TOYOTA TERCEL 1998 Manual PDF
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Odometer and trip meter
With tachometer
Without tachometer
These meters shows the running dis- 
tance.
1. OdometerÐIt shows the total distance the vehicle has been driven.
2. Trip meterÐIt shows the distance driv- en since the last time it was set to
zero.
The black digits on white indicate tenth 
of kilometers or miles.
3. Trip meter reset knobÐIt resets the trip meter to zero.
To reset the trip meter, push the knob. (a) If parking brake
is off, stop and 
check.
(b) Fasten seat belts.
If the indicator or      Do this. 
buzzer comes on...
(d) Stop and check.
(f) Take  vehicle to Toyota dealer.
(type A) 
(type B)
(Indicator and buzzer)
(e) Stop and check.
Fasten front  
passenger's seat 
belt.
(c)
Service reminder indicators 
and warning buzzers    
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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. 
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73
(c) Front Passenger 's Seat Belt Re-
minder Light
The light remind you to buckle up the 
driver 's seat belt. 
Once the ignition key is turned to ONº or 
STARTº, the reminder light flashes if a 
passenger sits in the front passenger seat
and the front passenger 's seat belt is not 
pulled out. Unless the front passenger 
starts to pull the shoulder belt out of the
retractor, the light keeps flashing. 
If luggage load is placed on the front 
passenger seat, depending on its weight
and how it is placed on the seat, built- in 
sensors in the seat cushion may detect 
the pressure, causing the reminder  light to
come on. 
(d) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being 
discharged. 
If it comes on while you are driving, there 
is a problem somewhere in the charging 
system. 
The engine ignition will continue to oper- 
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off  the air conditioning, 
blower, radio,etc., and drive directly to the 
nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine drive belt is broken or loose.
(e) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light 
This light warns that the engine oil pres- 
sure is too low. 
If it flickers or stays on while you are 
driving, pull off the road to a safe place 
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair  shop for 
assistance. 
The light may occasionally flicker when 
the engine is idling or it may come on 
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when 
the engine is accelerated slightly. 
The light may  come on when the oil level 
is extremely low. It is not designed to 
indicate low oil level, and the oil level 
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light onÐeven for one block.It may ruin the engine.
(f) Malfunction Indicator Lamp 
This lamp comes on in the following 
cases. 
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See 
ºFuel gaugeº in Chapter 1- 5 for instruc- 
tions.) 
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened se- 
curely. (See ºFuel tank capº in Chapter 
1- 2 for instructions.) 
c. There is a problem somewhere in your 
engine or automatic  transmission electrical 
system. 
If it comes on while you are driving in 
case b, have your vehicle checked/re- 
paired by your Toyota dealer as soon as 
possible. 
(g) ºABSº Warning Light 
This light warns that there is a problem 
somewhere in your anti- lock brake sys-
tem. 
If the light comes on while you are driv- 
ing, have your  vehicle checked by your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible. 
The light will come on when the ignition 
key is turned to the ºONº position. After 
a few seconds, the light will go off. 
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When the ºABSº warning light is on (and 
the brake system warning light is off), the
brake  system operates  conventionally but 
anti- lock brake system is not assisting 
brake performance so that the wheels can
lock- up during sudden braking or braking 
on slippery road surfaces. 
(h) Open Door Warning Light 
This light remains on until all the doors 
and back door are completely closed. 
(i) SRS Airbag Warning Light 
This light will come on when the igni- 
tion key is turned to the ºACCº or 
ºONº position. After about 6 seconds 
seconds, the light will go off. This
means the system of the airbag and 
front seat belt pretensioners are operat- 
ing properly. 
The warning light system monitors the air- 
bag sensor assembly, seat belt pretension-
er assembly, inflators, warning light, inter- 
connecting wiring, power sources. 
If either of  the following conditions occurs, 
this indicates a malfunction somewhere in 
the parts monitored by the warning light 
system. 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 or flashes while 
driving.
(j) Light Reminder Buzzer 
This buzzer will sound If the headlight 
switch is left on and the driver's door is 
opened with the key removed from the 
ignition switch. 
(k) Key Reminder Buzzer 
This buzzer reminds  you to remove the 
key when you open the driver 's door with 
the ignition key in the ºACCº or ºLOCKº 
position. CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER INDICA-
TORS
1. Apply the parking brake. 
2. Open one of the doors. The open door warning light should 
come on.
3. Close the door. The open door warning light  should go
off.
4. Turn the ignition key to ºACCº. The SRS airbag warning light should 
come on. It goes off after about 6 se-
conds.
5. Turn the ignition key to ºONº, but do not start the engine. 
All the service reminder indicators ex- 
cept the open door warning light and
SRS airbag warning light  should come 
on. The ºABSº warning light goes off 
after a few seconds.
If any service reminder indicator or warn- 
ing buzzer does not function as described 
above, either the bulb is burned out or the
circuit is in need of repair. Have it 
checked by your Toyota dealer as soon as 
possible.