2008 TOYOTA tC Owners Manual (in English)

241
CAUTION
Observe the following instruc-
tions. Otherwise, an accident
may occur resulting in death or
serious injuries.
Do not mix radial, bias belted,
or bias–ply tires on your ve-
hicle, as this may cause dan-
gerous handling characteris-
tics resulting in loss of control.
 Do not use tires other than the
manufacturer’s recommended
size, as this may cause danger-
ous handling characteristics
resulting in loss of control.
Scion recommends all four tires, or
at least both of the front or rear
tires be replaced at a time as a set.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page
194 for tire change procedure.
When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect ve-
hicle handling and tire life. Wheels
can get out of balance with regular
use and should therefore be balanced
occasionally.
When replacing a tubeless tire, the
air valve should also be repl aced
w i t h a new on e.
Rotating tires
To equalize the wear and help ex-
tend tire life, Scion recommends
that you rotate your tires accord-
ing to the maintenance schedule.
(For scheduled maintenance infor-
mation, please refer to the “Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide” or “Own-
er’s Manual Supplement”.)
However, the most appropriate tim-
ing for tire rotation may vary ac-
cording to your driving habits and
road surface conditions.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page
194 for tire change procedure.

242 When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is
usually caused by incorrect tire infla-
tion pressure, improper wheel align-
ment, out–of–balance wheels, or se-
vere braking.
CAUTION
Do not include a compact spare
tire when rotating the tires. It is
designed for temporary use only.
The tire pressure warning system
must be initialized when rotating tires,
in case that specified tire inflation
pressure is different between front
and rear.
WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR
CHAINS
Snow tires or chains are recommended
when driving on snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires
provide better traction than snow tires.
SNOW TIRE SELECTION
If you need snow tires, select tires of
the same size, construction and load
capacity as the originally installed tires.
Do not use tires other than those men-
tioned above. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions.
CAUTION
Do not use snow tires other than the
manufacturer ’s recommended size, as
this may cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in loss of
control. Otherwise, an accident may
occur resulting in death or serious
injuries.
SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION
Snow tires should be installed on all
wheels.
Installing snow tires on the front wheels
only can lead to an excessive difference
in road grip capability between the front
and rear tires which could cause loss of
vehicle control.
When storing removed tires you should
store them in a cool dry place.
Mark the direction of rotation and be sure
to install them in the same direction when
replacing.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the snow tires
incorrectly inflated.
Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph)
with any type of snow tires.
Installing snow tires and
chains

243
72c005
Side chain
Cross chain
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION
Use the tire chains of correct size.
For 215/45ZR17 or P205/55R16 tires, use
the following type chains. mm (in.)
A Diameter of side chain: 3.5 (0.14)
B Diameter of cross chain: 4.0 (0.16) Regulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary according to location or
type of road, so always check local reg-
ulations before installing chains.
NOTICE
If the wrong combination of tire and
chain is used, the chains could dam-
age the vehicle body.
CHAIN INSTALLATION
Install the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the rear tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5–1.0 km (1/4–1/2
mile).
When installing chains on your tires, care-
fully follow the instructions of the chain
manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so remove
the covers before putting on the chains.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or
the chain manufacturer ’s recom-
mended speed limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully avoiding bumps,
holes, and sharp turns, which may
cause the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked–wheel
braking, as use of chains may ad-
versely affect vehicle handling.
When driving with chains installed,
be sure to drive carefully. Slow
down before entering curves to
avoid losing control of the vehicle.
Otherwise an accident may occur.
NOTICE
Do not attempt to use a tire chain on
the compact spare tire, as it may re-
sult in damage to the vehicle as well
as the tire.

244
Replacing wheels
As you might have difficulty in identify-
ing a flat or deflated tire, a tire pres-
sure warning system is provided on
this vehicle.
When replacing the wheels, be sure to
install tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters on the wheels. Consult your
Scion dealer about how to set up the tire
pressure warning valves and transmitters.
CAUTION
Have the tires, wheels or tire pres-
sure warning valves and transmit-
ters replaced and ID codes regis-
tered by Scion dealer. If you need
tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters, purchase from Scion
dealer.
The tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter nuts should always be
tightened to a torque of 4 N·m (0.4
kgf·m, 2.9 ft·lbf).
The use of nongenuine wheels may
result in the tire pressure warning
system failure or airleak.
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS
If you have wheel damage such as
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion, the
wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the
tire may slip off the wheel or cause loss
of handling control.
WHEEL SELECTION
When replacing wheels, care should be
taken to ensure that the wheels are re-
placed by ones with the same load ca-
pacity, diameter, rim width, and offset.
This must be observed on compact spare
tires, too.
Correct replacement wheels are available
at your Scion dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type may
adversely affect handling, wheel and bear-
ing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odom-
eter calibration, stopping ability, headlight
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clear-
ance, and tire or snow chain clearance to
the body and chassis.Replacement with used wheels is not rec-
ommended as they may have been sub-
jected to rough treatment or high mileage
and could fail without warning. Also, bent
wheels which have been straightened may
have structural damage and therefore
should not be used. Never use an inner
tube in a leaking wheel which is designed
for a tubeless tire.
CAUTION
Observe the following instruction.
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-
sulting in death or serious injuries.
Do not use wheels other than the
manufacturer ’s recommended size, as
this may cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in loss of
control.

245
Aluminum wheel precautions
When installing aluminum wheels,
check that the wheel nuts are tight
after driving your vehicle the first 1600
km (1000 miles).
If you have rotated, repaired, or
changed your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving
1600 km (1000 miles).
When using tire chains, be careful not
to damage the aluminum wheels.
Use only Scion wheel nuts and wrench
designed for your aluminum wheels.
When balancing your wheels, use only
Scion balance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber hammer.
As with any wheel, periodically check
your aluminum wheels for damage. If
damaged, replace immediately.

246

247
DO–IT–YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
Electrical components
Checking battery condition248
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery recharging precautions 249
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking and replacing fuses 250
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding washer fluid 251
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . .
Replacing light bulbs 251
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . .
SECTION 7– 3

248
CAUTION
BATTERY PRECAUTIONS
The battery produces flammable and
explosive hydrogen gas.
Do not cause a spark from the bat-
tery with tools.
Do not smoke or light a match near
the battery.
The electrolyte contains poisonous
and corrosive sulfuric acid.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin or
clothes.
Never ingest electrolyte.
Wear protective safety glasses when
working near the battery.
Keep children away from the bat-
tery.
EMERGENCY MEASURES
If electrolyte gets in your eyes,
flush your eyes with clean water
immediately and get immediate
medical attention. If possible, con-
tinue to apply water with a sponge
or cloth while en route to the medi-
cal office.
If electrolyte gets on your skin,
thoroughly wash the contact area. If
you feel pain or burning, get medi-
cal attention immediately.
If electrolyte gets on your clothes,
there is a possibility of its soaking
through to your skin, so immediate-
ly take off the exposed clothing and
follow the procedure above, if nec-
essary.
If you accidentally swallow electro-
lyte, drink a large quantity of water
or milk. Follow with milk of magne-
sia, beaten raw egg or vegetable
oil. Then go immediately for emer-
gency help.
—Checking battery exterior
Te r m i n a l sGround cable
Hold–down clamp
Check the battery for corroded or loose
terminal connections, cracks, or loose
hold–down clamp. a. If the battery is corroded, wash it off with a solution of warm water and bak-
ing soda. Coat the outside of the termi-
nals with grease to prevent further cor-
rosion.
b. If the terminal connections are loose, tighten their clamp nuts—but do not
overtighten.
c. Tighten the hold–down clamp only enough to keep the battery firmly in
place. Overtightening may damage the
battery case.
Checking battery c ondition—
—Precautions