snow chains TOYOTA MATRIX 2003 E130 / 1.G Owners Manual

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Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, downshifting or braking on
a slippery surface. Sudden accelera-
tion or engine braking, could cause
the vehicle to spin or skid.
Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has highspeed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are highspeed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a
longer stopping distance, and it
may pull to one side when the
brakes are applied. Also, the park-
ing brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.
If you need greater traction while driv-
ing on sand, mud or snow covered
roadways, use tire chains on the front
wheels.
Always check your brakes for effective-
ness immediately after driving across
sand, mud, or water.
If operating in adverse conditions
frequently, vehicle maintenance should
be increased. (See the separate
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner ’s Manual Supplement”.)
CAUTION
Observe the following tire instruc-
tions. Otherwise, an accident may oc-
cur resulting in death or serious inju-
ries.
Keep your tire pressure at the prop-
er level. (See “—Checking tire pres-
sure” on page 247 in Section 72.)
Do not use tires (including snow
tires) of different brands, sizes,
construction or tread patterns. (See
“—Checking and replacing tires” on
page 248 and “—Installing snow
tires and chains” on page 250 in
Section 72.)
Do not use tires with different tread
wear. To equalize the tire wear, ro-
tate tires at the appropriate interval.
(See “—Rotating tires” on page 249
in Section 72.)
Use the manufacturer ’s recom-
mended wheels. Do not use wheels
of different sizes and types. (See
“—Replacing wheels” on page 252
in Section 72.)
NOTICE
Do not attempt to go offroad in your
Toyota. It is not designed for offroad
use.
Fourwheel driving tips
(4WD models)

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Make sure you have a proper freeze
protection of engine coolant.
Your coolant must contain ethyleneglycol
type coolant for a proper corrosion
protection of aluminum components. Use
“TOYOTA Long Life Coolant” or equivalent.
See page 244 in Section 72 for details
about coolant type selection.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or
plain water alone.
When it is extremely cold, we recommend
to use 60% solution for your Toyota, to
provide protection down to about 50C
(58 F). Do not use more than 70% solu-
tion for better coolant performance.
Check the condition of the battery and
cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of
any battery, so it must be in top shape
to provide enough power for winter start-
ing. Section 73 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer
and most service stations will be pleased
to check the level of charge. Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See page 242 in Section 72 for recom-
mended viscosity. Leaving a heavy sum-
mer oil in your vehicle during winter
months may cause harder starting. If you
are not sure about which oil to use, call
your Toyota dealer–he will be pleased to
help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock deicer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing. To open
a frozen lock, try heating the key before
inserting it.
Use a washer fluid containing an anti-
freeze solution.
This product is available at your Toyota
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow
the manufacturer ’s directions for how
much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitute because it may dam-
age your vehicle’s paint.
Do not use your parking brake when
there is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
“P” (automatic) or into first or reverse
(manual) and block the rear wheels. Do
not use the parking brake, or snow or
water accumulated in and around the
parking brake mechanism may freeze,
making it hard to release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating
under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders
can make steering difficult. During bad
winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving,
we recommend you carry some emer-
gency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.
NOTICE
Do not use window scraper or deicer
when the plastic resin moon roof is
heavily coated with frost or ice. The
plastic resin moon roof is easily dam-
aged.
Winter driving tips

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DOITYOURSELF MAINTENANCE
Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level242
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Checking the engine coolant level 244
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Checking the radiator and condenser 245
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking brake fluid 245
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. . . .
Checking power steering fluid 246
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire information
Precautions for tires of four wheel drive models 246
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking tire pressure 247
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Checking and replacing tires 248
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotating tires 249
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. . . . . . . .
Installing snow tires and chains 250
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels 252
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Aluminum wheel precautions 252
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 7 2

