Get STARTINGANDDRIVING Guide for Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fourth Generation (2003-2009)

07 12.25

SECTION

3

STARTING AND DRIVING

Before starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370

How to start the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370

Tips for driving in various conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371

Driving in the rain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373

Off−road driving precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374

Winter driving tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375

Dinghy towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376

Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377

How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386

369

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How to start the engine—

—Cranking hold function

Before starting the engine

(a) Before cranking

1. Check the area around the vehicle be-

fore entering it.

Once you turn the engine switch to

“START” position and release it, the crank-

ing hold function continues to crank the

engine in “ON” position until it starts.

1. Apply the parking brake firmly.

2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-

sories.

2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle,

seat cushion angle, head restraint

height and steering wheel angle.

3. Put the selector lever in “P”. If you

need to restart the engine while the

vehicle is moving, put the selector le-

ver in “N”. A starter safety device will

prevent the starter from operating if the

selector lever is in any drive position.

The function stops cranking the engine

after about 25 seconds maximum if the

engine has not started yet. When you

crank the engine again, wait a few sec-

onds and restart it.

3. Adjust the inside and outside rear view

mirrors.

4. Lock all doors.

5. Fasten seat belts.

If you hold the engine switch in “START”

position, the function will keep cranking

for about 30 seconds maximum.

4. Depress the brake pedal and hold it to

the floor until driving off.

370

07 12.25

Tips for driving in various

conditions

(b) Starting the engine

Before starting the engine, be sure to fol-

low the instructions in “(a) Before crank-

ing”.

D Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.

NOTICE

This will allow you much better control.

z Do not race a cold engine.

D Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-

sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving

onto high, sharp−edged objects and

other road hazards. Failure to do so

can lead to severe tire damage such

as a tire burst.

Normal starting procedure

z If the engine becomes difficult to

start or stalls frequently, have the

engine checked immediately.

The multiport fuel injection system/sequen-

tial multiport fuel injection system in your

engine automatically controls the proper

air−fuel mixture for starting. You can start

a cold or hot engine as follows:

Drive slowly when passing over bumps

or travelling on a bumpy road. Other-

wise, the impact could cause severe

damage to the tires and/or wheels.

With your foot off the accelerator pedal,

turn the engine switch to “START” posi-

tion, then release it.

D When parking on a hill, turn the front

wheels until they touch the curb so

that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the

parking brake, and place the transmis-

sion in “P”. If necessary, block the

wheels.

Engine should be warmed up by driving,

not in idle. For warming up, drive with

smoothly turning engine until engine cool-

ant temperature is within normal range.

If the engine stalls...

Simply restart it, using the correct proce-

dure given in normal starting.

D Washing your vehicle or driving through

deep water may get the brakes wet. To

see whether they are wet, check that

there is no traffic near you, and then

press the pedal lightly. If you do not

feel a normal braking force, the brakes

are probably wet. To dry them, drive

the vehicle cautiously while lightly

pressing the brake pedal with the park-

ing brake applied. If they still do not

work safely, pull to the side of the road

and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.

If the engine will not start...

See “If your vehicle will not start” on page

390 in Section 4.

371

07 12.25

D Vehicles with rear height control air

D Do not drive in excess of the speed

limit. Even if the legal speed limit

permits it, do not drive over 140

km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle

has high−speed capability tires.

Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may

result in tire failure, loss of control

and possible injury. Be sure to con-

D Vehicles with rear height control air

suspension: If you drive through

deep water over about 700 mm (28

in.) in depth, put the vehicle height

in the “H” (high) mode with the

height select switch and then turn

off the rear height control air sus-

pension by pushing the “HEIGHT

CONTROL OFF” switch. Drive your

vehicle at 30 km/h (19 mph) or low-

er speed.

suspension: When you drive on

a

bumpy road, it is recommended that

the vehicle height should be set in the

“N” (normal) or “H” (high) mode.

CAUTION

D Before driving off, make sure that

the parking brake is fully released

and the parking brake reminder

light is off.

sult

a

tire dealer to determine

whether the tires on your vehicle

are high−speed capability tires or

not before driving at such speeds.

D Do not leave your vehicle unat-

tended while the engine is running.

D Do not continue normal driving

when the brakes are wet. If they are

D Do not rest your foot on the brake

pedal while driving. It can cause

dangerous overheating, needless

wear, and poor fuel economy.

wet, your vehicle will require

a

longer stopping distance, and it

may pull to one side when the

brakes are applied. Also, the park-

ing brake will not hold the vehicle

securely.

