Toyota 4Runner (2023 year). Manual in english

337

4-6. Driving tips

Drivin

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

338

4-6. Driving tips

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.

●

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.

339

4-6. Driving tips

riv

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 Manual Supplement”.

342

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.

Manual air conditioning system



: If equipped

Air conditioning controls

343

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

rior

ures

■

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. 344)

●

Defogging the rear window and outside rear view mirrors
(



P. 344)

●

Windshield wiper de-icer (if equipped) (



P. 344)

■

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

344

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

■

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. 158)

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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5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

rior

ures

■

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.

346

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

■

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 IGNITION ON mode.

●

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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5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

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ures

■

When the outside temperature falls to nearly 32



F (0



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.

■

Air conditioning system refrigerant

●

The meaning of each symbol on the label are as follows:

●

A label regarding the refrigerant of the
air conditioning system is attached to the
hood at the location shown in the follow-
ing illustration.

Caution

Air conditioning system

Air conditioning system lubricant type

Requires registered technician to service air conditioning
system

Flammable refrigerant

348

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

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.

■

When repairing/replacing parts of the air conditioning system

Have repair/replacement performed by your Toyota dealer.
When a part of the air conditioning system, such as the evaporator, is to be
replaced, it must be replaced with a new one.

●

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.

349

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

rior

ures

■

Adjusting the temperature setting

To adjust the temperature setting, turn

clockwise to

increases the temperature and turn

counterclockwise to

decreases the temperature.

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

350

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

■

Change the airflow mode

To change the air outlets, press

■

Other functions

●

Switching between outside air and recirculated air modes
(



P. 351)

●

Defogging the windshield (



P. 351)

●

Defogging the rear window and outside rear view mirrors
(



P. 351)

●

Windshield wiper de-icer (if equipped) (



P. 352)

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

351

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

rior

ures

■

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



P. 158)

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

352

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

■

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

353

5-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger

rior

ures

■

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.

Toyota 4Runner (2023 year). Manual in english - page 21