Toyota 4Runner (2020 year). Instruction - part 22

344

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

4RUNNER (U)

■

Fogging up of the windows

●

The  windows  will  easily  fog  up  when  the  humidity  in  the  vehicle  is  high.

Turning 

 on will dehumidify the air from the outlets and defog the wind-

shield effectively.

●

If you turn 

 off, the windows may fog up more easily.

●

The windows may fog up if the recirculated air mode is used.

■

When driving on dusty roads

Close all windows. If dust thrown up by the vehicle is still drawn into the vehi-
cle after closing the windows, it is recommended that the air intake mode be
set to outside air mode and the fan speed to any setting except off.

■

Outside/recirculated air mode

Setting to the recirculated air mode temporarily is recommended in prevent-
ing dirty air from entering the vehicle interior and helping to cool the vehicle
when the outside air temperature is high.

■

When the outside temperature exceeds 75°F (24°C) and the air condition-
ing system is on

●

In order to reduce the air conditioning power consumption, the air condition-
ing system may switch to recirculated air mode automatically. This may also
reduce fuel consumption.

●

Recirculated air mode is selected as a default mode when the engine switch
is turned to the “ON” position (vehicles without a smart key system) or the
engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with a smart key
system).

●

It is possible to switch to outside air mode at any time by pressing

 

 

.

■

When the indicator light on 

 flashes

Press 

 

to turn off the cooling and dehumidification function and turn it on

again. There may be a problem in the air conditioning system if the indicator
light  continues  to  flash.  Turn  the  air  conditioning  system  off  and  have  it
inspected by your Toyota dealer.

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■

When the outside temperature falls to nearly 32



F (0



C)

The dehumidification function may not operate even when 

 is pressed.

■

Ventilation and air conditioning odors

●

To let fresh air in, set the air conditioning system to the outside air mode.

●

During use, various odors from inside and outside the vehicle may enter into
and accumulate in the air conditioning system. This may then cause odor to
be emitted from the vents.

●

To reduce potential odors from occurring: 
It  is  recommended  that  the  air  conditioning  system  be  set  to  outside  air
mode prior to turning the vehicle off.

WARNING

■

To prevent the windshield from fogging up

●

Do  not  use 

  during  cool  air operation in extremely humid  weather.

The difference between the temperature of the outside air and that of the
windshield can cause the outer surface of the windshield to fog up, block-
ing your vision.

■

To prevent burns

●

Do not touch the rear view mirror surfaces when the outside rear view mir-
ror defoggers are on.

●

Do not touch the glass at lower part of the windshield or to the side of the
front pillars when the windshield wiper de-icer is on.

NOTICE

■

To prevent battery discharge

Do not leave the air conditioning system on longer than necessary when the
engine is stopped.

●

Do not place anything on the instrument
panel  which  may  cover  the  air  outlets.
Otherwise,  air  flow  may  be  obstructed,
preventing  the  windshield  defoggers
from defogging.

346

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

4RUNNER (U)

■

Adjusting the temperature setting

To  adjust  the  temperature  setting,  turn 

  clockwise  to

increases  the  temperature  and  turn 

  counterclockwise  to

decreases the temperature.

If 

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

heated air.

■

Fan speed setting

To adjust the fan speed, press “



” on 

 to increase the fan

speed and “



” to decrease the fan speed.

Press 

 to turn the fan off.

Automatic air conditioning system





: If equipped

Air outlets and fan speed are automatically adjusted according
to the temperature setting.

Air conditioning controls

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Change the airflow mode

To change the air outlets, press 

, 

, 

 or 

.

■

Other functions

●

Switching between outside air and recirculated air modes 
(



P. 348)

●

Defogging the windshield (



P. 348)

●

Defogging the rear window and outside rear view mirrors 
(



P. 348)

●

Windshield wiper de-icer (if equipped) (



P. 349)

Press 

.

The air conditioning system begins to operate. Air outlets and fan speed
are automatically adjusted according to the temperature setting.

Adjust the temperature setting.
To stop the operation, press 

.

■

Automatic mode indicator

If the fan speed setting or air flow modes are operated, the auto-
matic mode indicator goes off. However, automatic mode for func-
tions other than that operated is maintained.

■

Adjusting the temperature for driver and passenger seats sep-
arately (“DUAL” mode)

Perform the following procedures to turn on the “DUAL” mode:

●

Press 

.

●

Adjust the passenger’s side temperature setting. 
The indicator comes on when the “DUAL” mode is on. 
While in “DUAL” mode, the temperature of the rear air outlets is
set at the right-hand side temperature setting.

