2021 TOYOTA TACOMA Owners Manual (in English)

2974-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
Four-wheel drive system
Use the front-wheel drive control switch to select the following transfer
modes:“2WD” (high speed position, two-wheel drive)
Use this for normal driving on dry hard-surfaced roads. This po sition
gives greater economy, quietest ride and least wear.
“4H” (high speed position, four-wheel drive)
Use this for driving only on tracks that permit the tires slide, like off-road,
icy or snow-covered roads. This position provides greater traction than
two-wheel drive.
The four-wheel drive indicator will come on.
“4L” (low speed position, four-wheel drive)
Use this for maximum power and traction. Use “4L” for climbing or
descending steep hills, off-road driving, and hard pulling in s and, mud or
deep snow.
The four-wheel drive and “4LO” indicator will come on.
: If equipped
Summary of functions
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2984-5. Using the driving support systems
■Shifting from “2WD” to “4H”
Reduce vehicle speed to less than 62 mph (100 km/h).
Turn the front-wheel drive control switch to “4H”.
The four-wheel drive indicator will come on.
■
Shifting from “4H” to “2WD”
Turn the front-wheel drive co ntrol switch to “2WD”.
This can be done at any speed. Y ou need not depress the clutch
pedal. (manual transmission only)
The four-wheel drive indicator will go off.
■
Shifting from “4H” to “4L”
Automatic transmission
Stop the vehicle completely and continue to depress the brake
pedal.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and turn the front-wheel drive control switch to “4L”.
The “4LO” indicator will come on.
If the four-wheel drive indicator flashes and the buzzer sounds, try the
above steps again.
Manual transmission
Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 2 mph (3 km/ h).
Depress and hold the clutch pedal.
Push and turn the front-wheel drive control switch to “4L”.
The “4LO” indicator will come on.
If the four-wheel drive indicator flashes and the buzzer sounds, try the
above steps again.
Shifting between “2WD” and “4H”
Shifting between “4H” and “4L”
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2994-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■Shifting from “4L” to “4H”
Automatic transmission
Stop the vehicle completely and continue to depress the brake
pedal.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and turn the front-wheel drive control switch to “4H”.
The “4LO” indicator will go off.
If the four-wheel drive indicator flashes and the buzzer sounds, try the
above steps again.
Manual transmission
Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 2 mph (3 km/ h).
Depress and hold the clutch pedal.
Push and turn the front-wheel dr ive control switch to “4H”.
The “4LO” indicator will go off.
If the four-wheel drive indicator flashes and the buzzer sounds, try the
above steps again.
■If the four-wheel dri ve indicator light or the “4LO” indicator light blinks
● Shifting from “2WD” to “4H”
• If the four-wheel drive indicator continues to blink, drive straight ahead
while accelerating or decelerating.
• If the four-wheel drive indicator continues to blink and the b uzzer sounds,
stop the vehicle or reduce the vehicle speed to less than 62 mp h
(100 km/h). Operate the switch again.
● Shifting from “4H” to “2WD”
If the four-wheel drive indicator continues to blink, drive str aight ahead
while accelerating or decelerating, or drive forward or backwar d in a short
distance.
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3004-5. Using the driving support systems
●Shifting to “4H” or “4L”
Automatic transmission
If the “4LO” indicator continues to blink when you operate the front-wheel
drive control switch to the “4H” or “4L” position, drive forwar d or backward
in a short distance, then stop the vehicle completely, shift the shift lever
securely to N and operate the switch again.
Manual transmission
If the “4LO” indicator continues to blink when you operate the front-wheel
drive control switch to the “4H” or “4L” position, drive forwar d or backward
in a short distance, then stop the vehicle completely, depress the clutch
pedal and operate the switch again.
If the indicator light continues to blink even if doing so, con tact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four- wheel drive
system.
■ Shifting to “4L”
VSC is automatically turned off.
■ 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
■Caution while driving
● Never shift the front-wheel drive control switch from “2WD” to “4H” if the
wheels are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting.
● For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, use “2WD” pos ition.
Driving on dry and hard surface roads in “4H” or “4L” position may cause
drive component oil leakage, seizure, or other problems resulti ng in an
accident. Further, it may cause tire wear and increased fuel consumption.
● Avoid turning suddenly in “4H” or “4L” position. If you do turn suddenly, the
difference in turning speeds between the front and rear wheels may have
a similar effect to braking, thus making driving difficult.
● Do not shift the front-wheel drive control switch when the vehicle is turning
or when its wheels are spinning freely off the ground.

