Page 429 of 616
4296-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)■
Fluid level
The fluid level should be within the appropriate range.
Full (when cold)
Add fluid (when cold)
Full (when hot)
Add fluid (when hot)
Hot: Vehicle has been driven around 50 mph (80 km/h) for 20 min- utes, or slightly longer in frigid temperatures. (Fluid tempera-
ture, 140°F - 175°F [60°C - 80°C]).
Cold: Engine has not been run for about 5 hours. (Room tempera- ture, 50°F - 85°F [10°C - 30°C]).
■Checking the  fluid level
Make sure to check the fluid type  and prepare the necessary items.
Clean all dirt off the reservoir.
Remove the cap by turni ng it counterclockwise.
Wipe the dipstick clean.
Reinstall the cap and remove it again.
Check the fluid level.
Power steering fluid
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2
3
4
Fluid typeAutomatic transmission fluid DEXRON® II or III
ItemsRag or paper, clean funnel (only for adding fluid)
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        Page 430 of 616
4306-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4RUNNER (U)
Check the battery as follows.
■Battery exterior
Make  sure  that  the  battery  terminals  are  not  corroded  and  that
there are no loose connections, cracks, or loose clamps.Terminals
Hold-down clamp
■Before recharging
When recharging, the battery produces hydrogen gas which is fla mmable and
explosive. Therefore, observe the following before recharging:
● If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sur e to disconnect
the ground cable.
● Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connectin g and dis-
connecting the charger cables to the battery.
WARNING
■ When checking the reservoir
Take care as the reservoir may be hot.
NOTICE
■When adding fluid
Avoid overfilling, or the power steering may be damaged.
■ After replacing the reservoir cap
Check the steering box case, vane pump and hose connections for  leaks or
damage.
Battery
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        Page 438 of 616

4386-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4RUNNER (U)
◆Installing tire pressure warning valve and transmitters
When replacing the tires or wheels, the tire pressure warning v alve
and  transmitters  must  be  install ed  to  the  wheels  which  will  be
installed to the vehicle.
When  new  tire  pressure  warning  valve  and  transmitters  are
installed,  new  ID  codes  must  be  registered  in  the  tire  pressure
warning  computer  and  the  tire  pressure  warning  system  must  be
initialized. ( P. 439)
◆Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■The tire pressure warning system  must be initialized in the fol-
lowing circumstances:
● When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when chang-
ing traveling speed  or load weight.
● When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when the ti re
size is changed.
● When rotating the tires.
● After  performing  the  transmitter  ID  code  registration  procedure .
(  P. 439)
When the tire pressure warning sy stem is initialized, the current tire
inflation pressure is set  as the benchmark pressure.
■How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
Park the vehicle in a  safe place and turn the engine switch off .
The  initialization  procedure  cannot  be  started  while  the  vehicle  is
moving.
Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire i nflation
pressure level. ( P. 540)
Make  sure  to  adjust  the  tire  pre ssure  to  the  specified  cold  tire infla-
tion  pressure  level.  The  tire  pressure  warning  system  will  oper ate
based on this pr essure level.
Start the engine. ( P. 207, 210)
Select    on  the  multi-information  display  using  the  meter  con-
trol switches on the steering wheel. ( P.   9 8 )
Select “Vehicle Settings” and then press and hold  .
Select “TPWS” and then press  .
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        Page 440 of 616

4406-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4RUNNER (U)■
How to register the ID codes
Select    on  the  multi-information  display  using  the  meter  con-
trol switches on the steering wheel. ( P.   9 8 )
Select “Vehicle Settings” and then press and hold  .
Select “TPWS” and then press  .
Select  “Change  Wheel  Set”
then press and hold   until
the  tire  pressure  warning
light blinks slowly 3 times.
Then  a  message  will  be  dis-
played on the multi-information
display.
When registration is being per-
formed, the tire pressure warn-
ing  light  will  blink  for
approximately  1  minute  then
illuminate  and  “---”  will  be  dis-
played  for  the  inflation  pres-
sure  of  each  tire  on  the  multi-
information display.
Drive  straight  (with  occasional  left  and  right  turns)  at  approxi-
mately 25 mph (40 km/h) or more for approximately 10 to 30 min-
utes.
Registration  is  complete  when  the  tire  pressure  warning  light  t urns
off  and  the  inflation  pressure  of  each  tire  is  displayed  on  the multi-
information display.
Registration  may  take  longer  than  approximately 1 hour in certain
situations,  such  as  when  the  veh icle  is  stopped  for  a  long  time at
traffic lights, etc. ( P. 445)
After  registering  the  ID  codes,  make  sure  to  initialize  the  tir e  pres-
sure warning system. ( P. 438)
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        Page 465 of 616
4656-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)■
Front turn signal/parking light
Turn  the  steering  wheel  in
the  opposite  direction  of  the
front  turn  signal  light  and
parking  light  that  you  wish  to
replace.
For  example,  if  you  wish  to
replace the front turn signal light
and  parking  light  on  the  right
side,  turn  the  steering  wheel  to
the left.
Remove  the  fender  liner
screws.
Partly  remove  the  fender
liner.
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        Page 467 of 616
4676-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
4RUNNER (U)■
Front side marker lights
Turn  the  steering  wheel  in
the  opposite  direction  of  the
front  side  marker  light  that
you wish to replace.
For  example,  if  you  wish  to
replace  the  front  side  marker
light  on  the  right  side,  turn  the
steering wheel to the left.
Remove  the  fender  liner
screws.
Partly  remove  the  fender
liner.
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        Page 476 of 616
4767-1. Essential information
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■If the engine has to be turned off while driving
● Power  assist  for  the  brakes  and  steering  wheel  will  be  lost,  making  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. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 479 of 616

4797-2. 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 t owing eye-
lets,  cables  or  chains  may  become  damaged, broken  debris  may  hit  peo-
ple, and cause serious damage.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Do not turn the engine swi tch 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.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Do not tow the vehicle from 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 a r.
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.
■ Recreational towing (behind motor home, etc.) (4WD models)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to prevent
causing serious damage to the transmis-
sion. ( P. 206)