2012 TOYOTA YARIS Owners Manual

233
4
Maintenance and care
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself ser vice precautions
If you perform maintenance by yourself, be sure to follow the correct
procedures as given in these sections.
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition ( P. 249)
•Warm water
• Baking soda
• Grease
• Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
• Distilled water
Brake fluid level ( P. 248)
• FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE
J1703 brake fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine coolant level ( P. 246)
• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
or similar high quality ethylene
glycol-based non-silicate,
non-amine, non-nitrite and
non-borate coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid technology.
Except Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
is pre-mixed with 50% coolant
and 50% deionized water.
Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
is pre-mixed with 55% coolant
and 45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding engine coolant)
Engine oil level P. 242)
• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or
equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)

234 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
The engine compartment contains many mechanisms and fluids that may
move suddenly, become hot, or become electrically energized. To avoid death
or serious injury, observe the following precautions:
■When working on the engine compartment:
● Keep hands, clothing and tools away from the moving fan and engine
drive belt.
● Be careful not to touch the engine, radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right
after driving as they may be hot. Oil and other fluids may also be hot.
● Do not leave anything that may burn easily, such as paper and rags, in the
engine compartment.
● Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose an open flame to fuel or the bat-
tery. Fuel and battery fumes are flammable.
● Be extremely cautious when working on the battery. It contains poisonous
and corrosive sulfuric acid.
ItemsParts and tools
Fuses (P. 274)• Fuse with same amperage rating
as original
Light bulbs (P. 286)
• Bulb with same number and watt-
age rating as original
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wrench
Radiator and condenser (P. 247)
Tire inflation pressure ( P. 261)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source
Washer fluid (P. 252)
• Water or washer fluid containing
antifreeze (for winter use)
• Funnel (used only for adding water or washer fluid)

235
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■
When working near the electric cooling fan or radiator grille
Be sure the engine switch is off.
With the engine switch on, the electric cooling fan may automatically start to
run if the air conditioning is on and/or the coolant temperature is high.
( P. 247)
■ Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc. from
getting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive engine wear
due to dirt in the air. Also, a backfire could cause a fire in the engine com-
partment.

236
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Hood
Release the lock from the inside of the vehicle to open the hood.
Pull the hood lock release
lever.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Pull up the auxiliary catch
lever and lift the hood.
Hold the hood open by insert-
ing the supporting rod into the
slot.

237
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■
Pre-driving check
Check that the hood is fully closed and locked.
If the hood is not locked properly, it may open while the vehicle is in motion
and cause an accident, which may result in death or serious injury.
■ After installing the support rod into the slot
Make sure the rod supports the hood securely from falling down on to your
head or body.
NOTICE
■When closing the hood
Be sure to return the support rod to its clip before closing the hood. Closing
the hood with the support rod up could cause the hood to bend.

238
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Positioning a floor jack
When raising your vehicle with a floor jack, position the jack cor-
rectly. Improper placement may damage your vehicle or cause injury.
Front
Rear

239
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■
When raising your vehicle
Make sure to observe the following precautions to reduce the possibility of
death or serious injury:
●When using a floor jack, follow the instructions of the manual provided with
the jack.
● Do not use the jack that was supplied with your vehicle.
● Do not put any part of your body underneath the vehicle when it is sup-
ported only by the floor jack.
● Always use floor jack and/or automotive jack stands on a solid, flat, level
surface.
● Do not start the engine while the vehicle is supported by the floor jack.
● Stop the vehicle on level, firm ground, firmly set the parking brake and shift
the shift lever to P (vehicles with an automatic transmission) or R (vehicles
with a manual transmission).
● Make sure to set the floor jack properly at the jack point.
Raising the vehicle with an improperly positioned floor jack will damage
the vehicle and may cause the vehicle to fall off the floor jack.
●Lift up the vehicle using a floor jack
such as the one shown in the illustra-
tion.
●Do not jack the vehicle at the suspen-
sion. The suspension may be dam-
aged.Suspension
Front

240 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is in the vehicle.
● When raising the vehicle, do not place any object on top of or underneath
the floor jack.