coolant reservoir TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER 2002 W30 / 3.G Owners Manual

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If your vehicle overheats
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you ex-
perience a loss of power, or if you hear
a loud knocking or pinging noise, the
engine has probably overheated. You
should follow this procedure...1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve- hicle and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the transmission in “N”
(sequential manual transmission) or in
neutral (manual transmission) and ap-
ply the parking brake. Turn off the air
conditioning if it is being used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator or reservoir, stop the engine.
Wait until the steam subsides before
opening the hood. If there is no coolant
boiling over or steam, leave the engine
running and make sure the electric
cooling fan is operating. If it is not,
turn the ignition off.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury, keep
the hood closed until there is no
steam. Escaping steam or coolant is
a sign of very high pressure.
3. Look for obvious coolant leaks from theradiator, hoses, and under the vehicle.
However, note that water draining from
the air conditioning is normal if it has
been used.
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive belts.
4. If the coolant is leaking, stop the en-gine immediately. Call a Toyota dealer
for assistance.
5. If there are no obvious leaks, check the coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add
coolant to the reservoir while the en-
gine is running. Fill it about half full.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to remove the coolant
reservoir cap or air release valve
when the engine and radiator are hot.
Serious injury could result from
scalding hot fluid and steam blown
out under pressure.
6. After the engine coolant temperaturehas cooled to normal, again check the
coolant level in the reservoir. If neces-
sary, bring it up to half full again. Seri-
ous coolant loss indicates a leak in the
system. You s hould have it checked as
soon as possible at your Toyota dealer.

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INSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be checked
regularly, e.g. while performing periodic
services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights, and other lights
are all working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers function properly.
Steering wheel
Be alert for changes in steering condition,
such as hard steering or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all seat controls such as seat
adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. operate
smoothly and that all latches lock securely
in any position. Check that the latches
lock securely.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as
buckles and retractors operate properly
and smoothly. Make sure the belt webbing
is not cut, frayed, worn or damaged.Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
uneven pedal effort or catching.
Clutch pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
that the pedal has the proper clearance.
Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do
not pull to one side when applied.
Parking brake
Check that the lever has the proper travel
and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle
is held securely with only the parking
brake applied.
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 page 203 in Section 73 for
additional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the “FULL” and “LOW” lines on the see
through reservoir when the engine is cold.
See page 189 in Section 72 for addition-
al information.
Radiator, condenser and hoses
Check that the front of the radiator and
condenser are clean and not blocked with
leaves, dirt, or insects. See page 190 in
Section 72 for additional information.
Battery electrolyte level
Make sure the electrolyte level of all bat-
tery cells is between upper and lower lev-
el lines on the case. Add only distilled
water when replenishing. See pgae 200 in
Section 73 for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See page 191 in Section 72 for addition-
al information.

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Engine oil level
Check the level by the dipstick with the
engine turned off and the vehicle parked
on a level spot. See page 188 in Section
72 for additional information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir. The
level should be in the “HOT” or “COLD”
range depending on the fluid temperature.
See page 191 in Section 72 for addition-
al information.
Exhaust system
If you notice any change in the sound of
the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have
the cause located and corrected immedi-
ately. (See “Engine exhaust cautions” on
page 127 in Section 2.)Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tipoffs that
indicate service is needed. Some impor-
tant clues are as follows:
Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A leak under the vehicle (however, wa-
ter dripping from the air conditioning
after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked im-
mediately.)
Flatlooking 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 suspension
movement
Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy
feeling brake or clutch pedal; pedal al-
most touches floor; vehicle pulls to one
side when braking
Engine coolant temperature continually
higher than normalIf you notice any of these clues, take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible. It probably needs adjustment or
repair.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving with the ve-
hicle unchecked. It could result in se-
rious vehicle damage and possibly
personal injury.
Does your vehicle need
repairing?

