Tips For Driving In Various Conditions - Toyota Tacoma 1996 Instruction Manual

(b) Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to follow
the instructions in "(a) Before cranking".
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/se-
quential multiport fuel injection system in
your engine automatically controls the
proper air-fuel mixture for starting. You
can start a cold or hot engine as follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator ped-
al, crank the engine by turning the key to
"START". Release it when the engine
starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 sec-
onds, you are ready to drive.
If the weather is below freezing, let the en-
gine warm up for a few minutes before
driving.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct proce-
dure given in normal starting.
If the engine will not start—
See "If your vehicle will not start" in Part 4.
NOTICE
z Do not crank for more than 15 sec-
onds at a time. This may overheat
the starter and wiring systems.
z Do not race a cold engine.
110
z If the engine becomes difficult to
start or stalls frequently, have the
engine checked immediately.
Tips for driving in various
conditions
S Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
This will allow you much better control.
S Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving
onto high, sharp-edged objects and
other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire damage result-
ing in tire bursts.
S When parking on a hill, turn the front
wheels until they touch the curb so that
the vehicle will not roll. Apply the parking
brake, and place the transmission in "P"
(automatic) or in first or reverse (manu-
al). If necessary, block the wheels.
S Washing your vehicle or driving through
deep water may get the brakes wet. To
see whether they are wet, check that
there is no traffic near you, and then
press the pedal lightly. If you do not feel
a normal braking force, the brakes are
probably wet. To dry them, drive the ve-
hicle cautiously while lightly pressing the
brake pedal with the parking brake
pulled. If they still do not work safely, pull
to the side of the road and call a Toyota
dealer for assistance.
S Four- wheel drive models—Toyota rec-
ommends not using four- wheel drive on
dry hard- surfaced roads, because four-
wheel driving will cause unnecessary
noise and wear, and poor fuel economy.