2021 TOYOTA 4RUNNER steering

4647-1. Essential information
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■If the engine has to be tu rned off while driving
● Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, ma king the
brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the engine.
● Vehicles without a smart key system:
Never attempt to remove the key, as doing so will lock the stee ring wheel.

4677-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■While towing
● When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. w hich place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets, cables or chains. The towing eye-
lets, cables or chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit peo-
ple, and cause serious damage.
● Vehicles with a smart key system: Do not turn the engine switch off.
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and ca nnot be oper-
ated.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Do not turn the engine switch to the
“LOCK” position.
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and ca nnot be oper-
ated.
NOTICE
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing using a wheel-lift type
truck
● Vehicles with a smart key system: Do not tow the vehicle from the rear
when the engine switch is off. The steering lock mechanism is n ot strong
enough to hold the front wheels straight.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Do not tow the vehicle fro m the rear
when the engine switch is in the “LOCK” position or the key is removed.
The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheels
straight.
● When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while being towed.
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or re ar.
■ To prevent damage to the vehic le during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.
■ Recreational towing (behind mo tor home, etc.) (4WD models)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to prevent
causing serious damage to the transmis-
sion. (P. 208)

4687-2. Steps to take in an emergency
4RUNNER (U)
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service before towing.
● The engine is running but t he vehicle does not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
From the front
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
From the rear (2WD models)
Turn the engine switch to the
“ACC” position (vehicles without a
smart key system) or ACCES-
SORY mode (vehicles with a
smart key system) so that the
steering wheel is unlocked.
From the rear (4WD models)
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck

4697-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
When using a flat-bed truck to transport the vehicle, use tire strapping
belts. Refer to the owner's manual of the flat-bed truck for th e tire
strapping method.
Vehicles with a smart key system: In order to suppress vehicle move-
ment during transportation, set the parking brake and turn the engine
switch off.
Vehicles without a smart key system: In order to suppress vehic le
movement during transportation, set the parking brake and turn the
engine switch to the “LOCK” position.
If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle m ay be
temporarily towed using cables or chains secured to the emergen cy
towing hooks. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads
for at most 80 km (50 miles) at under 30 km/h (18 mph).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes . The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, a xles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
NOTICE
■ Towing with a sling-type truck
Using a flatbed truck
Emergency towing
Do not tow with a sling-type truck to pre-
vent body damage.

4717-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
Part-time 4WD models:
Ty p e A
Shift the front-wheel drive control lever to H2.
Ty p e B
Push the “UNLOCK” button and turn the front-wheel drive control
switch to H2.
Full-time 4WD models: Push the “UNLOCK” button and turn the
four-wheel drive control switch to H4F. (The center differentia l is
unlocked.)
Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted: P. 2 2 1
■While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes a nd steering will
not function, making steering and braking more difficult.
4
5

4767-2. Steps to take in an emergency
4RUNNER (U)
(Flashes rapidly)
Four-wheel drive indicator light (if equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in the four-wheel drive system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes rapidly)
Low speed four-wheel dri ve indicator light (if
equipped) Indicates a malfunction in the four-wheel drive system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes rapidly)
Center differential lock indicator light (if equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in the four-wheel drive system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes contin-
uously)
Multi-terrain Select ind icator light (if equipped)*4
Indicates a malfunction in the Multi-terrain Select sys-
tem
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Power steering warning light
Indicates a malfunction in the power steering system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Unengaged “Park” warning light (if equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in the transmission “Park”
mechanism.
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
KDSS warning light (if equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in KDSS
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes)
Automatic running boards indicator light (if
equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in Automatic running boards
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*2
Indicates that a door is not fully closed
 Check that all the doors are closed.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions

4827-2. Steps to take in an emergency
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause a loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust t he tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inf lation pres-
sure adjustment, it is probable that you have a flat tire. Chec k the tires.
If a tire is flat, change it with the spare tire and have the f lat tire
repaired by the nearest Toyota dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires dete riorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation p ressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has t ires of a dif-
ferent size than the size indica ted on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should de termine
the proper tire inflation p ressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS -tire pressure warning system) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Acco rdingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning ligh t) illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible , and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread lif e, and may
affect the vehicle’s handl ing and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a sub-
stitute for proper tire maintena nce, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached
the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire
pressure warning light).

5057-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
One of the following may be the cause of the problem:
● One or both of the battery t erminals may be disconnected.
● The battery may be discharged. ( P. 510)
● There may be a malfunction in the steering lock system (vehicles
with a smart key system).
Contact your Toyota dealer if the problem cannot be repaired, o r if repair
procedures are unknown.
When the engine does not start, the following steps can be used as an
interim measure to start the engine if the engine switch is fun ctioning
normally:
Set the parking brake.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Turn the engine switch to ACCESSORY mode.
Press and hold the engine switch for about 15 seconds while
depressing the brake pedal firmly.
Even if the engine can be start ed using the above steps, the sy stem
may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyot a
dealer.
The starter motor does not turn over, the interior lights and h ead-
lights do not turn on, o r the horn does not sound.
Emergency start function (vehicles with a smart key system)
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