TOYOTA TACOMA 2000 Owners Manual (in English)

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START"Starter motor on. The key
will return to the ON" position when
released.
For starting tips, see Section 3.
ON"Engine on and all accessories
on.
This is the normal driving position.
ACC"Accessories such as the radio
operate, but the engine is off.
If you leave the key in the ACC" or
LOCK" position and open the driver’s
door, a buzzer will remind you to remove
the key.
LOCK"Engine is off and the steering
wheel is locked. The key can be re-
moved only at this position.You must push in the key to turn the key
from ACC" to the LOCK" position. On
vehicles with an automatic transmission,
the selector lever must be in the P" posi-
tion before pushing the key.
When starting the engine, the key may
seem stuck at the LOCK" position. To
free it, first be sure the key is pushed all
the way in, and then rock the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key gently.
CAUTION
For manual transmission:
Never remove the key when the ve-
hicle is moving, as this will lock the
steering wheel and result in loss of
steering control.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ON"
position if the engine is not running.
The battery will discharge and the
ignition could be damaged.
Ignition switch with steering
lock

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Automatic transmission (conventional type)
Overdrive switch
For selecting either a three−speed
or four−speed transmissionOFF" position
(Shifting into overdrive
not possible) ON" position
(Shifting into overdrive
possible)
O/D OFF" indicator light
Shows the overdrive switch
is in OFF" position.
Always turn the overdrive switch on for
better fuel economy.
Shift while pulling the
selector lever toward you. With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while pulling the selector
lever toward you. (The ignition
switch must be in ON" position.)
Shift normally. Parking, engine starting
and key removal position
Reverse position
Neutral position
Normal driving position
Position for engine braking
Position for stronger engine
braking than that in 2"
position
Vehicles with cruise controlWhen the cruise control is being used, even if you downshift the transmission by turning off the o
verdrive
switch, engine braking will not be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For ways to decrease the vehicle speed, see
Cruise control" in this section.

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Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of P" position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ON" position and the selector
lever pulled toward you).
(a) Normal driving1. Start the engine as instructed in How to start the engine" in Section 3. The
transmission must be in P" or N".
2. After starting the engine, always push in the overdrive switch.
3. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to D".
With the selector lever in the D" position
and the overdrive switch in the ON" posi-
tion, the automatic transmission will shift
automatically from the first gear through
the fourth gear and select the most suit-
able gear meeting the driving condition.
Even during ordinary driving, keep the
overdrive switch turned on. (At this time,
the O/D OFF" indicator light on the in-
strument cluster will be off.) Always keep the overdrive switch turned
on for better fuel economy and quieter
driving. If you have turned off the over-
drive switch, be sure to turn the overdrive
switch on again. If the engine coolant
temperature is low, the transmission will
not shift into the overdrive gear even with
the overdrive switch on.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
4. Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(b) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Turn off the overdrive switch. The O/D
OFF" indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to the
third gear.
Shift into the 2" position when the
vehicle speed drops down to or lower
than 106 km/h (66 mph). The transmis-
sion will downshift to the second gear
and more powerful engine braking will
be enabled.
Shift into the L" position when the
vehicle speed drops down to or lower
than 61 km/h (38 mph). The transmis-
sion will downshift to the first gear and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.
Vehicles with cruise controlWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by turning off
the overdrive switch, engine braking will
not be applied because the cruise control
is not cancelled. For ways to decrease
the vehicle speed, see Cruise control" in
this section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
NOTICE
To prevent engine overrevving, do not
downshift if you are going faster than
the above speed in each position.

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(c) Using 2" and L" positions
The 2" and L" positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in 2" or L", you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in D".
With the selector lever in 2", the vehicle
will start in the first gear and automatical-
ly shift to second gear.
With the selector lever in L", the trans-
mission is engaged in first gear.NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the en-
gine. Watch the tachometer to keep
engine rpm from going into the red
zone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
2" 124 km/h(77 mph) . . . . . . . . . . . .
L" 72 km/h(45 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
 Do not continue hill climbing for a
long time in the 2" or L" posi-
tion. This may cause severe auto-
matic transmission damage from
overheating. To prevent such dam-
age, use D" position for hill climb-
ing or hard towing.
(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
R" position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(e) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever fully to securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down, shift the selector lever to the P" posi-
tion.
CAUTION
While the vehicle is moving, never
attempt to move the selector lever
into P" position under any circum-
stances. Serious mechanical damage
and loss of vehicle control may re-
sult.
(f) Good driving practice
If the transmission is repeatedly up-
shifted and downshifted between third
gear and overdrive when climbing a
gentle slope, the overdrive switch
should be turned off. Be sure to turn
the switch on immediately afterward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use overdrive.