SC71012
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1. Fuse block
2. Battery
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Engine oil level dipstick
5. Engine coolant reservoir
Engine compartment overview

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If you perform maintenance by yourself,
be sure to follow the correct procedure
given in this section.
You should be aware that improper or in-
complete servicing may result in operating
problems.
Performing doityourself maintenance
during the warranty period may affect your
warranty coverage. Read the separate
Toyota Warranty statement for details and
suggestions.
This section gives instructions only for
those items that are relatively easy for an
owner to perform. As explained in Section
6, there are still a number of items that
must be done by a qualified technician
with special tools.
For information on tools and parts for do
ityourself maintenance, see “Parts and
tools” on page 184.
Utmost care should be taken when work-
ing on your vehicle to prevent accidental
injury. Here are a few precautions that
you should be especially careful to ob-
serve:CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from the moving fan and engine
drive belts. (Removing rings,
watches, and ties is advisable.)
Right after driving, the engine
compartment and trunk room—the
engine, radiator, exhaust manifold,
power steering fluid reservoir and
spark plug boots, etc.—will be hot.
So be careful not to touch them.
Oil, fluids and spark plugs may also
be hot.
If the engine is hot, do not remove
the coolant reservoir cap or air re-
lease valve or loosen the drain
plugs to prevent burning yourself.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames around fuel or the
battery. Their fumes are flammable.
Do not get under your vehicle with
just the body jack supporting it. Al-
ways use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.
Be sure that the ignition is off if
you work near the electric cooling
fans or radiator grille. With the
ignition on, the electric cooling fans
will automatically start to run if the
engine coolant temperature is high
and/or the air conditioning is on.
Use eye protection whenever you
work on or under your vehicle
where you may be exposed to flying
or falling material, fluid spray, etc.
Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals
and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling
Used engine oil contains potentially
harmful contaminants which may
cause skin disorders such as in-
flammation or skin cancer, so care
should be taken to avoid prolonged
and repeated contact with it. To re-
move used engine oil from your
skin, wash thoroughly with soap
and water.
Doityourself service
precautions

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Do not leave used oil within the
reach of children.
Dispose of used oil and filter only
in a safe and acceptable manner.
Do not dispose of used oil and fil-
ter in household trash, in sewers or
onto the ground. Call your dealer or
a service station for information
concerning recycling or disposal.
Take care when filling the brake and
clutch fluid reservoirs because
brake fluid can harm your eyes and
damage painted surfaces. If fluid
gets in your eyes, flush your eyes
with clean water.
When racing the engine, make sure
that the gear position is in the “N”
position. In case the accelerator is
operated with the gear in any other
positions, the vehicle may move, re-
sulting in an unexpected accident.
NOTICE
Remember that battery and ignition
cables carry high currents or volt-
ages. Be careful of accidentally
causing a short circuit.
Add only demineralized or distilled
water to fill the radiator. And if you
spill some of the coolant, be sure
to wash it off with water to prevent
it from damaging the parts or paint.
 Do not allow dirt or anything else
to fall through the spark plug holes.
 Do not pry the outer electrode of a
spark plug against the center elec-
trode.
 Use only spark plugs of the speci-
fied type. Using other types will
cause engine damage, loss of per-
formance or radio noise.
 Do not reuse iridiumtipped spark
plugs by cleaning or regapping.
 Do not drive with the air cleaner
filter removed, or excessive engine
wear could result. Also backfiring
could cause a fire in the engine
compartment.
 Be careful not to scratch the glass
surface with the wiper frame.
 When closing the engine hood or
trunk, check to see that you have
not forgotten any tools, rags, etc.
Parts and tools
Here is a list of parts and tools you will
need on performing doityourself mainte-
nance. Remember all Toyota parts are de-
signed in metric sizes, so your tools must
be metric.
CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL
Parts (if level is low):
Engine oil API grade SJ
“EnergyConserving”, SL
“EnergyConserving” or ILSAC
multigrade having viscosity proper for
your climate
Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding oil)
CHECKING THE ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Parts (if level is low):
“TOYOTA Long Life Coolant” or equiva-
lent
See page 189 in Section 72 for de-
tails about coolant type selection.
Demineralized or distilled water
Tools:
Funnel (only for adding coolant)
CHECKING BRAKE FLUID
Parts (if level is low):

