light TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1998 Repair Manual

4RUNNER (1998)
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
ºABSº warning light This light comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the ºONº position.
After about 3 seconds, the light will
go off.

4RUNNER (1998)
When the light is on with the rear
differential locked, it indicates the
anti- lock brake system will not oper-
ate.
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 as
described above, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving
with the rear differential unlocked.
The light does not come on with
the rear differential locked.
The light comes on while driving. Even if the anti- lock brake system
should fail, the brake system will still
operate conventionally. However, when
the ºABSº warning light is on (and the
brake system warning light is off), the
anti- lock brake system is not assist-
ing brake performance so that the
wheels can lock- up during sudden
braking or braking on slippery road
surfaces. Have your vehicle checked
by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
Brake pad wear limit indica-
tors

4RUNNER (1998)
Part 3
STARTING AND
DRIVING
Before starting the engine
How to start the engine
Tips for driving in various
conditions
Off- road driving precautions
Winter driving tips
Tr ailer towing
How to save fuel and make
your
vehicle last longer, too
Before starting the engine
1. Check the area around the vehicle before entering it.
2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle, seat cushion angle, head re-
straint height and steering wheel
angle.
3. Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors.
4. Lock all doors.
5. Fasten seat belts. 1. Apply the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and ac-
cessories.
3. Manual transmission: Press the
clutch pedal to the floor and shift
the transmission into neutral. Hold
the clutch pedal to the floor until
the engine is started. A starter
safety device will prevent the start-
er from operating if the clutch ped-
al is not fully depressed.
Automatic transmission: Put the
selector lever in ºPº. If you need to
restart the engine while the vehicle
is moving, put the selector lever in
ºNº. A starter safety device will pre-
vent the starter from operating if the
selector lever is in any drive position.
4. Automatic transmission only: De-
press the brake pedal and hold it
to the floor until driving off.
How to start the engineÐ
(a) Before cranking

4RUNNER (1998)
(b) Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to
follow the instructions in º(a) Before
crankingº.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/se-
quential multiport fuel injection system
in your engine automatically controls
the proper air- fuel mixture for starting.
You can start a cold or hot engine as
follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, crank the engine by turning the
key to ºSTARTº. Release it when the
engine starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10
seconds, you are ready to drive.
If the weather is below freezing, let
the engine warm up for a few minutes
before driving.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct
procedure given in normal starting.
If the engine will not startÐ
See ºIf your vehicle will not startº in
Part 4.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 seconds at a time. This mayoverheat the starter and wiringsystems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult
to start or stalls frequently,have the engine checked im-mediately.
Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. This will allow you much
better control.
Drive slowly onto curbs and, if
possible, at a right angle. Avoid
driving onto high, sharp- edged ob-
jects and other road hazards. Fail-
ure to do so can lead to severe
tire damage resulting in tire bursts.
When parking on a hill, turn the
front wheels until they touch the
curb so that the vehicle will not
roll. Apply the parking brake, and
place the transmission in ºPº (auto-
matic) or in first or reverse (manu-
al). If necessary, block the wheels.
Washing your vehicle or driving
through deep water may get the
brakes wet. To see whether they
are wet, check that there is no
traffic near you, and then press the
pedal lightly. If you do not feel a
normal braking force, the brakes
are probably wet. To dry them,
drive the vehicle cautiously while
lightly pressing the brake pedal
with the parking brake pulled. If
they still do not work safely, pull to
the side of the road and call a
Toyota dealer for assistance.
Tips for driving in various
conditions

4RUNNER (1998)
Four- wheel drive modelsÐToyota
recommends not using four- wheel
drive on dry hard- surfaced roads,
because four- wheel driving will
cause unnecessary noise and wear,
and poor fuel economy.
Four- wheel drive modelsÐIn cold
temperatures, noise may occur
when driving in two- wheel drive
before the transfer is warmed up.
Therefore, first drive in four- wheel
drive until the transfer is warmed up.CAUTION
Before driving off, make sure
that the parking brake is fully
released and the parking brake
reminder light is off.
Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is run-
ning.
Do not rest your foot on the
brake pedal while driving. It can
cause dangerous overheating,
needless wear, and poor fuel
economy.
To drive down a long or steep
hill, reduce your speed and
downshift. Remember, if you
ride the brakes excessively,
they may overheat and not work
properly.Be careful when accelerating,
upshifting, downshifting or
braking on a slippery surface.
Sudden acceleration or engine
braking, could cause the vehicle
to spin or skid.
Do not drive in excess of the
speed limit. Even if the legal
speed limit permits it, do not
drive over 140 km/h (85 mph)
unless your vehicle has
high- speed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph)
may result in tire failure, loss
of control and possible injury.
Be sure to consult a tire dealer
to determine whether the tires
on your vehicle are high- speed
capability tires or not before
driving at such speeds.
Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they
are wet, your vehicle will re-
quire a longer stopping dis-
tance, and it may pull to one
side when the brakes are ap-
plied. Also, the parking brake
will not hold the vehicle secure-
ly.

