stop start TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1998 Owners Manual

4RUNNER (1998)
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light has the following functions:
Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the park-
ing 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 ve-
hicle carefully. There may be a prob-
lem 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
starting and stopping.
If you judge that the brakes still
work adequately, drive cautiously to
your nearest dealer or shop for re-
pairs.
If the brakes are not working, have
the vehicle towed in for repairs.
(For towing information, see Part
4.)CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driv-
ing normally when the brake fluid
level is low.
If the brake fluid level is correct...
Have the warning system checked by
your Toyota dealer.
(b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and
Buzzer
Once the ignition key is turned to
ºONº or ºSTARTº, the reminder light
and buzzer come on if the driver's
seat belt is not fastened. Unless the
driver fastens the belt, the light keeps
on flickering 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
operate, however, until the battery is
discharged. Turn off the air condition-
ing, blower, radio, etc., and drive di-
rectly to the nearest Toyota dealer or
repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the en- gine drive belt is broken or loose.
(d) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil
pressure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe
place and stop the engine immediate-
ly. Call a Toyota dealer or qualified
repair shop for assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker
when the engine is idling or it may
come on briefly after a hard stop.
There is no cause for concern if it
then goes out when the engine is ac-
celerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil
level is extremely low. It is not de-
signed to indicate low oil level, and
the oil level must be checked using
the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with thewarning light onÐeven for oneblock. It may ruin the engine.

4RUNNER (1998)
(k) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove
the key when you open the driver's
door with the ignition key in the ºACCº
or ºLOCKº position.
(l) Unengaged ºParkº Warning
Light
( vehicles with automatic
transmission)
This light warns that the transmission
ºParkº mechanism is not engaged. If
the front drive control lever is in the
ºNº position while the selector lever is
in the ºPº position, the transmission
will disengage and the wheels will not
lock.
CAUTION
To restore the park function, shift
the front drive control lever out
of ºNº, or the vehicle can move.
(m) Automatic Transmission Fluid Temperature Warning Light
This light warns that the automatic
transmission fluid temperature is too
high.
If this light comes on while you are
driving, slow down and pull off the
road. Stop the vehicle at a safe place
and put the selector lever in ºPº. With
the engine idling, wait until the light
goes off. If the light goes off, you
may start the vehicle again. If the
light does not go off, call a Toyota
dealer or qualified repair shop for as-
sistance.
NOTICE
Continued driving with the warn- ing light on may damage the auto-matic transmission.
(n) Low windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning Light (Canada)
The light warns that the windshield
washer fluid level is too low. Add
washer fluid at your earliest opportuni-
ty. (For instructions, see ºAdding
washer fluidº in Chapter 7- 3.) CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER
INDICATORS
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Open one of the side doors or the back door.
The open door warning light should
come on.
3. Close the door. The open door warning light should
go off.
4. Turn the ignition key to ºACCº. The SRS airbag warning light
should come on. It goes off after
about 6 seconds.
5. Turn the ignition key to ºONº, but do not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators
except the open door warning light
and SRS airbag warning light
should come on. The ºABSº warn-
ing light goes off after about 3 se-
conds.

4RUNNER (1998)
5VZ- FE engine.....58 km/h (36
mph) Vehicles with cruise control'When the
cruise control is being used, even if
you downshift the transmission by
turning off the overdrive switch, en-
gine braking is not applied because
the cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle
speed, see ºCruise controlº in this
chapter.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on
a slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
(c) Using º2º and ºLº positions
The º2º and ºLº positions are used for
strong engine braking as described
previously.
With the selector lever in º2º or ºLº,
you can start the vehicle in motion as
with the lever in ºDº.
With the selector lever in º2º, the ve-
hicle will start in the first gear and
automatically shift to the second gear.
With the selector lever in ºLº, the
transmission is engaged in the first
gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the
engine. Watch the tachometer tokeep engine rpm from goinginto the red zone. The approxi-
mate maximum allowable speedfor each position is given belowfor your reference:
º2º
..........120 km/h (74 mph)
ºLº
.......... 65 km/h (40 mph)
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time inthe º2º or ºLº position. This
may cause severe automatictransmission damage from over-heating. To prevent such dam-
age, ºDº position should beused in hill climbing or hardtowing.
(d) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the selector
lever to the ºRº position.

