TOYOTA TACOMA 2008 Owners Manual (in English)

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Do not let a rear passenger lift the
front passenger seat with their feet
or press on the seatback with their
legs.
Do not put objects under the front
passenger seat.
Double cab models—Do not attach
a commercial seatback table or oth-
er heavy item to the back of the
front passenger seat.
Regular cab models with bench
seat—Do not use a seat accessory,
such as a cushion or seat cover,
that covers the seat cushion sur-
face.
Regular cab models with bench
seat—Do not modify or replace the
upholstery of the front seat.
Child restraint systems installed on
the rear seat should not contact the
front seatbacks.
When it is unavoidable to install the
forwardfacing child restraint sys-
tem on the front passenger seat,
install the child restraint system on
the front passenger seat in the
proper order. (As for the installation
order, see “—Installation with seat
belt” on page 106 in this Section.)
Do not modify or remove the front
seats.
Do not kick the front passenger
seat or subject it to severe impact.
Otherwise, the SRS warning light
may come on to indicate a malfunc-
tion of the detection system. In this
case, contact your Toyota dealer im-
mediately.
The front passenger occupant
classification indicator light may indicate
“ON” (the front passenger airbag and side
airbag on the front passenger seat may
deploy) even if observing the above
cautions, when a child sits in, or a
forward−facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat.
Refer to all the cautions in “SRS driver
airbag and front passenger airbag” on
page 62, “SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags” on page 72 and “Child
restraint” on page 93.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
LS13192
The roll sensing of curtain shield air-
bags off switch (“RSCA OFF” switch)
can turn off the curtain shield airbags
and seat belt pretensioners in a vehicle
rollover. This switch should only be
used if inflation is not desired (such as
extreme offroad driving).When you push the “RSCA OFF” switch
for a few seconds with the engine switch
on, the “RSCA OFF” indicator light comes
on and the roll sensing function is turned
off. When you push the switch again, the
indicator light goes off and the roll sens-
ing function is turned on. (For details
about the roll sensing function, see “SRS
side airbags and curtain shield airbags” on
page 72 in this Section.)
In a severe side impact, the curtain shield
airbags on impacted side will inflate even
if the roll sensing function is turned off.
(For details about the curtain shield air-
bags, see “SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags” on page 72 in this Sec-
tion.)
In a severe frontal impact, the seat belt
pretensioners will work even if the roll
sensing function is turned off. (For details
about the seat belt pretensioners, see
“—Seat belt pretensioners” on page 50 in
this Section.)
If the engine switch is turned to “ACC” or
“LOCK” with the roll sensing function off
and then the engine switch is turned back
to “ON”, the roll sensing function will turn
back on automatically.
CAUTION
Before normal driving, make sure
the “RSCA OFF” indicator light is
off.
When the roll sensing function is
turned off (and the “RSCA OFF”
indicator light is on), the curtain
shield airbags and seat belt preten-
sioners will not work in a vehicle
rollover. Turning off the curtain
shield airbags and seat belt preten-
sioners reduces occupant protection
which your vehicle safety systems
can provide in accidents and in-
crease the likelihood of death or
serious injuries.
Roll sensing of curtain shield
airbags off switch

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Toyota strongly urges the use of ap-
propriate child restraint systems for
children.
The laws of all 50 states in the U.S.A.
and Canada now require the use of a
child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAEJ1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. See “Seat belts” on
page 43 in this Section for details.
CAUTION
For effective protection in automo-
bile accidents and sudden stops, a
child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint
system depending on the age and
size of the child. Holding a child in
your arms is not a substitute for a
child restraint system. In an acci-
dent, the child can be crushed
against the windshield, or between
you and the vehicle’s interior.
Regular cab models with separate
seats and access cab models—
Regular cab models with separate
seats—
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system which
conforms to the size of the child.
Access cab models—
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system which
conforms to the size of the child,
installed in the rear of the cabin
per the instructions in this manual.
According to accident statistics, the
child is safer when properly re-
strained in the rear of the vehicle
cabin than in the front.
Never put infant or child age 1 to
12 in a passenger risk group on the
right front passenger seat with the
passenger airbag off switch in the
“AUTO” position. In the event of an
accident, the force of the rapid
inflation of the front passenger air-
bag can cause death or serious in-
jury to the child.
If you must put infant or child age
1 to 12 in a passenger risk group
on the right front seat, make sure
that the passenger airbag off switch
is in the “OFF” position with the
key removed and that the indicator
light is on. (For details, see “SRS
driver airbag and front passenger
airbag” on page 53 in this Section.)
Do not use the seat belt extender
when installing a child restraint
system on the front passenger seat
or in the rear of the cabin. If instal-
ling a child restraint system with
the seat belt extender connected to
the seat belt, the seat belt will not
securely hold the child restraint
system, which could cause death or
serious injury to the child or other
passengers in the event of colli-
sion.
Make sure you have complied with
all installation instructions provided
by the child restraint manufacturer
and that the system is properly se-
cured. If it is not secured properly,
it may cause death or serious injury
to the child in the event of a sud-
den stop or accident.
Child restraint—
—Child restraint precautions

