light TOYOTA TERCEL 1998 Owner's Manual

40
The SRS airbag system mainly consists of
the following components and their loca-
tions are shown in the illustration.1. SRS airbag warning light
2. Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
3. Airbag sensor assembly
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor. In a severe frontal impact, the sensor de-
tects deceleration and the system triggers
the airbag inflator. Then a chemical reac-
tion in the inflator momentarily fills the
airbag with non- toxic gas to help restrain
the forward motion of the driver.
When the airbag inflates, it produces a
fairly loud noise and releases some
smoke along with non- toxic gas. This
does not indicate a fire. Be sure to wash
off any residue as soon as possible to
prevent minor skin irritation.
Deployment of the airbag happens in a
fraction of a second, so the airbag must
inflate with considerable force. While the
system is desi
gned to reduce serious inju-
ries, it may also cause minor burns or
abrasions and swellings.
The steering wheel hub may be hot for
several minutes, but the airbag itself will
not be hot. The airbag is designed to
inflate only once.
CAUTION
The SRS airbag system is designed
only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver side seat belt
system. The driver can be k illed or
seriously injured by an inflating air-
bag if they do not wear the available
seat belts. During sudden braking just
before a collision, an unrestrained
driver can move forward into direct
contact with or close proximity to the
airbag which may then deploy during
the collision. To obtain maximum
protection in an accident, the driver
and all passengers in the vehicle
must wear their seat belts. Wearing a
seat belt during an accident reduces
the chances of death or serious inju-
ries or being thrown out of the ve-
hicle. For instructions and precau-
tions concerning the seat belt system,
see ºSeat beltsº in this chapter.

42
This SRS airbag system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of
operating problems. If either of the follow-
ing conditions occurs, this indicates a mal-
function of the airbag. Contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible to service the
vehicle. The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ºACCº or
ºONº position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
The SRS airbag has been inflated.
The front part of the vehicle (shaded
in the illustration) was involved in an
accident not of the extent to cause the
SRS airbag to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables
before contacting your Toyota dealer.
Toyota strongly urges the use of child
restraint systems for children small
enough to use them.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A.
and Canada now require the use of a
child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAE J1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child s hould sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle's seat belt. See ºSeat beltsº for
details.
CAUTION
For effective protection in automo-
bile accidents and sudden stops,
children must be properly re-
strained 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 sub-
stitute for a child restraint system.
In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle's inte-
rior.
Child restraintÐ
ÐChild restraint precautions

52
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.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.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 msnufac-
turer.

55
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 you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it
in the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted slightly, it cannot be ex-
tended.
To hold the convertible seat securely,
make sure the belt is in the lock mode
before letting the belt retract.3. While pressing the convertible seat firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, let the shoulder belt retract
as far as it will go to hold the convert-
ible seat securely.

60
CAUTION
Do not adjust the mirror while the
vehicle is moving. It may cause the
driver to mishandle the vehicle and
an accident may occur resulting in
personal injuries
To adjust the rear view mirror, simply
operate the control lever.
NOTICE
If ice should jam the mirror, do notoperate the control or scrape the mir-ror face. Use a spray de- icer to free the mirror.
Adjust the mirror so that you can just
see the rear of your vehicle in the mir-
ror.
To reduce glare from the headlights of
the vehicle behind you during night
driving, operate the lever on the lower
edge of the mirror.
Daylight drivingÐLever at position 1
The reflection in the mirror has greater
clarity at this position.
Night drivingÐLever at position 2
Remember that by reducing glare you also
lose some rear view clarity.
ÐRear view mirror remote
control
Anti- glare inside rear view
mirror

63
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS
AND CONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1- 4
Lights, Wipers and Defogger
Headlights and turn signals
Emergency flashers
Instrument panel light control
Interior light
Windshield wipers and washer
Rear window defogger
Headlights and turn signals
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.
Position 1ÐParking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights
Position 2ÐHeadlights and all of the
above
If you remove the key with the headlights
left on, a buzzer reminds you to turn the
lights off when you open the driver 's door.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not leave the lights onfor a long period when the engine is not running.
Daytime running light system (Canada
only)
The headlights turn on at reduced intensi-
ty when the parking brake is released with
the engine started, even with the light
switch in the ºOFFº position. They will not
go off until the ignition switch is turned
off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and
instrument panel lights, twist the knob to
the position 1.
Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
the headlights to full intensity for driving
at night.

64
High- Low beamsÐFor high beams, turn
the headlights on and push the lever away
from you (position 1). Pull the lever to-
ward you (position 2) for low beams.
The headlight high beam indicator light
(blue light) on the instrument panel will
tell you that the high beams are on.
Flashing the high beam headlights
(position 3)ÐPull the lever all the way
back. The high beam headlights turn off
when you release the lever.
You can flash the high beam headlights
with the knob turned to ºOFFº.TURN SIGNALS
To signal a turn, push the headlight/
turn signal lever up or down to position 1.
The key must be in the ºONº position.
The lever automatically returns after you
make a turn, but you may have to return
it by hand after you change lanes.
To signal a lane change, move the lever
up or down to the pressure point (position
2) and hold it.
If the turn signal indicator lights (green
lights) on the instrument panel flash faster
than normal, a front or rear turn signal
bulb is burned out. Emergency flashersTo turn on the emergency flashers,
push the switch.
All the turn signal lights will flash. To turn
them off, push the switch once again.
Turn on the emergency flashers to warn
other drivers if your vehicle must be
stopped where it might be a traffic hazard.
Always pull as far off the road as pos-
sible.
The turn signal light switch will not work
when the emergency flashers are operat-
ing.

65
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being dis-charged, do not leave the switch onlonger than necessary when the en-gine is not running.
Instrument panel light control
To adjust the brightness of the instru-
ment panel lights, turn the knob. Interior lightTo turn on the interior light, slide the
switch.
The interior light switch has the following
positions:
ºONºÐKeeps the light on all the time.
ºOFFºÐTurns the light off.
ºDOORºÐTurns the light on when any of
the door is opened. The light goes off
when all of the doors is closed.

67
Rear window defogger
To defog or defrost the rear window,
push the switch.
The key must be in the ºONº position.
The thin heater wires on the inside of the
rear window will quickly clear the surface.
An indicator light will illuminate to indicate
the defogger is operating.
Push the switch once again to turn the
defogger off.
With timer: The system will automatically
shut off after the defogger has operated
about 15 minutes.
Make sure you turn the defogger off when
the window is clear. Leaving the defogger
on for a long time could cause the battery
to discharge, especially during stop- and-
go driving. The defogger is not designed
for drying rain water or for melting snow.
NOTICE
Without timer: To prevent the bat-
tery from discharged, turn theswitch on when the engine is run-ning.
When cleaning the inside of the
rear window, be careful not toscratch or damage the heater wires.

72(g) Take vehicle to
Toyota dealer.
If the indicator or Do this.
buzzer comes on...
(h) Close all doors.
(i) Take vehicle to Toyota dealer
immediately.
(type A)
(type B)
(j) Turn off lights. Light remind- erbuzzer
(k) Remove key. Key remind-erbuzzer(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light has the following functions:
Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the parking
brake is fully released. The light should
go off.
Low brake fluid level warning
If this light comes on and stays on while
you are driving, slow down and pull off
the road. Then stop the vehicle carefully.
Remember that stopping distance and ped-
al effort may be increased. There maybe
a problem somewhere in the brake sys-
tem. Check the fluid level of the see-
through reservoir.
To make sure the parking brake has not
caused the warning light to come on,
check to see that the parking brake is
fully released.
If the brake fluid level is low...
At a safe place, test your brakes by start-
ing and stopping.
If you judge that the brakes still work
adequately, drive cautiously to your
nearest dealer or shop for repairs.
If the brakes are not working, have the
vehicle towed in for repairs. (For tow-
ing information, see Part 4.)CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level is
low.
If the brake fluid level is correct...
Have the warning system checked by your
Toyota dealer.
(b) Driver's Seat Belt Reminder Light
and Buzzer
The light and buzzer remind you to buckle
up the driver 's seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to ONº or
STARTº, the reminder light flashes and
buzzer sounds if the driver 's seat belt is
not pulled out. Unless the driver starts to
pull the shoulder belt out of the retractor,
the light keeps flashing and the buzzer
stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.