Toyota Tacoma (2005–2015) Owners Manual: If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds

Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights turn on or flash. If a light turns on or flashes, but then turns off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the system.

Stop the vehicle immediately. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.

The following warning indicates a possible problem in the brake system.

Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Toyota dealer.

*: Parking brake engaged warning buzzer: The buzzer sounds to indicate that parking brake is still engaged (with the vehicle having reached a speed of 3 mph [5 km/h])

Stop the vehicle immediately.

The following warnings indicate the possibility of damage to the vehicle that may lead to an accident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Toyota dealer.

*: The light may come on when the oil level is extremely low. It is not designed to indicate low oil level, and the oil level must be checked using the engine oil level dipstick.

Have the vehicle inspected immediately.

Failing to investigate the cause of the following warnings may lead to the system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident.

Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.

Follow the correction procedures.

After taking the specified steps to correct the suspected problem, check that the warning light turns off.

*1: Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt buzzer: The driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt buzzer sounds to alert the driver and front passenger that their seat belt is not fastened. Once the engine switch is turned to the ON or START position, the buzzer sounds for 6 seconds.

The buzzer sounds once if the driver’s or front passenger’s seat belt is unfastened when the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h). Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened after 30 seconds elapse, the buzzer will sound intermittently for approximately 10 seconds, followed by a different tone for approximately 20 more seconds.

*2: Refer to the separate “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement” for the maintenance interval applicable to your vehicle.

■Key reminder buzzer

The buzzer indicates that the key has not been removed (with the engine switch in the ACC or LOCK position and the driver’s door opened).

■If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving

First check the following: ●Is your vehicle low on gas? If it is, refuel the vehicle immediately.

●Is the fuel tank cap loose? If it is, tighten it securely.

The light will go off after taking several driving trips.

If the light does not go off even after several trips, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

■Front passenger detection sensor and passenger seat belt reminder

If luggage or other load is placed on the front passenger seat, depending on its weight, the reminder light to flash and buzzer to sound.

■When the tire pressure warning light comes on

Check the tire inflation pressure and adjust to the appropriate level.

Pushing the tire pressure warning reset switch does not turn off the tire pressure warning light.

■The tire pressure warning light may turn on due to natural causes

The tire pressure warning light may turn on due to natural causes such as natural air leaks or tire inflation pressure changes caused by temperature.

In this case, adjusting the tire inflation pressure will turn off the warning light (after a few minutes).

■When a tire is replaced with a spare tire

The temporary spare tire is not equipped with the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will not turn off even though the flat tire is replaced with the temporary spare tire. Replace the temporary spare tire with the repaired tire and adjust the proper tire inflation pressure. The tire pressure warning light will turn off after a few minutes.

■If the tire pressure warning system is inoperative

The tire pressure warning system will be disabled in the following conditions: (When the condition becomes normal, the system will work properly.) ●If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are used.

●If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is not registered in the tire pressure warning computer.

●If the tire inflation pressure is 73 psi (500 kPa, 5.1 kgf/cm2 or bar) or higher.

The tire pressure warning system may be disabled in the following conditions: (When the condition becomes normal, the system will work properly.) ●If electronic devices or facilities using similar radio wave frequencies are nearby.

●If a radio set at similar frequencies is in use in the vehicle.

●If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is installed.

●If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, in particular around the wheels or wheel housings.

●If non-genuine Toyota wheels are used. (Even if you use Toyota wheels, the tire pressure warning system may not work properly with some types of tires.) ●If tire chains are used.

■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute

If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute when the engine switch is turned to the ON position, have it checked by your Toyota dealer.

■Customization that can be configured at Toyota dealer

The vehicle speed linked seat belt reminder buzzer can be disabled.

CAUTION

■If the tire pressure warning light comes on

Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could cause loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.

●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire inflation pressure immediately.

●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjustment, it is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.

If the tire is flat, change to the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired by the nearest Toyota dealer.

●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate, you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.

■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur

The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.

■Maintenance of the tire

Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.) As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS-tire pressure warning system) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.

Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.

CAUTION

■Maintenance of the tire

Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light).

Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light). When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately one minute and then remain continuously illuminated.

This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.

TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) to continue to function properly.

NOTICE

■Precaution when installing a different tire

When a tire of a different specification or maker is installed, the tire pressure warning system may not operate properly.