airbag TOYOTA TACOMA 2008 Owners Manual (in English)

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Important information about your Toyota
Occupant restraint systems
Toyota encourages you and your family to take the time to
read Section 1−3 of this Owner’s Manual carefully. In
terms of helping you understand how you can receive the
maximum benefit of the occupant restraint systems this
vehicle provides, Section 1 −3 of this Owner ’s Manual is
the most important Section for you and your family to
read.
Section 1 −3 describes the function and operation concern-
ing seats, seat belts, SRS airbags and child restraint sys-
tems of this vehicle and some potential hazards you
should be aware of. These systems work together along
with the overall structure of this vehicle in order to provide
occupant restraint in the event of a crash. The effect of
each system is enhanced when it is used properly and
together with other systems. No single occupant restraint
system can, by itself, provide you or your family with the
equal level of restraint which these systems can provide
when used together. That is why it is important for you and
your family to understand the purpose and proper use of
each of these systems and how they relate to each other.
The purpose of all occupant restraint systems is to help
reduce the possibility of death or serious injury in the
event of a collision. None of these systems, either individ-
ually or together, can ensure that there is no injury in the
event of collision. However, the more you know about
these systems and how to use them properly, the greater
your chances become of surviving an accident without
death or serious injury.
Seat belts provide the primary restraint to all occupants of
the vehicle, and every occupant of the vehicle should wear
seat belts properly at all times. Children should always be
secured in child restraint systems that are appropriate for
their age and size. SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
airbags are, as their names imply, designed to work with,
and be supplemental to, seat belts and are not substitutes
for them. SRS airbags can be very effective in reducing
the risk of head and chest injuries by preventing contact of
the head and chest with interior portions of the vehicle.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
In order to be effective, the SRS airbags must deploy with
tremendous speed. The rapid deployment of the SRS air-
bags makes the SRS airbags themselves potential sources
of death or serious injury if an occupant is too close to an
airbag, or if an object or some part of his or her body has
been placed between the occupant and the airbag at the
time of deployment. This is just one example of how the
instructions in Section 1−3 of this Owner ’s Manual will help
ensure proper use of the occupant restraint systems, and
increase the safety they can provide to you and your fami-
ly in the event of an accident.
Toyota recommends you to read the provisions in Section
1 −3 carefully and refer to them as needed during your time
of ownership of this vehicle.Event data recorder
Your vehicle has computers that monitor and control cer-
tain aspects of your vehicle. These computers assist in
driving and maintaining optimal vehicle performance. Be-
sides storing data useful for troubleshooting, there is a
system to record data in a crash or a near car crash
event. This is called an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The SRS airbag sensor assembly contains the EDR. In a
crash or a near car crash event, this device may record
some or all of the following information:
 Engine speed
 Whether the brake pedal was applied or not
 Vehicle speed
 To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
 Position of the transmission selector lever
 Whether the driver and front passenger wore the
seat belts or not
 Driver ’s seat position
 Front passenger ’s occupant classification

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
SRS airbag deployment data
 SRS airbag system diagnostic data
If your vehicle is equipped with a vehicle stability control
(VSC) system, its Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may con-
tain another EDR. There are a variety of driving situations
which include activating the VSC under which the VSC
EDR will record certain information. The VSC EDR may
record some or all of the following information:
 Behavior of the vehicle
 Steering wheel angle
 Vehicle speed
 To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
 To what extent the brake pedal was applied
 To what extent the ECU controlled the condition of
the 4 wheels
 vehicle stability control system diagnostic data
The information above is intended to be used for the pur-
pose of improving vehicle safety performance. Unlike gen-
eral data recorders, the EDR does not record sound data
such as conversation between passengers.Toyota will not disclose the data recorded in an EDR to a
third party except when:
 An agreement from the vehicle’s owner (or the leas-
ing company for a leased vehicle) is obtained
 Officially requested by the police or other authorities
 Used as a defense for Toyota in a law suit
 Ordered by the court
However, if necessary Toyota will:
 Use the data for research on Toyota vehicle safety
performance
 Disclose the data to a third party for research pur-
poses without disclosing details of the vehicle own-
er, and only when it is deemed necessary
 Disclose summarized data cleared of vehicle identifi-
cation information to a non −Toyota organization for
research purposes

