Engine and Chassis for Your Toyota Celica 2 Door Sixth Generation (1993-1999)

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Checking the engine oil level  
Part 7  
CAUTION  
DOITYOURSELF  
MAINTENANCE—  
Low level  
Full level  
Be careful not to touch the hot ex-  
haust manifold.  
Chapter 72  
Engine and Chassis  
If the oil level is below or only slightly  
above the low level, add engine oil of  
the same type as already in the engine.  
Remove the oil filler cap and add engine  
oil in small quantities at a time, checking  
the dipstick.  
D Checking the engine oil level  
Add oil  
O.K.  
Too full  
D Checking the engine coolant  
level  
The approximate quantity of oil needed to  
fill between the low level and the full level  
on the dipstick is indicated below for ref-  
erence.  
D Checking brake fluid  
With the engine at operating tempera-  
ture and turned off, check the oil level  
on the dipstick.  
D Checking power steering fluid  
D Checking tire pressure  
D Checking and replacing tires  
D Rotating tires  
When the level reaches within the correct  
range, install the filler cap handtight.  
1. To get  
a
true reading, the vehicle  
should be on a level spot. After turning  
off the engine, wait a few minutes for  
the oil to drain back into the bottom of  
the engine.  
Oil quantity, L (qt., lmp. qt.):  
1.0 (1.1, 0.9)  
D Installing snow tires and chains  
D Replacing wheels  
NOTICE  
2. Pull out the dipstick, and wipe it clean  
with a rag.  
z Avoid overfilling, or the engine  
could be damaged.  
D Aluminum wheel precautions  
3. Reinsert the dipstick—push it in as far  
as it will go, or the reading will not be  
correct.  
z Check the oil level on the dipstick  
once again after adding the oil.  
4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil  
level on the end.  
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ENGINE OIL SELECTION  
Oil identification marks  
Use API grade SH, ”EnergyConserving II”  
or SJ, ”EnergyConserving” multigrade en-  
gine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil.  
Either or both API registered marks are  
added to some oil containers to help  
you select the oil you should use.  
Recommended viscosity (SAE):  
The API Service Symbol is located any-  
where on the outside of the container.  
The top portion of the label shows the oil  
quality by API (American Petroleum  
Institute) designations such as SJ. The  
center portion of the label shows the SAE  
viscosity grade such as SAE 5W30.  
”EnergyConserving” shown in the lower  
portion, indicates that the oil has  
fuelsaving capabilities.  
API service symbol  
The ILSAC (International Lubricant Stan-  
dardization and Approval Committee) Certi-  
fication Mark is displayed on the front of  
the container.  
SAE 5W30 is the best choice for your  
vehicle, for good fuel economy, and  
good starting in cold weather.  
If you use SAE 10W30 engine oil in  
extremely low temperatures, the engine  
may become difficult to start, so SAE  
5W30 engine oil is recommended.  
ILSAC certification mark  
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Checking the engine coolant  
level  
Checking brake fluid  
Look at the seethrough coolant reser-  
voir when the engine is cold. The cool-  
ant level is satisfactory if it is between  
the ”FULL” and ”LOW” lines on the  
reservoir. If the level is low, add ethyl-  
eneglycol type coolant.  
Coolant type selection  
Your coolant must contain ethyleneglycol  
antifreeze. In addition to preventing freez-  
ing and subsequent damage to the engine,  
this will also prevent corrosion. Further  
supplemental inhibitors or additives are  
neither needed nor recommended.  
The coolant level in the reservoir will vary  
with engine temperature. However, if the  
level is on or below the ”LOW” line, add  
coolant. Bring the level up to the ”FULL”  
line.  
Read the antifreeze container for informa-  
tion on freeze protection. Follow the  
manufacturer’s directions for how much to  
mix with water. The total capacity of the  
cooling system is given in Part 8. We  
recommend 50% solution be used for your  
Toyota, or a sufficient quantity to provide  
protection to about –35°C (–31°F).  
