Scion tC. Instruction - part 27

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency

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Charging the battery

The electricity stored in the battery will discharge gradually even when the
vehicle is not in use, due to natural discharge and the draining effects of cer-
tain electrical appliances. If the vehicle is left for a long time, the battery may
discharge, and the engine may be unable to start. (The battery recharges
automatically during driving.)

CAUTION

■

Avoiding battery fires or explosions

Observe the following precautions to prevent accidentally igniting the flam-
mable gas that may be emitted from the battery:

●

Make sure each jumper cable is connected to the correct terminal and that
it is not unintentionally in contact with any other than the intended terminal.

●

Do not allow the + and - clamps of the jumper cables to come into contact
with each other.

●

Do not smoke, use matches, cigarette lighters or allow open flame near
the battery.

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CAUTION

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Battery precautions

The battery contains poisonous and corrosive acidic electrolyte, while
related parts contain lead and lead compounds. Observe the following pre-
cautions when handling the battery:

●

When working with the battery, always wear safety glasses and take care
not to allow any battery fluids (acid) to come into contact with skin, clothing
or the vehicle body.

●

Do not lean over the battery.

●

In the event that battery fluid comes into contact with the skin or eyes,
immediately wash the affected area with water and seek medical attention.
Place a wet sponge or cloth over the affected area until medical attention
can be received.

●

Always wash your hands after handling the battery support, terminals, and
other battery-related parts.

●

Do not allow children near the battery.

■

To prevent damage to the vehicle (vehicles with a instruction transmis-
sion)

Do not pull- or push-start the vehicle as the three-way catalytic converter
may overheat and become a fire hazard.

NOTICE

■

When handling jumper cables

When connecting the jumper cables, ensure that they do not become entan-
gled in the cooling fans or belt.

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency

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If your vehicle overheats

Correction procedures

Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air condition-
ing system, and then stop the engine.

If you see steam:

Carefully lift the hood after the steam subsides.

If you do not see steam:

Carefully lift the hood.

After the engine has cooled
down sufficiently, inspect the
hoses and radiator core (radia-
tor) for any leaks.

Radiator

Cooling fans

If a large amount of coolant leaks,
immediately contact your Scion
dealer.

The following may indicate that your vehicle is overheating.

● The high engine coolant temperature warning light (P. 380)

comes on or flashes, or a loss of engine power is experienced.
(For example, the vehicle speed does not increase.)

● Steam is coming from under the hood.

STEP 

1 

STEP 

2 

STEP 

5 

STEP 

3 

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency

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The coolant level is satisfactory if
it is between the “FULL” and
“LOW” lines on the reservoir.

Reservoir

“FULL”

“LOW”

Add coolant if necessary.

Water can be used in an emer-
gency if coolant is unavailable.

Start the engine and turn the air conditioning system on to
check that the radiator cooling fans operate and to check for
coolant leaks from the radiator or hoses.

The fans operate when the air conditioning system is turned on
immediately after a cold start. Confirm that the fans are operating by
checking the fan sound and air flow. If it is difficult to check these,
turn the air conditioning system on and off repeatedly. (The fans may
not operate in freezing temperatures.)

If the fans are not operating:

Stop the engine immediately and contact your Scion dealer.

If the fans are operating:

Have the vehicle inspected at the nearest Scion dealer.

STEP 

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STEP 

5 

STEP 

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STEP

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency

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CAUTION

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To prevent an accident or injury when inspecting under the hood of
your vehicle

●

If steam is seen coming from under the hood, do not open the hood until
the steam has subsided. The engine compartment may be very hot, caus-
ing serious injury such as burns.

●

Keep hands and clothing (especially a tie, a scarf or a muffler) away from
the fans and belts. Failure to do so may cause the hands or clothing to be
caught, resulting in serious injury.

●

Do not loosen the coolant reservoir cap while the engine and radiator are
hot.
Serious injury, such as burns, may result from hot coolant and steam
released under pressure.

NOTICE

■

When adding engine coolant

Wait until the engine has cooled down before adding engine coolant.
When adding coolant, do so slowly. Adding cool coolant to a hot engine too
quickly can cause damage to the engine.

■

To prevent damage to the cooling system

Observe the following precautions:

●

Avoid contaminating the coolant with foreign matter (such as sand or dust
etc.).

●

Do not use any coolant additive.

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency

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If the vehicle becomes stuck

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When it is difficult to free the vehicle

Turn off TRAC and/or VSC if these functions are hampering your attempts to
free the vehicle. (

P. 216)

Carry out the following procedures if the tires spin or the vehicle

becomes stuck in mud, dirt or snow:

Stop the engine. Set the parking brake and shift the shift
lever to P (automatic transmission) or N (instruction transmis-
sion).

Remove the mud, snow or sand from around the stuck tire.

Place wood, stones or some other material under the tires
to help provide traction.

Restart the engine.

Shift the shift lever to the D or R position (automatic trans-
mission) or 1 or R position (instruction transmission) and
release the parking brake. Then, while exercising caution,
depress the accelerator pedal.

STEP 

1 

STEP 

2 

STEP 

3 

STEP 

4 

STEP 

5 

Press 

 to turn off TRAC.