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If hot
O.K.Close OpenIf cold
O.K.
If hot
add If cold
add
Check the fluid level through the reser-
voir. If necessary, add automatic trans-
mission fluid DEXRON
II or III.
If the vehicle has been driven around 80
km/h (50 mph) for 20 minutes (a little
more in frigid temperatures), the fluid is
hot (60 C—80 C or 140 F—175 F). You
may also check the level when the fluid
is cold (about room temperature,
10 C—30 C or 50 F—85 F) if the engine
has not been run for about five hours. Clean all dirt from outside of the reservoir
tank and look at the fluid level. If the fluid
is cold, the level should be in the “COLD”
range. Similarly, if it is hot, the fluid level
should be in the “HOT” range. If the level
is at the low side of either range, add
automatic transmission fluid DEXRON
II or
III to bring the level within the range.
To remove the reservoir cap, turn it coun-
terclockwise and lift up. To reinstall it,
turn it clockwise. After replacing the reser-
voir cap, visually check the steering box
case, vane pump and hose connections
for leaks or damage.
CAUTION
The reservoir tank may be hot so be
careful not to burn yourself.
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the power steer-
ing could be damaged.
CAUTION
Observe the following instructions.
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-
sulting in death or serious injuries.
Keep your tire pressure at the prop-
er level. (See “—Checking tire pres-
sure” on page 247 in this section.)
Do not use tires (including snow
tires) of different brands, sizes,
construction or tread patterns. (See
“—Checking and replacing tires” on
page 248 and “—Installing snow
tires and chains” on page 250 in
this section.)
Do not use tires with different tread
wear. To equalize the tire wear, ro-
tate tires at the appropriate interval.
(See “—Rotating tires” on page 249
in this section.)
Use the manufacturer ’s recom-
mended wheels. Do not use wheels
of different sizes and types. (See
“—Replacing wheels” on page 252
in this section.)
Checking power steering fluid Tire information—
—Precautions for tires of
fourwheel drive models

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Tread wear indicator
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire tread for the tread wear
indicators. If the indicators show, re-
place the tires.
The tires on your Toyota have builtin
tread wear indicators to help you know
when the tires need replacement. When
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06
in.) or less, the indicators will appear. If
you can see the indicators in two or more
adjacent grooves, the tire should be re-
placed. The lower the tread, the higher
the risk of skidding.Vehicles equipped with P215/50ZR17
tires:
Your Toyota has been fitted with
specially developed tires which provide ex-
ceptional dynamic performance under gen-
eral road conditions. However your riding
comfort may worsen a little and road
noise may increase during driving. You
may also notice that your tires will wear
more rapidly and tire grip performance will
be reduced on the snowy and/or icy roads
when compared to standard tires. Be sure
to have snow tires or tire chains on the
snowy and/or icy roads and drive carefully
with the speed appropriate for road condi-
tions.
NOTICE
Low profile tire like P215/50ZR17 may
have greater damage than usual tires
to its tire wheel when receiving im-
pact from the road surface. Therefore,
pay attention to the followings.
 Be sure to use with proper tire
pressure. If the tire pressure is low,
the tire may have a greater damage.
For detailed information about tire
pressure, see page 272 in Section
8.
 Avoid driving onto high, sharp
edged objects and other road haz-
ards. Failure to do so can lead to
severe tire damage.
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost
if the tread wears down below 4 mm
(0.16 in.).
Check the tires regularly for damage
such as cuts, splits and cracks. If any
damage is found, consult with a techni-
cian and have the tire repaired or re-
placed.
—Checking and replacing tires

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Even if the damage does not appear seri-
ous, a qualified technician should examine
the damage. Objects which have pene-
trated the tire may have caused internal
damage.
Any tires which are over 6 years old
must be checked by a qualified techni-
cian even if damage is not obvious.
Tires deteriorate with age even if they
have never or seldom been used.
This also applies to the spare tire and
tires stored for future use.
REPLACING YOUR TIRES
Twowheel drive models—When replac-
ing a tire, use only the same size and
construction as originally installed and
with the same or greater load capacity.
Fourwheel drive models—When replac-
ing tires, make sure all the tires are the
same brand. Only use the same size,
construction and tread patterns as the
originally installed tires, with the same
or greater load capacity.
Using any other size or type of tire may
seriously affect handling, ride, speedome-
ter/odometer calibration, ground clearance,
and clearance between the body and tires
or snow chains.CAUTION
Do not mix radial, bias belted, or
biasply tires on your vehicle. It
can cause dangerous handling char-
acteristics, resulting in loss of con-
trol.
Do not use tire or wheels other
than the manufacturer ’s recom-
mended size.
Toyota recommends all four tires, or at
least both front or rear tires be re-
placed as a set.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page 202
in Section 4 for tire change procedure.
When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect vehicle
handling and tire life. Wheels can get out
of balance with regular use and should
therefore be balanced occasionally.
When replacing a tubeless tire, the air
valve should also be replaced with a
new one.
To equalize tire wear and help extend
tire life, Toyota recommends that you
rotate your tires according to the main-
tenance schedule. (For scheduled main-
tenance information, please refer to the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner ’s Manual Supplement”.) Howev-
er, the most appropriate timing for tire
rotation may vary according to your
driving habits and road surface condi-
tions.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page 202
in Section 4 for tire change procedure.
—Rotating tires

