tow TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1996 Owners Manual

Publication No. OM35679U
Part No. 01999-35679
Printed in Japan 04- 9902- 01
Quick index If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 61 . . . . .
If your vehicle will not start 151
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your engine stalls while driving 154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle overheats 155
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you have a flat tire 156
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle needs to be towed 162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tips for driving during break- in period 128 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to start the engine 139
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General maintenance 174
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Complete index 215
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gas station information
Fuel type: UNLEADED gasoline, Research Octane Number 91 (Octane Rating 87) or
higher.
See page 128 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity: 70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 lmp. gal.)
Engine oil: API SH, Energy- Conserving II'' multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multi grade
engine oil is recommended.
Use SAE 5W- 30 if normal temperatures are above -18 C (0 F).
See page 188 for detailed information.
Tire information: See pages 191 through 194.
Tire pressure: See page 209. U-
6
B

13
OPERATING FROM OUTSIDE
The back window moves as long as you
hold the outer switch.
To open: Turn the key counterclockwise.
To close: Turn the key clockwise.
You can also open the back window when the back window wiper is working. At the
time, the wiper stops working until the win-
dow is closed again.
CAUTION!
To avoid serious personal injury,
you must do the following.
Always make sure the head,
hands and other parts of the body
of all occupants are kept com-
pletely inside the vehicle before
you close the power back window.
If someone's neck, head or hands
gets caught in a closing window,
it could result in a serious injury.
When anyone closes the power
back window, be sure that they
operate the window safely.
When small children are in the ve-
hicle, never let them use the pow-
er back window switch without
supervision. Use the window lock
button to prevent them from mak-ing unexpected use of the switch.
Never leave small children alone
in the vehicle, especially with the
ignition key still inserted. They
could use the power back window
switch and get trapped in a win-
dow. Unattended children can be- come involved in serious acci- dents.
Keep the back window closed
while driving. This not only keeps
the luggage from being thrown
out but also prevents exhaust gases from entering the vehicle.
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH KEY
Insert the key into the keyhole and turn
it.
To lock: Turn the key clockwise.
To unlock: Turn the key counterclockwise. The back door will be controlled by operat-
ing the power door lock switch.
When closing the back door, make sure it is fully closed. See Luggage stowage precautionsº in
Part 2 for precautions to observe in load- ing luggage.
Back door

22
CAUTION!
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more
than needed. The seat belts providemaximum protection when the driv-
er and the passenger are sitting up
straight and well back in the seats.
If you are reclined, the lap belt may
slide past your hips and apply re-
straint forces directly to the abdo-
men. Therefore, in the event of a
frontal collision, the risk of personal
injury may increase with increasing
recline of the seatback.
3. SEAT LUMBAR SUPPORT AD-
JUSTING SWITCH
Push the control switch in the desired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat- back at that position.
BEFORE SWING RIGHT SIDE BOT-
TOM CUSHION UP
Stow the rear seat belts as shown in
the illustration.
This prevents the belts from falling out
when you fold the seatback.
NOTICE
The seat belts must be stowed before you fold the seatback.
Rear seatsÐ ÐFold-down rear seat for temporary third seat entry

23
For easy access to the temporary third seat, do this.
1. Swing
the right side bottom cushion up
by pulling the lock release strap.
It is hinged at the front edge, so just lift it up.
2. Unlock the left side seatback and fold it down.
After the passengers are in, lift up the left
side seatback and return the right side
bottom cushion.
CAUTION!
When returning the right side bot-
tom cushion to its place: Do not forget to pull out the buckle
of the side seatbelts and center
seatbelt and arranged them in
their proper position for ready use.
Make sure the bottom cushion is securely locked by trying to pull up the edge of the cushion near
the lock release straps.
When returning the seatback to the upright position: Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position for ready use.
Make sure the seatback is secure-
ly locked by pushing forward and
rearward on the top of the seat- back.
BEFORE FOLD-DOWN REAR SEAT
Stow the rear seat belts as shown in
the illustration.
This prevents the belts from falling out
when you fold the seatback.
NOTICE
The seat belts must be stowed before you fold the seatback.
ÐFold-down rear seat

24
1. Remove the head restraint, and
swing the bottom cushion up by pull-
ing the lock release strap. Be certain to replace the head restraint.
It is hinged at the front edge, so just lift it up.
CAUTION!
When returning the bottom cushion
to its place: Do not forget to pull out the buckle
of the side seatbelts and center
seatbelt and arrange them in their
proper position for ready use.
Make sure the bottom cushion is securely locked by trying to pull up the edge of the cushion near
the lock release straps.
2. Unlock the seatback and fold it down.
This will enlarge the luggage compart-
ment as far as the raised seat cushion.See Luggage stowage precautionsº in
Part 2 for precautions to observe in load- ing luggage.
If desired, each seatback may be folded
separately.