D To drive down a long or steep hill,

reduce your speed and downshift.

Remember, if you ride the brakes

excessively, they may overheat and

not work properly.

D Be careful when accelerating, up-

shifting, downshifting or braking on

a slippery surface. Sudden accelera-

tion or engine braking, could cause

the vehicle to skid or spin.

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Driving in the rain

Driving on a slippery road surface

When encountering flooded roads

CAUTION

Drive carefully when it is raining, because

visibility will be reduced, the windows may

become fogged−up, and the road will be

slippery.

Do not drive on a road that has flooded

after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause

serious damage to the vehicle.

D Sudden braking, acceleration and

steering when driving on a slippery

road surface may cause tire slip-

page and reduce your ability to

control the vehicle, resulting in an

accident.

NOTICE

D Drive carefully when it starts to rain,

because the road surface will be espe-

cially slippery.

Driving on a flooded road may cause

the engine to stall as well as cause

serious vehicle malfunctions such as

shorts in electrical components and

engine damage from water immersion.

D Refrain from high speeds when driving

on an expressway in the rain, because

there may be a layer of water between

the tires and the road surface, prevent-

ing the steering and brakes from oper-

ating properly.

D Sudden changes in engine speed,

such as sudden engine braking,

may cause the vehicle to skid, re-

sulting in an accident.

In the event that you drive on

a

flooded road and the vehicle is

flooded, be sure to have your Toyota

dealer check brake function, changes

in quantity and quality of oil and fluid

used for the engine, transmission,

transfer (4WD vehicles), differentials,

etc. and lubricant condition for the

propeller shaft, bearings and suspen-

sion joints (where possible) and the

function of all joints and bearings.

D After driving through

a

puddle,

lightly depress the brake pedal to

make sure that the brakes are func-

tioning properly. Wet brake pads

may prevent the brakes from func-

tioning properly. If the brakes on

only one side are wet and not func-

tioning properly, steering control

may be affected, resulting in an ac-

cident.

373

07 12.25

Off−road driving precautions

When driving your vehicle off−road, please

observe the following precautions to en-

sure your driving enjoyment and to help

prevent the closure of areas to off−road

vehicles.

D Recreational Vehicle Clubs

D After driving through tall grass,

mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check

that there is no grass, bush, paper,

rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or

trapped on the underbody. Clear off

any such matter from the under-

body. If the vehicle is used with

these materials trapped or adhering

to the underbody, a breakdown or

fire could occur.

D U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of

Land Management

CAUTION

a. Drive your vehicle only in areas where

off−road vehicles are permitted to trav-

el.

Always observe the following precau-

tions to minimize the risk of serious

injury or damage to your vehicle:

b. Respect private property. Get owner’s

permission before entering private prop-

erty.

D Drive carefully when off the road.

Do not take unnecessary risks by

driving in dangerous places.

D In a rollover crash, an unbelted per-

son is significantly more likely to

die than a person wearing a seat

belt. Therefore, the driver and all

passengers should fasten their seat

belts whenever the vehicle is mov-

ing.

c. Do not enter areas that are closed.

Honor gates, barriers and signs that re-

strict travel.

D Do not grip the steering wheel

spokes when driving off−road.

bad bump could jerk the wheel and

injure your hands. Keep both hands

and especially your thumbs on the

outside of the rim.

A

d. Stay on established roads. When condi-

tions are wet, driving techniques should

be changed or travel delayed to pre-

vent damage to roads.

D When driving off−road or in rugged

terrain, do not drive at excessive

speeds, jump, make sharp turns,

strike objects, etc. This may cause

loss of control or vehicle rollover

causing death or serious injury. You

are also risking expensive damage

to your vehicle’s suspension and

chassis.

D Always check your brakes for effec-

tiveness immediately after driving in

sand, mud, water or snow.

For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and

Puerto Rico:

To obtain additional information pertaining

to driving your vehicle off−road, consult

the following organizations.

D State and Local Parks and Recreation

Departments

D State Motor Vehicle Bureau

374

07 12.25

Winter driving tips

Make sure your coolant is properly pro-

tected against freezing.

