Toyota 4Runner (2020 year). Manual - part 13

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Weight  carrying  ball  position:
50.1 in. (1272 mm)
Hitch receiver pin hole position:
43.7 in. (1109 mm)

Use the wire harness stored in the
rear end under body.

Please  consult  your  dealer  when  installing  trailer  lights,  as  incorrect
installation  may  cause  damage  to  the  vehicle’s  lights.  Please  take
care to comply with your state’s laws when installing trailer lights.

■

Service connector for towing brake controller

Positions for towing hitch receiver and hitch ball

1

2

Connecting trailer lights

Your  vehicle  is  equipped  with  a  service

connector  for  the  trailer  brake  controller

as shown.

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Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid
an accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when
towing:

●

Speed limits for towing a  trailer  vary  by  state  or  province. Do not
exceed the posted towing speed limit.

●

Toyota  recommends  that  the  vehicle-trailer  speed  limit  is  65  mph
(104 km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this limit, the
posted towing speed limit or the speed limit for your trailer as set
forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Instability
of the towing vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increases as
speed increases. Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of control.

●

Before  starting  out,  check  the  trailer  lights,  tires  and  the  vehicle-
trailer connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.

●

Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle-trailer combination.

●

Reversing  with  a  trailer  attached  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  right.  (This  is  generally  opposite  to  reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.

●

As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.

●

Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in the trailer jack-
knifing and a loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or
slippery surfaces.

Trailer towing tips

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●

Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.

●

Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making
turn.

●

Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a wider than normal turning radius.

●

Slow down before making a turn, in cross winds, on wet or slippery
surfaces, etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can destabilize the trailer.

●

Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires consider-
able  distance. After  passing  a  vehicle,  do  not  forget  the  length  of
your trailer, and be sure you have plenty of room before changing
lanes.

●

To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system perfor-
mance when using engine braking, do not put the transmission in
D.

●

Instability happens more frequently when descending steep or long
downhill grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long down-
hill grades.

●

Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes
too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.

●

Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may over-
heat on hot days (at temperatures over 85°F [30°C]) when driving
up a long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature gauge
indicates overheating, immediately turn off the air conditioning (if in
use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot. 
(



P. 517)

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●

Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s
wheels  when  parking. Apply  the  parking  brake  firmly,  and  put  the
transmission in P. Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do
so only after performing the following:

Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and
trailer’s wheels.
When the  wheel blocks are  in place, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into P and turn off the engine.

●

When restarting after parking on a slope:

With the transmission in P, start the engine. Be sure to keep the
brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
Release  the  parking  brake  and  brake  pedal,  and  slowly  pull  or
back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.

■

Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height

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4

5

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No  matter  which  class  of  tow  hitch
applies,  for  a  more  safe  trailer  hookup,
the  trailer  ball  setup  must  be  the  proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.

Coupler 
Trailer ball

1

2

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■

Before towing

Check that the following conditions are met:

●

Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. (



P. 530)

●

Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recommen-
dation.

●

All trailer lights work as required by law.

●

All lights work each time you connect them.

●

The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trailer.

●

The trailer is level when it is hitched. 
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for improper tongue weight,
overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.

●

The trailer cargo is securely loaded.

●

The  rear  view  mirrors  conform  to  all  applicable  federal,  state/provincial  or
local regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for tow-
ing purposes.

■

Break-in schedule

If  your  vehicle  is  new  or  equipped  with  any  new  power  train  components
(such as an engine, transmission, differential or wheel bearing), Toyota rec-
ommends that you do not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven for
over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can start
towing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a speed
of  less  than  45  mph  (72  km/h)  when  towing  a  trailer,  and  avoid  full  throttle
acceleration.

■

Maintenance

●

If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due
to  the  additional  load.  (See  “Scheduled  Maintenance  Guide”  or  “Owner’s
Manual Supplement”.)

●

Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.

■

If trailer sway occurs

One  or  more  factors  (crosswinds,  passing  vehicles,  rough  roads,  etc.)  can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability.

●

If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.

Do not try to control trailer swaying 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. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can also help to
stabilize the vehicle and trailer.)

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●

After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.

Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.

• Check the load in the vehicle.

Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.