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CAUTION

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When attempting to free a stuck vehicle

If you choose to push the vehicle back and forth to free it, make sure the sur-
rounding area is clear to avoid striking other vehicles, objects or people. The
vehicle may also lunge forward or lunge back suddenly as it becomes free.
Use extreme caution.

■

When shifting the shift lever (vehicles with an automatic transmission)

Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.

NOTICE

■

To avoid damage to the transmission and other components

●

Avoid spinning the wheels and depressing the accelerator pedal more
than necessary.

●

If the vehicle remains stuck even after these procedures are performed,
the vehicle may require towing to be freed.

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If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency

Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the

vehicle in the normal way, stop the vehicle using the following pro-

cedure:

Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly
depress it.

Do not pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the
effort required to slow the vehicle.

Shift the shift lever to N.

If the shift lever is shifted to N

After slowing down, stop the vehicle in a safe place by the
road.

Stop the engine.

If the shift lever cannot be shifted to N

Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce
vehicle speed as much as possible.

Vehicles without a smart key
system: Stop the engine by
turning the engine switch to
the “ACC” position.

STEP 

1 

STEP 

2 

STEP 

3 

STEP 

4 

STEP 

3 

STEP 

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CAUTION

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If the engine has to be turned off while driving

●

Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the
brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the engine.

●

Vehicles without a smart key system: Never attempt to remove the key, as
doing so will lock the steering wheel.

Vehicles with a smart key sys-
tem: To stop the engine, press
and hold the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch for 2 consecu-
tive seconds or more, or press
it briefly 3 times or more in
succession.

Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.

STEP 

4 

Press and hold for 2 seconds or more, or 

press briefly 3 times or more

STEP 

5 

Vehicle specifications

6

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6-1. Specifications

Maintenance data 

(fuel, oil level, etc.) .........  430

Fuel information ...............  441

Tire information ................  445

6-2. Customization

Customizable features .....  459

6-3. Initialization

Items to initialize ..............  463

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6-1. Specifications

Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)

Dimensions and weight

*

: Unladen vehicles

Overall length

176.6 in. (4485 mm)

Overall width

70.7 in. (1795 mm)

Overall height

*

55.7 in. (1415 mm)

Wheelbase

106.3 in. (2700 mm)

Tread

Front

60.6 in. (1540 mm)

Rear

61.4 in. (1560 mm)

Vehicle capacity weight
(occupants + luggage)

865 lb. (390 kg)

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Vehicle identification

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Vehicle identification number

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is the legal identifier for
your vehicle. This is the primary identification number for your
Scion. It is used in registering the ownership of your vehicle.

This number is stamped under
the passenger seat.

This number is stamped on the
top left of the instrument panel.

This number is also on the Certi-
fication Label on the driver’s side
center pillar.

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Engine number

The engine number is stamped
on the engine block as shown.

Engine

Fuel

Model

2.5 L 4-cylinder (2AR-FE)

Type

4 cylinder in line, 4 cycle, gasoline

Bore and stroke

3.54 

 3.86 in. (90.0  98.0 mm)

Displacement

152.2 cu.in. (2494 cm

3

)

Drive belt tension

Automatic adjustment

Valve clearance

Fuel type

Unleaded gasoline only

Octane rating

87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher

Fuel tank capacity (reference)

14.5 gal. (55 L, 12.1 Imp.gal.)

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Lubrication system

*

:

The engine oil capacity is a reference quantity to be used when changing
the engine oil. Warm up and turn off the engine, wait more than 5 minutes,
and check the oil level on the dipstick.

■

Engine oil selection

“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” is used in your Scion vehicle. Use Scion
approved “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent to satisfy the fol-
lowing grade and viscosity.

Oil grade: ILSAC GF-5 multigrade engine oil

Recommended viscosity: SAE 0W-20

SAE 0W-20 is the best choice for
good fuel economy and good
starting in cold weather.

If SAE 0W-20 is not available,
SAE 5W-20 oil may be used.
However, it must be replaced
with SAE 0W-20 at the next oil
change.

Oil capacity
(Drain and refill — reference

*

)

With filter
Without filter

4.6 qt. (4.4 L, 3.9 Imp.qt.)
4.2 qt. (4.0 L, 3.5 Imp.qt.)

Outside temperature

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6-1. Specifications

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Oil viscosity (0W-20 is explained here as an example):

• The 0W in 0W-20 indicates the characteristic of the oil which allows

cold startability. Oils with a lower value before the W allow for easier

starting of the engine in cold weather.

• The 20 in 0W-20 indicates the viscosity characteristic of the oil when

the oil is at high temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity (one with a

higher value) may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high

speeds, or under extreme load conditions.

How to read oil container label:

The International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee
(ILSAC) Certification Mark is added to some oil containers to help
you select the oil you should use.

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Cooling system

Ignition system

Capacity

Vehicles with an automatic transmission:

6.0 qt. (5.7 L, 5.0 Imp.qt.)

Vehicles with a instruction transmission:

6.1 qt. (5.8 L, 5.1 Imp.qt.)

Coolant type

Use either of the following:

• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” 
• A similar high-quality ethylene glycol-based non-sili-

cate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant 
with long-life hybrid organic acid technology

Do not use plain water alone.

Spark plug

Make
Gap

DENSO SK16HR11
0.043 in. (1.1 mm)

NOTICE

■

Iridium-tipped spark plugs

Use only iridium-tipped spark plugs. Do not adjust the spark plug gap.