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When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usu-
ally caused by incorrect tire pressure, im-
proper wheel alignment, outofbalance
wheels, or severe braking.
CAUTION
Do not include a compact spare tire
when rotating the tires. It is designed
for temporary use only.
Turning direction
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
Vehicles equipped with P215/50ZR17
tires: You have directional tires, and a
turning indicator marked on the side
wall. Using tires on the wrong side of
the vehicle will impair tire performance. WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR
CHAINS
Snow tires or chains are recommended
when driving on snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires
provide better traction than snow tires.
SNOW TIRE SELECTION
Twowheel drive models—If you need
snow tires, select the same size,
construction and load capacity as the
original tires on your Toyota.
Fourwheel drive models—If you need
snow tires, select the same brand, size,
construction, tread patterns and load
capacity as the original tires on your
To y o t a .
Do not use tires other than those men-
tioned above. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions.
—Installing snow tires and
chains

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SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION
Snow tires should be installed on all
wheels.
Installing snow tires on the front wheels
only can lead to an excessive difference
in road grip capability between the front
and rear tires, which could cause loss of
vehicle control.
When storing removed tires, you should
store them in a cool dry place.
Mark the direction of rotation and be sure
to install them in the same direction when
replacing.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the snow tires
incorrectly inflated.
Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph)
with any type of snow tires.
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION
Use the tire chains of correct size and
type.
Use SAE Class “S” type radial tire chains
except radial cable chains or Vbar type
chains.
Regulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary according to location or
type of road, so always check them
before installing chains.
CHAIN INSTALLATION
Install the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the rear tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5—1.0 km
(1/4—1/2 mile).
When installing chains on your tires, care-
fully follow the instructions of the chain
manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so remove
the covers before putting on the chains.CAUTION
Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or
the chain manufacturer ’s recom-
mended speed limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully avoiding bumps,
holes, and sharp turns, which may
cause the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or lockedwheel
braking, as use of chains may ad-
versely affect vehicle handling.
When driving with chains installed,
be sure to drive carefully. Slow
down before entering the curves to
avoid losing control of the vehicle.
Otherwise an accident may occur.
NOTICE
Do not attempt to use a tire chain on
the compact spare tire, as it may re-
sult in damage to the vehicle as well
as the tire.

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WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS
If you have wheel damage such as
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion, the
wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the
tire may slip off the wheel or cause loss
of handling control.
WHEEL SELECTION
When replacing wheels, care should be
taken to ensure that the wheels are re-
placed by ones with the same load ca-
pacity, diameter, rim width, and offset.
This must be observed on compact spare
tire, too.
Correct replacement wheels are available
at your Toyota dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type may
adversely affect handling, wheel and bear-
ing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odom-
eter calibration, stopping ability, headlight
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clear-
ance, and tire or snow chain clearance to
the body and chassis. Replacement with used wheels is not rec-
ommended as they may have been sub-
jected to rough treatment or high mileage
and could fail without warning. Also, bent
wheels which have been straightened may
have structural damage and therefore
should not be used. Never use an inner
tube in a leaking wheel which is designed
for a tubeless tire.When installing aluminum w
heels,
check that the wheel nuts are tight
after driving your vehicle the first 1600
km (1000 miles).
If you have rotated, repaired, or
changed your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving
1600 km (1000 miles).
When using tire chains, be careful not
to damage the aluminum wheels.
Use only the Toyota wheel nuts and
wrench designed for your aluminum
wheels.
When balancing your wheels, use only
Toyota balance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber hammer.
As with any wheel, periodically check
your aluminum wheels for damage. If
damaged, replace immediately.
—Replacing wheels —Aluminum wheel precautions