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2176-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Scion iM_U (12J49U)
WARNING
nChemicals in the battery
Batteries contain poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid and may produce
hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. To reduce the risk of death
or serious injury, take the following precautions while working on or near the
battery:
lDo not cause sparks by touching the battery terminals with tools.
l Do not smoke or light a match near the battery.
l Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothes.
l Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.
l Wear protective safety glasses when working near the battery.
l Keep children away from the battery.
n Where to safely charge the battery
Always charge the battery in an open area. Do not charge the battery in a
garage or closed room where there is insufficient ventilation.
n How to recharge the battery
Only perform a slow charge (5 A or less). The battery may explode if
charged at a quicker rate.
n Emergency measures regarding electrolyte
lIf electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immedi-
ate medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with a sponge or
cloth while traveling to the nearest medical facility.
l If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thoroughly. If you feel pain or burning, get medical
attention immediately.
l If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to your skin. Immediately take off the cloth-
ing and follow the procedure above if necessary.
l If you accidentally swallow electrolyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk. Get emergency medical attention
immediately.
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2186-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion iM_U (12J49U)
NOTICE
nWhen recharging the battery
Never recharge the battery while the engine is running. Also, be sure all
accessories are turned off.
Page 219 of 356
2196-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Scion iM_U (12J49U)
If any washer does not work or
“Windshield Washer Fluid Low” is
displayed on the multi-information
display, the washer fluid tank may
be empty. Add washer fluid.
Washer fluid
WARNING
nWhen adding washer fluid
Do not add washer fluid when the engine is hot or running as washer fluid
contains alcohol and may catch fire if spilled on the engine etc.
NOTICE
n Do not use any fluid other than washer fluid
Do not use soapy water or engine antifreeze instead of washer fluid.
Doing so may cause streaking on the vehicle’s painted surfaces.
n Diluting washer fluid
Dilute washer fluid with water as necessary.
Refer to the freezing temperatures listed on the label of the washer fluid bot-
tle.
Page 220 of 356
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
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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.
Page 224 of 356

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)