4RUNNER (1998)
Total trailer weight
Tongue load
Tongue load
Total trailer weight
100 9 to 11 %
The trailer cargo load should be
distributed so that the tongue
load is 9 to 11% of the total
trailer weight, not exceeding the
maximum of the following. Nev-
er load the trailer with more
weight in the back than in the
front. About 60% of the trailer
load should be in the front half
of the trailer and the remaining
40% in the rear.
3RZ- FE engine158 kg (350 lb.)
5VZ- FE engine 226 kg (500 lb.)HITCHES
Use only a weight carrying hitch
designed for the total trailer weight.
Toyota does not recommend using
a weight distribution (load equaliz-
ing) hitch.
The hitch must be bolted securely
to the vehicle frame and installed
according to the hitch manufactur-
er 's instructions.
The hitch ball and king pin should
have a light coat of grease.
Toyota recommends removing the
hitch when not towing to preventin-
jury and/or damage due to the
hitch in event of a rear end colli-
sion. After removal of the hitch,
seal the installation area to prevent
entry of exhaust fumes and mud.
NOTICE
Do not use an axle- mounting
hitch as it may cause damage tothe axle housing, wheel bearings,wheels and or tires.
BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS
Toyota recommends trailers with
brakes that conform to any appli-
cable federal and state/provincial
regulations.

4RUNNER (1998)
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 case it becomes dam-
aged or separated. For correct
safety chain procedures, follow
the hitch or trailer manufactur-
er 's recommendations.
CAUTION
If the total trailer weight ex-
ceeds 453 kg (1000 lb.), trailer
brakes are required .
Never tap into your vehicle's
hydraulic system as it would
lower its braking effectiveness .
Never tow a trailer without us-
ing a safety chain securely atta-
ched to both the trailer and the
vehicle. If damage occurs to the
coupling unit or hitch ball,
there is danger of the trailer
wandering over into another
lane.
TIRES
Ensure that your vehicle's tires are
properly inflated. See Chapter 7- 2
for instructions.
The trailer tires should be inflated
to the pressure recommended by
the trailer manufacturer in respect
to the total trailer weight.
TRAILER LIGHTS Trailer lights must comply with fed-
eral, state/provincial and local re-
gulations. See your local recre-
ational vehicle dealer or rental
agency for the correct type of wir-
ing and relays for your trailer.
Check for correct operation of the
turn signals and stop lights each
time you hitch up. Direct splicing
may damage your vehicle's electri-
cal system and cause a malfunc-
tion of your lights.
BREAK- IN SCHEDULE Toyota recommends that you do
not tow a trailer with a new vehicle
or a vehicle with any new power
train component (engine, transmis-
sion, differential, wheel bearing,
etc.) for the first 800 km (500
miles) of driving. MAINTENANCE
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle
will require more frequent
maintenance due to the additional
load. For this information, please
refer to the scheduled maintenance
information in the ºOwner 's Manual
Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.
Retighten all fixing bolts of the
towing ball and bracket after
approximately 1000 km (600 miles)
of trailer driving.
PRE- TOWING SAFETY CHECK
Check that your vehicle remains
level when a loaded or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive if
the vehicle has an abnormal nose-
up or nose- down condition, and
check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other
possible causes.
Make sure the trailer cargo is se-
curely loaded so that it cannot
shift.
Check that your rear view mirrors
conform to any applicable federal,
state/provincial or local regulation.
If not, install the rear view mirrors
required for towing purpose.

