Friday, March 19, 2010

Starting and Driving my Toyota Sienna

Before starting the engine
1. Check the area around the vehicle before entering it.
2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle,seat cushion angle, head restraint height and steering wheel angle.
3. Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors.
4. Lock all doors.
5. Fasten seat belts.

How to start the engine—
(a) Before cranking
1. Apply the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
3. Put the selector lever in “P”. If you need to restart the engine while the vehicle is moving, put the selector lever in “N”. A starter safety device will prevent the starter from operating if the selector lever is in any drive position.
4. Depress the brake pedal and hold it to the floor until driving off.
(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/sequential 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 pedal, crank the engine by turning the key to “START”. Release it when the engine starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 seconds, you are ready to drive.
If the weather is below freezing, let the engine warm up for a few minutes before driving. If the engine stalls... Simply restart it, using the correct procedure given in normal starting.

Tips for driving in various conditions
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. This will allow you much better control. Drive slowly onto curbs and, if possible, 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 resulting in tire bursts.
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”. If necessary, block the wheels. 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 vehicle cautiously while lightly
pressing the brake pedal with the parking brake applied. If they still do not
work safely, pull to the side of the road and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.

Winter driving tips
Make sure you have a proper freeze protection of engine coolant.
Your coolant must contain ethylene- glycol type coolant for a proper corrosion
protection of aluminum components. Use “TOYOTA Long Life Coolant” or equivalent.
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water alone.

When it is extremely cold, we recommend to use 60% solution for your Toyota, to
provide protection down to about -50°C (- 58°F). Do not use more than 70% solution
for better coolant performance. Check the condition of the battery and cables. Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so it must be in top shape to provide enough power for winter starting. inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer and most service stations will be pleased to check the level of charge.

Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the cold weather.
Leaving a heavy summer oil in your vehicle during winter months may cause harder starting. If you are not sure about which oil to use, call your Toyota dealer— they will be pleased to help. Keep the door locks from freezing. Squirt lock de- icer or glycerine into the locks to keep them from freezing. Use a washer fluid containing an antifreeze solution. This product is available at your Toyota dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for how much to mix with water.