Page 405 of 616

4056-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)■
Wheels and wheel ornaments
●Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent.
● Wash detergent off with water immediately after use.
● To protect the paint from damage, make sure to observe the following pre-
cautions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such as after driv-
ing or parking in hot weather
■ Brake pads and calipers
Rust may form if the vehicle is parked with wet brake pads or d isc rotors,
causing them to stick. Before parking the vehicle after it is washed, drive
slowly and apply the brakes several times to dry the parts.
■ Bumpers and side moldings
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
■ Plated portions
If dirt cannot be remove, clean the parts as follows:
●Use a soft cloth dampened with an approximately 5% solution of neutral
detergent and water to clean the dirt off.
● Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
● To remove oily deposits, use alcohol wet wipes or a similar product.
■ Notes for a smart key system (if equipped)
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective
range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In this case, follow the fol-
lowing correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
• Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft. (2 m) or more awa y from the vehi-
cle. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart key sys- tem. ( P. 122)
WARNING
■When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may
cause the electrical components etc. to catch fire.
■ Precautions regarding the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gases cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe unti l it has
cooled sufficiently, as touching hot exhaust pipe can cause burns.
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4076-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)
NOTICE
■When using a high pressure car wash
● Vehicles with rear view monitor system: When washing the vehicl e, do not
apply intensive bursts of water to the camera or camera area. D oing so
may result in the camera malfunctioning.
● Do not spray water directly on the radar which is equipped behi nd the
emblem. Otherwise it may cause the device to be damaged.
● Do not bring the nozzle tip close to boots (rubber or resin man ufactured
cover), connectors or the following parts. The parts may be dam aged if
they come into contact with high-pressure water.
• Traction related parts
• Steering parts
• Suspension parts
• Brake parts
● Keep the cleaning nozzle at least 11.9 in. (30 cm) away from th e vehicle
body. Otherwise resin section, such as moldings and bumpers, ma y be
deformed and damaged. Also, do not continuously hold the nozzle in the
same place.
● Do not spray the lower part of the windshield continuously. If water enters
the air conditioning system intake located near the lower part of the wind-
shield, the air conditioning system may not operate correctly.
● Do not wash the underside of the vehicle using a high pressure car
washer.
Page 413 of 616
4136-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)
General maintenance
Listed below are the general maintenance items that should be
performed at the intervals specified in the “Owner’s Warranty
Information Booklet” or “Own er’s Manual Supplement/Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide”. It is recommended that any problem
you notice should be brought to the attention of your Toyota
dealer or qualified s ervice shop for advice.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
BatteryCheck the connections. (P. 430)
Brake fluidIs the brake fluid at the correct level? ( P. 427)
Engine coolantIs the engine coolant at the correct level? ( P. 425)
Engine oilIs the engine oil at the correct level? (P. 423)
Exhaust systemThere should not be any fumes or strange sounds.
Power steering fluidIs the power steering fluid at the correct level?
(P. 429)
Radiator/condenserThe radiator and condenser should be free from
foreign objects. ( P. 427)
Washer fluidIs there sufficient washer fluid? (P. 433)
Page 414 of 616

4146-2. Maintenance
4RUNNER (U)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal• The accelerator pedal should move smoothly(without uneven pedal effort or catching).
Automatic transmis-
sion “Park” mecha-
nism• When parked on a slope and the shift lever is in P,is the vehicle securely stopped?
Brake pedal
• Does the brake pedal move smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have appropriate clearancefrom the floor? ( P. 539)
• Does the brake pedal have the correct amount of
free play? ( P. 539)
Brakes
• The vehicle should not pull to one side when the
brakes are applied.
• The brakes should work effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel spongy.
• The brake pedal should not get too close to the floor when the brakes are applied.
Head restraints• Do the head restraints move smoothly and locksecurely?
Indicators/buzzers• Do the indicators and buzzers function properly?
Lights • Do all the lights come on?
Parking brake
• Does the parking brake pedal move smoothly?
• When parked on a slope and the parking brake is
on, is the vehicle securely stopped?
Seat belts• Do the seat belts operate smoothly?
• The seat belts should not be damaged.
Seats• Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steering wheel rotate smoothly?
• Does the steering wheel have the correct amountof free play?
• There should not be any strange sounds coming
from the steering wheel.
Page 417 of 616

417
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself ser vice 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. 430)
• Warm water• Baking soda
•Grease
• Conventional wrench (for terminal clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level
(P. 427)
• 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. 425)
• “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
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 50% coolant and 50% deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 55% coolant and 45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding coolant)
Engine oil level (P. 423)
• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Page 421 of 616
4216-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)
Engine compartment
Washer fluid tank (P. 433)
Power steering fluid reservoir ( P. 429)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P. 423)
Engine coolant reservoir ( P. 425)
Engine oil filler cap ( P. 424)Brake fluid reservoir
( P. 427)
Fuse box ( P. 459)
Battery ( P. 430)
Condenser ( P. 427)
Radiator ( P. 427)1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Page 427 of 616
4276-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)
Check the radiator and condenser and clear away any foreign objects.
If either of the above parts is extremely dirty or you are not sure of
their condition, have your vehicle inspected by your Toyota dea l e r.
■Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN”
lines on the tank.
“MAX” line
“MIN” line
■Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid ty pe and prepare the necessary ite m.
■Refilling brake fluid
Turn the engine switch off.
Depress the brake pedal more than 40 times.
Remove the reservoir cap by hand. Add brake fluid up to the
“MAX” line.
If you do not follow the procedure above, the reservoir may over-
flow.
Radiator and condenser
WARNING
■ When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator or condenser as they may be hot and c ause seri-
ous injuries, such as burns.
Brake fluid
1
2
Fluid type FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
Items Clean funnel
1
2
3
Page 428 of 616
4286-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4RUNNER (U)
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause a dangerous loss o f braking effi-
ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.
WARNING
■ When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm your hands and eyes and damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean
water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.
NOTICE
■ If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads
wear out or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, there may be a serious problem.