4RUNNER (1998)
CAUTION
Always observe the following pre-
cautions to minimize the risk of
serious personal injury or damage
to your vehicle: Avoid sharp turns or abrupt ma-
neuvers, if at all possible. As
with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of
control or vehicle rollover.
Avoid loading any items on the
roof that will make the center
of gravity even higher.
Always slow down in gusty
crosswinds. Because of its high
center of gravity, your vehicle
is more sensitive to side winds
than an ordinary passenger car.
Slowing down will allow you to
have much better control.
Do not drive horizontally across
steep slopes. Driving straight
up or straight down is pre-
ferred. Your vehicle (or any sim-
ilar off- road vehicle) can tip
over sideways much more easi-
ly than forward or backward.When driving off- road or in
rugged terrain, do not drive at
excessive speeds, jump the ve-
hicle, or strike objects, etc.
This may cause loss of control
or vehicle rollover. You are also
risking expensive damage to y-
our vehicle's suspension and
chassis.
Break- in period
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elabo-
rate break- in. But following a few sim-
ple tips for the first 1600 km (1000
miles) can add to the future economy
and long life of your vehicle:
Do not drive over 88 km/h (55
mph).
Run the engine at moderate speed
between 2000 and 4000 rpm.
Avoid full- throttle starts.
Try to avoid hard stops during the
first 300 km (200 miles).
Do not drive slowly with the manu-
al transmission in a high gear.
Do not drive for a long time at any
single speed, either fast or slow.
Do not tow a trailer during the first
800km (500miles).

4RUNNER (1998)
Even if the power assist is
completely lost, the brakes will
still work. But you will have to
push the pedal hardÐmuch
harder than normal. And your
braking distance will be longer.
ANTI- LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(with ºABSº warning light)
The anti- lock brake system is de-
signed to automatically help prevent
lock- up of the wheels during sudden
braking or braking on slippery road
surfaces. This assists in providing
directional stab ility and steering per-
formance of the vehicle under these
circumstances.
The anti- lock brake system becomes
operative after the vehicle has accel-
erated to a speed in excess of
approximately 10 km/h (6 mph). It
stops operating when the vehicle de-
celerates to a speed below approxi-
mately 5 km/h (3 mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment for a few seconds when
the engine is started or just after the
vehicle is started. This means that the
anti- lock brake system is in the self
check mode, and does not indicate a
malfunction. Effective way to press the ºABSº
brake pedal: When the anti- lock brake
system function is in action, you may
feel the brake pedal pulsating and
hear a noise. In this situation, to let
the anti- lock brake system work for
you, just hold the brake pedal down
more firmly. Do not pump the brake.
This will result in reduced braking per-
formance.
The brake pedal pulsation caused by
the anti- lock brake system may indi-
cate hazardous road surface condi-
tions. Although the anti- lock brake
system assists in providing vehicle
control, it is still important to drive
with all due care, because the anti-
lock brake system cannot overcome
the laws of physics that act on your
vehicle:
Braking capab ility is dependent on
tire friction with the road surface.
Even though the anti- lock brake
system is operating, a driver can-
not maintain full control on certain
slippery road surfaces, when cor-
nering at high speeds, or in violent
maneuvers.
Avoid high speeds on wet roads.
The anti- lock brake system cannot
eliminate the risk of hydroplaning
and loss of tire friction. Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Compared
with vehicles not fitted with an anti-
lock brake system, your vehicle may
require a longer stopping distance in
the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snow-
covered roads.
Driving with tire chains installed.
Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.
CAUTION
Do not use tires other than the
manufacturer 's designated tires,
and do not mix tires or wheels of
different sizes. You may prevent
the antilock brake system from
operating at full effectiveness.
Vehicles with rear differential lock sys-
tem 'The anti- lock brake system does
not operate when the rear differential
is locked. It is normal operation for
the ºABSº warning light to be on at
this time.

