maintenance TOYOTA YARIS HATCHBACK 2008 Owner's Guide

246 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Radiator and condenserCheck the radiator and condenser and clear any foreign objects.
If either of the above parts are ex tremely dirty or you are not sure of
their condition, have your vehicl e checked by your Toyota dealer.
Brake fluid
n Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the MAX and MIN lines
on the reservoir.
n Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid type and prepare the necessary items.
CAUTION
n When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator or condenser as they may be hot and may cause
burns.
Fluid type FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
n Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air
Excess moisture in the fluid can cause a dangerous loss of braking effi-
ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.

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4
Maintenance and care
.
Battery
n Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery terminals are not corroded and that
there are no loose connections, cracks, or loose clamps.
Te r m i n a l s
Hold-down clamp
CAUTION
nWhen filling the reservoir
Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets in your eyes, flush your eyes with clean water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.
NOTICE
nIf the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads
wear or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it may indicate a serious pro\
blem.
n If you spill fluid
Be sure to wash it off with water to prevent damage to parts or paint.

248 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
nChecking battery condition
Check the battery condition using the indicator color.
Type A
Blue: Good condition
White: Charging is necessary.
Have the vehicle inspected by
your Toyota dealer.
Red: Not working properly,
have the battery checked by
your Toyota dealer.
Type B Green: Good condition
Dark: Charging is necessary.
Have the vehicle inspected by
your Toyota dealer.
Clear or light yellow: Not
working properly, have the
battery checked by your
Toyota dealer.
nBefore recharging
When recharging, the battery produces hydrogen gas which is flammable
and explosive. Therefore, before recharging:
lIf recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to discon-
nect the ground cable.
l Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and
disconnecting the charger cables to the battery.

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Maintenance and care
CAUTION
n
Chemicals in the battery
A battery contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid and may produce
hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. To reduce the risk of death
or serious injury, take the following precautions while working on or near bat-
tery:
l Do not cause sparks by touching the battery terminals with tools.
l Do not smoke or light a match near the battery.
l Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothes.
l Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.
l Wear protective safety glasses when working near the battery.
l Keep children away from the battery.
n Where to safety charge the battery
Always charge the battery in an open area. Do not charge the battery in a
garage or closed room where there is not sufficient ventilation.
n How to recharge the battery
Only perform a slow charge (5A or less).
The battery may explode if charged at a quicker rate.
n Emergency measures regarding electrolyte
lIf electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immedi-
ate medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with a sponge or
cloth while traveling to the nearest medical facility.
l If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thoroughly. If you feel pain or burning, get medical
attention immediately.
l If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to your skin. Immediately take off the cloth-
ing and follow the procedure above if necessary.
l If you accidentally swallow electrolyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk. Follow with milk of magnesia,
beaten raw egg or vegetable oil. Get emergency medical attention immedi-
ately.

250 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Washer fluidIf any washer does not work or the low washer fluid warning light
comes on, the washer tank may be empty. Open the lid.
Add washer fluid.
NOTICE
nWhen recharging the battery
Never recharge the battery while the engine is running. Also, be sure all
accessories are turned off.

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Maintenance and care
CAUTION
n
When refilling the washer fluid
Do not refill the washer fluid when the engine is hot or running, as the
washer fluid contains alcohol and may catch fire if spilled on the engine etc.
NOTICE
nDo not use any fluid other than washer fluid
Do not use soapy water or engine antifreeze instead of washer fluid.
Doing so may cause streaking on the vehicle’s painted surfaces.
n Diluting washer fluid
Dilute washer fluid with water as necessary.
Refer to the freezing temperatures listed on the washer fluid tank.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance sched-
ules and treadwear.
nChecking tires
New tread
Treadwear indicator
Worn tread
The location of treadwear
indicators is shown by the
“TWI” or “ ” marks, etc.,
molded on the sidewall of
each tire.
Check spare tire condition
and inflation pressure if not
rotated.
nTire rotation
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and
extend tire life, Toyota recom-
mends that tire rotation is
carried out at the same inter-
val as tire inspection.
nThe tire pressure warning system
Your Toyota is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that
uses tire pressure warning valves and transmitters to detect low
tire inflation pressure before serious problems arise. (→P. 303)
Front

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Maintenance and care
Ti
Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are installed,
new tire pressure warning valve and transmitter ID codes must be regis-
tered in the tire pressure warning computer and tire pressure warning
system must be initialized. Have tire pressure warning valve and trans-
mitter ID codes registered by your Toyota dealer.
Registering ID codes
The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a
unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, it is necessary to regi ster the ID code of tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter. Have the ID code registered by your
Toyota dealer.
nWhen to replace your vehicle's tires
Tires should be replaced if:
lYou have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric or bulges indicating internal damage
lA tire goes flat repeatedly or c annot be properly repaired due to the
size or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with your Toyota dealer.
nTire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even
if they have seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
nIf the tread wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm) on snow tires
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.

254 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
nRoutine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of
your routine of daily vehicle checks.
nMaximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of the re placed tire is greater than 1/2 of
the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) of either the front axle or the
rear axle, whichever is greater.
As for the maximum load of the tire, see the load limit at maximum cold
tire inflation pressure mentioned on the sidewall of the tire, and as for the
Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) , see the Certification Label. (→P.
258, 350).
nTire types
1 Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Sinc e summer tires do not have the same
traction performance as snow tire s, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy roads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When
installing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
2 All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions, as well as for use
year round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also,
all season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performance
compared with summer tires in highway driving.
3Snow tires For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load capacity as the or iginally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for possible restriction. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels. ( →P. 151)

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Maintenance and care
nTire pressure warning system certification
For vehicles sold in U.S.A.
NOTE:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
NOTICE:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Pa rt 15 of the FCC Rules. These lim-
its are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful inter-
ference in a residential installation . This equipment generates, uses and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particul ar installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be deter-
mined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try
to correct the interferen ce by one or more of the following measures:
lReorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
lIncrease the separation between the equipment and receiver.
lConnect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
lConsult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
FCC WARNING:
Changes or modifications not expre ssly approved by the party responsi-
ble for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.