TOYOTA TACOMA 2009 Owners Manual (in English)

411
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
■
License plate lights
Remove the screw and light unit.
Turn the bulb base counterclock-
wise.
Remove the light bulb.

412 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Lights other than the above
If any of the lights listed below has burnt out, have it replaced by
your Toyota dealer.
• Stop/tail lights
• Rear side marker lights
■ Condensation build-up on th e inside of the lens
Contact your Toyota dealer for more information in the following situations.
Temporary condensation build-up on the inside of the headlight lens does
not indicate a malfunction.
● Large drops of water are built up on the inside of the lens.
● Water has built up inside the headlight.
■ LED light bulbs
The stop/tail and rear side marker lights consist of a number of LEDs. If any
of the LEDs burn out, take your vehicle to your Toyota dealer to have the
light replaced.
If two or more LEDs in a stop light burn out, your vehicle may not conform to
local laws (SAE).
CAUTION
■Replacing light bulbs
●Turn off the headlights. Do not attempt to replace the bulb immediately
after turning off the headlights.
The bulbs become very hot and may cause burns.
● Do not touch the glass portion of the light bulb with bare hands. Hold the
bulb by the plastic or metal portion.
If the bulb is scratched or dropped it may blow out or crack.
● Fully install light bulbs and any parts used to secure them. Failing to do so
may result in heat damage, fire, or water entering the headlight unit. This
may damage the headlights or cause condensation to build up on the lens.
■ To prevent damage or fire
Make sure bulbs are fully seated and locked.

When trouble arises5
413
5-1. Essential information .... 414If your vehicle needs to be towed ............................. 414
If you think something is wrong ............................. 420
Fuel pump shut off system ........................... 421
Event data recorder ......... 422
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency .................... 424
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds... ........................ 424
If you have a flat tire......... 433
If the engine will not start ................................ 449
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P................. 450
If you lose your keys ........ 451
If the vehicle battery is discharged ..................... 452
If your vehicle overheats ....................... 456
If the vehicle becomes stuck .............................. 459

414
5-1. Essential information
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towingThe following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Toyota dealer before towing.
● The engine is running, but the vehicle will not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Emergency towing (4WD models and PreRunner only)
If a tow truck is not available, in an emergency your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency
towing eyelet/hook. This should only attempted on hard, surfaced
roads for short distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
Vehicles without off-road package Towing eyelet
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by
your Toyota dealer or a commerci al towing service, using a lift-type
truck or a flat bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all to wing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
The wheels and axle on the groun d must be in good condition.
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flat bed truck.

5
When trouble arises
415
5-1. Essential information
Vehicles with off-road package
Towing hook
■Emergency towin g procedure
The engine switch must be in the ACC (engine off) or the ON
(engine running) position.
4WD models: Put the front-wheel drive control switch in H2.
Put the shift lever in N.
Release the parking brake.
CAUTION
■ Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive
stress on the emergency towing eyelet/hook and the cables or chains.
● If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering
will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.

416 5-1. Essential information
Towing with a sling-type truck
NOTICE
■Emergency towing eyelet/hook precautions
●Before emergency towing, check that the eyelet/hook is not broken or
damaged.
● Fasten the towing cable or chain securely to the eyelet/hook.
● Do not jerk the eyelet/hook. Apply steady and even force.
● To avoid damaging the eyelet/hook, do not pull from the side or at a verti-
cal angle. Always pull straight ahead.
NOTICE
■To prevent body damage
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.

5
When trouble arises
417
5-1. Essential information
Towing with a wheel lift-type truck from the front
Vehicles with an automatic trans-
mission: Use a towing dolly
under the rear wheels.
2WD models with a manual
transmission: We recommend to
use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
When not using a towing dolly,
release the parking brake and
shift the shift lever to N.
4WD models with a manual
transmission: We recommend to
use a towing dolly under the rear
wheel.
When not using a towing dolly,
release the parking brake, shift
the shift lever to N and put the
front-wheel drive control switch in
H2.
NOTICE
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission (vehicles with
an automatic transmission)
Never tow this vehicle wheels on the ground.

418 5-1. Essential information
Towing with a wheel lift-type truck from the rear2WD models Turn the engine switch to the
ACC position.
4WD models We recommend to use a towing
dolly under the front wheels.
When not using a towing dolly,
turn the engine switch to the ACC
position, shift the shift lever to N
and put the front-wheel drive con-
trol switch in H2.
NOTICE
■To prevent damaging the vehicle
●Do not tow the vehicle with the key removed or in the LOCK position.
The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheel
straight.
● When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while being towed.

5
When trouble arises
419
5-1. Essential information
Using a flat bed truck
If your Toyota is transported by a
flat bed truck, it should be tied
down at the locations shown in
the illustration.
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
shaded in black must be 45.
Do not overly tighten the tie
downs or the vehicle may be
damaged.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Front

420
5-1. Essential information
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
■ Visible symptoms
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air cond itioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temperature g auge needle continually points
higher than normal
■ Audible symptoms
●Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the engine
■ Operational symptoms
●Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, s pongy feeling, pedal almost
touches the floor