Use only ethyleneglycol type coolant.  
See information in the next column.  
If the coolant level drops within a short  
time after replenishing, there may be a  
leak in the system. Visually check the  
radiator, hoses, radiator cap and drain  
cock and water pump.  
To check the fluid level, simply look at  
the seethrough reservoir. The level  
should be between the ”MAX” and  
”MIN” lines on the reservoir.  
NOTICE  
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or  
plain water alone.  
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go  
down slightly as the brake pads wear. So  
be sure to keep the reservoir filled.  
If you can find no leak, have your Toyota  
dealer test the cap pressure and check  
for leaks in the cooling system.  
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it  
may indicate a serious mechanical prob-  
lem.  
CAUTION  
To prevent burning yourself, do not  
remove the radiator cap when the en-  
gine is hot.  
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Checking power steering fluid  
If the level is low, add SAE J1703 or  
FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3 brake fluid to  
the brake reservoir.  
Clean all dirt from outside of the reservoir  
tank and look at the fluid level. If the fluid  
is cold, the level should be in the ”COLD”  
range. Similarly, if it is hot, the fluid level  
should be in the ”HOT” range. If the level  
is at the low side of either range, add  
Remove and replace the reservoir cover  
by hand. Fill the brake fluid to the dotted  
line. This brings the fluid to the correct  
level when you put the cover back on.  
Close  
Open  
R
automatic transmission fluid DEXRON II  
or III to bring the level within the range.  
If hot O.K.  
If cold O.K  
If cold add  
Use only newly opened brake fluid. Once  
opened, brake fluid absorbs moisture from  
the air, and excess moisture can cause a  
dangerous loss of braking.  
To remove the filler cap, turn it counter-  
clockwise and lift up. To reinstall it, turn  
it clockwise. After replacing the filler cap,  
visually check the steering box case, vane  
pump and hose connections for leaks or  
damage.  
If hot add  
CAUTION  
Check the fluid level through the reser-  
voir. If necessary, add automatic trans-  
Take care when filling the reservoir  
because brake fluid can harm your  
eyes and damage painted surfaces. If  
fluid gets in your eyes, flush your  
eyes with clean water.  
CAUTION  
R
mission fluid DEXRON II or III.  
The reservoir tank may be hot so be  
careful not to burn yourself.  
If the vehicle has been driven around 80  
km/h (50 mph) for 20 minutes (a little  
more in frigid temperatures), the fluid is  
hot (60°C—80°C or 140°F—175°F). You  
may also check the level when the fluid  
NOTICE  
NOTICE  
is  
cold  
(about  
room  
temperature,  
Avoid overfilling, or the power steer-  
ing could be damaged.  
If you spill the fluid, be sure to wash  
it off with water to prevent it from  
damaging the parts or paint.  
10°C—30°C or 50°F—85°F) if the engine  
has not been run for about five hours.  
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Checking tire pressure  
Low tire pressure results in excessive  
wear, poor handling, reduced fuel econo-  
my, and the possibility of blowouts from  
overheated tires. Also, low tire pressure  
can cause poor sealing of the tire bead.  
If the tire pressure is excessively low,  
there is the possibility of wheel deforma-  
tion and/or tire separation.  
D Take special care when adding air to  
the compact spare tire. The smaller  
tire size can gain pressure very quick-  
ly. Add compressed air in small quanti-  
ties and check the pressure often until  
it reaches the specified pressure.  
D Do not bleed or reduce tire pressure  
after driving. It is normal for the tire  
pressure to be higher after driving.  
High tire pressure produces a harsh ride,  
handling problems, excessive wear at the  
center of the tire tread, and a greater  
possibility of tire damage from road haz-  
ards.  
D Never exceed the vehicle capacity  
weight. The passenger and luggage  
weight should be located so that the  
vehicle is balanced.  