NOTICE

z Sand and mud that has accumulated

in brake drums and around brake

discs may affect braking efficiency

and may damage brake system com-

ponents.

z If driving through water, such as

when crossing shallow streams,

first check the depth of the water

and the bottom of the river bed for

firmness. Drive slowly and avoid

deep water.

Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”

or similar high quality ethylene glycol

based non−silicate, non−amine, non−nitrite,

and non−borate coolant with long−life hy-

brid organic acid technology. (Coolant with

long−life hybrid organic acid technology is

a combination of low phosphates and or-

ganic acids.)

z Always perform

inspection after

a

maintenance

each day of

off−road driving that has taken you

through rough terrain, sand, mud,

z Take all necessary safety measures

to ensure that water damage to the

engine or other components does

not occur.

or

water.

For

scheduled

See “Checking the engine coolant level”

on page 438 in Section 7−2 for details of

coolant type selection.

maintenance information, refer to

the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide”

or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

z Water entering the engine air intake

will cause severe engine damage.

For the U.S.A.—“Toyota Super Long Life

Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and

50% deionized water. This coolant pro-

vides protection down to about −35_C

(−31_F).

z Water entering the automatic trans-

mission will cause deterioration in

shift quality, locking up of your

transmission accompanied by vibra-

tion, and ultimately damage.

For the Canada—“Toyota Super Long Life

Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and

45% deionized water. This coolant pro-

vides protection down to about −42_C

(−44_F).

z Water can wash the grease from

wheel bearings, causing rusting and

premature failure, and may also en-

ter the differentials, transmission

and transfer case, reducing the gear

oil’s lubricating qualities.

NOTICE

Do not use plain water alone.

375

07 12.25

Dinghy towing

Check the condition of the battery and

cables.

NOTICE

Do not use engine antifreeze or any

other substitute because it may dam-

age your vehicle’s paint.

Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of

any battery, so it must be in top shape to

provide enough power for winter starting.

Section 7−3 tells you how to visually in-

spect the battery. Your Toyota dealer and

most service stations will be pleased to

check the level of charge.

CY30020

Do not use your parking brake when

there is a possibility it could freeze.

When parking, put the transmission into

“P” and block the front wheels. Do not

use the parking brake, or snow or water

accumulated in and around the parking

brake mechanism may freeze, making it

hard to release.

Make sure the engine oil viscosity is

suitable for the cold weather.

See page 437 in Section 7−2 for recom-

mended viscosity. Leaving a heavy sum-

mer oil in your vehicle during winter

months may cause harder starting. If you

are not sure about which oil to use, call

your Toyota dealer—they will be pleased

to help.

Your vehicle is not designed to be

dinghy towed (with four wheels on the

ground) behind a motorhome.

Keep ice and snow from accumulating

under the fenders.

Ice and snow built up under your fenders

can make steering difficult. During bad

winter driving, stop and check under the

fenders occasionally.

NOTICE

Keep the door locks from freezing.

Do not tow your vehicle with four

wheels on the ground. This may

cause serious damage to your vehicle.

Squirt lock de−icer or glycerine into the

locks to keep them from freezing.

Depending on where you are driving,

we recommend you carry some emer-

gency equipment.

Use a washer fluid containing an anti-

freeze solution.

Some of the things you might put in the

vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,

bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,

jumper cables, etc.

This product is available at your Toyota

dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow

the manufacturer’s directions for how

much to mix with water.

376

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Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed primarily as a

passenger−and−load−carrying vehicle. Tow-

ing a trailer will have an adverse effect on

handling, performance, braking, durability

and driving economy (fuel consumption,

etc.). Your safety and satisfaction depend

on the proper use of correct equipment

and cautious driving habits. For your safe-

ty and the safety of others, you must not

overload your vehicle or trailer. Ask your

local Toyota dealer for further details be-

fore towing.

WEIGHT LIMITS

Before towing, make sure the total trail-

er weight, gross combination weight,

gross vehicle weight, gross axle weight

and trailer tongue load are all within

the limits.

CY30023

The total trailer weight and tongue load

can be measured with platform scales

found at a highway weighing station, build-

ing supply company, trucking company,

junk yard, etc.

CAUTION

For weight carrying hitch

Vehicles with rear height control air

suspension: When disconnecting

a

trailer, put the vehicle height in the

“LO” (low) mode and push the

“HEIGHT CONTROL OFF” switch to

turn off the rear height control air

suspension. Otherwise, the vehicle

height may be changed in the auto-

matic leveling function, resulting in

accident. For details see “Rear height

control air suspension” on page 191

in Section 1−7.

