TOYOTA TACOMA 2009 Owners Manual (in English)

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Tire inflation pressure
■Tire inflation pressure
The recommended cold tire inflation pressure and tire size is dis-
played on the tire and loadi ng information label. (P. 475)
Regular Cab and Double Cab models

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Access Cab models

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
■
Inspection and adjustment procedure
Tire valve
Tire pressure gauge
Remove the tire valve cap.
Press the tip of the tire pressure gauge onto the tire valve.
Read the pressure using the graduations of the gauge.
If the tire inflation pressure is not within the recommended
levels, adjust inflate the tire.
If you add too much air, pres s the center of the valve to
lower.
After completing the tire inflation pressure measurement
and adjustment, apply soapy water to the valve and check
for leakage.
Reinstall the tire valve cap.

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■Tire inflation pressure check interval
You should check tire pressure every two weeks, or at least once a
month.
Do not forget to check the spare.
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure ma y result in the following:
●Reduced fuel efficiency
●Reduced driving comfort and tire life
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent re filling, have it checked by your Toyota dealer.
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours and has not been
driven for more than 1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold
tire inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be mi sleading. In addition, tire infla-
tion pressures that are even just a few pounds off can degrade ride
and handling.
●Do not bleed or reduce tire inflation pressure after driving. It is normal
for the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle
is balanced.

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Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■Proper inflation is critical
to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
Otherwise, the following conditions may occur and result in an accident
causing death or serious injury.
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resu lting from overheated tires
●Poor sealing of the tire bead
●Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
●A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or mo isture could get into the valve and
cause air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps have
been lost, replace them as soon as possible.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Wheels
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your Toyota are equipped with tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters (except for spare tire) that allow the tire pressure
warning system to provide advanced warn ing in the event of a loss in tire
inflation pressure. Whenever wheels are replaced, the tire pressure
warning valves and transmitte rs must be installed. (P. 374)
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be
replaced.
Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause loss of
handling control.
■ Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that
they are equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter,
rim width, and offset.
Replacement wheels are available at your Toyota dealer.
Toyota does not recommend using:
●Wheels of different sizes or types
● Used wheels
● Bent wheels that have been straightened
■ Wheel precautions
●Use only Toyota wheel nuts and wrench designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving 100 miles (160 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
● Use only Toyota genuine balance weights or equivalent and a
plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

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Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in
the Owner’s Manual, as this may re
sult in loss of handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a
tubeless tire. Doing so may result in an accident, causing death or seri-
ous injury.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters, make su re to have tires serviced by your
Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop. In addition, make sure to
purchase your tire pressure warning valves and transmitters at your
Toyota dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine Toyota wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly
with non-genuine wheels.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Air conditioning filter
The air conditioning filter must be changed regularly to maintain air
conditioning efficiency.
■ Removal method
Turn the engine switch off.
Open the glove box.
Slide off the damper.
Push in each side of the glove
box to disconnect the claws.

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Maintenance and care
Open the filter door.
Remove the filter.
■ Replacement method
Remove the air conditioning
filter and replace it with a new
one.
When installing the filter, follow
the instructions indicated on
the label.

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■Checking interval
Inspect and replace the air conditioning filter according to the maintenance
schedule. In dusty areas or areas wit h heavy traffic flow, early replacement
may be required. (For scheduled maintenance information, please refer to
the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
■ If air flow from the vents decreases dramatically
The filter may be clogged. Check the filter and replace if necessary.
NOTICE
■When using the air conditioning system
Make sure that a filter is always installed.
Using the air conditioning system without a filter may cause damage to the
system.