4RUNNER (1998)
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
When towing a trailer, your vehicle
will handle differently than when
not towing. The three main causes
of vehicle- trailer accidents are driv-
er error, excessive speed and im-
proper trailer loading. Keep these in
mind when towing:
Before starting out, check operation
of the lights and all vehicle- trailer
connections. After driving a short
distance, stop and recheck the
lights and connections. Before ac-
tually towing a trailer, practice turn-
ing, stopping and backing with a
trailer in an area away from traffic
until you learn the feel.
Backing with a trailer is difficult
and requires practice. Grip the bot-
tom of the steering wheel and
move your hand to the left to move
the trailer to the left. Move your
hand to the right to move the trail-
er to the right. (This procedure is
generally opposite to that when
backing without a trailer). Also, just
turn the steering wheel a little at
a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged
turning. Have someone guide you
when backing to reduce the risk of
an accident.
Because stopping distance may be
increased, vehicle- to- vehicle dis-
tance should be increased when
towing a trailer. For each 16 km/h
(10 mph) of speed, allow at least
one vehicle and trailer length bet-
ween you and the vehicle ahead.
Avoid sudden braking as you may
skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.
Avoid jerky starts or sudden accel-
eration. If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, prevent ex-
cessive clutch slippage by keeping
engine rpm low and not racing the
engine. Always start out in first
gear.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp
turns. The trailer could hit your ve-
hicle in a tight turn. Slow down
before making a turn to avoid the
necessity of sudden braking.
Remember that when making a
turn, the trailer wheels will be clos-
er than the vehicle wheels to the
inside of the turn. Therefore, com-
pensate for this by making a larger
than normal turning radius with y-
our vehicle.
Crosswinds and rough roads will
adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway.
Pay attention to the rear from time
to time to prepare yourself for be-
ing passed by large trucks or
buses, which may cause your ve-
hicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering
wheel and reduce speed immedi-
ately but gradually. Never increase
speed. Steer straight ahead. If you
make no extreme correction with
the steering or brakes, the vehicle
and trailer will stabilize.
Be careful when passing other ve-
hicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a ve-
hicle, do not forget the length of
your trailer and be sure you have
plenty of room before changing
lanes.
In order to maintain engine braking
efficiency, do not use fifth gear
(manual transmission) or overdrive
(automatic transmission).

4RUNNER (1998)
Because of the added load of the
trailer, your vehicle's engine may
overheat on hot days (at tempera-
tures over 30 C [85 F]) when go-
ing up a long or steep grade with
a trailer. If the engine coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates overheat-
ing, immediately turn off the air-
conditioning (if in use), pull off the
road and stop in a safe spot. Refer
to ºIf your vehicle overheatsº in
Part 4 of this manual.
Always place wheel blocks under
both the vehicle and trailer wheels
when parking. Apply the parking
brake firmly. Put the transmission
in Pº (automatic) or in first or re-
verse (manual). Avoid parking on a
slope with a trailer, but if it cannot
be avoided, do so only after per-
forming the following:
1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly. 5. Shift into first or reverse (manual)
or ºPº (automatic) and turn off the
engine. When restarting out after parking on
a slope:
1. With the transmission in ºPº posi- tion (automatic) or the clutch pedal
depressed (manual), start the en-
gine. (With an automatic transmis-
sion, be sure to keep the brake
pedal depressed.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also foot brake on automatic transmis-
sion vehicles) and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blo cks.
Stop and apply your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blo cks.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45
mph) or the posted towing
speed limit, whichever is lower.
Because instab ility (swaying) of
a towing vehicle- trailer com-
bination usually increases as
the speed increases, exceeding
72 km/h (45 mph) may cause
loss of control.