26
1. Pull the seatback lock release lever
and fold down the seatback.
Hold the lever until you have swing the
seatback slightly forward.
2. Pull the seat lock release lever up.
Lift the seat and remove the seat to-
ward you.
Hold
the lever until you have lifted the seat
upward slightly. Folding down or removing the temporary third seat will enlarge compartment. See
Luggage stowing precautionsº in Part 2
for what to observe in loading luggage.
1. Hook the temporary third seat as
shown in the illustration.
CAUTION!
Make sure the temporary third seat
is securely locked.
2. Pull the seatback lock release lever
and return the seatback.
Hold the lever until you have returned the seatback.
CAUTION!
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
ÐReturning temporary third seat

32
To release the belt, press the buckle-
release button.The rear seat belts can be stowed
when not in use.
Seat belts must be stowed before you fold
the seat back. (See Rear seatsÐFold-
down rear seat for temporary third seat
entryº or Rear seatsÐFold-down rear
seatº in this chapter.)The temporary third seat belts can be hanged when not in use.
CAUTION!
The temporary third seat belts must
be removed from the hanger when
in use.
ÐStowing rear seat belts
ÐHanging temporary thirdseat belts

52
High-Low beamsÐFor high beams,
turn the headlights on and push the lever away from you (position 1). Pull the lever
toward you (position 2) for low beams.
The headlight high beam indicator light
(blue light) on the instrument panel will tell
you that the high beams are on.
Flashing the high beam headlights
(position 3)ÐPull the lever all the way
back. The high beam headlights turn off
when you release the lever.
You can flash the high beam headlights with the knob turned to OFFº.TURN SIGNAL
To signal a turn, push the headlight/
turn signal lever up or down to posi-
tion 1. The key must be in the ONº position. The lever automatically returns after you make a turn, but you may have to returnit by hand after you change lanes.
To signal a lane change, move the lever
up or down to the pressure point (position2) and hold it.
If the turn signal indicator lights (green
lights) on the instrument panel flash faster
than normal, a front or rear turn signal bulb is burned out.To turn on the emergency flashers,
push the switch.
All the turn signal lights will flash. To turn
them off, push the switch once again.
Turn on the emergency flashers to warn other drivers if your vehicle must be
stopped where it might be a traf fic hazard.
Always pull as far off the road as possible.
The turn signal light switch will not work
when the emergency flashers are operat-ing.
Emergency flashers

60
The gauge indicates the engine cool-
ant temperature when the ignition
switch is on. The engine operating
temperature will vary with changes inweather and engine load.
If the needle moves into the red zone, your engine is too hot. If your vehicle over-
heats, stop your vehicle and allow the en-
gine to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe operating conditions, such as: Driving up a long hill on a hot day.
Reducing speed or stopping after high
speed driving.
Idling for a long period with the air con-
ditioning on in stop-and-go traffic.
Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to con-trol the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within the specified operating range.
Do not continue driving with anoverheated engine. See If yourvehicle overheatsº in Part 4.
The tachometer indicates engine
speed in thousands of rpm (revolu-
tions per minute). Use it while driving
to select correct shift points and to
prevent engine lugging and overrev-ving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Tachometer
Engine coolant temperature gauge

62
(a) Brake System Warning Light This light has the following functions: Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the parking
brake is fully released. The light should go
off.
Low brake fluid level warning
If this light comes on and stays on while
you are driving, slow down and pull off the
road. Then stop the vehicle carefully.There may be a problem somewhere in
the brake system. Check the fluid level of
the see-through reservoir.
To make sure the parking brake has not
caused the warning light to come on,
check to see that the parking brake is fully
released.
If the brake fluid level is low...
At a safe place, test your brakes by start-
ing and stopping. If you judge that the brakes still work
adequately, drive cautiously to yournearest dealer or shop for repairs.
If the brakes are not working, have the
vehicle towed in for repairs. (For tow- ing information, see Part 4.)
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level
is low. CAUTION
!
If the brake fluid level is correct...
Have the warning system checked by
your Toyota dealer.
(b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzz-
er
Once the ignition key is turned to ONº or
STARTº, the reminder light and buzzer
come on if the driver's seat belt is not fas-
tened. Unless the driver fastens the belt, the light stays on and the buzzer sounds for about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, ra dio, etc., and drive directly to the
nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.