If a tire frequently needs refilling, have it  
checked by your Toyota dealer.  
D Be sure to reinstall the tire inflation  
valve caps. Without the valve caps,  
dirt or moisture could get into the valve  
core and cause air leakage. If the caps  
have been lost, have new ones put on  
as soon as possible.  
Keep your tire pressures at the proper  
level.  
The following instructions for checking  
tire pressure should be observed:  
The recommended cold tire pressures, tire  
size and the vehicle capacity weight are  
given in Part 8. They are also on the tire  
pressure label as shown.  
D The pressure should be checked only  
when the tires are cold. If your ve-  
hicle has been packed for at least 3  
hours and has not been driven for  
more than 1.5 km or 1 mile since, you  
will get an accurate cold tire pressure  
reading.  
You should check the tire pressures every  
two weeks, or at least once a month. And  
do not forget the spare!  
Incorrect tire pressure can reduce tire  
life and make your vehicle less safe to  
drive.  
D Always use  
a
tire pressure gauge.  
The appearance of a tire can be mis-  
leading. Besides, tire pressures that  
are even just a few pounds off can  
degrade handling and ride.  
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Checking and replacing tires  
Check the tires regularly for damage  
such as cuts, splits and cracks. If any  
damage is found, consult with a techni-  
cian and have the tire repaired or re-  
placed.  
CAUTION  
Tread wear indicator  
D Do not mix radial, bias belted, or  
biasply tires on your vehicle. It  
can cause dangerous handling char-  
acteristics, resulting in loss of con-  
trol.  
Even if the damage does not appear seri-  
ous, a qualified technician should examine  
the damage. Objects which have pene-  
trated the tire may have caused internal  
damage.  
D Do not use tires or wheels other  
than the manufacturer’s recom-  
mended size.  
Any tires which are over six years old  
must be checked by a qualified techni-  
cian even if damage is not obvious.  
Toyota recommends all four tires, or at  
least both of the front or rear tires be  
replaced at a time as a set.  
Tires deteriorate with age even if they  
have never or seldom been used.  
CHECKING YOUR TIRES  
Check the tire tread for the tread wear  
indicators. If the indicators show, re-  
place the tires.  
See ”If you have a flat tire” in Part 4 for  
tire change procedure.  
This also applies to the spare tire and  
tires stored for future use.  
When  
a
tire is replaced, the wheel  
REPLACING YOUR TIRES  
The tires on your Toyota have builtin  
tread wear indicators to help you know  
when the tires need replacement. When  
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06  
in.) or less, the indicators will appear. If  
you can see the indicators in two or more  
adjacent grooves, the tire should be re-  
placed. The lower the tread, the higher  
the risk of skidding.  
should always be balanced.  
When replacing  
a
tire, use only the  
An unbalanced wheel may affect vehicle  
handling and tire life. Wheels can get out  
of balance with regular use and should  
therefore be balanced occasionally.  
same size and construction as original-  
ly installed and with the same or great-  
er load capacity.  
Using any other size or type of tire may  
seriously affect handling, ride, speedome-  
ter/odometer calibration, ground clearance,  
and clearance between the body and tires  
or snow chains.  
When replacing a tubeless tire, the air  
valve should also be replaced with a  
new one.  
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost  
if the tread wears down below 4 mm  
(0.16 in.).  
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Installing snow tires and  
chains  
Rotating tires  
To equalize tire wear and help extend  
tire life, Toyota recommends that you  
rotate your tires approximately every  
12000 km (7500 miles). However, the  
most appropriate timing for tire rotation  
may vary according to your driving hab-  
its and road surface conditions.  
WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR  
CHAINS  
Snow tires or chains are recommended  
when driving on snow or ice.  
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires  
provide better traction than snow tires.  
SNOW TIRE SELECTION  
See ”If you have a flat tire” in Part 4 for  
tire change procedure.  