CY30024

Also for weight distributing hitch

377

07 12.25

If towing a trailer and cargo weigh-

ing over 2268 kg (5000 lb.), Toyota

recommends to use a weight dis-

tributing hitch.

CAUTION

D The maximum gross trailer weight

(trailer weight plus cargo weight)

must never exceed the following for

vehicle with equipped. For details,

contact your Toyota dealer.

If towing a trailer and cargo weigh-

ing over 907 kg (2000 lb.), it is

CY30015

necessary to use

a

sway control

D According to the hitch receiver

type, the maximum gross trailer

weight and hitch that can be used

differs. Refer to the above illustra-

tions to confirm the hitch receiver

type for your vehicle.

device with sufficient capacity. The

combination of the gross trailer

weight added to the total weight of

the vehicle, occupants and vehicle

cargo must never exceed a total of

the following.

For weight carrying hitch

2268 kg (5000 lb.)

For weight carrying hitch

4.0 L V6 (1GR−FE) engine

4354 kg (9600 lb.)

4.7 L V8 (2UZ−FE) engine

4422 kg (9750 lb.)

D Trailer hitch assemblies have differ-

ent weight capacities established by

the hitch manufacturer. Even though

the vehicle may be physically capa-

ble of towing a higher weight, the

operator must determine the maxi-

mum weight rating of the particular

hitch assembly and never exceed

the maximum weight rating speci-

fied for the trailer−hitch. Exceeding

the maximum weight rating set by

the trailer hitch manufacturer can

cause an accident resulting in seri-

ous personal injuries.

Also for weight distributing hitch

(4.7 L V8 [2UZ−FE] engine only)

Two−wheel drive models

3311 kg (7300 lb.)

Four−wheel drive models

Also for weight distributing hitch

(4.7 L V8 [2UZ−FE] engine only)

5443 kg (12000 lb.)

3175 kg (7000 lb.)

Exceeding the maximum weight of

the trailer, the vehicle, or the ve-

hicle and trailer combination, can

cause an accident resulting in seri-

ous personal injuries.

378

07 12.25

D The gross vehicle weight must not

exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating (GVWR) indicated on the

Certification Label. The gross vehi-

cle weight is the sum of weights of

the unloaded vehicle, driver, pas-

sengers, luggage, hitch and trailer

tongue load. It also includes the

weight of any special equipment

installed on your vehicle.

Also for weight distributing hitch

(4.7 L V8 [2UZ−FE] engine only)

Total trailer weight

Tongue load

Two−wheel drive models

331 kg (730 lb.)

Four−wheel drive models

317 kg (700 lb.)

CY30001

Never load the trailer with more

weight in the back than in the

front. About 60% of the trailer load

should be in the front half of the

trailer and the remaining 40% in the

rear.

Tongue load

100 = 10%

D The load on either the front or rear

axle resulting from distribution of

the gross vehicle weight on both

axles must not exceed the front and

rear Gross Axle Weight Ratings

(GAWR) listed on the Certification

Label.

Total trailer weight

D The trailer cargo load should be

distributed so that the tongue load

is 10% of the total trailer weight,

not exceeding the maximum load of

the following.

For weight carrying hitch

227 kg (500 lb.)

379

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HITCHES

CAUTION

D If you wish to install a trailer hitch, you

should consult with your Toyota dealer.

Do not tow the vehicle using the

hooked portion of the weight carrying

hitch. The hooked portion may break

and cause serious injury or damage

to the vehicle.

D Use only a hitch recommended by the

hitch manufacturer and the one which

conforms to the total trailer weight re-

quirement.

CY30003

D According to the hitch receiver type,

the maximum gross trailer weight and

hitch that can be used differs. Refer to

the above illustrations to confirm the

hitch receiver type for your vehicle.

NOTICE

z Do not install weight distributing

hitch to weight carrying hitch re-

ceiver because it will be damaged

your vehicle.

D If you wish to install an aftermarket

hitch, the hitch must be bolted securely

to the vehicle frame and installed ac-

cording to the hitch manufactures’ in-

structions.

1 Trailer ball load rating

2 Ball diameter

3 Shank length

z Do not use axle−mounted hitches as

they can cause damage to the axle

housing, wheel bearings, wheels or

4 Shank diameter

tires. Also, never install

a

hitch

D The hitch ball and king pin should have

which may interfere with the normal

function of an Energy Absorbing

Bumper, if so equipped.

a light coat of grease.

