TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2012 N280 / 5.G Warranty And Maintenance Guide

GENERAL INFORMATION
You are responsible for ensuring that your
Toyota is operated and maintained
according to the instructions in the
Owner’s Manualand this booklet.
You should keep detailed records of
vehicle maintenance, since under some
circumstances they may be required for
warranty coverage. These records should
include date of service, mileage at time of
service and a description of service
performed and/or parts installed. For your
convenience, a maintenance log is
included in this booklet. If you sell your
vehicle, you should give your maintenance
records to the new owner.
Toyota will not deny a warranty claim
solely because you do not have records to
show that you maintained your vehicle.
However, damage or failures caused by
lack of proper maintenance are not
covered under warranty.
WHERE TO GO FOR
MAINTENANCE
You may have maintenance performed on
your vehicle by any qualified person or
facility. However, Toyota recommends
having maintenance performed by an
authorized Toyota dealership.
Toyota dealership technicians are specially
trained to maintain and repair Toyota
vehicles. They stay current on the latest
service information through Toyota
technical bulletins, service publications
and training courses. Many are also
certified through the Toyota Certification
Program, which involves a series of
rigorous written examinations. Feel free to
ask any Toyota dealership to show you
their technicians’ credentials.
You can be confident you’re getting the
best possible service for your vehicle
when you take it to a Toyota dealership.
Operation and Maintenance
WARRANTY
Your Responsibilities29

REPLACEMENT PARTS
Warranty coverage is not dependent upon
the use of any particular brand of
replacement parts. However, Toyota
recommends using only Genuine Toyota
Parts when you need to replace a part on
your vehicle. Like all Toyota products,
Genuine Toyota Parts are built to the
highest standards of quality, durability and
performance. They are also designed to fit
your vehicle’s exact specifications.
Your Toyota dealership maintains an
extensive inventory of Genuine Toyota
Parts to meet your vehicle service needs.
And because it is linked electronically to
Toyota’s Parts Distribution Centers, the
dealership has quick access to any parts it
may not have in stock.
Genuine Toyota Parts are covered by their
own warranty (see your dealer for details)
or the remainder of any applicable New
Vehicle Limited Warranty, whichever is
longer.Non-Genuine Toyota Parts, or any
damage or failures resulting from their
use, are not covered by any Toyota
warranty.
Operation and Maintenance
WARRANTY
30Your Responsibilities

BY GEOGRAPHIC REGION
In the United States, U.S.
Territories and Canada
To obtain warranty service in the United
States, U.S. territories or Canada, take
your vehicle to an authorized Toyota
dealership. If your vehicle cannot be
driven, contact your nearest Toyota
dealership for towing assistance. You do
not have to pay for towing to the nearest
Toyota dealership if your vehicle is
inoperable due to failure of a warranted
part.
Outside the United States, U.S.
Territories and Canada
If you are using your vehicle outside the
United States, U.S. territories and Canada
and need warranty service, contact a local
Toyota dealership. Please note, however,
that your vehicle may not be repaired free
of charge because the local Toyota
distributor may have no obligation to
provide warranty service for your vehicle,
and/or your vehicle may not comply with
local regulatory or environmental
requirements.
EMERGENCY REPAIRS
If your vehicle is inoperable or unsafe to
drive and there is no Toyota dealership
reasonably available to make repairs, you
may perform the repairs yourself or have
them performed by another automotive
service provider. Toyota will reimburse you
for any of the repairs that are covered by
warranty. To receive reimbursement,
present to an authorized Toyota dealership
your paid repair invoices and any parts
that were removed from the vehicle. You
will be reimbursed for warranted parts at
the manufacturer’s suggested retail price
and warranted labor at a geographically
appropriate hourly rate multiplied by
Toyota’s recommended time allowance for
the repair.
If your vehicle requires emergency repair,
Toyota assumes no liability for subsequent
failures caused by improper repairs or the
use of non-Genuine Toyota Parts unless
you have the vehicle properly repaired in a
timely manner. To ensure that warranty
coverage remains intact, have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Toyota
dealership as soon as possible after an
emergency repair.
Obtaining Warranty Service
WARRANTY
Your Responsibilities31

