jump start terminals TOYOTA TACOMA 1996 Owners Manual

Part 4If your vehicle will not startÐ
(a) Simple checks
11 9
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 pro-
cedure given in How 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 dis-
charged. You may try jump starting. See
(c) Jump startingº 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 qualified repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not pull- or push-start the vehicle. It may damage the vehicle
or cause a collision when the enginestarts. Also the three-way catalytic converter may overheat andbecome a fire hazard.
If the engine turns over at its normal
speed but will not startÐ
1. Check that all the push-on connectors are tight. (For example, connectors at thedistributor and spark plugs)
2. If the connectors are O.K., the engine
may be flooded because of repeatedcranking. See (b) Starting a flooded en-
gineº for further instructions.

121
NOTICE
The battery used for boosting must be 12 V. Do not jump start unless
you are sure that the booster batteryis correct.
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE
1. If the booster battery is installed in
another vehicle, make sure the vehicles
are not touching. Turn off all unnecessary
lights and accessories.
2. If required, remove all the vent plugs from the booster and discharged batter- ies. Lay a cloth over the open vents on the
batteries. (This helps reduce the explo-
sion hazard, personal injuries and burns.)
3. If the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery is not running, start it and
let it run for a few minutes. During jump
starting, run the engine at about 2000 rpm
with the accelerator pedal lightly de- pressed. 4. Connect
the jumper cables in the exact
order shown in the illustration: positiveterminal (+º mark)-to-positive terminal
(+º mark), and negative terminal (-º
mark)-to-engine or body ground. Note
that you first connect the positive cable to
the discharged battery and then to the
booster battery. Next, connect the nega-
tive cable to the booster battery and then
to a solid, stationary, unpainted, metallic
point (e.g. engine hanging hook) away
from the battery. Do not connect it to or
near any part that moves when the engine
is cranked.
When making the connections, do
not lean over the battery or acciden- tally let the jumper cables or clamps
touch anything except the correctbattery terminals or the ground. CAUTION
!
5. Start your engine in the normal way.
After starting, run it at about 2000 rpm for several minutes with the accelerator ped-
al lightly depressed.
6. Carefully disconnect the cables in the
exact reverse order: the negative cable
and then the positive cable.
7. Carefully dispose of the battery cover
clothsÐthey may now contain sulfuricacid. 8. If removed, replace all the battery vent plugs.
If the cause of your battery discharging is
not apparent (for example, lights left on), you should have it checked.