D Toyota recommends the ball mount as-

sembly be removed when not towing to

prevent injury and to prevent damage

in the event of a rear end collision.

After removing the ball mount assem-

bly, install the grommet to the hitch to

prevent entry of dirt and mud.

380

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TRAILER BALL

MATCHING TRAILER BALL HEIGHT TO

TRAILER COUPLER HEIGHT

Follow these easy steps to properly deter-

mine the correct trailer ball for your ap-

plication:

No matter which class of tow hitch ap-

plies, for a safe trailer hookup, the trailer

ball setup on must be the proper height

for the coupler on the trailer.

1. Determine the correct trailer ball size

for the trailer coupler. Most couplers

are stamped with the required trailer

ball size. The sizes you will most likely

find stamped on the coupler are:

CY30004

CY30005

BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS

D Toyota recommends trailers with

brakes that conform to any applica-

ble federal and state/provincial regu-

lations.

Trailer class Typical trailer ball size

IV

2 5/16 in.

2 in.

D A safety chain must always be used

between the towing vehicle and the

trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the

chain for turns. The chain should

cross under the trailer tongue to

prevent the tongue from dropping to

the ground in case it becomes dam-

aged or separated. For correct safety

chain procedures, follow the hitch or

trailer manufacturer’s recommenda-

tions.

II and III

I

1 7/8 in.

2. Select the appropriate trailer ball to

match or exceed the gross trailer

weight rating of the trailer. The trailer

ball load rating should be printed on

the top of the ball.

3. When mounted in the ball mount, the

threaded ball shank must protrude be-

yond the bottom of the lock washer

and nut at least 2 threads. The trailer

ball shank must be matched to the ball

mount hole diameter size.

NOTICE

Only use

a

ball mount attachment

1 Coupler

2 Trailer ball

specified for the Toyota 4runner.

3 Ball mount attachment

381

07 12.25

TIRES

CAUTION

D Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are

properly inflated. See page 441 in Sec-

tion 7−2 and page 467 in Section 8 for

instructions.

D If the total trailer weight exceeds

453 kg (1000 lb.), trailer brakes are

required.

D The trailer tires should be inflated to

the pressure recommended by the trail-

er manufacturer in respect to the total

trailer weight.

D Never tap into your vehicle’s hy-

draulic system as it would lower its

braking effectiveness.

CY30008

D Never tow a trailer without using a

safety chain securely attached to

both the trailer and the vehicle. If

damage occurs to the coupling unit

or hitch ball, there is danger of the

trailer wandering over into another

lane.

SERVICE CONNECTOR FOR TOWING

BRAKE CONTROLLER

Your vehicle is equipped with a service

connector for the towing brake controller

as shown. Link the connector to the tow-

ing brake controller via the sub wire har-

ness stored in the glove box. The detailed

explanation of the sub wire harness circuit

is packed together with the sub wire har-

ness.

Be sure to position the towing brake con-

troller where it does not prevent the driver

from operating the pedal.

Toyota recommends that the sub wire har-

ness be stored in the glove box when it

is not in use.

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07 12.25

D Your vehicle is equipped with a wire

harness stored in the rear end under

body. Some models are fitted with a

socket for trailer lights under the rear

bumper. Use either of them to connect

and operate the trailer lights. However,

the trailer lights must comply with fed-

eral, state/provincial and local regula-

tions. See your local recreational ve-

hicle dealer or rental agency for the

correct type of wiring and relays for

your trailer. Check for correct operation

of the turn signals and stop lights each

time you hitch up. Direct splicing may

damage your vehicle’s electrical system

and cause a malfunction of your lights.

MAINTENANCE

D If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will

require more frequent maintenance due

to the additional load. For this

information,

please

refer

to

the

scheduled maintenance information in

the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or

“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

CY30025

D Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing

ball and bracket after approximately

1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.

CONNECTING A TRAILER (models with

rear height control air suspension)

TOWING CONNECTOR FOR TRAILER

LIGHTS

Stop your vehicle and a trailer in line and

perform the following:

The towing connector can be also con-

nected to the trailer brake and trailer

sub battery.

1. Put the rear height control air suspen-

sion in the “LO” (low) mode. Turn the

engine switch off or push the “HEIGHT

CONTROL OFF” switch to turn off the

rear height control air suspension.

