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2018 Toyota Tundra Owners Manual - Driving procedures



Driving procedures

Engine (ignition) switch

Starting the engine

Check that the parking brake is set.

1

Check that the shift lever is set in P.

2

Firmly depress the brake pedal.

3

Turn the engine switch to the “START” position to start the engine.

4

Changing the engine switch positions

“LOCK”

1

The steering wheel is locked and

the key can be removed. (The key

can be removed only when the

shift lever is in P.)

4

“ACC”

2

Some electrical components such

as the audio system can be used.

“ON”

3

All electrical components can be used.

“START”

4

For starting the engine.

 Turning the key from “ACC” to “LOCK”

Shift the shift lever to P.

1

Push in the key and turn it to the

2

“LOCK” position.

 If the engine does not start

Contact your Toyota dealer.

188

 When the steering lock cannot be released

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.

 Key reminder function

A buzzer sounds if the driver’s door is opened while the engine switch is in

the “ACC” or “LOCK” position to remind you to remove the key.

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 while 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

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 system.

Do not race a cold engine.

If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehi-

cle checked by your Toyota dealer immediately.

189

Automatic transmission

Shifting the shift lever

Floor shift type

4

While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, move the shift

lever with the brake pedal depressed.

When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehi-

cle is completely stopped.

190

Column shift type

While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, move the shift

lever with the brake pedal depressed.

When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehi-

cle is completely stopped.

Shift position purpose

Shift position

Function

Parking the vehicle/starting the engine

Reversing

P

R

Neutral

N

(Condition in which the power is not transmitted)

D

S

Normal driving*1

*

*

1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in the D

position for normal driving.

2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the possible

gear ranges, controls engine braking forces, and prevents unnecessary

upshifting.

191

Selecting shift ranges in the S position

To enter S mode, shift the shift lever to S. Shift ranges can be selected

by operating the shift lever, allowing you to drive in the shift range of

your choosing. The shift range can be selected by the shift lever.

Floor shift type

Column shift type

4

Upshifting

1

Downshifting

2

The selected shift range, from 1 to 6, will be displayed in the meter.

The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 5 or 4 accord-

ing to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set to 3 or

the D position.

192

  Shift ranges and their functions

Automatically selecting gears between 1 and 6 according to vehi-

cle speed and driving conditions.

You can choose from 6 levels of accelerating force and engine

braking force.

A lower shift range will provide greater accelerating force and

engine braking force than a higher shift range, and the engine

revolutions will also increase.

TOW/HAUL switch (vehicles with towing package)

Use TOW/HAUL mode when pulling a trailer or hauling a heavy load.

Press the TOW/HAUL switch. The indicator will come on.

Press the switch once more to cancel the mode.

Floor shift type

Column shift type

193

 AI-SHIFT

AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to the driver per-

formance and driving conditions.

AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D position.

(Shifting the shift lever to the S position cancels the function.)

 When driving with cruise control activated (if equipped)

Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine

braking, engine braking will not activate while driving in S mode and down-

 Shift lock system

The shift lock system is a system to prevent accidental operation of the shift

lever in starting.

The shift lever can be shifted from P only when the engine switch is in the

“ON” position and the brake pedal is being depressed.

 If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P

First, check whether the brake pedal is being depressed.

4

If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your foot on the brake pedal, there may

be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the vehicle inspected by your

Toyota dealer immediately.

The following steps may be used as an emergency measure to ensure that

the shift lever can be shifted.

Releasing the shift lock:

Set the parking brake.

1

Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position.

2

Depress the brake pedal.

3

194

Pry the cover up with a flathead screwdriver or equivalent tool.

4

To prevent damage to the cover, cover the tip of the screwdriver with a rag.

Floor shift type

Column-shift type

Press the shift lock override button.

5

The shift lever can be shifted while the button is pressed.

Floor shift type

Column-shift type

195

 If the “S” indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to

S

This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have

the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer, immediately.

(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when

the shift lever is in D.)

 Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer (S mode)

To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may

sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be

possible even when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)

 Transmission protection function

If the tires spin continually when the vehicle becomes stuck in mud, dirt or

snow, the automatic transmission temperature may become too high and

cause damage.

To avoid the damaging the automatic transmission, the system may tempo-

rarily lock the gear in 1st.

If the automatic transmission temperature falls, the gear locking is canceled

and returns the automatic transmission to the normal operation.

4

WARNING

 When driving on slippery road surfaces

Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.

Sudden changes in engine braking may cause the vehicle to spin or skid,

resulting in an accident.

 To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock

Before pressing the shift lock override button, make sure to set the parking

brake and depress the brake pedal.

If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of the brake pedal

when the shift lock override button is pressed and the shift lever is shifted

out of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, possibly leading to an accident

resulting in death or serious injury.

196

Turn signal lever

Operating instructions

Right turn

1

Lane change to the right (move

2

the lever partway and release

it)

The right hand signals will flash 3

times.

Lane change to the left (move

3

the lever partway and release

it)

The left hand signals will flash 3

times.

Left turn

4

 Turn signals can be operated when

The engine switch is in the “ON” position.

 If the indicator flashes faster than usual

Check that a light bulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned

out.

197

Parking brake

To set the parking brake, fully

depress the parking brake pedal

with your left foot while depress-

ing the brake pedal with your right

foot.

U.S.A. Canada

(Depressing the pedal again

releases the parking brake.)

 Parking the vehicle

 Usage in winter time

4

NOTICE

 Before driving

Fully release the parking brake.

Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components

overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake

wear.

198


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