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203
6
Maintenance and care
Scion iM_U (12J49U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself ser vice precautions
If you perform maintenance by yourself, be sure to follow the
correct procedure as given in these sections.
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition
(P. 216)• Warm water• Baking soda• Grease
• Conventional wrench (for terminal clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level
(P. 214)• 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. 212)
• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or a similar high
quality ethylene glycol-based non-silicate, non-
amine, non-nitrite and non-borate coolant with long-
life hybrid organic acid technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed with
50% coolant and 50% deionized water.
For 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. 209)• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses ( P. 239)• Fuse with same amperage rating as original
Light bulbs
(P. 242)
• Bulb with same number and wattage rating as origi-
nal
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver• Wrench
Radiator and con-
denser (
P. 214)
Tire inflation
pressure
( P. 230)•Tire pressure gauge
•Compressed air source
Washer fluid
(P. 219)• Water or washer fluid containing antifreeze (for win-
ter use)
• Funnel (used only for adding water or washer fluid)
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2206-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion iM_U (12J49U)
Check if the treadwear indicators are showing on the tires. Also check
the tires for uneven wear, such as excessive wear on one side of the
tread.
Check the spare tire condition and pressure if not rotated.
New tread
Worn tread
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators is shown by a “TWI” or “” mark,
etc., molded into the sidewall of each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and extend
tire life, Scion recommends that
tire rotation is carried out at the
same interval as tire inspection.
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in acco rdance with maintenance sched-
ules and treadwear.
Checking tires
Tire rotation
1
2
3
Front
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2216-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Scion iM_U (12J49U)
Your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses
tire pressure warning valves and tr ansmitters to detect low tire infla-
tion pressure before serious problems arise.
If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is
warned by a warning light. ( P. 263)
uInstalling tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are
installed, new ID codes must be registered in the tire pressure
warning computer and the tire pr essure warning system must be
initialized. Have tire pressure warning valves and transmitter ID
codes registered by your Scion dealer. ( P. 223)
uInitializing the tire pressure warning system
nThe tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the fol-
lowing circumstances:
l When rotating front and rear tires which have different tire infla-
tion pressures.
l When changing the tire size.
l When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when chang-
ing traveling speed or load weight.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire
inflation pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.
Tire pressure warning system
Page 222 of 356
2226-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion iM_U (12J49U)n
How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
Park the vehicle in a safe place and turn the engine switch off.
Initialization cannot be performed while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire inflation
pressure level. ( P. 301)
Make sure to adjust the tire pressu re to the specified cold tire infla-
tion pressure level. The tire pressure warning system will operate
based on this pressure level.
Turn the engine switch to the “ON” position.
Open the glove box. Press
and hold the tire pressure
warning reset switch until the
tire pressure warning light
blinks slowly 3 times.
Wait for a few minutes with the eng ine switch in the “ON” position
and then turn the engine switch to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.
1
2
3
4
5
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2236-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Scion iM_U (12J49U)
uRegistering ID codes
The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a
unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code. Have the ID code
registered by your Scion dealer.
nWhen to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
lThe treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
lYou have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric, and bulges indicating internal damage
lA tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size
or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with your Scion dealer.
nReplacing tires and wheels
If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not reg-
istered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. After driv-
ing for about 20 minutes, the tire pressure warning light blinks for 1
minute and stays on to indicate a system malfunction.
nTire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even
if it has seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
nRoutine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of
your routine of daily vehicle checks.
nLow profile tires
Generally, low profile tires will wear mo re rapidly and tire grip perfor-
mance will be reduced on snowy and /or icy roads when compared to
standard tires. Be sure to use snow tires on snowy and/or icy roads and
drive carefully at a speed appropriate for road and weather conditions.
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2246-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion iM_U (12J49U)n
Maximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of the re
placement tire is greater than 1/2
of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) of either the front axle or the
rear axle, whichever is greater.
nTire types
lSummer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same
traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy ro ads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
lAll season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions as well as for use
year-round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also, all
season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performance com-
pared with summer tires in highway driving.
lSnow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load capacity as the or iginally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations fo r possible restrictions. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels. ( P. 162)
nIf the tread on snow tires wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tire s as snow tires is lost.
For the GAWR, see the Certification
Label. For the maximum load of the tire,
see the load limit at maximum cold tire
inflation pressure mentioned on the
sidewall of the tire. (
P. 306)
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2256-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Scion iM_U (12J49U)n
Situations in which the tire pressure warning system may not oper-
ate properly
lIn the following cases, the tire pr
essure warning system may not operate
properly.
• If non-genuine Scion wheels are used.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not an OE (Original Equip- ment) tire.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not of the specified size.
• Tire chains etc. are equipped.
• An auxiliary-supported run- flat tire is equipped.
• If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is installed.
• If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, particularly around the
wheels or wheel housings.
• If the tire inflation pressure is extremely higher than the specified level.
• If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters are used.
• If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is not registered in the tire pressure warning computer.
lPerformance may be affected in the following situations.
• Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, largedisplay, airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or
electrical noise.
• When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless communication device.
lWhen the vehicle is parked, the time taken for the warning to start or go
off could be extended.
lWhen tire inflation pressure declines rapidly for example when a tire has
burst, the warning may not function.
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2266-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion iM_U (12J49U)n
The initialization operation
lMake sure to carry out in
itialization after adjusting the tire inflation pres-
sure.
Also, make sure the tires are cold be fore carrying out initialization or tire
inflation pressure adjustment.
lIf you have accidentally turned the engine switch off during initialization,
it is not necessary to press the reset switch again as initialization will
restart automatically when the engine switch to the “ON” position for the
next time.
lIf you accidentally press the reset s witch when initialization is not neces-
sary, adjust the tire inflation pressu re to the specified level when the
tires are cold, and conduct initialization again.
nWarning performance of the ti re pressure warning system
The warning of the tire pressure warning system will change in accor-
dance with driving conditions. For th is reason, the system may give a
warning even if the tire pressure does not reach a low enough level, or if
the pressure is higher than the pressure that was adjusted to when the
system was initialized.
nWhen initialization of the tire pr essure warning system has failed
Initialization can be completed in a few minutes. However, in the following
cases, the settings have not been recorded and the system will not oper-
ate properly. If repeated attempts to record tire inflation pressure settings
are unsuccessful, have the vehicl e inspected by your Scion dealer.
lWhen operating the tire pressure wa rning reset switch, the tire pressure
warning light does not blink 3 times.
lAfter driving for a certain period of time since the initialization has been
completed, the warning light comes on after blinking for 1 minute.