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1774-1. Before driving
4
Driving
4RUNNER (U)
Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■ Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
● Refrain from driving at high speeds in the rain, as there may b e a layer of
water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the st eering and
brakes from operating properly.
■ Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving.
This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to
meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
● When the accelerator pedal is released
■ Restraining the engine out put (Brake Override System)
● When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, the
engine output may be restrained.
● A warning message is displayed on the multi-information display while the
system is operating.
■ Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)
● When the following unusual operation is performed, the engine o utput may
be restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to
R (D includes S) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warnin g mes-
sage appears on the multi-information display.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed too much while the veh icle is in
reverse.
● While Drive-Start Control is being activated, your vehicle may have trouble
escaping from the mud or fresh snow. In such case, perform the following
actions to cancel Drive-Start Control so that the vehicle may b ecome able to
escape from the mud or fresh snow.
• Deactivate TRAC ( P. 323, 324)
• 2WD models: When the AUTO LSD system is turned on. ( P. 303)
• Part-time 4WD models: The four-wheel drive control switch is in “L4” position. ( P. 293)
• Full-time 4WD models: The four-wheel drive control switch is i n “L4L”
position. ( P. 297)
Starting off on a steep uphill
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2
3
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2964-5. Using the driving support systems
4RUNNER (U)■
Shifting from L4 to H4
Stop the vehicle completely and continue to depress the brake
pedal.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Ty p e A
Shift the front-wheel drive control lever to H4.
Ty p e B
Push the “UNLOCK” button and turn the front-wheel drive control
switch to H4.
The low speed four-wheel drive indicator will go off.
■When the front-wheel drive control lever or switch is shifted t o L4
VSC and TRAC are automatically turned off.
■ If the four-wheel dri ve indicator flashes
The transfer mode may not successfully change. Drive straight a head while
accelerating or decelerating, or drive in reverse.
■ If the low speed four-wheel dri ve indicator continues to flash
The transfer mode may not successfully change. Operate the four -wheel
drive control switch again.
■ If the low speed four-wheel dri ve indicator continues to flash and a
buzzer sounds
The shift lever is not in N and/or the vehicle is moving. Stop the vehicle com-
pletely, shift the shift lever to N and make sure that the indi cator stops flash-
ing.
■ If the four-wheel drive or low speed four-wheel drive indicator flashes
rapidly
There may be a malfunction in the four-wheel drive system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■ Four-wheel drive usage frequency
You should drive in four-wheel drive for at least 10 miles (16 km) each month.
This will assure that the front drive components are lubricated .
WARNING
■Shifting the front-wheel drive co ntrol lever or switch from H2 to H4
while driving
Never operate the front-wheel drive control lever or switch if the wheels are
slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting.
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2
3
3
Page 299 of 596

2994-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
4RUNNER (U)■
Shifting from L4L to H4L
Stop the vehicle completely and continue to depress the brake
pedal.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push the “UNLOCK” button
and turn the four-wheel drive
control switch to H4L.
Maintain this condition until the
low speed four-wheel drive indi-
cator goes off.
■The four-wheel drive control sw itch can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ When the four-wheel d rive control switch is turned to L4L
VSC and TRAC are automatically turned off.
■ If the center differential lock indicator flashes
Locking or unlocking of the center differential is not complete . Drive straight
ahead while accelerating or decelerating, or drive in reverse.
■ If the center differential lock indicator flashes and a buzzer sounds
Locking of the center differential is not complete. Stop the wh eels from slip-
ping or spinning and, if the indicator still flashes, operate the four-wheel drive
control switch again.
■ If the low speed four-wheel dri ve indicator continues to flash
The transfer mode may not successfully change. Operate the four -wheel
drive control switch again.
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2
3
Page 318 of 596

3184-5. Using the driving support systems
4RUNNER (U)
Depending on switch operation,
one of the following messages
may appear on the multi-informa-
tion display to provide guidance
on transfer mode selection etc:
Messages displayed on the mu lti-information display
MessageDetailsProcedure
“Select 4WD”
(When selecting MUD
& SAND mode) Indicates that the trans-
fer mode needs to be
changed to H4 or L4.Shift the front-wheel
drive control lever to H4
or L4.
“Select L4”
(When selecting
LOOSE ROCK,
MOGUL or ROCK
mode)
Indicates that the trans-
fer mode needs to be
changed to L4.Shift the front-wheel
drive control lever to
L4.
“Stop the Vehicle. Shift
to N”
(When selecting any
mode)Indicates that the trans-
fer mode cannot be
changed to H4 or L4.Stop the vehicle com-
pletely and/or shift the
shift lever to N.
“Accelerate or Deceler-
ate”
(When shifting the
front-wheel control
lever to H4 or H2)
Indicates that the trans-
fer mode may not suc-
cessfully change.Drive straight ahead
while accelerating or
decelerating, or drive in
reverse.
“Drive the Vehicle a
Short Distance”
(When pressing the
rear differential lock
switch)
Indicates that the rear
differential is not
locked.Drive the vehicle for-
ward or backward a
short distance.