Notes
WARRANTY
32Your Responsibilities

R
egular maintenance is essential to
obtaining the highest level of
performance, safety and reliability
from your Toyota. It can also increase
your vehicle’s resale value. The following
pages are designed to help you make sure
your vehicle receives proper and timely
maintenance. Along with other important
information related to vehicle service,
you’ll find factory-recommended
maintenance guidelines and a log in which
to document your vehicle’s maintenance
history. In addition to scheduled maintenance,
your vehicle requires ongoing general
maintenance such as fluid checks and
visual inspections. These procedures are
explained in the “Vehicle Maintenance and
Care” section of the Owner’s Manual. Be
sure to perform these procedures regularly
to ensure the most trouble-free operation
of your vehicle.
With proper maintenance and care, your
vehicle will last longer and deliver more
dependable, economical performance.
Follow this booklet’s recommendations
and you’ll enjoy maximum reliability and
peace of mind from your Toyota for many
years to come.
The Importance of Scheduled Maintenance
Maintenance Log33
MAINTENANCE

IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE
INFORMATION
It is especially important to both
routinely check your vehicle’s engine oil
level (once a month) and regularly
replace the engine oil and oil filter (see
the Maintenance Log section of this
booklet to determine how often you
should change your vehicle’s oil and
filter). Failure to do so can cause oil
starvation and or oil gelling, which can
result in severe damage to your vehicle
and require costly repairs that are not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
Maintenance Records
Maintaining your vehicle according to the
recommendations in this booklet is
required to ensure that your warranty
coverage remains intact. You should keep
detailed records of vehicle maintenance,
including date of service, mileage at time
of service and a description of service
and/or parts installation performed. The
scheduled maintenance log in this booklet
can help you document this information. If
you sell your vehicle, be sure to give your
maintenance records to the new owner.
Toyota will not deny a warranty claim
solely because you do not have records to
show that you maintained your vehicle.
However, damage or failure caused by lack
of proper maintenance are not covered
under warranty.
Maintenance Providers
Maintenance and repair services may be
performed by you or by any automotive
service provider you choose. Toyota will
not deny a warranty claim solely because
you used a service provider other than a
Toyota dealership for maintenance and
repairs. However, damage or failure
caused by improper maintenance or
repairs are not covered under warranty.
Dealer-Recommended
Maintenance
Your dealer may recommend more
frequent maintenance intervals or more
maintenance services than those listed in
the scheduled maintenance log. These
additional services are not required to
maintain your warranty coverage. Ask your
dealer to explain any recommended
maintenance not included in the scheduled
maintenance log.
For a complete description of Toyota
warranty coverages, see the Warranty
Information portion of this booklet.
Maintaining Your Warranty
34Maintenance Log
MAINTENANCE

R
egular maintenance is essential to
obtaining the highest level of
performance from your Toyota. It
can also increase your vehicle’s resale
value. This booklet presents Toyota’s
maintenance recommendations in
convenient checklists, so you can easily
see what type of maintenance your vehicle
needs and document that the work was
performed.
To ensure that your vehicle receives
first-quality service and parts, Toyota
recommends having maintenance
performed by an authorized Toyota
dealership. Toyota dealership technicians
are experts on Toyota vehicles, and they
use Genuine Toyota Parts designed to your
vehicle’s exact specifications. When you
go to a Toyota dealership, you can be
confident that they will use Genuine Toyota
parts and have Toyota-trained technicians.
Miles or Months?
Toyota recommends obtaining scheduled
maintenance for your vehicle every
5,000 miles or six months, whichever
comes first.
For example:
• If you drive 5,000 miles in less than
six
months, you should obtain
maintenance at 5,000 miles- don’t
wait until six months. •
If at six months you have driven less
than
5,000

miles, you should obtain
maintenance at six months- don’t
wait until 5,000 miles.
Be sure to keep an eye on your mileage
so that you obtain maintenance when
recommended. If you are a low-mileage
driver, mark your calendar to remind
yourself to obtain maintenance every six
months.
Documenting Your Investment
To help you verify that you’ve invested in
proper maintenance, each maintenance
checklist includes space for your Toyota
dealership to certify that you obtained
Genuine Toyota Service for your vehicle.
The dealership will mark the dealer service
verification area with the following stamp
(which may be customized with the
dealership’s name):
Using the Maintenance Log Charts
Maintenance Log35
MAINTENANCE