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CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping.
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an up-
grade with the accelerator pedal. It
can cause the transmission to over-
heat. Always use the brake pedal or
parking brake.
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
CAUTION
If your vehicle becomes stuck in
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you may
attempt to rock the vehicle free by
moving it forward and backward. Do
not attempt this procedure if people
or objects are anywhere near the ve-
hicle. During the rocking operation
the vehicle may suddenly move for-
ward or backward as it becomes un-
stuck, causing injury or damage to
nearby people or objects.
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the
following precautions to prevent dam-
age to the transmission and other
parts.
Do not depress the accelerator ped-
al while shifting the selector lever
or before the transmission is com-
pletely shifted to forward or reverse
gear.
Do not race the engine and avoid
spinning the wheels.
 If your vehicle remains stuck after
rocking the vehicle several times,
consider other ways such as tow-
ing.
(h) If you cannot shift the selector le-
ver out of P" position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the P" position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see If
you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever" in Section 4.

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Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of P" position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ON" position and the selector
lever pulled toward you).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is displayed on the in-
strument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and
key removal
R: Reverse
N: Neutral
D: Normal driving (with overdrive on)
2: Stronger engine braking
L: Maximum engine braking
Automatic transmission (electronically controlled
typetwo−wheel drive models except Pre Runner)
Overdrive switch
Selector lever
Shift while holding the
lock release button in.
Shift normally. With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while pulling the selector
lever toward you. (The ignition
switch must be in ON" position.)

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(b) Overdrive switch
You can select either a third gear (with
overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-
drive on) by pushing this switch.
To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.
The O/D OFF" indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The O/D OFF" indicator
light should go off.
Always drive your vehicle with the over-
drive on for better fuel economy and
quieter driving.
If the engine is turned off when the over-
drive is off and restarted, the overdrive
will automatically be on.Vehicles with cruise controlWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking will not be applied because the
cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see Cruise control" in this section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in How to start the engine" in Section 3. The
transmission must be in P" or N".
2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to D".
When the lever is in the D" position, the
automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for running condi-
tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-
ing, hard towing, etc.
Always turn the overdrive switch on for
better fuel economy and quieter driving. If
the engine coolant temperature is low, the
transmission will not shift into the over-
drive gear even with the overdrive on.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(d) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Push the overdrive switch. The O/D
OFF" indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to the
third gear.
Shift into the 2" position. The trans-
mission will downshift to the second
gear when the vehicle speed drops
down to or lower than 131 km/h (81
mph), and stronger engine braking will
be enabled.
Shift into the L" position. The trans-
mission will downshift to the first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 63 km/h (39 mph), and
maximum engine braking will be ap-
plied.

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Vehicles with cruise controlWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking is not applied because the cruise
control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see Cruise control" in this section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
(e) Using 2" and L" positions
The 2" and L" positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in 2" or L", you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in D".
With the selector lever in 2", the vehicle
will start in the first gear and automatical-
ly shift to the second gear.
With the selector lever in L", the trans-
mission is engaged in first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the en-
gine. Watch the tachometer to keep
engine rpm from going into the red
zone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
2" 136 km/h (85 mph) . . . . . . . . . . . .
L" 74 km/h (46 mph)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
 Do not continue hill climbing for a
long time in the 2" or L" posi-
tion. This may cause severe auto-
matic transmission damage from
overheating. To prevent such dam-
age, use D" position for hill climb-
ing or hard towing.
(f) 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
R" position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(g) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever fully to securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down, shift the selector lever to the P" posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into P" position under any cir-
cumstances while the vehicle is mov-
ing. Serious mechanical damage and
loss of vehicle control may result.
(h) Good driving practice
If the transmission is repeatedly shifts
up and down between third gear and
overdrive when climbing a gentle slope,
the overdrive should be turned off. Be
sure to turn the switch on immediately
afterward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use overdrive.

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CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping.
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an up-
grade with the accelerator pedal. It
can cause the transmission to over-
heat. Always use the brake pedal or
parking brake.
(i) Driving in POWER" mode
In the POWER" mode, the transmission
is shifted up and down at a higher vehicle
speed than in the NORMAL" mode and a
more powerful acceleration is achieved. To
set the POWER" mode, push in the driv-
ing pattern selector button. The POWER
mode indicator light comes on.
For ordinary driving, Toyota recommends
using the NORMAL" mode to improve fuel
economy.(j) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
CAUTION
If your vehicle becomes stuck in
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you may
attempt to rock the vehicle free by
moving it forward and backward. Do
not attempt this procedure if people
or objects are anywhere near the ve-
hicle. During the rocking operation
the vehicle may suddenly move for-
ward or backward as it becomes un-
stuck, causing injury or damage to
nearby people or objects.
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the
following precautions to prevent dam-
age to the transmission and other
parts.

Do not depress the accelerator ped-
al while shifting the selector lever
or before the transmission is com-
pletely shifted to forward or reverse
gear.

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Do not race the engine and avoid
spinning the wheels.
 If your vehicle remains stuck after
rocking the vehicle several times,
consider other ways such as tow-
ing.
(k) If you cannot shift the selector le-
ver out of P" position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the P" position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see If
you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever" in Section 4.