheel
drive) and center differential locked:
Multi−mode control switch knob at L4",
center differential locked
The four−wheel drive and 4LO" (low
speed four−wheel drive) indicator lights
come on when the L4" mode is selected.

175
If the 4LO" (low speed four−wheel drive)
indicator light continues to blink and the
buzzer sounds when you operate the mul-
ti−mode control switch knob to the H4" or
L4" position, drive forward or backward in
a short distance, then stop the vehicle
completely, shift the automatic transmis-
sion selector lever securely into N" and
operate the switch knob again.
If the indicator continues to blink even if
doing so, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible. There may be a trouble
in the four−wheel drive system.
CAUTION
Never operate the multi−mode control
switch knob if the wheels are slip-
ping. Stop the slipping or spinning
before operating.
The traction control system automatical-
ly helps prevent the spinning of rear
wheels when the vehicle is started or
accelerated on slippery road surfaces.
When the engine switch is turned to ON",
the system automatically turns on.
CAUTION
Under certain slippery road condi-
tions, full traction of the vehicle and
power to the rear wheels cannot be
maintained, even though the traction
control system is in operation. Do not
drive the vehicle under any speed or
maneuvering conditions which may
cause the vehicle to lose traction
control. In situations where the road
surface is covered with ice or snow,
your vehicle should be fitted with
snow tires or tire chains. Always
drive at an appropriate and cautious
speed for the present road condi-
tions.
CY16073
NORMAL DRIVING MODE
Leave the system on during ordinary
driving so that it can operate when
needed.
You may hear a 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 trac-
tion control system is in the self−check
mode, but does not indicate a malfunction.
When the traction control system is oper-
ating, the following conditions occur:
The system controls the spinning of the
rear wheels. At this time, the slip indi-
cator light blinks.
Traction control system
(two−wheel drive models)

176
You may feel vibration or noise in your
vehicle, caused by operation of the
brakes. This indicates the system is
functioning properly.
The slip indicator light comes on for a few
seconds when the engine switch is turned
to ON". If the indicator light does not
come on when the engine switch is turned
on, contact your Toyota dealer.
The brake actuator temperature increases
during continuous operation of the traction
control system, the AUTO LSD" system,
the vehicle stability control system and
the hill−start assist control system such
as on slippery roads.
If the brake actuator temperature becomes
too high while any of the systems is oper-
ating, a buzzer will start to sound intermit-
tently to indicate that the traction control
system can no l onger operate. In this
case, immediately stop your vehicle at a
safe place.
If the system continues to operate, the
buzzer sound changes from intermittent to
continuous. (The continuous buzzer
sounds for about 3 seconds.) At the time the slip indicator light will
come on and the traction control system
temporarily stops operating in order to
protect the brake actuator. (Although the
traction control system does not operate,
there is no problem to continue your driv-
ing.) The system will be automatically re-
stored after a short time and the slip indi-
cator light goes out.
CY16075
TRACTION CONTROL OFF MODE
If your wheels get stuck in an ditch
when you are driving on a severe off
road and sand, turn off the traction
control system. This system that con-
trols engine performance interferes with
the process of freeing your wheels.
To turn off: Briefly push the VSC OFF"
switch.
The AUTO LSD" and slip indicator lights
will come on.
The vehicle stability control system is al-
ways activated, even if the traction control
system is turned off.