BREAK−IN SCHEDULE

D Toyota recommends that you do not

tow a trailer with a new vehicle or a

vehicle with any new power train com-

ponent (engine, transmission, differen-

tial, wheel bearing, etc.) for the first

800 km (500 miles) of driving.

2. Connect a trailer.

3. Turn the engine switch on or push the

“HEIGHT CONTROL OFF” switch to

turn on the rear height control air sus-

pension. Select the “N” (normal) mode

with the height select switch.

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07 12.25

DISCONNECTING

with rear height control air suspension)

A

TRAILER (models

7. Move the vehicle forward in the “LO”

(low) mode where the hitch does not

touch anything in the “N” (normal)

mode.

TRAILER TOWING TIPS

When towing a trailer, your vehicle will

handle differently than when not tow-

ing. The three main causes of vehicle−

trailer accidents are driver error, exces-

sive speed and improper trailer loading.

Keep these in mind when towing:

Stop your vehicle and a trailer in line and

perform the following:

8. Put the rear height control air suspen-

sion in the “N” (normal) mode.

1. Put the rear height control air suspen-

sion in the “LO” (low) mode. (Make

sure the vehicle height is in the “LO”

(low) mode by pushing the height se-

lect switch on the “Ɲ” side.)

PRE−TOWING SAFETY CHECK

D Before starting out, check operation of

the lights and all vehicle−trailer connec-

D Check that your vehicle remains level

when a loaded or unloaded trailer is

hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has

an abnormal nose−up or nose−down

condition, and check for improper

tongue load, overload, worn suspension

or other possible causes.

tions. After driving

a

short distance,

2. Turn the engine switch off or push the

“HEIGHT CONTROL OFF” switch to

turn off the rear height control air sus-

pension.

stop and recheck the lights and con-

nections. Before actually towing a trail-

er, practice turning, stopping and back-

ing with a trailer in an area away from

traffic until you learn the feel.

3. Set the supporting leg of a trailer on

the ground and raise the hitch by 100

mm (4 in.).

D Make sure the trailer cargo is securely

D Backing with a trailer 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 pro-

cedure is generally opposite to that

when backing without a trailer.) Also,

just turn the steering wheel a little at

loaded so that it cannot shift.

4. Turn the engine switch on or push the

“HEIGHT CONTROL OFF” switch to

turn on the rear height control air sus-

pension.

D Check that your rear view mirrors con-

form to any applicable federal, state/

provincial or local regulations. If not,

install the rear view mirrors required

for towing purpose.

5. Wait for about 20 seconds until the

rear vehicle height is lowered by the

automatic leveling function.

a

time, avoiding sharp or prolonged

6. Make sure the hitch is disconnected. If

not, raise the hitch higher and repeat

steps 2 through 5.

turning. Have someone guide you when

backing to reduce the risk of an acci-

dent.

384

07 12.25

D Because stopping distance may be in-

creased, vehicle−to−vehicle distance

D Crosswinds and rough roads will ad-

versely affect handling of your vehicle

and trailer, causing sway. Pay attention

to the rear from time to time to pre-

pare yourself for being passed by large

trucks or buses, which may cause your

vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying

happens, firmly grip the steering wheel

and reduce speed immediately but

gradually. Never increase speed. Steer

straight ahead. If you make no extreme

correction with the steering or brakes,

the vehicle and trailer will stabilize.

D Because of the added load of the trail-

er, your vehicle’s engine may overheat

on hot days (at temperatures over

30_C [85_F]) when going up a long or

steep grade with a trailer. If the engine

coolant temperature gauge indicates

overheating, immediately turn off the air

conditioning (if in use), pull off the road

and stop in a safe spot. Refer to “If

your vehicle overheats” on page 394 in

Section 4.

should be increased when towing

a

trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of

speed, allow at least one vehicle and

trailer length between you and the ve-

hicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as

you may skid, resulting in jackknifing

and loss of control. This is especially

true on wet or slippery surfaces.

D Avoid jerky starts or sudden accelera-

tion.

D Always place wheel blocks under both

the vehicle and trailer wheels when

parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.

Put the transmission in “P”. Avoid park-

ing on a slope with a trailer, but if it

cannot be avoided, do so only after

performing the following:

D Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns.

The trailer could hit your vehicle in a

tight turn. Slow down before making a

turn to avoid the necessity of sudden

braking.

