warning TOYOTA TERCEL 1998 Owners Manual

6
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel

Brake system warning light *
Driver 's Seat belt reminder light *
Discharge warning light
*
Malfunction indicator lamp *
Low oil pressure warning light *
Anti-lock brake system warning light *
(type A)
(type B)
Open door warning light *
(type A)
(type B)
SRS airbag warning light*
Overdrive- off indicator light
Headlight high beam indicator light Turn signal indicator lights
The indicators marked with
*
are service reminder indicators.
For details, see ºService reminder indicators and warning buz zerº
in Chapter 1- 5.
Front passenger's seat belt reminder light *

29
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the seat belt extender is 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, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your
child from injury.
ÐFront seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger 's seat
belt pretensioners are designed to be
activated in response to a severe fron-
tal impact.
When the airbag sensor detects the shock
of a severe frontal impact, the front seat
belt is quickly drawn back in by the re-
tractor so that the belt snugly restrains
the front seat occupants.
The seat belt pretensioners are activated
even with no passenger in the front seat.This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ACCº or
ONº position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the front seat
belt pretensioners are operating proper-
ly.
This warning light system monitors airbag
sensor assembly, seat belt pretensioner
assembly, warning light, interconnecting
wiring and power sources. (For details,
see Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzersº in chapter 1- 5.)

30
The seat belt pretensioner system mainly
consists of the following components and
their locations are shown in the illustra-
tion.1. SRS airbag warning light
2. Seat belt pretensioner assembly
3. Airbag sensor assembly
The seat belt pretensioner is controlled by
the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag
sensor assembly consists of a safing sen-
sor and airbag sensor. When a seat belt pretensioner is acti-
vated, an operating noise may be heard
and a small amount of smoke- like gas
may be released. This gas is harmless
and does not indicate that a fire is occur-
ring.
Once the seat belt pretensioner has been
activated, the seat belt retractor remains
locked.
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open
the front seat belt pretensioner as-
semblies, airbag sensor or surround-
ing area or wiring. Doing any of
these may cause sudden operation of
the front seat belt pretensioners or
disable the system, which could re-
sult in serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in serious injuries.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting yourToyota dealer. Such changes caninterfere with proper operation of the
seat belt pretensioners in some
cases.
Installation of electronic items such
as a mobile two- way radio, cassette
tape player or compact disc player
Repairs on or near the front seatbelt retractor assemblies
Modification of the suspension sys-tem
Modification of the front end struc-ture
Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,winches or any other equipment tothe front end
Repairs made on or near the front
end structure or console

32
CAUTION
A driver or front passenger too close
to the steering wheel or dashboard
during airbag deployment can be
killed or seriously injured. Toyota
strongly recommends that: The driver sit as far back as pos-
sible from the steering wheel while
still maintaining control of the ve-
hicle.
The front passenger sit as far back
as possible from the dashboard.
All vehicle occupants be properly
restrained using the available seat
belts.
This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ºACCº or
ºONº position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the SRS airbags
are operating properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system
monitors the airbag sensor assembly, in-
flators, warning light, interconnecting wir-
ing and power sources. (For details, see
ºService remainder indicators and warning
buzzersº in chapter 1- 5.)The SRS airbag system is designed to
activate in response to a severe frontal
impact within the shaded area between
the arrows in the illustration.
There may be the case that the SRS air-
bags will not activate with such an impact
in which the occupant wearing the seat
belt correctly would not get serious injury.
The SRS airbags will deploy if the severi-
ty of the impact is above the designed
threshold level, comparable to an approxi-
mate 20 km/h (14 mph) collision when
impacting straight into a fixed barrier that
does not move or deform.

33
If the severity of the impact is below the
above threshold level, the SRS airbags
may not deploy.
However, this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or
sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if it is involved in an underride
collision (a collision in which the nose of
the vehicle ºunderridesº, or goes under,
the bed of a truck).
It is possible with collision severity at the
marginal level of airbag sensor detection
and activation that only one of your ve-
hicle's two airbags will deploy.
For the safety of all occupants, be sure
to always wear seat belts.
Collision from the rear
Collision from the side
Vehicle roll- over
The SRS airbags are not designed to
inflate if the vehicle is subjected to a
side or rear impact, if it rolls over, or
if it is involved in a low- speed frontal
collision.
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 module for passenger (airbag and inflator)
4. Airbag sensor assembly
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.

38
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) airbag is designed to provide fur-
ther protection for the driver when add-
ed to the primary protection provided
by the seat belt.
In response to a severe frontal impact,
the SRS airbag works together with the
seat belt to help prevent or reduce injury
by inflating, in order to decrease the likeli-
hood of the driver 's head or chest directly
hitting the steering wheel.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.
CAUTION
A driver too close to the steering
wheel during airbag deployment can
be killed or seriously injured. Toyota
strongly recommends that: The driver sit as far back as pos-
sible from the steering wheel while
still maintaining control of the ve-
hicle.
All vehicle occupants be properly
restrained using the available seat
belts.
This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ºACCº or
ºONº position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the SRS airbag
is operating properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system
monitors the airbag sensor assembly, in-
flator, warning light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources. (For details, see ºSer-
vice reminder indicators and warning buzz-
ersº in Chapter 5.)
SRS driver airbag

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.

69
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS
AND CONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1- 5
Gauges, Meters and
Service reminder indicators
Fuel gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge
Tachometer
Odometer and trip meter
Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzers
Fuel gauge
With tachometer
Without tachometer
The gauge works when the ignition
switch is on and indicates the approxi-
mate quantity of fuel remaining in the
tank.
Nearly fullÐNeedle at ºFº
Nearly emptyÐNeedle at ºEº
It is a good idea to keep the tank over
1/4 full.
This fuel gauge has a non- return type
needle which remains at the last indicated
position when the ignition switch is turned
off.
If the fuel level approaches ºEº, fill the
fuel tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the fuel gauge
needle may fluctuate.
If the fuel tank is completely empty, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Fill
the fuel tank immediately.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.

71
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

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.