177
To turn on: Briefly push the VSC OFF"
switch once again.
The AUTO LSD" and slip indicator lights
will go off.
If the engine is turned off while the
AUTO LSD" and slip indicator lights are
on and then restarted, the indicator lights
will turn off automatically.
When you push and hold the VSC OFF"
switch for 3 seconds or more with the
vehicle stopped, turn off the vehicle stabil-
ity control system. See Vehicle stability
control system" on page 183 in this Sec-
tion.
AUTO LSD" and slip indicator lights come
on for a few seconds when the engine
switch is turned to ON". If the indicator
lights do not come on when the engine
switch is turned to ON", contact your
Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the traction control
system continuously turned off.
CY16074
VSC OFF" warning light
This light flashing warns that there is a
problem somewhere in the following.
Traction control system
AUTO LSD" system
Vehicle stability control system
Hill−start assist control system
When the system is normal and the en-
gine switch is turned to ON", the warning
light will come on and will go off after a
few seconds.
It is not a malfunction that the warning
light may stay on for 60 seconds after the
engine switch is turned to ON". Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly
may turn on the light. It is normal if it
goes out after a few seconds.
If the VSC OFF" warning light flashes
while driving, the traction control system
does not work. However, as normal brak-
ing operates when being applied, there is
no problem to continue your driving.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer:
The warning light does not come on
after the engine switch is turned to
ON".
The warning light remains on after the
engine switch is turned to ON".
The warning light flashes while driving.

178
The active traction control system auto-
matically helps prevent the spinning of
4 wheels when the vehicle is started or
accelerated on slippery road surfaces.
When the engine switch is turned to ON",
the system automatically turns on.
CAUTION
Under certain slippery road condi-
tions, full traction of the vehicle and
power to the 4 wheels cannot be
maintained, even though the traction
control system is in operation. Do not
drive the vehicle under any speed or
maneuvering conditions which may
cause the vehicle to lose traction
control. In situations where the road
surface is covered with ice or snow,
your vehicle should be fitted with
snow tires or tire chains. Always
drive at an appropriate and cautious
speed for the present road condi-
tions.
CY16073
NORMAL DRIVING MODE
Leave the system on during the ordi-
nary driving so that it can operate
when needed.
You may hear a 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 ac-
tive traction control system is in the self−
check mode, but does not indicate a mal-
function.
When the active traction control system is
operating, the following conditions occur:
The system controls the spinning of the
4 wheels. At this time, the slip indica-
tor light blinks.
You may feel vibration or noise in your
vehicle, caused by operation of the
brakes. This indicates the system is
functioning properly.
The slip indicator light comes on for a few
seconds when the engine switch is turned
to ON". If the indicator light does not
come on when the engine switch is turned
on, contact your Toyota dealer.
The brake actuator temperature increases
during continuous operation of the active
traction control system, the vehicle stabil-
ity control system, the downhill assist con-
trol system and the hill−start assist control
system such as on sli ppery roads. If the
brake actuator temperature becomes too
high while any of the systems is operat-
ing, a buzzer will start to sound intermit-
tently to indicate that the active traction
control system can no longer operate. In
this case, immediately stop your vehicle at
a safe place.
If the system continues to operate, the
buzzer sound changes from intermittent to
continuous. (The continuous buzzer
sounds for about 3 seconds.)
Active traction control system
(four−wheel drive models)

179
At the time, the slip indicator light will
come on and the active traction control
system temporarily stops operating in or-
der to protect the brake actuator. (Al-
though the active traction control system
does not operate, there is no problem to
continue your driving.) The system will be
automatically restored after a short time
and the slip indicator light goes out.
CY16074
VSC OFF" warning light
This light flashing warns that there is a
problem somewhere in the following.
Active traction control system
Vehicle stability control system
Downhill assist control system
Hill−start assist control system
When the system is normal and the en-
gine switch is turned to ON", the warning
light will come on and will go off after a
few seconds.
It is not a malfunction that the warning
light may stay on for 60 seconds after the
engine switch is turned to ON". Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly
may turn on the light. It is normal if it
goes out after a few seconds.
If the VSC OFF" warning light flashes
while driving, the active traction control
system does not work. However, as nor-
mal braking operates when being applied,
there is no problem to continue your driv-
ing.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer:
The warning light does not come on
after the engine switch is turned to
ON".
The warning light remains on after the
engine switch is turned to ON".
The warning light flashes while driving.