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Regular cab models with bench seat
and double cab models—
Regular cab models with bench
seat—
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system which
conforms to the size of the child.
Double cab models—
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system which
conforms to the size of the child,
installed on the rear seat. Accord-
ing to accident statistics, the child
is safer when properly restrained in
the rear seat than in the front seat.
Never install a rearfacing child re-
straint system on the front passen-
ger seat even if the front passenger
occupant classification indicator
light indicates “OFF”. In the event
of an accident, the impact of the
rapid inflation of the front passen-
ger airbag could cause death or se-
rious injury to the child if the rear
facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger
seat.
A forwardfacing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to be
installed on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable.
Always move the seat as far back
as possible even if the front pas-
senger occupant classification indi-
cator light indicates “OFF”, because
the front passenger airbag could in-
flate with considerable speed and
force. Otherwise, the child may be
killed or seriously injured.
On vehicles with side airbags and
curtain shield airbags, do not allow
the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the
door or the area of the seat, front
or rear pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain
shield airbags deploy even if the
child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag in-
flate, and the impact could cause
death or serious injury to the child.
Do not use the seat belt extender
when installing a child restraint
system on the front or rear passen-
ger seat. If installing a child re-
straint system with the seat belt
extender connected to the seat belt,
the seat belt will not securely hold
the child restraint system, which
could cause death or serious injury
to the child or other passengers in
the event of collision.
Make sure you have complied with
all installation instructions provided
by the child restraint manufacturer
and that the system is properly se-
cured. If it is not secured properly,
it may cause death or serious injury
to the child in the event of a sud-
den stop or accident.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
A child restraint system for a small
child or baby must itself be properly
restrained on the seat with the lap por-
tion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must
carefully consult the manufacturer ’s
instructions which accompany the child
restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child
restraint system following the manufactur-
er ’s instructions about the appropriate age
and size of the child for the child restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer. General directions are also
provided under the following illustrations.
The child restraint system should be
installed in the rear seat if your vehicle
is equipped with rear seats. According to
accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear of the ve-
hicle cabin than in the front.
When not using the child restraint system,
keep it secured with the seat belt or place
it somewhere other than the passenger
compartment. This will prevent it from in-
juring passengers in the event of a sud-
den stop or accident.Child restraint systems are classified into
the following 3 types depending on the
child’s age and size.
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
Install the child restraint system following
the instructions provided by its manufac-
turer.
Your vehicle has anchor brackets for se-
curing the top strap of a child restraint
system.
For instructions about how to use the an-
chor bracket, see “—Using a top strap” on
page 116, 119 or 122 in this Section.
The child restraint lower anchorages
approved for your vehicle may also be
used. See “—Installation with child
restraint lower anchorages” on page 124,
126 or 131 in this Section.
LS13001
(A) Infant seat
LS13002
(B) Convertible seat
—Child restraint system
—Types of child restraint
system

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
LS13003
(C) Booster seat
LS13004a
WHEN INSTALLING IN THE REAR SEAT
(access cab models):
Flip over the bottom cushion before
installing the child restraint system.
CAUTION
To install the child restraint system
properly, make sure the bottom cush-
ion is flipped over whenever you use
a child restraint system in the rear
seating area.
LS13008
(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An infant seat must be used in rear
facing position only.
—Installation with seat belt
(regular cab models with separate
seats and access cab models)

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
LS13005
CAUTION
Never install a rearfacing child re-
straint system on the front seat with
the passenger airbag off switch in the
“AUTO” position. In the event of an
accident, the force of the rapid infla-
tion of the front passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the
child if the rearfacing child restraint
system is installed on the front pas-
senger seat.
LS13006a
When you install a rearfacing child re-
straint system which belongs to a pas-
senger risk group on the front passen-
ger seat, turn the passenger airbag off
switch counterclockwise to the “OFF”
position and remove the key. (For de-
tails, see “SRS driver airbag and front
passenger airbag” on page 53 in this
Section.)
The indicator light comes on when the
system is off.
CAUTION
If you must install a rearfacing child
restraint system on the front passen-
ger seat, make sure that the front
passenger airbag off switch is in the
“OFF” position with the key removed
and that the indicator light is on.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
LS13007
CAUTION
Do not install a child restraint sys-
tem on the rear seat if it interferes
with the lock mechanism of the
front seats. Otherwise, the child or
front seat occupant(s) may be killed
or seriously injured in case of sud-
den braking or a collision.
If the driver ’s seat position does
not allow sufficient space for safe
installation, install the child re-
straint system on the rear right
seat.
LS13009
To install the infant seat:1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the infant seat following the
instructions provided by its manufactur-
er and insert the tab into the buckle
taking care not to twist the belt. Keep
the lap portion of the belt tight.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent your
child from properly latching the tab
and buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from death or serious injury.
Contact your Toyota dealer immedi-
ately. Do not install the child
restraint system on the seat until
the seat belt is fixed.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
LS13010
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put itin the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted even slightly, it cannot
be extended.
To hold the infant seat securely, make
sure the belt is in the lock mode before
letting the belt retract.
LS13011
3. While pressing the infant seat firmly against the seat cushion and seatback,
let the shoulder belt retract as far as
it will go to hold the infant seat secure-
ly.
LS13012
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint sys-
tem in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufac-
turer.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
LS13013
To remove the infant seat:
Press the buckle release button and allow
the belt to retract completely. The belt will
move freely again and be ready to work
for an adult or older child passenger.
LS13014
(B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLATION
A convertible seat must be used in for-
wardfacing or rearfacing position de-
pending on the age and size of the
child. When installing, follow the
manufacturer ’s instructions about the
applicable age and size of the child as
well as directions for installing the
child restraint system.
LS13015
CAUTION
Rearfacing child restraint system:
Never install a rearfacing child re-
straint system on the front passenger
seat with the passenger airbag off
switch in the “AUTO” position. In the
event of an accident, the force of the
rapid inflation of the front passenger
airbag can cause death or serious in-
jury to the child if the rearfacing
child restraint system is installed on
the front passenger seat.