D Be careful when passing other ve-

hicles. Passing requires considerable

distance. After passing a vehicle, do

not forget the length of your trailer and

be sure you have plenty of room befo-

re changing lanes.

D Remember that when making a turn,

the trailer wheels will be closer than

the vehicle wheels to the inside of the

turn. Therefore, compensate for this by

1. Apply the brakes and hold.

D In order to maintain engine braking effi-

ciency, do not put the transmission in

“D”.

2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-

der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.

making

a

larger than normal turning

3. When the wheel blocks are in place,

release your brakes slowly until the

blocks absorb the load.

radius with your vehicle.

4. Apply the parking brake firmly.

5. Shift into “P” and turn off the engine.

385

07 12.25

How to save fuel and make

your vehicle last longer

When restarting out after parking on a

slope:

Improving fuel economy is easy—just take

it easy. It will help make your vehicle last

longer, too. Here are some specific tips

on how to save money on both fuel and

repairs:

D Slow down and downshift before

descending steep or long downhill

grades. Do not make sudden down-

shifts.

1. With the transmission in “P” position,

start the engine. Be sure to keep the

brake pedal depressed.

D Avoid holding the brake pedal down

too long or too frequently. This

could cause the brakes to overheat

and result in reduced braking effi-

ciency.

D Keep your tires inflated at the cor-

rect pressure. Underinflation causes

tire wear and wastes fuel. See page

441 in Section 7−2 for instructions.

2. Shift into gear.

3. Release the parking brake and brake

pedal and slowly pull or back away

from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply

your brakes.

D Do not carry unneeded weight in

your vehicle. Excess weight puts

a

4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.

heavier load on the engine, causing

greater fuel consumption.

CAUTION

D Avoid lengthy warm−up idling. Once

the engine is running smoothly, begin

driving—but gently. Remember, howev-

er, that on cold winter days this may

take a little longer.

D Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or

the posted towing speed limit,

whichever is lower. Because insta-

bility (swaying) of a towing vehicle−

D Put the selector lever into the “D”

when engine braking is not required.

Driving with the selector lever in “4”

will reduce the fuel economy. (For de-

tails, see “Automatic transmission” on

page 163 in Section 1−7.)

trailer

combination

usually

in-

creases as the speed increases, ex-

ceeding 72 km/h (45 mph) may

cause loss of control.

D Accelerate slowly and smoothly.

Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high

gear as quickly as possible.

386

07 12.25

D Avoid long engine idling. If you have

a long wait and you are not in traffic,

it is better to turn off the engine and

start again later.

D Keep the front wheels in proper

alignment. Avoid hitting the curb and

slow down on rough roads. Improper

alignment not only causes faster tire

wear but also puts an extra load on

the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.

CAUTION

Never turn off the engine to coast

down hills. Your power steering and

brake booster will not function with-

out the engine running. Also, the

emission control system operates

properly only when the engine is run-

ning.

D Avoid engine lugging or over−rev-

ving. Use a gear position suitable for

the road on which you are travelling.

D Keep the bottom of your vehicle free

from mud, etc. This not only lessens

weight but also helps prevent corro-

sion.

D Avoid continuous speeding up and

slowing down. Stop−and−go driving

wastes fuel.

D Keep your vehicle tuned−up and in

D Avoid unnecessary stopping and

braking. Maintain a steady pace. Try

to time the traffic signals so you only

need to stop as little as possible or

take advantage of through streets to

avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper dis-

tance from other vehicles to avoid sud-

den braking. This will also reduce wear

on your brakes.

top shape.

A

dirty air cleaner,

improper valve clearance, dirty plugs,

dirty oil and grease, brakes not

adjusted,

etc.

all

lower

engine

performance and contribute to poor fuel

economy. For longer life of all parts

and lower operating costs, keep all

maintenance work on schedule, and if

you

often

drive

under

severe

D Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams

conditions, see that your vehicle

receives more frequent maintenance.

whenever possible.

(For

information,

“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or

“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)

scheduled

please

maintenance

refer to the

D Do not rest your foot on the brake

pedal. This causes premature wear,

overheating and poor fuel economy.

D Maintain a moderate speed on high-

ways. The faster you drive, the greater

the fuel consumption. By reducing your

speed, you will cut down on fuel con-

sumption.

387

07 12.25

388

STARTINGANDDRIVING for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fourth Generation (2003-2009)

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