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Accessories, spare parts andmodification of your Toyota
A wide variety of non −genuine spare parts and accessories
for Toyota vehicles are currently available in the market.
You should know that Toyota does not warrant these prod-
ucts and is not responsible for their performance, repair, or
replacement, or for any damage they may cause to, or
adverse effect they may have on, your Toyota vehicle.
This vehicle should not be modified with non −genuine
Toyota products. Modification with non −genuine Toyota
products could affect its performance, safety or durability,
and may even violate governmental regulations. In addi-
tion, damage or performance problems resulting from the
modification may not be covered under warranty.
Spark ignition system of your To y o t a
The spark ignition system in your Toyota meets all require-
ments of the Canadian Interference −Causing Equipment
Standard.
Installation of a mobile twoway radio system
As the installation of a mobile two −way radio system in
your vehicle could affect the following electronic systems,
be sure to check with your Toyota dealer for precautionary
measures or special instructions regarding installation.
 Multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport
fuel injection system
 SRS airbag system
 Seat belt pretensioner system

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Scrapping of your Toyota
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your
Toyota contain explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is
scrapped with the airbags and pretensioners left as they
are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be sure to
have the systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt preten-
sioner removed and disposed of by a qualified service
shop or by your Toyota dealer before you dispose of your
vehicle.
Onpavement and offroaddriving tips
(fourwheel drive models and PreRunner)
This vehicle will handle and maneuver differently from an
ordinary passenger car because it is also designed for
off−road use. It has a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles. In addition, this vehicle has a
higher ground clearance and center of gravity than that of
an ordinary passenger car. This vehicle design feature
causes this type of vehicle to be more likely to rollover.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss
of control, accidents or vehicle rollover causing death or
serious injury. Be sure to read “Off −road vehicle
precautions” on page 270 in Section 2 and “Off −road
driving precautions” on page 307 in Section 3.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Leak detection pump
This pump performs fuel evaporation leakage check. This
check is done approximately five hours after the engine is
turned off. So you may hear sound coming from under-
neath the deck for several minutes. It does not indicate a
malfunction.
Perchlorate Material
Special handling may apply,
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Your vehicle has components that may contain perchlorate.
These components may include airbag, seat belt preten-
sioners, and wireless remote control batteries.

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
1. Front fog light switch
2. Rear differential lock switch
3. Power outlet main switch
4. Instrument panel light control dial
5. Headlight and turn signal switches
6. Audio remote control switches
7. Wiper and washer switches
8. Front drive control switch knob
9. Audio system
10. Clock
11. Engine immobilizer system indicator light
12. Front passenger ’s seat belt reminder light
13. Front passenger occupant classification indicator lights or passenger airbag on −
off indicator lights
14. Passenger airbag off switch
15. Air conditioning controls
16. Power outlet
17. Emergency flasher switch
18. Cigarette lighter
19. Parking brake lever (manual transmission)
LS11004b

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
20. Cruise control switch
21. Engine switch
22. Roll sensing of curtain shield airbagsoff switch
23. “DAC” switch or clutch start cancel switch
24. “VSC OFF” switch
25. Power rear view mirror control switches

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
Driver ’s seat belt reminder light∗1
Low engine oil pressure warning light∗1
Brake system warning light∗1
Charging system warning light∗1
Malfunction indicator lamp∗1
Anti −lock brake system warning light∗
1
SRS warning light∗1
or
Front passenger ’s seat belt reminder light∗1
Front passenger occupant classification
indicator light or passenger airbag on −off
indicator light
Engine oil replacement reminder light∗ 1
(for vehicles sold in U.S.A.)
Open door warning light∗ 1
Tire pressure warning light∗1
Automatic transmission fluid temperature
warning light∗1
(four −wheel drive models only)
Engine immobilizer system indicator light
∗ 1
Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off
indicator light∗5
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel

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2008 TACOMA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM35898U)
∗1: For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers” on page 153 in Section 1 −6.
∗
2: If this light flashes, see “Cruise control” on page 201 in
Section 1 −7.
∗
3: If this light flashes, see “Four −wheel drive system” on page
175 in Section 1− 7.
∗
4: If this light flashes, see “Rear differential lock system” on
page 192 in Section 1 −7.
∗
5: For details, see “Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off
switch” on page 92 in Section 1 −3.
Cruise control indicator light
∗
2
Rear differential lock indicator light∗4
Four −wheel drive indicator light∗
3
Slip indicator light
Vehicle stability control system off
indicator/warning light
∗ 1
“AUTO LSD” indicator light
Headlight high beam indicator light
Turn signal indicator lights
Tail light indicator light
Automatic transmission indicator lights
(5 −speed)
Automatic transmission indicator lights
(4 −speed)
Low speed four −wheel drive indicator light∗
3
Downhill assist control system indicator light
Headlight low beam indicator light