If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the
towing vehicle-trailer increases as speed increases.

WARNING

■

Trailer towing precautions

To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accordance
with the trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to do  so
could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle stability
and braking performance are affected by trailer stability, brake setting and
performance, and the hitch. Your vehicle will handle differently when towing
a trailer.

■

To avoid accident or injury

●

Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.

●

If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device
with sufficient capacity is required.

●

Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads
as close to the trailer axle as possible.

●

Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the
speed  limit  for  your  trailer  as  set  forth  in  your  trailer  owner’s  manual,
whichever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently before making a turn, in cross
winds,  on  wet  or  slippery  surface,  etc.  to  help  avoid  an  accident.  If  you
experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing a certain speed, slow
down  and  make  sure  you  keep  your  vehicle  speed  under  the  speed  of
which you experience the instability.

●

Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.

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WARNING

●

Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery sur-
faces.

●

Do  not  exceed  the  trailer  hitch  assembly  weight,  gross  vehicle  weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.

●

Do not use cruise control when towing.

●

Slow  down  and  downshift  before  descending  steep  or  long  downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long
downhill grades.

●

Vehicle-trailer  instability  is  more  likely  on  steep  long  downhills.  Before
descending steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do
not  make  sudden  downshifts  when  descending  steep  or  long  downhill
grades.  Avoid  holding  the  brake  pedal  down  too  long  or  applying  the
brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result
in reduced braking efficiency.

■

Hitch

Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the
hitch manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of
towing a higher weight, the operator must determine the maximum weight
rating  of  the  particular  hitch  assembly  and  never  exceed  the  maximum
weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight
rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause an accident resulting
in death or serious personal injuries.

■

When towing a trailer

Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.

●

If  the  gross  trailer  weight  exceeds  unbraked  TWR,  trailer  brakes  are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.

●

Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.

●

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 into another lane.

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NOTICE

■

When installing a trailer hitch

Use  only  the  position  recommended  by  your Toyota  dealer.  Do  not  install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.

■

Do not directly splice trailer lights

Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing trailer lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

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Dinghy towing

Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels
on the ground) behind a motor home. 

NOTICE

■

To avoid serious damage to your vehicle

Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground.

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4-2. Driving procedures

Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
Turn the engine switch to the “START” position to start the engine.

“LOCK”

The  steering  wheel  is  locked  and
the key can be removed. (The key
can  be  removed  only  when  the
shift lever is in P.)

“ACC”

Some  electrical  components  such
as the audio system can be used.

“ON”

All electrical components can be used.

“START”

For starting the engine.

Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 

smart key system)

Starting the engine

Changing the engine switch positions

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4

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■

Turning the key from “ACC” to “LOCK”

Shift the shift lever to P. 

■

If the engine does not start

The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (



P. 76)

Contact your Toyota dealer.

■

When the steering lock cannot be released

■

Key reminder function

A buzzer sounds if the driver’s door is opened, while the engine switch is in
the “LOCK” or “ACC” position to remind you to remove the key.

Push in the key and turn to the “LOCK”
position.

When  starting  the  engine,  the  engine
switch  may  seem  stuck  in  the  “LOCK”
position. To free it, turn the key while turn-
ing  the  steering  wheel  slightly  left  and
right.

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2

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WARNING

■

When starting the engine

Always start the engine while sitting in the driver's seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.

■

Caution when driving

Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position while driving. If, in an
emergency, you must turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, turn
the engine switch only to the “ACC” position to stop the engine. An accident
may result if the engine is stopped while driving.

NOTICE

■

To prevent battery discharge

Do not leave the engine switch in the “ACC” or “ON” position for long peri-
ods of time without the engine running.

■

When starting the engine

●

Do  not  crank  the  engine  for  more  than  30  seconds  at  a  time. This  may
overheat the starter and wiring systems.

●

Do not race a cold engine.

●

If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have the engine
checked immediately.

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4-2. Driving procedures

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Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.

 and a message will be displayed on the multi-information display. 

If it is not displayed, the engine cannot be started.

Press the engine switch shortly
and firmly.