If you need snow tires, select the same  
size, construction and load capacity as  
the original tires on your Toyota.  
When rotating tires, check for uneven  
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usu-  
ally caused by incorrect tire pressure, im-  
proper wheel alignment, outofbalance  
wheels, or severe braking.  
Do not use tires other than those men-  
tioned above. Do not install studded tires  
without first checking local regulations for  
possible restrictions.  
Without a compact spare tire  
CAUTION  
SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION  
Snow tires should be installed on all  
wheels.  
Do not include a compact spare tire  
when rotating the tires. It is designed  
for temporary use only.  
Installing snow tires on the front wheels  
only can lead to an excessive difference  
in road grip capability between the front  
and rear tires which could cause loss of  
vehicle control.  
When storing removed tires, you should  
store them in a cool dry place.  
Mark the direction of rotation and be sure  
to install them in the same direction when  
replacing.  
With a compact spare tire  
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Replacing wheels  
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS  
CAUTION  
CAUTION  
If you have wheel damage such as  
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion, the  
wheel should be replaced.  
D Do not drive with the snow tires  
incorrectly inflated.  
D Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or  
the chain manufacturer’s recom-  
mended speed limit, whichever is  
lower.  
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the  
tire may slip off the wheel or they may  
cause loss of handling control.  
D Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph)  
with any type of snow tires.  
D Drive carefully avoiding bumps,  
holes, and sharp turns, which may  
cause the vehicle to bounce.  
WHEEL SELECTION  
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION  
When replacing wheels, care should be  
taken to ensure that the wheels are re-  
placed by ones with the same load ca-  
pacity, diameter, rim width, and offset.  
Use the tire chains of correct size and  
type.  
D Avoid sharp turns or lockedwheel  
braking, as use of chains may ad-  
versely affect vehicle handling.  
Use SAE Class ”S” type radial tire chains  
except radial cable chains or Vbar type  
chains.  
This must be observed on compact spare  
tires, too.  
NOTICE  
Regulations regarding the use of tire  
chains vary according to location or  
type of road, so always check them  
before installing chains.  
Correct replacement wheels are available  
at your Toyota dealer.  
Do not attempt to use a tire chain on  
the compact spare tire, as it may re-  
sult in damage to the vehicle as well  
as the tire.  
A wheel of a different size or type may  
adversely affect handling, wheel and bear-  
ing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odom-  
eter calibration, stopping ability, headlight  
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clear-  
ance, and tire or snow chain clearance to  
the body and chassis.  
CHAIN INSTALLATION  
Install the chains on the front tires as  
tightly as possible. Do not use tire  
chains on the rear tires. Retighten  
chains  
(1/4—1/2 mile).  
after  
driving  
0.5—1.0  
km  
When installing chains on your tires, care-  
fully follow the instructions of the chain  
manufacturer.  
If wheel covers are used, they will be  
scratched by the chain band, so remove  
the covers before putting on the chains.  
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Aluminum wheel precautions  
D After driving your vehicle the first 1600  
km (1000 miles), check that the wheel  
nuts are tight.  
Replacement with used wheels is not rec-  
ommended as they may have been sub-  
jected to rough treatment or high mileage  
and could fail without warning. Also, bent  
wheels which have been straightened may  
have structural damage and therefore  
should not be used. Never use an inner  
tube in a leaking wheel which is designed  
for a tubeless tire.  
D If you have rotated, repaired, or  
changed your tires, check that the  
wheel nuts are still tight after driving  
1600 km (1000 miles).  
D When using tire chains, be careful not  
to damage the aluminum wheels.  
D Use only the Toyota wheel nuts and  
wrench designed for your aluminum  
wheels.  
D When balancing your wheels, use only  
Toyota balance weights or equivalent  
and a plastic or rubber hammer.  
D As with any wheel, periodically check  
your aluminum wheels for damage. If  
damaged, replace immediately.  
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