4RUNNER (1998)
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
When towing a trailer, your vehicle
will handle differently than when
not towing. The three main causes
of vehicle- trailer accidents are driv-
er error, excessive speed and im-
proper trailer loading. Keep these in
mind when towing:
Before starting out, check operation
of the lights and all vehicle- trailer
connections. After driving a short
distance, stop and recheck the
lights and connections. Before ac-
tually towing a trailer, practice turn-
ing, stopping and backing with a
trailer in an area away from traffic
until you learn the feel.
Backing with a trailer is difficult
and requires practice. Grip the bot-
tom 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 trail-
er to the right. (This procedure is
generally opposite to that when
backing without a trailer). Also, just
turn the steering wheel a little at
a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged
turning. Have someone guide you
when backing to reduce the risk of
an accident.
Because stopping distance may be
increased, vehicle- to- vehicle dis-
tance should be increased when
towing a trailer. For each 16 km/h
(10 mph) of speed, allow at least
one vehicle and trailer length bet-
ween you and the vehicle ahead.
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 accel-
eration. If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, prevent ex-
cessive clutch slippage by keeping
engine rpm low and not racing the
engine. Always start out in first
gear.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp
turns. The trailer could hit your ve-
hicle in a tight turn. Slow down
before making a turn to avoid the
necessity of sudden braking.
Remember that when making a
turn, the trailer wheels will be clos-
er than the vehicle wheels to the
inside of the turn. Therefore, com-
pensate for this by making a larger
than normal turning radius with y-
our vehicle.
Crosswinds and rough roads will
adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway.
Pay attention to the rear from time
to time to prepare yourself for be-
ing passed by large trucks or
buses, which may cause your ve-
hicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering
wheel and reduce speed immedi-
ately but gradually. Never increase
speed. Steer straight ahead. If you
make no extreme correction with
the steering or brakes, the vehicle
and trailer will stabilize.
Be careful when passing other ve-
hicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a ve-
hicle, 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
(manual transmission) or overdrive
(automatic transmission).

4RUNNER (1998)
Slow down and downshift be-
fore descending steep or long
downhill grades. Do not make
sudden downshifts.
Avoid holding the brake pedal
down too long or too frequent-
ly. This could cause the brakes
to overheat and result in re-
duced braking efficiency.Getting more kilometers/mileage from
a liter/gallon of fuel is easyÐjust take
it easy. It will help make your vehicle
last longer, too. Here are some specif-
ic tips on how to save money on both
fuel and repairs:
Keep your tires inflated at the
correct pressure. Underinflation
causes tire wear and wastes fuel.
See Chapter 7- 2 for instructions.
Do not carry unneeded weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts
a heavier load on the engine, caus-
ing greater fuel consumption.
Avoid lengthy warm- up idling.
Once the engine is running smooth-
ly, begin drivingÐbut gently. Re-
member, however, that on cold win-
ter days this may take a little
longer.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into
high gear as quickly as possible.
Avoid long engine idling. If you
have a long wait and you are not
in traffic, it is better to turn off the
engine and start again later.
Avoid engine lug or overrevving.
Use a gear position suitable for the
road on which you are travelling.
Avoid continuous speeding up
and slowing down. Stop- and- go
driving wastes fuel.
Avoid unnecessary stopping and
braking. Maintain a steady pace.
Try to time the traffic signals so
you only need to stop as little as
possible or take advantage of
through streets to avoid traffic
lights. Keep a proper distance from
other vehicles to avoid sudden
braking. This will also reduce wear
on your brakes.
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic
jams whenever possible.
Do not rest your foot on the
clutch or brake pedal. This
causes needless wear, overheating
and poor fuel economy.
Maintain a moderate speed on
highways. The faster you drive,
the greater the fuel consumption.
By reducing your speed, you will
cut down on fuel consumption.
Keep the front wheels in proper
alignment. Avoid hitting the curb
and slow down on rough roads.
Improper alignment not only causes
faster tire wear but also puts an
extra load on the engine, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer, to
o

4RUNNER (1998)
Part 4
IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY
If your vehicle will not start
If your engine stalls while
driving
If your vehicle overheats
If you have a flat tire
If your vehicle needs to be
towed
If you cannot shift automatic
transmission selector lever
If you lose your keys
Before making these checks, make
sure you have followed the correct
starting procedure given in ºHow to
start the engineº in Part 3 and that
you have sufficient fuel.
If the engine is not turning over or
is turning over too slowlyÐ
1. Check that the battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch on the interior light.
3. If the light is out, dim or goes out when the starter is cranked, the
battery is discharged. You may try
jump starting. See º(c) Jump start-
ingº for further instructions.
If the light is O.K., but the engine still
will not start, it needs adjustment or
repair. Call a Toyota dealer or quali-
fied repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not pull- or push- start the ve- hicle. It may damage the vehicleor cause a collision when the en-
gine starts. Also the three- way
catalytic converter may overheatand become a fire hazard.
If the engine turns over at its nor-
mal speed but will not startÐ
1. Check that all the push- on connec- tors are tight. (For example, con-
nections at the spark plugs, ignition
coil and/or distributor)
2. If the connectors are O.K., the en- gine may be flooded because of
repeated cranking. See º(b) Start-
ing a flooded engineº for further
instructions.
If your vehicle will not start
Ð
(a) Simple checks