3014-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
AUTO LSD system
The system can be used on 2WD models and in 2WD mode on 4WD
models.
Press the VSC off switch to turn
on the system.
At this time, the “AUTO LSD” and
VSC off indicators will come on
simultaneously.
To turn off the system, push the
switch again.
If the engine is turned off while the
“AUTO LSD” indicator is on and
then restarted, the indicator will
turn off automatically.
If the rear wheels spin, the slip
indicator flashes to indicate that
the AUTO LSD system has been
controlled the spinning of the rear
wheels.
The AUTO LSD system aids traction by using the traction con-
trol system to control engine performance and braking when
one of the rear wheels begins to spin.
The system should be used only when one of the rear wheels
spinning occurs in a ditch or rough surface.
System operation
When the AUTO LSD system is operating

3024-5. Using the driving support systems
■If the engine is turned off and restarted
The AUTO LSD system and the indicators are automatically turned off.
■ Reactivation of the VSC syst em linked to vehicle speed
When the AUTO LSD system is turned on, the VSC and TRAC systems will
turn on automatically if vehicle speed increases.
■ If the brake system overheats
The system will cease operation and a buzzer will sound to alert the driver.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place. (There is no problem with con tinuing normal
driving.) The system will be automatically restored after a sho rt time.
WARNING
■To avoid an accident
● Do not use the AUTO LSD system in conditions other than the above.
A much greater steering effort and more careful cornering contr ol will be
required.
● Do not drive with the AUTO LSD system continuously turned on.

3034-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
Rear differential lock system
The rear differential lock system is effective in case one of the rear
wheels is spinning.
Press the rear differential lock
switch to lock the rear differential.
At this time, the rear differential
lock indicator will blink. Wait a few
seconds for the system to com-
plete operation. After the rear dif-
ferential is locked, the indicator will
stop blinking and remain on.
To unlock the rear differential,
press the switch again.
Automatic transmission
4WD models: Before us ing the rear differential lock system.
Stop the vehicle, shift the shi ft lever to N and turn the front-wheel
drive control switch in the “4L” position to see if this is sufficient. If
this has no effect, additionally use the rear differential lock system.
Be sure to stop the wheels.
Press the rear differential lock switch.
After the rear differential is locked, the indicator will come on.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Unlock the rear differential as soon as the vehicle moves.
To unlock the rear different ial, press the switch again.
: If equipped
The rear differential lock system is provided for use only when
wheel spinning occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or rugged sur -
face.
Using the rear diffe rential lock system
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3044-5. Using the driving support systems
Manual transmission
Before using the rear differential lock system.
Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 2 mph (3 km/h ).
Depress the clutch pedal and turn the front-wheel drive control
switch in the “4L” position to see if this is sufficient. If th is has no
effect, additionally use the re ar differential lock system.
Be sure to stop the wheels.
Depress the clutch pedal.
Press the rear differential lock switch.
After the rear differential is locked, the indicator will come on.
Slowly release th e clutch pedal.
Unlock the rear differential as soon as the vehicle moves.
To unlock the rear different ial, press the switch again.
■Locking the rear differential
●When the rear differential is locked, VSC is automatically turn ed off.
(The rear differential lock and VSC off indicators come on.)
● The following systems do not operate when the rear differential is locked. It
is normal operation for the ABS warning light and VSC off indic ator to be on
at this time.
•ABS
• Multi Terrain ABS (if equipped)
• Brake assist system
•VSC
•TRAC
• Pre-Collision System (if equipped)
• Dynamic radar cruise control system (if equipped)
• Cruise control system (if equipped)
• Hill-start assist control (if equipped on 4WD models)
■ The rear differential lock is disengaged when
●Vehicles without a smart key system: When the engine switch is turned to
the “LOCK” position
● Vehicles with a smart key system: When the engine switch is tur ned off
● 4WD models only: Turn the front-wheel drive control switch to “ 2WD” or “4H”
position.
Never forget to turn off the switch after using this feature.
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