Using automatic mode

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2

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348

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

4RUNNER (U)

■

Switching between outside air and recirculated air modes

Press 

.

The mode switches between outside air mode (the indicator is off) and
recirculated  air  mode  (the  indicator  is  on)  each  time  the  button  is
pressed.

■

Defogging the windshield

Defoggers  are  used  to  defog  the  windshield  and  front  side  win-
dows.

Press 

.

The dehumidification function operates and fan speed increases.
Set the outside/recirculated air mode button to the outside air mode if
the recirculated air mode is used. (It may switch automatically.)
To defog the windshield and the side windows early, turn the air flow and
temperature up.

To return to the previous mode, press 

 again when the windshield

is defogged.

■

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.

Other functions

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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.

■

Location of air outlets

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

Air outlets

350

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

4RUNNER (U)

■

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

■

Using automatic mode

Fan speed is adjusted automatically according to the temperature setting and
the ambient conditions.
Therefore, the fan may stop for a while until warm or cool air is ready to flow

immediately after 

 is pressed.



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.

1

2

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5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

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■

Fogging up of the windows

●

The  windows  will  easily  fog  up  when  the  humidity  in  the  vehicle  is  high.

Turning 

 on will dehumidify the air from the outlets and defog the wind-

shield effectively.

●

If you turn 

 off, the windows may fog up more easily.

●

The windows may fog up if the recirculated air mode is used.

■

When driving on dusty roads

Close all windows. If dust thrown up by the vehicle is still drawn into the vehi-
cle after closing the windows, it is recommended that the air intake mode be
set to outside air mode and the fan speed to any setting except off.

■

Outside/recirculated air mode

●

Setting to the recirculated air mode temporarily is recommended in prevent-
ing dirty air from entering the vehicle interior and helping to cool the vehicle
when the outside air temperature is high.

●

Outside/recirculated  air  mode  may  automatically  switch  depending  on  the
temperature  setting,  outside  temperature,  pressure,  engine  coolant  tem-
perature or inside temperature.

■

When the outside temperature exceeds 75°F (24°C) and the air condition-
ing system is on

●

In order to reduce the air conditioning power consumption, the air condition-
ing system may switch to recirculated air mode automatically. This may also
reduce fuel consumption.

●

Recirculated air mode is selected as a default mode when the engine switch
is turned to the “ON” position (vehicles without a smart key system) or the
engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with a smart key
system).

●

It is possible to switch to outside air mode at any time by pressing

 

 .

■

When the outside temperature falls to nearly 32



F (0



C)

The dehumidification function may not operate even when 

 is pressed.

■

When driving on dusty roads

Close all windows. If dust thrown up by the vehicle is still drawn into the vehi-
cle after closing the windows, it is recommended that the air intake mode be
set to outside air mode and the fan speed to any setting except off.

■

When the indicator light on 

 flashes

Press 

 

to turn off the cooling and dehumidification function and turn it on

again. There may be a problem in the air conditioning system if the indicator
light  continues  to  flash.  Turn  the  air  conditioning  system  off  and  have  it
inspected by your Toyota dealer.

352

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

4RUNNER (U)

■

Ventilation and air conditioning odors

●

To let fresh air in, set the air conditioning system to the outside air mode.

●

During use, various odors from inside and outside the vehicle may enter into
and accumulate in the air conditioning system. This may then cause odor to
be emitted from the vents.

●

To reduce potential odors from occurring:
• It is recommended that the air conditioning system be set to outside air

mode prior to turning the vehicle off.

• The start timing of the blower may be delayed for a short period of time

immediately  after  the  air  conditioning  system  is  started  in  automatic
mode.

■

Air conditioning filter



P. 440

WARNING

■

To prevent the windshield from fogging up

●

Do  not  use 

  during  cool  air operation in extremely humid  weather.

The difference between the temperature of the outside air and that of the
windshield can cause the outer surface of the windshield to fog up, block-
ing your vision.

■

To prevent burns

●

Do not touch the rear view mirror surfaces when the outside rear view mir-
ror defoggers are on.

●

Do not touch the glass at lower part of the windshield or to the side of the
front pillars when the windshield wiper de-icer is on.

NOTICE

■

To prevent battery discharge

Do not leave the air conditioning system on longer than necessary when the
engine is stopped.

●

Do not place anything on the instrument
panel  which  may  cover  the  air  outlets.
Otherwise,  air  flow  may  be  obstructed,
preventing  the  windshield  defoggers
from defogging.

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Seat heaters



/seat ventilators





: If equipped

The seat heaters warm the seats and the seat ventilators main-
tain good airflow by blowing air through the seats.

