2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER Owners Manual

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2−5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
 Offroad driving precautions
Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of serious per−
sonal injury or damage to your vehicle:
 Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving
in dangerous places.
Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off−road. A bad bump
could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and espe−
cially your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
 Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that
there is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped
on the underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the
vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody,
a breakdown or fire could occur.
 In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die
than a person wearing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving.
 When driving off−road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss
of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also
risking expensive damage to your vehicle’s suspension and chassis.

164 2−5. Driving information
NOTICE
 To prevent the water damage
 Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the
engine or other components does not occur.
Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe engine damage.
Water entering the automatic transmission will cause deterioration in shift
quality, locking up of your transmission accompanied by vibration, and ulti−
mately damage.
 Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and pre−
mature failure, and may also enter the differentials, transmission and
transfer case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricating qualities.
 When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check
the depth of the water and the bottom of the river bed for firmness. Drive
slowly and avoid deep water.
 Inspection after offroad driving
 Sand and mud that has accumulate
d in brake drums and around brake
discs may affect braking efficiency and may damage brake system compo−
nents.
 Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off−road driv−
ing that has taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For
scheduled maintenance information, refer to the “Scheduled Maintenance
Guide” or “Owner ’s Manual Supplement”.

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2−5. Driving information
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When driving
Cargo and luggage
Capacity and distribution
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity)
(Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit—
(1) Locate the statement “The co
mbined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s
placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
(3)Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the av
ailable amount of cargo and lug−
gage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400
750 (5 150)
= 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being
loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in Step 4.
Take notice of the following information about storage precau
tions, cargo capacity and load.
 Stow cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment whenever
possible.
Be sure all items are secured in place.

Be careful to keep the vehicle level. Placing the weight as far for−
ward as possible helps maintain vehicle balance.
 For better fuel economy, do not carry unnecessary weight.

166 2−5. Driving information
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.
Example on your vehicle
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity
When 2 people with the combined weight of 366 lb. (166 kg) are
riding in your vehicle, which has a
total load capacity of 1190 lb. (540
kg), the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity will be
as follows:
1190 lb. 366 lb. = 824 lb. (540 kg 166 kg = 374 kg)
In this condition, if 3 more pa ssengers with the combined weight of
388 lb. (176 kg) get on, the available cargo and luggage load will be
reduced as follows:
824 lb. 388 lb. = 436 lb. (374 kg 176 kg = 198 kg)
As shown in the above example, if the number of occupants
increases, the cargo and luggage load equaling the combined weight
of the occupants who got on later,
by an amount. In other words, if an
increase in the number of occupants causes an excess of the total
load capacity (combined weight of occupants plus cargo and luggage
load), you must reduce the ca
rgo and luggage on your vehicle.

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When driving
CAUTION
Things that must not be carried in the luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compart−
ment.
Receptacles containing gasoline
Aerosol cans
Storage precautions
Do not stack anything in the luggage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
Such items may be thrown about and possibly injure people in the
vehicle during sudden braking or in an accident.
Do not drive with objects on top of the instrument panel.
They may interfere with the driver ’s field of view or move during sharp
acceleration or turning, thus impairing the driver ’s control of the vehi−
cle. In an accident they may injure the vehicle occupants.
Secure all items in the occupant compartment, as they may shift and
injure someone during an accident or sudden braking.
Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage compartment. It is not
designed for passengers. They should ride in their seats with their seat
belts properly fastened. Otherwise,
they are much more likely to suffer
death or serious bodily injury, in the event of sudden braking or a colli−
sion.
Capacity and distribution
Do not exceed the maximum axle weight rating or the total vehicle
weight rating.
Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less
than the total load capacity, do no t apply the load unevenly. Improper
loading may cause deterioration of st eering or braking control which
may cause death or serious injury.

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2−5. Driving information
Vehicle load limits
Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information
label.(
P. 292)
CAUTION
Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the ti
res, but also degrade steering and
braking ability, resulting in an accident.
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capacity.
 Total load capacity: 1190 lb. (540 kg)
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants,
cargo and luggage.
 Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the ma ximum number of occupants
whose estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
Even if the number of occupants are within the seating capacity,
do not exceed the total load capacity.

Towing capacity: 5000 lb. (2265 kg)
Towing capacity means the maximum gross trailer weight (trailer
weight plus its cargo weight) that your vehicle is able to tow.

Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the
weight and the number of occupants.

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2−5. Driving information
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When driving
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving
the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropri
ate to the prevailing weather conditions.
 Prewinter preparations
 Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tem−
peratures.
Engine oil
Engine coolant
Washer fluid
 Have a service technician inspect the level and specific grav−
ity of battery electrolyte.
Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set
of tire chains for the rear tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains
match the size of the tires.
 Before driving the vehicle
Perform the following according to the driving conditions.

Do not try to forcibly open a window, scrape an outside rear
view mirror surface or move a wiper or outside rear view mir−
ror that is frozen. Pour warm water over the frozen area to
melt the ice. Wipe away the water immediately to prevent it
from freezing.
To ensure proper operation of th e climate control system fan,
remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents
in front of the windshield.
Remove any ice that has accumulated on the vehicle chassis.

Periodically check for and remo ve any excess ice or snow
that may have accumulated in the wheel well or on the
brakes.

170 2−5. Driving information
Regulations on the use of snow chains
 Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary according to loca−
tion and type of road. Always check local regulations before install−
ing chains.
 Install the chains on the rear tires.

Retighten the chains after driving 1/4 − 1/2 mile (0.5 − 1.0 km).
 Snow chain installation
Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains.
Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
Install tire chains on the rear tires only. Do not install tire chains on the
front tires.
 Install tire chains following the instructions provided in the accompanying
instructions.
 When driving the vehicle
Accelerate the vehicle slowly and drive at a reduced speed suit−
able to road conditions.
 When parking the vehicle
Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to P (automatic trans−
mission) or to 1 or R (manual transmission) without setting the
parking brake. The parking brak e may freeze up, preventing it
from being released.