2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA Owners Manual

5
When trouble arises
601
5-1. Essential information
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towingThe following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Toyota dealer before towing.
● The engine is running, but the vehicle will not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Emergency towing
If a tow truck is not available, in an emergency your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency
towing eyelet. This should only attempted on hard, surfaced roads for
short distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
Type A Towing eyelet
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by
your Toyota dealer or a commerci al towing service, using a lift-type
truck or a flat bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all to wing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
The wheels and axle on the groun d must be in good condition.
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flat bed truck.

602 5-1. Essential information
Type BTowing eyelet
■Emergency towin g procedure
The engine switch must be in the ACC (engine off) or the ON
(engine running) position.
4WD models: Put the front-wheel drive control switch in 2WD.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Release the parking brake.
CAUTION
■ Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive
stress on the emergency towing eyelet and the cables or chains. Always
be cautious of the surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
● If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering
will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.

5
When trouble arises
603
5-1. Essential information
Towing with a sling-type truck
NOTICE
■
To prevent serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle from the rear with the four wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage to the transmission.
■ Emergency towing eyelet precautions
● Before emergency towing, check that the eyelet is not broken or damaged
and that the installation bolts are not loose.
● Fasten the towing cable or chain securely to the eyelet.
● Do not jerk the eyelet. Apply steady and even force.
● To avoid damaging the eyelet, do not pull from the side or at a vertical
angle. Always pull straight ahead.
NOTICE
■To prevent body damage
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.

604 5-1. Essential information
Towing with a wheel lift-type truck from the frontUse a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
Towing with a wheel lift-type truck from the rear2WD models Turn the engine switch to the
ACC position.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious damage to the transmission
Never tow this vehicle wheels on the ground.

5
When trouble arises
605
5-1. Essential information
4WD models
We recommend the use of a tow-
ing dolly under the front wheels.
When not using a towing dolly,
turn the engine switch to the ACC
position, shift the shift lever to N
and put the front wheel drive con-
trol switch in 2WD.
Using a flat bed truck
If your Toyota is transported by a
flat bed truck, it should be tied
down at the locations shown in
the illustration.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle
●Do not tow the vehicle with the key removed or in the LOCK position.
The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheel
straight.
● When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while being towed.
Front

606 5-1. Essential information
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
indicated by triangles must be
45.
Do not overly tighten the tie
downs or the vehicle may be
damaged.
Apply the parking brake firmly.

5
When trouble arises
607
5-1. Essential information
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
■ Visible symptoms
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air cond itioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temperature g auge needle continually points
higher than normal
● Voltmeter continually points higher or lower than normal
(if equipped)
● Engine oil pressure gauge continually points lower than nor-
mal (if equipped)
● Automatic transmission fluid temperature gauge needle con-
tinually points higher than normal (if equipped)
■ Audible symptoms
●Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the engine
■ Operational symptoms
●Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, s pongy feeling, pedal almost
touches the floor

608
5-1. Essential information
Fuel pump shut off system
Follow the procedure below to restart the engine after the system is
activated.Turn the engine switch to the ACC or LOCK position.
Restart the engine.
NOTICE
■Before starting the engine
Inspect the ground under the vehicle.
If you find that fuel has leaked onto the ground, the fuel system has been
damaged and is in need of repair. Do not restart the engine.
To minimize the risk of fuel leakage when the engine stalls or an air-
bag inflates upon collision, the fuel pump shut off system stops sup-
plying fuel to the engine.