TOYOTA TACOMA 2010 Owners Manual (in English)

221 2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue load capacities.
●The tow hitch receiver installed on your vehicle must never be used on
another vehicle.
■Hitches
●If you wish to install a trailer hitch, your Toyota dealer should be consulted.
●Use only a hitch that conforms to the total trailer weight requirement.
●Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
●Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.
●Remove the trailer hitch whenever you are not towing a trailer to reduce
the possibility of additional damage caused by the hitch if your vehicle is
struck from behind.
■When towing a trailer
●If the total trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb. (453 kg), trailer brakes are
required.
●Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.
●Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both
the trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.

222 2-5. Driving information
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Toyota dealer. Do not install the
trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■Brakes
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
■Safety chain
A safety chain must always be used between the towing vehicle and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns. The chain should cross
under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground in
the case that it becomes damaged or separated. For the correct safety chain
installation procedure, ask your Toyota dealer.
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle’s electrical system
and cause a malfunction.

223 2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. The three
main causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive
speed and improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when towing.
●Before starting out, check the trailer’s light and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
●Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle.
●Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom 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 trailer to the right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
●As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.
●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 acceleration. For vehicles with a man-
ual transmission, prevent excessive clutch slippage by keeping
engine rpm low and not racing the engine. Always start out in first
gear.
●Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak-
ing a turn.

224 2-5. Driving information
●Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a larger than normal turning radius.
●Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway. Periodically check the rear to
prepare for being passed by large trucks or buses, which may
cause your vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying occurs, firmly grip
the steering wheel, reduce speed immediately but gradually, and
steer straight ahead. Never increase speed. If you make no
extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer will stabilize.
●Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a vehicle, 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
(5-speed manual transmission) or sixth gear (6-speed manual
transmission), or do not put the transmission in “D” (automatic
transmission).
●Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may
overheat on hot days (at temperatures over 85°F [30°C]) when
driving up a long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, immediately turn off the air condition-
ing (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
(P. 463)
●Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in P (automatic transmission) or in 1 or R (manual
transmission). Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so
only after performing the following:

225 2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into 1 or R (manual transmission) or P (automatic trans-
mission) and turn off the engine.
●When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P (automatic transmission) or the
clutch pedal (manual transmission) depressed, start the
engine. On vehicles with an automatic transmission, be sure
to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
Release the parking brake (also brake pedal on vehicles with
an automatic transmission), and slowly pull or back away from
the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
CAUTION
■To avoid an accident
●Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or posted towing speed limit, whichever
is lower. As instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination
increases as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may cause
loss of control.
●Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts.
●Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.

226
2-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on
the ground) behind a motor home.

Interior and exterior
features3
227
3-1. Using the air conditioning
system and defogger
Air conditioning system .... 228
3-2. Using the audio system
Audio system types .......... 236
Using the radio ................. 239
Using the CD player ......... 245
Playing back MP3 and
WMA discs ..................... 251
Optimal use of the audio
system ........................... 259
Operating the sub woofer
(on some Access Cab
models) .......................... 262
Using the AUX adapter .... 263
Using the steering wheel
audio switches ............... 265
3-3. Using the hands-free phone
system (for cellular phone)
Hands-free phone system
(for cellular phone) ......... 268
Using the hands-free
phone system ................ 272
Making a phone call ......... 280
Setting a cellular phone ... 285
Security and system
setup .............................. 290
Using the phone book ...... 293
3-4. Using the interior lights
Interior lights list ............... 300
• Interior light .................... 301
• Personal lights ............... 3013-5. Using the storage features
List of storage features .... 302
• Glove box....................... 302
• Console boxes ............... 303
• Cup holders ................... 304
• Bottle holders ................. 306
• Auxiliary boxes ............... 307
• Overhead console .......... 309
3-6. Other interior features
Sun visors ........................ 310
Vanity mirrors ................... 311
Clock ................................ 312
Outside temperature
display (vehicles with
accessory meter) ........... 313
Cigarette lighter................ 314
Power outlet (12V DC) ..... 315
Power outlet (115V AC) ... 316
Seatback table ................. 322
Floor mat .......................... 323
Luggage compartment
features .......................... 324
Garage door opener
box ................................. 333
Compass (vehicles with
accessory meter) ........... 337

228
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Air conditioning system
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
Outside air or recirculated
air mode switchAir outlet selection dial Temperature control dial
Fan speed control dial
Outside air or recirculated
air mode switchAir outlet selection dialAir conditioning
ON/OFF switchTemperature control dial
Fan speed control dial

229 3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
3
Interior and exterior features
Adjusting the settings
■Adjusting the temperature setting (Type A)
Turn the temperature control dial clockwise to increase the temper-
ature.
■Adjusting the temperature setting (Type B)
Turn the temperature control dial clockwise (warm) or counter-
clockwise (cool).
If is not pressed, the system will blow ambient temperature air or
heated air.
For quick cooling, turn the temperature control dial to the MAX A/C posi-
tion. The air conditioning will automatically turn on and the air intake
selector will be set to recirculated air mode.
■Adjusting the fan speed
Turn the fan speed control dial clockwise (increase) or counter-
clockwise (decrease).
Set the dial to OFF to turn the fan off.
■Selecting the air outlets
Set the air outlet selection dial to an appropriate position.
The positions between the air outlet selections shown below can also be
selected for more detailed adjustment.
When the dial is set to , air
flows to the upper body.

230 3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
When the dial is set to , air
flows to the upper body and feet.
Double Cab models only
When the dial is set to , air
flows to the feet.
Double Cab models only
When the dial is set to , air
flows to the feet and the wind-
shield defogger operates.
The air intake selector is automat-
ically set to outside air mode.
To return the recirculated air
mode, press
.
Double Cab models only