Special Operating Conditions
In addition to standard maintenance items,
the maintenance log indicates services that
should be performed on vehicles that are
driven under especially demanding
conditions. These “special operating
conditions” and their required maintenance
items are clearly indicated in each chart.
NOTE:You should perform these
additional maintenance services only if
the majority of your driving is done
under the special operating conditions
indicated. If you only occasionally
drive under these circumstances, it is
not necessary to perform the
additional services.
Engine Oil Selection
Please refer to your Owner’s Manual for
the specific oil viscosity rating
recommended for your vehicle/engine
type.
Additional Maintenance
In addition to scheduled maintenance,
your Toyota requires ongoing general
maintenance such as fluid checks and
visual inspections. These procedures are
explained in the Vehicle Maintenance and
Care section of the
Owner’s Manual.Be
sure to perform these procedures regularly
to ensure the most trouble-free operation
of your vehicle.
SuperChrome and Alloy Wheel
Care
If you purchased genuine Toyota
accessory Aluminum Alloy Wheels, follow
these cleaning guidelines to maintain the
appearance of your alloy wheels:
• If wheels are hot, wait for them to
cool
before washing.
• Use a soft sponge or cotton cloth to
apply
the

same mild car-wash soap as
used for the vehicle body. Quickly
rinse off with water. Use a soft cloth
to apply the same car wax as used for
the vehicle body.
• DO NOT USE: Any kind of chemical
based
cleaners,

alcohol, solvents,
gasoline, steam cleaners, scouring
pads, wire brushes, or coarse
abrasives to clean your wheels.
Using the Maintenance Log Charts
36Maintenance Log
MAINTENANCE

I
n addition to the maintenance items
indicated for each mileage/month
interval, you should perform certain
inspections daily when you drive off-road.
Whenever you take your vehicle off-road
through deep sand, mud or water, perform
these inspections every day:
• Check ball joints and dust covers
• Check brake lines and hoses
• Check brake pads/disc
• Check differential oil
• Check drive shaft boots
• Check engine air filter
• Check nuts and bolts on chassis and
body
• Check steering linkage and boots
• Check transfer case oil (4WD models)
• Check transmission fluid or oil
• Lubricate propeller shaft (4WD
models)
Off-Road Daily Maintenance
Maintenance Log37
MAINTENANCE

5,000 miles or 6 months
Check installation of driver’s floor matInspect and adjust all fluid levelsRotate tiresVisually inspect brake linings/drums and
brake pads/discs
Additional Maintenance Items for
Special Operating Conditions
2
Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads:Inspect ball joints and dust coversInspect drive shaft boots (4WD)Inspect engine air filterInspect steering linkage and bootsLubricate propeller shaft3
Re-torque propeller shaft bolt3
Replace engine oil and oil filter1
Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and
body
Driving while towing, using a car-top
carrier, or heavy vehicle loading:
Lubricate propeller shaft3
Re-torque propeller shaft bolt3
Replace engine oil and oil filter1
Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and
body
Repeated trips of less than five miles in
temperatures below 32°F / 0°C:
Replace engine oil and oil filter1
Extensive idling and/or low speed driving
for a long distance such as police, taxi or
door-to-door delivery use:
Replace engine oil and oil filter1
DEALERSERVICEVERIFICATION:
D
AT E:
M
ILEAGE:
10,000 miles or 12 months
Check installation of driver’s floor matInspect and adjust all fluid levelsReplace engine oil and oil filter1
Rotate tiresVisually inspect brake linings/drums and
brake pads/discs
Additional Maintenance Items for
Special Operating Conditions
2
Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads:Inspect ball joints and dust coversInspect drive shaft boots (4WD)Inspect engine air filterInspect steering linkage and bootsLubricate propeller shaft3
Re-torque propeller shaft bolt3
Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and
body
Driving while towing, using a car-top
carrier, or heavy vehicle loading:
Lubricate propeller shaft3
Re-torque propeller shaft bolt3
Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and
body
DEALERSERVICEVERIFICATION:
D
AT E:
M
ILEAGE:
Maintenance Log
MAINTENANCE
38Maintenance Log