When operating the engine switch,
one  short,  firm  press  is  enough.  It
is not necessary to press and hold
the switch.
The engine will crank until it starts
or for up to 30 seconds, whichever
is less.
Continue  depressing  the  brake
pedal until the engine is completely
started.
The  engine  can  be  started  from
any engine switch mode.

Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with a 

smart key system)

Performing  the  following  operations  when  carrying  the  elec-
tronic key on your person starts the engine or changes engine
switch modes.

Starting the engine

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4

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Stop the vehicle.
Set the parking brake (



P. 224), and shift the shift lever to P.

Press the engine switch.
Release the brake pedal and check that “ACCESSORY” or “IGNI-
TION ON” is not shown on the meter.

Modes  can  be  changed  by  pressing  the  engine  switch  with  brake
pedal released. (The mode changes each time the switch is pressed.)

Off

*

The  emergency  flashers  can  be
used.

ACCESSORY mode

Some  electrical  components  such
as the audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY”  will  be  displayed
on the multi-information display.

IGNITION ON mode

All  electrical  components  can  be
used.
“IGNITION  ON”  will  be  displayed
on the multi-information display.

*

: If the shift lever is in a position other than P when turning off the engine,

the engine switch will be turned to ACCESSORY mode, not to off.

Stopping the engine

Changing engine switch modes

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4

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If the engine is stopped with the shift lever in a position other than P,
the  engine  switch  will  not  be  turned  off  but  instead  be  turned  to
ACCESSORY  mode.  Perform  the  following  procedure  to  turn  the
switch off:

Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check  that  “Turn Power  Off”  is  displayed on the multi-information
display and then press the engine switch once.
Check  that  “Turn  Power  Off”  on  the  multi-information  display  is
turned off.

■

Auto power off function

If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minutes or IGNI-
TION  ON  mode  (the  engine  is  not  running)  for  more  than  an  hour  with  the
shift  lever  in  P,  the  engine  switch  will  automatically  turn  off.  However,  this
function cannot entirely prevent battery discharge. Do not leave the vehicle
with the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode for long peri-
ods of time when the engine is not running.

■

Automatic engine shut off feature

●

The  vehicle  is  equipped  with  a  feature  that  automatically  shuts  off  the
engine when the shift lever is in P with the engine running for an extended
period.

●

The  engine  will  automatically  shut  off  after  approximately  1  hour  if  it  has
been left running while the shift lever is in P.

●

The  timer  for  the  automatic  engine  shut  off  feature  will  reset  if  the  brake
pedal is depressed or if the shift lever is in a position other than P.

●

After  the  vehicle  is  parked,  if  the  door  is  locked  with  the  door  lock  switch
(



P. 113) from the inside or the mechanical key (



P. 510) from the outside,

the automatic engine shut off feature will be disabled. The timer for the auto-
matic  engine  shut  off  feature  will  be  re-enabled  if  the  driver’s  door  is
opened.

■

Electronic key battery depletion



P. 106

■

Conditions affecting operation



P. 122

■

Notes for the entry function



P. 123

When stopping the engine with the shift lever in a position other
than P

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■

If the engine does not start

●

The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (



P. 76) 

Contact your Toyota dealer.

●

Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The engine may not start if the
shift lever is displaced out of P.

■

Steering lock

After  turning  the  engine  switch  off  and  opening  and  closing  the  doors,  the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
engine switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.

■

When the steering lock cannot be released

■

Steering lock motor overheating prevention

To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, the motor may be sus-
pended if the engine is turned on and off repeatedly in a short period of time.
In this case, refrain from operating the engine. After about 10 seconds, the
steering lock motor will resume functioning.

■

When a message requesting the smart key system be inspected is dis-
played on the multi-information display

The  system  may  be  malfunctioning.  Have  the  vehicle  inspected  by  your
Toyota dealer immediately.

■

If the electronic key battery is depleted



P. 442

■

Operation of the engine switch

If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the engine switch mode may
not change or the engine may not start.

When  the  steering  lock  cannot  be
released,  “Push  the  engine  switch  while
turning the steering wheel in either direc-
tion”  will  be  displayed  on  the  multi-infor-
mation display. 
Press the engine switch shortly and firmly
while  turning  the  steering  wheel  left  and
right.