Get Starting and Driving -> Trailer towing Guide for Toyota Celica 2 Door Seventh Generation (2000-2006)

’04MY CELICA U (L/O 0308)

Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed primarily as a

passenger−carrying vehicle. Towing

NOTICE

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

safety and the safety of others, you must

not overload your vehicle or trailer. Toyota

warranties do not apply to damage or

malfunction caused by towing a trailer for

commercial purposes. Ask your local

Toyota dealer for further details before

towing.

Dinghy towing does not eliminate the

possibility of damage to your vehicle.

DINGHY TOWING TIPS

Before dinghy towing, be sure to ob-

serve the following in order to reduce

the damage to your vehicle.

1. Put the shift lever in neutral.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the “ACC”

position. Make sure the audio is turned

off and any item is not plugged into

the power outlet.

NOTICE

WEIGHT LIMITS

Do not tow your vehicle from the

rear. This may cause serious damage

to your vehicle.

NOTICE

Before towing, make sure the total trailer

weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle

weight and trailer tongue load are all with-

in the limits.

To avoid the locking of the steering

wheel, turn the ignition switch to the

“ACC” position.

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.

3. Release the parking brake.

After dinghy towing, let the engine idle for

more than 3 minutes before driving the

vehicle.

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CAUTION

Total trailer weight

Tongue load

D The total trailer weight (trailer

weight plus its cargo load) must

not exceed 907 kg (2000 lb.). Ex-

ceeding this weight is dangerous.

Tongue load

100 = 9 to 11%

Total trailer weight

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.

D The gross vehicle weight must not

exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating (GVWR) indicated on the

Certification Label. The gross ve-

hicle 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.

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 Gross

Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed

on the Certification Label.

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NOTICE

D The trailer cargo load should be

distributed so that the tongue load

CAUTION

Do not use axle−mounted hitches as

they can cause damage to the axle

housing, wheel bearings, wheels or

tires. Also, never install a hitch which

may interfere with the normal function

of an Energy Absorbing Bumper.

to 11% of the total trailer

D If the total trailer weight exceeds

453 kg (1000 lb.), trailer brakes are

required.

weight, not exceeding the maximum

of 90 kg (200 lb.). 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.

D Never tap into your vehicle’s hy-

draulic system as it would lower its

braking effectiveness.

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.

BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS

D Toyota recommends trailers with

brakes that conform to any applica-

ble federal and state/provincial regu-

lations.

HITCHES

D Use only

hitch which is recom-

mended by the hitch manufacturer and

conforms to the total trailer weight re-

quirement.

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.

D Follow the directions supplied by the

hitch manufacturer, and bolt the hitch

securely to the rear bumper. Lubricate

TIRES

D Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are

properly inflated. See Section 7−2 and

Section 8 for instructions.

the hitch ball with

grease.

light coat of

D The trailer tires should be inflated to

the pressure recommended by the trail-

er manufacturer in respect to the total

trailer weight.

D Toyota recommends removing the trail-

er hitch whenever you are not towing

trailer to reduce the possibility of

additional damage caused by the hitch

if your vehicle is struck from behind.

After removing the hitch, seal any

mounting holes in the vehicle body to

prevent entry of pollutants such as ex-

haust fumes, dirt, water, etc.

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TRAILER LIGHTS

PRE−TOWING SAFETY CHECK

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

D Trailer lights must comply with federal,

state/provincial and local regulations.

See your local recreational vehicle

dealer or rental agency for the correct

type of wiring and relays for your trail-

er. Check for correct operation of the

turn signals and stop lights each time

you hitch up. Direct splicing may dam-

age your vehicle’s electrical system

and cause a malfunction of your lights.

D Check that your vehicle remains a lev-

el 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.

D Make sure the trailer cargo is securely

time, avoiding sharp or prolonged

loaded so that it can not shift.

turning. Have someone guide you when

backing to reduce the risk of an acci-

dent.

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.

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.

D Because stopping distance may be in-

creased, vehicle−to−vehicle distance

should be increased when towing

TRAILER TOWING TIPS

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.

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:

MAINTENANCE

D If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will

require more frequent maintenance due

to the additional load. For this informa-

tion, please refer to the scheduled

maintenance information in the “Sched-

uled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s

Manual Supplement”.

D Avoid jerky starts or sudden accelera-

D Before starting out, check operation of

the lights and all vehicle−trailer connec-

tion. If your vehicle has

manual

transmission, prevent excessive clutch

slippage by keeping engine rpm low

and not racing the engine. Always start

out in first gear.

tions. After driving

short distance,

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.

D Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing

ball and bracket after approximately

1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.

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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 In order to maintain engine braking effi-

ciency do not use fifth gear (5−speed

manual transmission), sixth gear

4. Apply the parking brake firmly.

5. Shift into first or reverse (manual) or

“P” (automatic) and turn off the engine.

(6−speed manual transmission) or over-

drive (automatic transmission).

When restarting out after parking on a

slope:

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

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” in Section 4.

1. With the transmission in “P” position

(automatic) or the clutch pedal de-

pressed (manual), start the engine.

(With an automatic transmission, be

sure to keep the brake pedal de-

pressed.)

making

larger than normal turning

radius with your vehicle.

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.

2. Shift into gear.

3. Release the parking brake (also foot

brake on automatic transmission ve-

hicles) and slowly pull or back away

from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply

your brakes.

D Always place wheel blocks under both

the vehicle and trailer wheels when

parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.

Put the transmission in “P” (automatic)

or in first or reverse (manual). Avoid

parking on a slope with a trailer, but

if it cannot be avoided, do so only

after performing the following:

4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.

1. Apply the brakes and hold.

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 be-

fore changing lanes.

2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-

der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.

3. When the wheel blocks are in place,

release your brakes slowly until the

blocks absorb the load.

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Starting and Driving -> Trailer towing for Your Toyota Celica 2 Door Seventh Generation (2000-2006)

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