4RUNNER (1998)
Slow down and downshift be-
fore descending steep or long
downhill grades. Do not make
sudden downshifts.
Avoid holding the brake pedal
down too long or too frequent-
ly. This could cause the brakes
to overheat and result in re-
duced braking efficiency.Getting more kilometers/mileage from
a liter/gallon of fuel is easyÐjust take
it easy. It will help make your vehicle
last longer, too. Here are some specif-
ic tips on how to save money on both
fuel and repairs:
Keep your tires inflated at the
correct pressure. Underinflation
causes tire wear and wastes fuel.
See Chapter 7- 2 for instructions.
Do not carry unneeded weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts
a heavier load on the engine, caus-
ing greater fuel consumption.
Avoid lengthy warm- up idling.
Once the engine is running smooth-
ly, begin drivingÐbut gently. Re-
member, however, that on cold win-
ter days this may take a little
longer.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into
high gear as quickly as possible.
Avoid long engine idling. If you
have a long wait and you are not
in traffic, it is better to turn off the
engine and start again later.
Avoid engine lug or overrevving.
Use a gear position suitable for the
road on which you are travelling.
Avoid continuous speeding up
and slowing down. Stop- and- go
driving wastes fuel.
Avoid unnecessary stopping and
braking. Maintain a steady pace.
Try to time the traffic signals so
you only need to stop as little as
possible or take advantage of
through streets to avoid traffic
lights. Keep a proper distance from
other vehicles to avoid sudden
braking. This will also reduce wear
on your brakes.
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic
jams whenever possible.
Do not rest your foot on the
clutch or brake pedal. This
causes needless wear, overheating
and poor fuel economy.
Maintain a moderate speed on
highways. The faster you drive,
the greater the fuel consumption.
By reducing your speed, you will
cut down on fuel consumption.
Keep the front wheels in proper
alignment. Avoid hitting the curb
and slow down on rough roads.
Improper alignment not only causes
faster tire wear but also puts an
extra load on the engine, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer, to
o

4RUNNER (1998)
CAUTION
When making the connections, to
avoid serious injury, do not lean
over the battery or accidentally
let the jumper cables or clamps
touch anything except the correct
battery terminals or the ground.
5. Start your engine in the normal
way. After starting, run it at about
2000 rpm for several minutes with
the accelerator pedal lightly de-
pressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order: the nega-
tive cable and then the positive
cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover clothsÐthey may now con-
tain sulfuric acid.
8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharg-
ing is not apparent (for example,
lights left on), you should have it
checked. If your engine stalls while driving...
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keep- ing a straight line. Move cautiously
off the road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try starting the engine again.
If the engine will not start, see ºIf
your vehicle will not startº.
CAUTION
If the engine is not running, the
power assist for the brakes and
steering will not work so steering
and braking will be much harder
than usual.
If your vehicle overheats
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you
experience a loss of power, or if
you hear a loud knocking or ping-
ing noise, the engine has probably
overheated. You should follow this
procedure... 1. Pull safely off the road, stop the vehicle and turn on your emergen-
cy flashers. Put the transmission in
ºPº (automatic) or neutral (manual)
and apply the parking brake. Turn
off the air conditioning if it is being
used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or reservoir, stop the
engine. Wait until the steam sub-
sides before opening the hood. If
there is no coolant boiling over or
steam, leave the engine running.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury,
keep the hood closed until there
is no steam. Escaping steam or
coolant is a sign of very high
pressure.
If your engine stalls while
driving

4RUNNER (1998)
3. Visually check to see if the engine drive belt (fan belt) is broken or
loose. Look for obvious coolant
leaks from the radiator, hoses, and
under the vehicle. However, note
that water draining from the air
conditioning is normal if it has
been used.
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive
belts.
4. If the engine drive belt is brokenor the coolant is leaking, stop the
engine immediately. Call a Toyota
dealer for assistance.
5. If the engine drive belt is O.K. and there are no obvious leaks, you
may help the engine cool down
more quickly by running it at about
1500 rpm for a few minutes with
the accelerator pedal lightly de-
pressed.
6. Check the coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add coolant to the reservoir
while the engine is running. Fill it
about half full.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to remove the ra-
diator cap when the engine and
radiator are hot. Serious injury
could result from scalding hot
fluid and steam blown out under
pressure.
7. After the engine coolant tempera-ture has cooled to normal, again
check the coolant level in the res-
ervoir. If necessary, bring it up to
half full again. Serious coolant loss
indicates a leak in the system. You
should have it checked as soon as
possible at your Toyota dealer. If you have a flat tireÐ
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keep- ing a straight line. Move cautiously
off the road to a safe place well
away from the traffic. Avoid stop-
ping on the center divider of a
highway. Park on a level spot with
firm ground.
2. Stop the engine and turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Firmly set the parking brake and put the transmission in ºPº (auto-
matic) or reverse (manual).
4. Have everyone get out of the ve- hicle on the side away from traffic.
5. Read the following instructions thoroughly.
CAUTION
When jacking, be sure to observe
the following to reduce the possi-
bility of personal injury: Follow jacking instructions.
Do not start or run the engine
while your vehicle is supported
by the jack.