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CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service 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. 440)• Warm water• Baking soda• Grease
• Conventional wrench (for terminal clamp bolts)
• Distilled water (batteries with vent plugs only)
Brake fluid level
(→P. 439)• 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. 437)
• “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
U.S.A.:
“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. 434)• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses (→P. 470)• Fuse with same amperage rating as original
Light bulbs
(→P. 473)• Bulb with same number and wattage rating as origi-
nal
• Flathead screwdriver• Wrench
Radiator/con-
denser (
→P. 438)⎯
Tire inflation
pressure
(→P. 459)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source
Washer fluid
(→P. 443)• Water or washer fluid containing antifreeze (for win-
ter use)
• Funnel (used only for adding water or washer fluid)
4296-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
6
Maintenance and care
WARNING
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.
■When working near the electric cooling fan or radiator grille
Vehicles without a smart key system:
Be sure the engine switch is off. With the engine switch in the “ON” position,
the electric cooling fan may automatically start to run if the air conditioning
is on and/or the coolant temperature is high. (→P. 438)
Vehicles with a smart key system:
Be sure the engine switch is off. With the engine switch in IGNITION ON
mode, the electric cooling fan may automatically start to run if the air condi-
tioning is on and/or the coolant temperature is high. (→P. 438)
■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.
4506-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
■When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●The treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
●You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric, and bulges indicating internal damage
●A 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 Toyota dealer.
■Replacing tires and wheels
If the ID codes of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitters are not
registered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. In this
case, after driving for about 20 minutes, the tire pressure warning light will
blink for approximately 1 minute and then illuminate to indicate a system
malfunction.
■Tire 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.
■Routine 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.
■Low profile tires (vehicles with 18 or 19-inch wheels)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more 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.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of the replacement 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.
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. 554)
4526-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)●
Performance may be affected in the following situations.
• When driving near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio
station, large display, 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
Vehicles with a tire inflation pressure display function: If tire position
information is not correctly displayed due to the radio wave conditions,
the display may be corrected by changing the location of the vehicle as
the radio wave conditions may change.
●When the vehicle is stopped, the time taken for the warning to start or
turn off may be longer.
●When the inflation pressure of a tire drops rapidly, for example when a
tire has burst, the warning may not operate.
■Initialization procedure
●Make sure to perform the initialization procedure after adjusting the tire
inflation pressure.
Also, make sure the tires are cold before performing the initialization
procedure or adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
●If the engine switch is turned to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without a
smart key system) or off (vehicles with a smart key system) during ini-
tialization, it is not necessary to restart the initialization procedure from
the beginning as it will begin automatically when the engine switch is
turned back to the “ON” position (vehicles without a smart key system)
or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with a smart key system).
●If initialization has accidentally been started when it is not necessary,
adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified level when the tires are
cold and then perform the initialization procedure again.
●Vehicles with a tire inflation pressure display function: While the position
of each tire is being determined and the inflation pressures are not being
displayed on the multi-information display, if the inflation pressure of a
tire drops, the tire pressure warning light will come on.
■Warning performance of the tire pressure warning system
The warning of the tire pressure warning system will change in accor-
dance with the conditions under which it was initialized. For this 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.
4586-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels, tire pressure warning valve
and transmitters and tire valve caps
●When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitters, contact your Toyota dealer as the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitters may be damaged if not handled cor-
rectly.
●Make sure to install the tire valve caps. If the tire valve caps are not
installed, water may enter the valves of the tire pressure warning valve
and transmitters and the valves may become stuck.
●When replacing tire valve caps, do not use tire valve caps other than
those specified. The cap may become stuck.
■To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valve and transmit-
ters
When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is
used, contact your Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop as soon
as possible. Make sure to replace the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter when replacing the tire. (→P. 446)
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot-
holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing
the cushioning ability of the tires. In addition, driving on rough roads
may cause damage to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s
wheels and body.
■Low profile tires (vehicles with 18 or 19-inch wheels)
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the tire wheel
when sustaining impact from the road surface. Therefore, pay attention
to the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated,
they may be damaged more severely.
●Avoid potholes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards. Fail-
ure to do so may lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressure of each tire becomes low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.
4616-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
6
Maintenance and care
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or has not been
driven for more than 1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold tire
inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
It is difficult to judge if a tire is properly inflated based only on its appear-
ance.
●It is normal for the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving as
heat is generated in the tire. Do not reduce tire inflation pressure after
driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is
balanced.
WARNING
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly inflated, the following conditions may occur
which could lead to an accident resulting in death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
●Air leaking from between tire and wheel
●Wheel deformation and/or tire damage
●Greater possibility of tire damage while driving (due to road hazards,
expansion joints, sharp edges in the road, etc.)
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps back on.
If a valve cap is not installed, dirt or moisture may get into the valve and
cause an air leak, resulting in decreased tire inflation pressure.
4646-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
Turn the engine switch off.
Open the glove box and
remove the glove box cover
inside the glove box.
Remove the filter cover.
Unlock the filter cover.
Move the filter cover in the
direction of the arrow, and
then pull it out of the claws.
Remove the filter case.
There may be foreign objects on
top of the air conditioning filter.
Air conditioning filter
The air conditioning filter must be changed regularly to maintain
air conditioning efficiency.
Removal method
1
2
3
1
2
4
4656-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
6
Maintenance and care
Remove the air conditioning fil-
ter from the filter case and
replace it with a new one.
The “↑UP” marks shown on the fil-
ter and the filter case should be
pointing up.
■Checking interval
Inspect and replace the air conditioning filter according to the maintenance
schedule. In dusty areas or areas with heavy traffic flow, early replacement
may be required. (For scheduled maintenance information, please refer to the
“Schedule maintenance guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
■If air flow from the vents decreases dramatically
The filter may be clogged. Check the filter and replace if necessary.
■Air conditioning filter with deodorizing function
When fragrances are placed in your vehicle, the deodorizing effect may
become significantly weakened in a short period.
When an air conditioning odor comes out continuously, replace the air condi-
tioning filter.
5
NOTICE
■When using the air conditioning system
Make sure that a filter is always installed.
Using the air conditioning system without a filter may cause damage to the
system.
■To prevent damage to the filter cover
When moving the filter cover in the direc-
tion of arrow to release the fitting, pay
attention not to apply excessive force to
the claws. Otherwise, the claws may be
damaged.