2013 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Owners Manual

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When driving
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CAUTION
■
When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■ Caution while driving
If the vehicle begins to slide due to engine failure or other circumstances, do
not lock or open the doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete
stop. Activation of the steering lock in this circumstance may lead to an acci-
dent, resulting in death or serious injury.
■ Stopping the engine in an emergency
If you want to stop the engine in an emergency while driving the vehicle,
press and hold the “ENGINE START STOP” switch for more than 2 seconds,
or press it briefly 3 times or more in succession.
However, do not touch the “ENGINE START STOP” switch while driving
except in an emergency. Turning the engine off while driving will not cause
loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will
be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull
over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

178 2-1. Driving procedures
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NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
● Do not leave the “ENGINE START STOP” switch in ACCESSORY or IGNI-
TION ON mode for long periods of time without the engine running.
● If the indicator on the “ENGINE START STOP” switch is illuminated, the
“ENGINE START STOP” switch is not off. When exiting the vehicle,
always check that the “ENGINE START STOP” switch is off.
● Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If
the engine is stopped in another shift lever position, the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch will not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY
mode. If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode, battery discharge may
occur.
■ When starting the engine
● Do not race a cold engine.
● If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the engine
checked immediately.
■ Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the “ENGINE START STOP”
switch
If the “ENGINE START STOP” seems to be operating somewhat differently
than usual, such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction.
Contact your Toyota dealer immediately.

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When driving
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Automatic transmission
Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
■Shifting the shift lever
Vehicles without a smart key system:
While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, move the
shift lever with the brake pedal depressed.
Vehicles with a smart key system:
While the “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION
ON mode, move the shift lever with the brake pedal
depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped.
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180 2-1. Driving procedures
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■Shift position purpose
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in the D
position for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the pos-sible gear ranges, controls engine braking forces, and prevents unnec-
essary upshifting.
Shift positionFunction
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P. 181)

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When driving
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Changing shift ranges in S mode
When the shift lever is in the S position, the shift lever can be oper-
ated as follows:
Non-Optitron type meter For upshifting
For downshifting
Optitron type meter For upshifting
For downshifting
The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to “4” according
to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set to “3” if
AI-SHIFT has operated while the shift lever was in the D position.
(  P. 182)
■ Shift ranges and their functions
●You can choose from 5 levels of engine braking force.
● A lower shift range will provide greater engine braking force than
a higher shift range, and the engine speed will also increase.
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182 2-1. Driving procedures
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■S mode
When the shift range is “3” or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets
the shift range to “5”.
■ AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the optimal gear according to driver perfor-
mance and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D position.
(Shifting the shift lever to the S position cancels the function.)
The engine speed may remain high after releasing the accelerator pedal.
This does not indicate a malfunction.
■ When driving with the cruise control system
Engine braking will not occur in S mode, even when downshifting to “4”.
(P. 217)
■ If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
 P. 622
■ If the “S” indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever
to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when
the shift lever is in D.)
■ Downshift restriction warning buzzer (S mode)
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may
sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be
possible even when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
CAUTION
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause the vehicle to spin or skid,
resulting in an accident.

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When driving
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Tur n signal lever
■Turn signals can be operated when
Vehicles without a smart key system: The engine switch is in the “ON” posi-
tion.
Vehicles with a smart key system: The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in
IGNITION ON mode.
■ If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned
out.
The turn signal lever can be used to show the following intentions
of the driver:
Right turn
Left turn
Lane change to the right
(push and hold the lever
partway)
The right hand signals will
flash until you release the
lever.
Lane change to the left
(push and hold the lever
partway)
The left hand signals will flash
until you release the lever.
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Parking brake
■Usage in winter time
See “Winter driving tips” for parking brake usage in winter time. ( P. 290)
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake
wear.
To set the parking brake, fully
depress the parking brake
pedal with your left foot while
depressing the brake pedal
with your right foot.
(Depressing the pedal again
releases the parking brake.)
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U.S.A. Canada