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SOIL13
API service symbol
ILSAC certification mark
Oil identification marks
Either or both API registered marks are
added to some oil containers to help
you select the oil you should use.
The API Service Symbol is located any-
where on the outside of the container.
The top portion of the label shows the oil
quality by API (American Petroleum
Institute) designations such as SL. The
center portion of the label shows the SAE
viscosity grade such as SAE 5W30.
“EnergyConserving” shown in the lower
portion, indicates that the oil has
fuelsaving capabilities.
The ILSAC (International Lubricant Stan-
dardization and Approval Committee) Certi-
fication Mark is displayed on the front of
the container.Look at the seethrough coolant reser-
voir when the engine is cold. The cool-
ant level is satisfactory if it is between
the “FULL” and “LOW” lines on the
reservoir. If the level is low, add ethyl-
eneglycol type coolant for a proper
corrosion protection of aluminum com-
ponents.
The coolant level in the reservoir will vary
with engine temperature. However, if the
level is on or below the “LOW” line, add
coolant. Bring the level up to the “FULL”
line.
Always use ethyleneglycol type coolant
for a proper corrosion protection of alumi-
num components. See information in the
next column.
If the coolant level drops within a short
time after replenishing, there may be a
leak in the system. Visually check the
radiator, hoses, drain cock and water
pump.
If you can find no leak, have your Toyota
dealer test the cap pressure and check
for leaks in the cooling system.
Checking the engine coolant
level

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CAUTION
To prevent burning yourself, do not
remove the coolant reservoir cap or
air release valve when the engine is
hot.
Coolant type selection
Use of improper coolants may damage
your engine cooling system. Your coolant
must contain ethyleneglycol type coolant
for a proper corrosion protection of your
engine that contains aluminum compo-
nents. Use “TOYOTA Long Life Coolant”
or equivalent.
In addition to preventing freezing and sub-
sequent damage to the engine, this type
of coolant will also prevent corrosion. Fur-
ther supplemental inhibitors or additives
are neither needed nor recommended.
Read the coolant container for information
on freeze protection. Follow the manufac-
turer’s directions for how much to mix
with plain water (preferably demineralized
water or distilled water). The total capacity
of the cooling system is given on page
215 in Section 8. We recommend to use 50% solution for
your Toyota, to provide protection down to
about 35
C (31 F). When it is extreme-
ly cold, to provide protection down to
about 50 C (58 F), 60% solution is rec-
ommended. Do not use more than 70%
solution for better coolant performance.NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or
plain water alone.
If any of the above parts are extremely
dirty or you are not sure of their condi-
tion, take your vehicle to Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
To prevent yourself from burning, be
careful not to touch the radiator or
condenser when the engine is hot.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the radiator
and condenser, do not perform the
work by yourself.
Checking the radiator and
condenser

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A
Adding washer fluid203
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjustment
Seats 28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belt 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air conditioning system 107
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Airbags 36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aluminum wheel precautions 197 . . . . . . . .
Antiglare inside rear view mirror 59 . . . . .
Antilock brake system warning light 70
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Antitheft steering column lock 76 . . . . . . .
Appearance care Cleaning the interior 170
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Protecting your Toyota from
corrosion 166
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washing and waxing 167
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auxiliary box 118
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auxiliary catch, Trunk lid 14
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
B
Battery
Checking battery condition 200 . . . . . . . .
Gas caution 200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Handling safety 200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recharging precautions 201 . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Before starting the engine 138 . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake pad wear limit indicators 132 . . . . . .
Brake system 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system warning light 70 . . . . . . . . . . Brakes
Fluid level 191 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pad wear limit indicators 132 . . . . . . . . . .
Parking 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Breakin tips 124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brightness control 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C
Car audio system 93
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carbon monoxide caution 127
. . . . . . . . . . .
Cassette player 94
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking and replacing fuses 202 . . . . . . . .
Checking brake fluid 191
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the engine oil level 188 . . . . . . . .
Checking power steering fluid 191 . . . . . . .
Child restraint Child restraint system 46
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation with seat belt 48
. . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions 46
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of child restraint system 47 . . . . . .
Cigarette lighter and ashtray 116
. . . . . . . . .
Cleaning the interior 170
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clock 116
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cold weather operation 140
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact disc player 94
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling system
Coolant level 189
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine overheating 150
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator and condenser 190
. . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator and reservoir 189
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator cap 150
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 140
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corrosion prevention
166
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 90
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cup holders 121
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D
Defogger, Rear window 65
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensions and weight 214
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimmer switch, Headlight 62
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Dinghy towing 141
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Directional signals 62
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Discharge warning light 70
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Doityourself maintenance
Parts and tools 184
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service precautions 183
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Does your vehicle need repairing? 177
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driver ’s seat belt light 70
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driver ’s seat belt reminder buzzer 70 . . . . .
Driving Driving tips 139,140
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual transmission 88
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sequential manual transmission 77 . . . .
Driving tips
Driving tips in various conditions 139
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving with a manual
transmission 88
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Economical driving 142
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Good driving practice 88
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 140
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
During Breakin 124
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .