2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Owners Manual

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Maintenance and care
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■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect ti
re inflation pressure ma y result in the following:
●Reduced fuel efficiency
●Reduced driving comfort and tire life
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent inflating, have it checked by your Toyota dealer.
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or has not been
driven for more than 1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold
tire inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be mi sleading. In addition, tire infla-
tion pressure that is even just a few pounds off can affect ride quality
and handling.
●Do not reduce tire inflation pressure after driving. It is normal for tire
inflation pressure to be higher after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle
is balanced.

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CAUTION
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions
may occur and result in an accident causing death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resu lting from overheated tires
●Poor sealing of the tire bead
●Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
●A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps back on.
Without the valve caps, dirt or mo isture could get into the valve and
cause air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps are lost,
replace them as soon as possible.

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Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be
replaced. Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or
cause a loss of handling control.
■Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that
they are equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter,
rim width and inset*.
Replacement wheels are available at your Toyota dealer.
*:Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Toyota does not recommend using the following:
● Wheels of different sizes or types
● Used wheels
● Bent wheels that have been straightened
■ Aluminum wheel precautions
●Use only Toyota wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use
with your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
● When balancing your wheels, use only Toyota genuine bal-
ance weights or the equivalent. If clip-on balance weights are
being used, use a plastic or rubber hammer to install the
weight.

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■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped with tire pressure warning valves
and transmitters that allow the tire pressure warning system to provide
advanced warning in the event of a loss in tire inflation pressure. Whenever
wheels are replaced, the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters must
be installed. ( P. 538)
CAUTION
■When replacing wheels
● Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in the
Owner’s Manual, as this may result in a loss of handling control.
● Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a tube-
less tire. Doing so may result in an accident, causing death or serious
injury.
■ When installing the wheel nuts
●
Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the wheel nuts to be excessively tightened,
leading to bolt or disc wheel damage. In addition, the oil or grease can
cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the wheel may fall off, causing an
accident and resulting in death or serious injury. Remove any oil or
grease from the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
●Be sure to install the wheel nuts with
the tapered end faci ng inward. Install-
ing the nuts with the tapered end fac-
ing outward can cause wheel to
break and eventually cause a wheel
to come off while driving, which could
lead to an accident resulting in death
or serious injury.
CTH43AS138
Ta p e r e d
portion

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NOTICE
■
Replacing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
● Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by your Toyota
dealer or other qualified service shop. In addition, make sure to purchase
your tire pressure warning valves and transmitters at your Toyota dealer.
● Ensure that only genuine Toyota wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly with
non-genuine wheels.

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Air conditioning filter
The air conditioning filter must be cleaned or changed regularly to
maintain air conditioning efficiency.
■ Removal method
Turn the engine switch (vehicles without a smart key sys-
tem) or “ENGINE START STOP” switch (vehicles with a
smart key system) off.
Open the glove box and
remove the cover.
Remove the filter cover.
Remove the filter.
The “UP” marks shown on
the filter should be pointing up.
STEP 1
CTH43AS089
STEP 2
CTH43AS024
STEP 3
CTH43AS025
STEP 4

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■
Checking interval
Inspect, clean and replace the air conditioning filter according to the mainte-
nance schedule. In dusty areas or areas with heavy traffic flow, more fre-
quent cleaning or early replacement may be required. (For scheduled
maintenance information, please refer to the “Scheduled Maintenance
Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
■ If air flow from the vents decreases dramatically
The filter may be clogged. Check the filter and replace if necessary.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the system
● When using the air conditioning system, make sure that a filter is always
installed.
● When cleaning the filter, do not clean with water.
■ Cleaning method
If the filter is dirty, clean by
blowing compressed air
through the filter from the
underside.
Hold the air gun 2 in. (5 cm)
from the filter and blow for
approximately 2 minutes at 72
psi (500 kPa, 5.0 kgf/cm
2 or
bar).
If an air gun is not available,
have the filter cleaned by your
Toyota dealer.CTH43AS026

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Wireless remote control/electronic key batter y
Replace the battery with a new one if it is depleted.
■You will need the following items:
●Flathead screwdriver
● Lithium battery CR2016 (vehicles without a smart key sys-
tem), or CR1632 (vehicles with a smart key system)
■ Replacing the battery (vehicles without a smart key system)
Remove the cover.
To prevent damage to the key,
cover the tip of the screwdriver
with a rag.
Remove the module.
Open the case cover using a
coin protected with tape etc.
and remove the depleted bat-
tery.
Insert a new battery with the
“+” terminal facing up.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3