WARNING

●

Care should be taken to prevent injury if anyone in the following categories
comes in contact with the seats when the heater is on:
• Babies,  small  children,  the  elderly,  the  sick  and  the  physically  chal-

lenged

• Persons with sensitive skin
• Persons who are fatigued
• Persons who have taken alcohol or drugs that induce sleep (sleeping

drugs, cold remedies, etc.)

●

Observe the following precautions to prevent the minor burns or overheat-
ing
• Do  not  cover  the  seat  with  a  blanket  or  cushion  when  using  the  seat

heater.

• Do not use seat heater more than necessary.

NOTICE

●

Do not put heavy objects that have an uneven surface on the seat and do
not stick sharp objects (needles, nails, etc.) into the seat.

●

To prevent battery discharge, do not use the functions when the engine is
off.

354

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

4RUNNER (U)



Vehicles with ventilator

Press  the  knob  to  release  it,
and turn the knob to the desired
temperature setting.
OFF

Press the knob to lock it when not
in use.

Ventilation
Heat



Vehicles without ventilator

On

The indicator light comes on.

Adjusts the seat temperature

The  further  you  move  the  dial  for-
ward,  the  warmer  the  seat
becomes.

Off

Move  the  dial  fully  backward.  The
indicator light turns off.

■

The seat heaters/seat ventilators can be used when



Vehicles without a smart key system

The engine switch is in the “ON” position.



Vehicles with a smart key system

The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.

Seat heaters/ventilators

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5-2. Using the interior lights

Rear interior light (



P. 356)

Front interior light/front personal lights (



P. 356)

Shift  lever  light  (when  the  engine  switch  is  in  the  “ACC”  or  “ON”
position  [without  a  smart  key  system]  or  the  engine  switch  is  in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode [with a smart key system])
Inside door handle lights (if equipped)
Outer foot lights (if equipped)
Engine switch light (vehicles without a smart key system)
Footwell lights (if equipped)
Door courtesy lights

Turning the instrument panel light control dial fully downward disables
the inside door handle lights, footwell lights and shift lever light. 
(



P. 89)

Interior lights list

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

356

5-2. Using the interior lights

4RUNNER (U)

■

Front

Turns the lights off
Turns the door position on

■

Rear

Turns the door position on
Turns the light off
Turns the light on

Turns the lights on/off

Interior lights

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2

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2

3

Personal lights

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Illuminated entry system



Vehicles without a smart key system

The lights  automatically turn on/off  according to the  engine switch position,
whether  the  doors  are  locked/unlocked,  and  whether  the  doors  are  open/
closed.



Vehicles with a smart key system

The  lights  automatically  turn  on/off  according  to  engine  switch  mode,  the
presence of the electronic key, whether the doors are locked/unlocked, and
whether the doors are opened/closed.

■

To prevent battery discharge

If  the  following  lights  remain  on,  the  lights  will  go  off  automatically  after  20
minutes:

●

Engine switch light

●

Front interior light

●

Rear interior light

●

Personal lights

●

Footwell lights

●

Inside door handle lights

●

Door courtesy lights

■

Customization

Setting (e.g. the time elapsed before lights turn off) can be changed. 
(Customizable features: 



P. 547)

NOTICE

■

To prevent battery discharge

Do  not  leave  the  lights  on  longer  than  necessary  when  the  engine  is  not
running.

358

4RUNNER (U)

5-3. Using the storage features

List of storage features

Auxiliary box (



P. 362)

Glove box (



P. 359)

Bottle holders (



P. 364)

Tissue pocket (



P. 363)

Cup holders (



P. 360)

Pen holder (



P. 363)

Console box (



P. 359)

Coin holder (



P. 363)

WARNING

●

Do not leave glasses, lighters or spray cans in the storage spaces, as this
may cause the following when cabin temperature becomes high:
• Glasses may be deformed by heat or cracked if they come into contact

with other stored items.

• Lighters or spray cans may explode. If they come into contact with other

stored  items,  the  lighter  may  catch  fire  or  the  spray  can  may  release
gas, causing a fire hazard.

●

When driving or when the storage compartments are not in use, keep the
lids closed. In the event of sudden braking or sudden swerving, an acci-
dent  may  occur  due  to  an  occupant  being  struck  by  an  open  lid  or  the
items stored inside.

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7

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The glove box can be opened by pressing the lock release button and
can be locked and unlocked by using the master key (vehicles without
a smart key system) or the mechanical key (vehicles with a smart key
system).

Open
Unlock
Lock

Lift  the  lid  while  pulling  up  the
knob to release the lock.

■

The separator can be used in either of the positions shown in the illus-
tration

Glove box

1

2

3

Console box

Change the separator position.