transmission TOYOTA TACOMA 2015 (in English) Owner's Guide

226 2-5. Driving information
●Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to the right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least o ne vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in the trailer jack-
knifing and a loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet
or slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak-
ing a turn.
● Note that when making a turn, th e trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a wider than normal turning radius.
● Slow down before making a turn, in cross winds, on wet or slippery
surfaces, etc.
Increasing vehicle speed c an destabilize the trailer.
● Take care when passing other v ehicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a vehi cle, do not forget the length of
your trailer, and be sure you hav e plenty of room before changing
lanes.
● To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system perfor-
mance when using engine braking, do not use fifth gear (5-speed
manual transmission), sixth gear (6-speed manual transmission),
or do not put the transmission in D (automatic transmission).

227
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●
Instability happens more frequently when descending steep or long
downhill grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long down-
hill grades.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the
brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and
result in reduced braking efficiency.
● Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may
overheat on hot days (at temperatures over 85°F [30°C]) when
driving up a long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, immedi ately turn off the air condition-
ing (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
(  P. 508)
● Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the
trailer’s wheels when parking. Ap ply the parking brake firmly, and
put the transmission in P (automatic transmission) or in 1 or R
(manual transmission). Avoid park ing on a slope, but if unavoid-
able, do so only after performing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blo cks under both the vehicle’s
and trailer’s wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in pl ace, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into P (automatic transmission) or 1 or R (manual trans-
mission) and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P (automatic transmission) or the
clutch pedal (manual transmission) depressed, start the
engine. On vehicles with an au tomatic transmission, be sure
to keep the brake pedal depressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.

228 2-5. Driving information
Release the parking brake (and also the brake pedal on vehi-
cles with an automatic transmission), and slowly pull or back
away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
■ Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■ Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( P. 532)
● Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recom-
mendation.
● All trailer lights work as required by law.
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trai\
ler.
● The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for improper tongue
weight, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
No matter which class of tow hitch
applies, for a more safe trailer hookup,
the trailer ball setup must be the proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball

229
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●
The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, instal l rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.
■ Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components
(such as an engine, transmission, differential or wheel bearing), Toyota rec-
ommends that you do not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven \
for
over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can s\
tart
towing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a
speed of less than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full
throttle acceleration.
■ Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance
due to the additional load. (See “Owner’s Warranty Information Booklet”
or “Scheduled Maintenance Guide/Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
● Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approxi-
mately 600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
■ If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal immediately but very gradually to reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle
and trailer should stabilize. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can also help to
stabilize the vehicle and trailer.)

342 3-4. Using the storage features
Cup holdersVehicles with an automatic transmission
Vehicles with a manual transmission
Cup holders

343
3-4. Using the
storage features
3
Interior and exterior features
■Removing the cup holder (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
CAUTION
■Items unsuitable for the cup holder
Do not place anything other than cups or aluminum cans in the cup holders.
Other items may be thrown out of the holders in the event of an accident or
sudden braking and cause injury. If possible, cover hot drinks to prevent
burns.
Pull the cup holder up.
Cup holders

353
3-5. Other interior features
3
Interior and exterior features
Power outlet (120 VAC)
Maximum available capacity of the power outlet■ While the vehicle is being driven
The maximum capacity of the power outlet is always
120 VAC/100 W.
■ When the vehicle is stationary
The maximum capacity of the power outlet varies depending on
the following conditions.
●The maximum capacity is 120 VAC/400 W when the following
condition applies:
• The shift lever is in P or N. (automatic transmission)
: If equipped
The power outlet can be used for electrical appliances.
Main switch
To use the power outlet, turn on the main switch.
The power supply starts a few seconds after the main switch is
pressed.
Power outlet socket

354 3-5. Other interior features
• The shift lever is in N and the clutch pedal is not depressed.(manual transmission)
A maximum capacity of 400W can only be restored by turning
the power outlet main switch off and then on again under condi-
tion described above.
● The maximum capacity is 120 VAC/100 W when the following
condition applies:
• The shift lever is moved to any positions other than P and N.
(automatic transmission)
• The clutch pedal is depressed. (manual transmission)
■ The power outlet can be used when
The engine is started.
■ The indicator light changes accord ing the maximum available capacity,
as follows:
■ When the power outlet is in operation
The sound of the cooling fan may be heard from the front console box. This
is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.
■ If the engine is started with th e power outlet main switch on
The maximum capacity of the power supply may decrease to below the stan-
dard, or may be cut off completely, even when the vehicle is stationary.
Indicates 120 VAC/400 W
Indicates 120 VAC/100 W

355
3-5. Other interior features
3
Interior and exterior features
■
The protection circuit may be activated to cut the power supply if any
of the following conditions apply:
●The engine is started with the power outlet main switch on.
● Use of electrical appliances exceeding the maximum capacity is
attempted.
A sound may be heard when the protection circuit is activated.
This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.
● Electrical appliances, which consume power exceeding 100 W, have
been used continuously for a long time period.
● The total power usage by all electrical features (headlights, air condition-
ing, etc.) has exceeded the total vehicle maximum for an extended
period of time.
■ If the protection circuit is activated and the power supply is cut, con-
duct the following procedure:
Park the vehicle in a safe place, and then securely apply the park-
ing brake.
Check and ensure the following conditions:• The shift lever is in P or N. (automatic transmission)
• The shift lever is in N and the clutch pedal is not depressed. (manual transmission)
Make sure that the power consumption of the electric appliance is
within the maximum capacity of the power outlet and the appliance
is not broken.
Press the power outlet main switch again.
When the cabin temperature is high, open the windows to cool the tempera-
ture down. Once it reaches the normal temperature, turn the power outlet
main switch on again.
If the power supply is not resumed even after performing the above proce-
dure, have the vehicle inspected by a Toyota dealer.

363
3-5. Other interior features
3
Interior and exterior features
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause the driver’s floor mat to slip, possibly interfering
with the pedals while driving. An unexpectedly high speed may result or it may
become difficult to stop the vehicle, leading to a serious accident.
■
When installing the driver’s floor mat
●Do not use floor mats designed for other models or different model year
vehicles, even if they are Toyota Genuine floor mats.
● Only use floor mats designed for the driver’s seat.
● Always install the floor mat securely using the retaining hooks (clips) pro-
vided.
● Do not use two or more floor mats on top of each other.
● Do not place the floor mat bottom-side up or upside-down.
■ Before driving
●Check that the floor mat is securely
fixed in the correct place with all the
provided retaining hooks (clips). Be
especially careful to perform this check
after cleaning the floor.
● With the engine stopped and the shift
lever in P (automatic transmission) or N
(manual transmission), fully depress
each pedal to the floor to make sure it
does not interfere with the floor mat.