run flat TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1998 Owner's Guide

4RUNNER (1998)
Automatic transmission ºParkº mech- anism
Check the lock release button of the
selector lever for proper and smooth
operation. On a safe incline, check
that your vehicle is held securely with
the selector lever in ºPº position and
all brakes released.
IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Items listed below should be
checked from time to time, e.g.
each time when refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in
the tank. See Chapter 7- 3 for addi-
tional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is be-
tween the ºFULLº and ºLOWº lines on
the see- through reservoir when the
engine is cold. See Chapter 7- 2 for
additional information.
Battery electrolyte level
Make sure the electrolyte level of all
battery cells is between upper and
lower level lines on the case. Add
only distilled water when replenishing.
See Chapter 7- 3 for additional in-
formation. Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is cor-
rect. See Chapter 7- 2 for additional
information.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with
the engine turned off and the vehicle
parked on a level spot. See Chapter
7- 2 for additional information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir.
The level should be in the ºHOTº or
ºCOLDº range depending on the fluid
temperature. See Chapter 7- 2 for
additional information.
Exhaust system
If you notice any change in the sound
of the exhaust or smell exhaust
fumes, have the cause located and
corrected immediately. (See engine ex-
haust cautions in Part 2.)
Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip- offs
that indicate service is needed. Some
important clues are as follows:
Engine missing, stumbling, or ping-
ing
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A leak under the vehicle (however,
water dripping from the air condi-
tioning after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This
may indicate a dangerous carbon
monoxide leak. Drive with the win-
dows open and have the exhaust
system checked immediately.)
Flat- looking tire; excessive tire
squeal when cornering; uneven tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when
driving straight on a level road
Strange noises related to suspen-
sion movement
Loss of brake effectiveness;
spongy feeling brake or clutch ped-
al; pedal almost touches floor; ve-
hicle pulls to one side when brak-
ing
Engine coolant temperature continu-
ally higher than normal
Does your vehicle need
repairing?

4RUNNER (1998)
CAUTION
Do not mix radial, bias belted,
or bias- ply tires on your ve-
hicle. It can cause dangerous
handling characteristics, result-
ing in loss of control.
Do not use tires or wheels oth-
er than the manufacture's rec-
ommended size.
Toyota recommends all four tires,
or at least both of the front or rear
tires be replaced at a time as a set.
See ºIf you have a flat tireº in Part
4 for tire change procedure.
When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect ve-
hicle handling and tire life. Wheels
can get out of balance with regular
use and should therefore be balanced
occasionally.
When replacing a tubeless tire, the
air valve should also be replaced
with a new one. Rotating tires

4RUNNER (1998)
To equalize tire wear and help ex-
tend tire life, Toyota recommends
that you rotate your tires approxi-
mately every 12000 km (7500 miles).
However, the most appropriate tim-
ing for tire rotation may vary ac-
cording to your driving habits and
road surface conditions.
See ºIf you have a flat tireº in Part
4 for tire change procedure.
When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is
usually caused by incorrect tire pres-
sure, improper wheel alignment, out-
of- balance wheels, or severe braking. WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR
CHAINS
Snow tires or chains are recom-
mended when driving on snow or
ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional
tires provide better traction than snow
tires.
SNOW TIRE SELECTION
If you need snow tires, select the
same size, construction and load
capacity as the original tires on
your Toyota.
Do not use tires other than those
mentioned above. Do not install
studded tires without first checking lo-
cal regulations for possible restric-
tions.SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION
Snow tires should be installed on
all wheels.
Installing snow tires on the front
wheels only can lead to an excessive
difference in road grip capab
ility be-
tween the front and rear tires which
could cause loss of vehicle control.
When storing removed tires, you
should store them in a cool dry place.
Mark the direction of rotation and be
sure to install them in the same direc-
tion when replacing.
Installing snow tires
and chains

4RUNNER (1998)
CAUTION
Do not drive with the snow
tires incorrectly inflated.
Never drive over 120 km/h (75
mph) with any type of snow
tires.
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION
Use the tire chains of correct size.
Regulations regarding the use of
tire chains vary according to loca-
tion or type of road, so always
check them before installing chains.
CHAIN INSTALLATION
Install the chains on the rear tires
as tightly as possible. Do not use
tire chains on the front tires. Re-
tighten chains after driving 0.5Ð1.0
km (1/4Ð1/2 mile).
When installing chains on your tires,
carefully follow the instructions of the
chain manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so re-
move the covers before putting on the
chains.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufactur-
er 's recommended speed limit,
whichever is lower.
Drive carefully avoiding bumps,
holes, and sharp turns, which
may cause the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked-
wheel braking, as use of chains
may adversely affect vehicle
handling.
Replacing wheels
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS
If you have wheel damage such as
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion,
the wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels,
the tire may slip off the wheel or they
may cause loss of handling control.
WHEEL SELECTION
When replacing wheels, care should
be taken to ensure that the wheels
are replaced by ones with the same
load capacity, diameter, rim width,
and offset.
Correct replacement wheels are avail-
able at your Toyota dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type
may adversely affect handling, wheel
and bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer/odometer calibration,
stopping ab ility, headlight aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance, and
tire or snow chain clearance to the
body and chassis.

4RUNNER (1998)
Uniform tire quality grading
This information has been prepared in
accordance with regulations issued by
the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration of the U.S. Department
of Transportation. It provides the pur-
chasers and/or prospective purchasers
of Toyota vehicles with information on
uniform tire quality grading.
Your Toyota dealer will help answer
any questions you may have as you
read this information.
DOT quality gradesÐAll passenger
vehicle tires must conform to Fed-
eral Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades. These quality
grades are molded on the sidewall.
Treadwear ÐThe treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example,
a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1- 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate. Traction A, B, C
ÐThe traction
grades, from highest to lowest, are A,
B, and C, and they represent the
tire's ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled condi-
tions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A
tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and
does not include cornering (turning)
traction.
Temperature A, B, C ÐThe tempera-
ture grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire's resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temper-
ature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher lev-
els of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required
by law. Warning: The temperature grades for
this tire are established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.