Get Vehiclemaintenanceandcare -> General maintenance Guide for Toyota 4 Runner SUV Third Generation (1996-2002)

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)

Maintenance requirements

Your Toyota vehicle has been designed for

fewer maintenance requirements with long-

er service intervals to save both your time

and money. However, each regular mainte-

nance, as well as day−to−day care, is

more important than ever before to ensure

smooth, and trouble−free, safe, and eco-

nomical drivings.

Scheduled maintenance

Where to go for service?

The scheduled maintenance items listed in

the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or

“Owner’s Manual Supplement” are those

required to be serviced at regular inter-

vals.

Toyota technicians are well−trained spe-

cialists and are kept up to date with the

latest service information through technical

bulletins, service tips, and in−dealership

training programs. They learn to work on

Toyotas before they work on your vehicle,

rather than while they are working on it.

For details of your maintenance schedule,

read the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide”

or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

It is the owner’s responsibility to make

sure the specified maintenance, including

general maintenance service, is performed.

Note that both the new vehicle and emis-

sion control system warranties specify that

proper maintenance and care must be per-

formed. See “Owner’s Warranty Informa-

tion Booklet” or “Owner’s Manual Supple-

ment” for complete warranty information.

You can be confident that your Toyota

dealer’s service department performs the

best job to meet the maintenance require-

ments on your vehicle—reliably and eco-

nomically.

It is recommended that any replacement

parts used for maintenance or for the

repair of the emission control system

be Toyota supplied.

Your copy of the repair order is proof that

all required maintenance has been per-

formed for warranty coverage. And if any

problems should arise with your vehicle

while under warranty, your Toyota dealer

will promptly take care of it. Again, be

sure to keep a copy of the repair order

for any service performed on your Toyota.

The owner may elect to use non−Toyota

supplied parts for replacement pur-

poses without invalidating the emission

control system warranty. However, use

of replacement parts which are not of

equivalent quality may impair the effec-

tiveness of the emission control sys-

tems.

General maintenance

General maintenance items are those day−

to−day care practices that are important to

your vehicle for proper operation. It is the

owner’s responsibility to ensure that the

general maintenance items are performed

regularly.

What about do−it−yourself maintenance?

You may also elect to have mainte-

nance, replacement, or repair of the

emission control devices and system

performed by any automotive repair es-

tablishment or individual without invali-

dating this warranty. See “Owner’s War-

ranty Information Booklet” or “Owner’s

Manual Supplement” for complete war-

ranty information.

Many of the maintenance items are easy

to do yourself if you have a little mechani-

These checks or inspections can be done

either by yourself or a qualified technician,

or if you prefer, your Toyota dealer will be

pleased to do them at a nominal cost.

cal ability and

few basic automotive

tools. Simple instructions for how to per-

form them are presented in Section 7.

2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)

246

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)

General maintenance

If you are a skilled do−it−yourself mechan-

ic, the Toyota service manuals are recom-

mended. Please be aware that do−it−your-

self maintenance can affect your warranty

coverage. See “Owner’s Warranty Informa-

tion Booklet” or “Owner’s Manual Supple-

ment” for the details.

Listed below are the general maintenance

items that should be performed as fre-

quently as specified. In addition to check-

ing the items listed, if you notice any

unusual noise, smell or vibration, you

should investigate the cause or take your

vehicle to your Toyota dealer or a quali-

fied service shop immediately. It is recom-

mended that any problem you notice be

brought to the attention of your dealer or

the qualified service shop for their advice.

Tire surface and wheel nuts

Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage

or excessive wear. See Section 7−2 for

additional information. When checking the

tires, make sure no nuts are missing, and

check the nuts for looseness. Tighten

them if necessary.

Tire rotation

Rotate the tires according to the mainte-

nance schedule. (For scheduled mainte-

nance information, please refer to the sep-

arate “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or

“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.). See Sec-

tion 7−2 for additional information.

CAUTION

Make these checks only where ade-

quate ventilation can be obtained if

you run the engine.

Fluid leaks

Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, wa-

ter or other fluid after the vehicle has

been parked for a while. If you smell fuel

fumes or notice any leak, have the cause

found and corrected immediately.

OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE

Items listed below should be performed

from time to time, unless otherwise

specified.

Doors and engine hood

Tire pressure

Check that all doors including back door

operate smoothly and all latches lock se-

curely. Make sure the engine hood sec-

ondary latch secures the hood from open-

ing when the primary latch is released.

Check the pressure with a gauge every

two weeks, or at least once a month. See

Section 7−2 for additional information.

2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)

247

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)

INSIDE THE VEHICLE

Seat belts

Automatic transmission “Park” mecha-

nism

Items listed below should be checked

regularly, e.g. while performing periodic

services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.

Check that the seat belt system such as

buckles, retractors and anchors operate

properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt

webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-

aged.

Check the lock release button of the se-

lector lever for proper and smooth opera-

tion. On a safe incline, check that your

vehicle is held securely with the selector

lever in “P” position and all brakes re-

leased.

Lights

Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail

lights, turn signal lights, and other lights

are all working. Check headlight aim.

Accelerator pedal

Check the pedal for smooth operation and

uneven pedal effort or catching.

IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

Service reminder indicators and warning

buzzers

Items listed below should be checked

from time to time, e.g. each time when

refueling.

Brake pedal

Check that all service reminder indicators

and warning buzzers function properly.

Check the pedal for smooth operation and

that the pedal has the proper clearance.

Check the brake booster function.

Washer fluid

Steering wheel

Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the

tank. See Section 7−3 for additional in-

formation.

Brakes

Check that it has the specified free play.

Be alert for changes in steering condition,

such as hard steering or strange noise.

At a safe place, check that the brakes do

not pull to one side when applied.

Engine coolant level

Seats

Parking brake

Make sure the coolant level is between

the “F” and “L” lines on the see−through

reservoir when the engine is cold. See

Section 7−2 for additional information.

Check that all seat controls such as seat

adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. operate

smoothly and that all latches lock securely

in any position. Check that the head re-

straint move up and down smoothly and

that the locks hold securely in any latched

position. For folding−down rear seatbacks

and swing−up rear seat cushions, check

that the latches lock securely.

Check that the lever has the proper travel

and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle

is held securely with only the parking

brake applied.

Battery electrolyte level

Your Toyota has a maintenance free bat-

tery. You do not have to add distilled wa-

ter. See Section 7−3 for additional in-

formation.

2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)

248

Vehiclemaintenanceandcare -> General maintenance for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Third Generation (1996-2002)

Related Topics

Vehiclemaintenanceandcare

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals