Toyota 4Runner (2020 year). Instruction

328

4-5. Using the driving support systems

4RUNNER (U)

WARNING

■

The ABS and Multi Terrain ABS do not operate effectively when

●

The limits of tire gripping performance have been exceeded (such as
excessively worn tires on a snow covered road).

●

The vehicle hydroplanes while driving at high speed on wet or slick roads.

■

Stopping distance when the ABS or Multi Terrain ABS is operating may
exceed that of normal conditions

The ABS and Multi Terrain ABS are not designed to shorten the vehicle’s
stopping distance. Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front
of you, especially in the following situations:

●

When driving on dirt, gravel or snow-covered roads

●

When driving with tire chains

●

When driving over bumps in the road

●

When driving over roads with potholes or uneven surfaces

■

TRAC/VSC may not operate effectively when

Directional control and power may not be achievable while driving on slip-
pery road surfaces, even if the TRAC/VSC system is operating.
Drive the vehicle carefully in conditions where stability and power may be
lost.

■

Hill-start assist control does not operate effectively when



2WD models

●

Do not overly rely on the hill-start assist control. Hill-start assist control
may not operate effectively on steep inclines and roads covered with ice.

●

Unlike the parking brake, hill-start assist control is not intended to hold the
vehicle stationary for an extended period of time. Do not attempt to use
hill-start assist control to hold the vehicle on an incline, as doing so may
lead to an accident.



4WD models

Do not overly rely on the hill-start assist control. The hill-start assist control
may not operate effectively on a steep uphill and roads covered with ice.

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329

4-5. Using the driving support systems

Drivin

4RUNNER (U)

WARNING

■

When the TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Control is activated

The slip indicator light flashes. Always drive carefully.
Reckless driving may cause an accident. Exercise particular care when the
indicator light flashes.

■

When TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Control systems are turned off

Be especially careful and drive at a speed appropriate to the road condi-
tions. As these are systems to help ensure vehicle stability and driving
force, do not turn the TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Control systems off unless
necessary.

■

Replacing tires

Make sure that all tires are of the specified size, brand, tread pattern and
total load capacity. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated to the
recommended tire inflation pressure level.
The ABS, Multi Terrain ABS, TRAC, VSC and Trailer Sway Control will not
function correctly if different tires are installed on the vehicle.
Contact your Toyota dealer for further information when replacing tires or
wheels.

■

Handling of tires and the suspension

Using tires with any kind of problem or modifying the suspension will affect
the driving assist systems, and may cause a system to malfunction.

■

Trailer Sway Control precaution

The Trailer Sway Control system is not able to reduce trailer sway in all situ-
ations.
Depending on many factors such as the conditions of the vehicle, trailer,
road surface and driving environment, the Trailer Sway Control system may
not be effective. Refer to your trailer owner’s instruction for information on how
to tow your trailer properly.

■

If trailer sway occurs

Observe the following precautions.
Failing to do so may cause death or serious injury.

●

Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer sway by turning the steering wheel.

●

Begin releasing the accelerator pedal immediately but very gradually to
reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.

If you make no extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle
and trailer should stabilize. (



P. 204)

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330

4RUNNER (U)

4-6. Driving tips

●

Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tempera-
tures.

• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Washer fluid

●

Have a service technician inspect the condition of the battery.

●

Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire
chains for the rear tires.

Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match
the size of the tires.

Winter driving tips

Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before
driving the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a man-
ner appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions.

Preparation for winter

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331

4-6. Driving tips

Drivin

4RUNNER (U)

Perform the following according to the driving conditions:

●

Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen.
Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe away
the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.

●

To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan,
remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in
front of the windshield.

●

Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accu-
mulated on the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassis, around the
tires or on the brakes.

●

Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before
getting in the vehicle.

Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a safe distance between you and
the vehicle ahead, and drive at a reduced speed suitable to road con-
ditions.

●

Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to P without setting the
parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from
being released. If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking
brake, make sure to block the wheels.
Failure to do so may be dangerous because it may cause the vehi-
cle to move unexpectedly, possibly leading to an accident.

●

If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, confirm
that the shift lever cannot be moved out of P

: The shift lever will be locked if it is attempted to be shifted from P to any

other position without depressing the brake pedal. If the shift lever can be
shifted from P, there may be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.

Before driving the vehicle

When driving the vehicle

When parking the vehicle

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332

4-6. Driving tips

4RUNNER (U)

Use the correct tire chain size when mounting the tire chains.
Chain size is regulated for each tire size.

Side chain
(0.20 in. [5 mm] in diameter)
Cross chain
(0.20 in. [5 mm] in diameter)

Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on loca-
tion and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing
chains.

■

Tire chain installation

Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains:

●

Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.

●

Install tire chains on the rear tires only. Do not install tire chains on the front
tires.

●

Install tire chains on rear tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after
driving 1/4



1/2 mile (0.5



1.0 km).

●

Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.

Selecting tire chains

Regulations on the use of tire chains

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333

4-6. Driving tips

Drivin

4RUNNER (U)

WARNING

■

Driving with snow tires

Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause death or
serious injury.

●

Use tires of the specified size.

●

Maintain the recommended level of air pressure.

●

Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h), regardless of the type of
snow tires being used.

●

Use snow tires on all, not just some wheels.

■

Driving with tire chains

Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being unable to be driven safely,
and may cause death or serious injury.

●

Do not drive in excess of the speed limit specified for the tire chains being
used, or 30 mph (50 km/h), whichever is lower.

●

Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.

●

Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt steering, sudden braking and shifting
operations that cause sudden engine braking.

●

Slow down sufficiently before entering a curve to ensure that vehicle con-
trol is maintained.

NOTICE

■

Repairing or replacing snow tires

Request repairs or replacement of snow tires from Toyota dealers or legiti-
mate tire retailers.
This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the opera-
tion of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.

■

Fitting tire chains

The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly
when tire chains are fitted.

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334

4-6. Driving tips

4RUNNER (U)

●

Specific design characteristics give it a higher center of gravity than
ordinary passenger cars. This vehicle design feature causes this
type of vehicle to be more likely to rollover. And, utility vehicles
have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.

●

An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the
road allowing you to anticipate problems.

●

It is not designed for cornering at the same speeds as ordinary pas-
senger cars any more than low-slung sports cars designed to per-
form satisfactorily under off-road conditions. Therefore, sharp turns
at excessive speeds may cause rollover.

Off-road precautions

This vehicle belongs to the utility vehicle class, which has
higher ground clearance and narrower tread in relation to the
height of its center of gravity to make it capable of performing in
a wide variety of off-road applications.

Off-road vehicle feature

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335

4-6. Driving tips

Drivin

4RUNNER (U)

WARNING

■

Off-road vehicle precautions

Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:

●

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die
than a person wearing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers
should always fasten their seat belts.

●

Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, if at all possible.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or
vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury.

●

Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of the vehi-
cle gravity higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden
braking or abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or
vehicle rollover due to failure to operate this vehicle correctly.

●

Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. Because of its profile and higher
center of gravity, your vehicle is more sensitive to side winds than an ordi-
nary passenger car. Slowing down will allow you to have better control.

●

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.

●

Do not drive horizontally across steep slopes. Driving straight up or
straight down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any similar off-road vehicle)
can tip over sideways much more easily than forward or backward.

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336

4-6. Driving tips

4RUNNER (U)

When driving your vehicle off-road, please observe the following pre-
cautions to ensure your driving enjoyment and to help prevent the clo-
sure of areas to off-road vehicles:

●

Drive your vehicle only in areas where off-road vehicles are permit-
ted to travel.

●

Respect private property. Get owner’s permission before entering
private property.

●

Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers and signs
that restrict travel.

●

Stay on established roads. When conditions are wet, driving tech-
niques should be changed or travel delayed to prevent damage to
roads.

■

Additional information for off-road driving

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.

●

State and Local Parks and Recreation Departments

●

State Motor Vehicle Bureau

●

Recreational Vehicle Clubs

●

U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management

Off-road driving

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337

4-6. Driving tips

Drivin

4RUNNER (U)

WARNING

■

Off-road driving precautions

Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:

●

Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving
in dangerous places.

●

Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump
could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and espe-
cially your thumbs on the outside of the rim.

●

Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.

●

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 underbody. If the
vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody,
a breakdown or fire could occur.

●

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person 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 moving.

●

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338

4-6. Driving tips

4RUNNER (U)

NOTICE

■

To prevent water damage

Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the
engine or other components does not occur.

●

Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe engine damage.

●

Water entering the automatic transmission will cause deterioration in shift
quality, locking up of your transmission accompanied by vibration, and ulti-
mately damage.

●

Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and pre-
mature failure, and may also enter the differentials, transmission and
transfer case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricating qualities.

■

When you drive through water

If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check
the depth of the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive
slowly and avoid deep water.

■

Inspection after off-road driving

●

Sand and mud that has accumulated in brake drums and around brake
discs may affect braking efficiency and may damage brake system compo-
nents.

●

Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off-road driv-
ing that has taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For
scheduled maintenance information, refer to the “Scheduled Maintenance
Guide” or “Owner’s Instruction Supplement”.

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340

4RUNNER (U)

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

■

Adjusting the temperature setting

To adjust the temperature setting, turn

clockwise (warm) or

counterclockwise (cool).

is not pressed, the system will blow ambient temperature air or

heated air.
For quick cooling, turn the temperature control knob to “MAX A/C”. The
air conditioning will automatically turn on and, if an air outlet position
other than

is selected, the system will be set to recircu-

lated air mode. While “MAX A/C” is selected, it is not possible to turn off
the air conditioning.

Instruction air conditioning system



: If equipped

Air conditioning controls

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341

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

rior

ures

4RUNNER (U)

■

Fan speed setting

To adjust the fan speed, turn

clockwise (increase) or coun-

terclockwise (decrease).

Turning the knob to “OFF” turns off the fan.

■

Change the airflow mode

To select the air outlets, set

to the desired position.

The positions between the air outlet selections shown below can also be
selected for more delicate adjustment.

■

Other functions

●

Switching between outside air and recirculated air modes

●

Defogging the windshield (



P. 342)

●

Defogging the rear window and outside rear view mirrors
(



P. 342)

●

Windshield wiper de-icer (if equipped) (



P. 342)

■

Switching between outside air and recirculated air modes

Press

The mode switches between outside air mode (introduces air from out-
side the vehicle) (indicator off) and recirculated air mode (recycles air
inside the vehicle) (indicator on) each time the button is pressed.

Other functions

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342

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

4RUNNER (U)

■

Defogging the windshield

Defoggers are used to defog the windshield and front side win-
dows.
Set the air outlet selector dial to

position.

If the recirculated air mode is used, it will automatically switch to outside
air mode.
To defog the windshield and the side windows early, increase the air
flow and temperature.

If the dehumidification function is not operating, press

operate the dehumidification function.

■

Defogging the rear window and outside rear view mirrors

Defoggers are used to defog the rear window, and to remove rain-
drops, dew and frost from the outside rear view mirrors.
Before operating the defoggers, make sure the back window is
completely closed. (



P. 166)

Press

The defoggers will automatically turn off after their operation time. The
operation time varies depending on the ambient temperature and vehi-
cle speed.

■

Windshield wiper de-icer (if equipped)

This feature is used to prevent ice from building up on the wind-
shield and wiper blades.
Turns the windshield wiper de-
icer on/off

The windshield wiper de-icer will
automatically turn off after
approximately 15 minutes.

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343

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

rior

ures

4RUNNER (U)

■

Location of air outlets

The air outlets and air volume
changes according to the
selected airflow mode.

■

Adjusting the position of and opening and closing the air out-
lets

Air outlets



Front center outlets



Front side outlets



Rear outlets

Direct air flow to the left or right, up or down.
Turn the knob to open or close the vent.

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Toyota 4Runner (2020 year). Instruction - part 21