The Stop & Start system automatically shuts off and restarts the engine in response to brake pedal or shift lever operation while the vehicle is stationary, such as when waiting at a traffic light or intersection. By reducing unnecessary engine idling, the system is designed to improve fuel economy while also lowering the amount of noise produced when the Toyota Tacoma is stopped.
Stop & Start system operation
Stopping the engine
While driving with the D shift position selected, depress the brake pedal and bring the Toyota Tacoma to a complete stop.
Once the required operating conditions are satisfied, the engine will shut off automatically while the vehicle remains stopped.
When the engine has been stopped by the Stop & Start system, the Stop & Start indicator will illuminate to show that the function is active.
Restarting the engine
Release the brake pedal. The engine will restart automatically so that the Toyota Tacoma is ready to move when driving is resumed.
After the engine restarts, the Stop & Start indicator will turn off.
When the brake hold system is operating
- When the engine has been stopped by the Stop & Start system while the brake hold system is operating, releasing the brake pedal will not immediately restart the engine. The engine will remain stopped while the applicable conditions continue to be met.
However, if a vehicle ahead begins moving, a person passes in front of the vehicle, or a similar situation is detected, the engine may restart automatically.
- If the accelerator pedal is depressed while the engine is stopped by the Stop & Start system, the engine will restart in preparation for vehicle movement.
- If the engine restarts while the Toyota Tacoma is being held stationary by the brake hold system, the brake hold function will continue applying the brakes unless its operating conditions are no longer satisfied.
When the dynamic radar cruise control is operating
- When the vehicle is brought to a stop by the dynamic radar cruise control, the engine will automatically stop even if the driver is not depressing the brake pedal.
- When the preceding vehicle starts moving again, the engine will restart automatically.
- If the Stop & Start system restarts the engine while the vehicle is still being held stationary by the dynamic radar cruise control, the vehicle will remain stopped until the cruise control system permits movement.
Disabling the Stop & Start system
Press the Stop & Start cancel switch when you want to disable automatic Stop & Start operation.
The Stop & Start cancel indicator will illuminate, confirming that the system has been switched off.
Press the switch again to reactivate the Stop & Start system. When the function is enabled again, the Stop & Start cancel indicator will turn off.
Automatic enabling of the Stop & Start system
If the Stop & Start system has been disabled using the Stop & Start cancel switch, that setting does not remain permanently disabled. After the engine switch is turned off and the engine is subsequently started again, the Stop & Start system will automatically be re-enabled.
Hill-start assist control
If the engine has been stopped by the Stop & Start system while the Toyota Tacoma is positioned on an incline, brake force is temporarily maintained when the brake pedal is released. This prevents the vehicle from rolling backward during the brief period before the engine restarts and sufficient drive force is generated.
As soon as drive force is generated, the brake force being temporarily maintained by the system is automatically released, allowing the vehicle to move normally.
- This function can operate not only on steep inclines but also on level surfaces.
- Operating sounds may be heard from the brake system while the function is working. These sounds are normal and do not indicate a malfunction.
- The feel or response of the brake pedal may temporarily change, and some vibration may be noticeable during operation. These characteristics do not indicate a system malfunction.
Points for use
- If the engine switch is pressed while the engine has been stopped by the Stop & Start system, the engine cannot then be restarted using the automatic engine start function.
In this situation, restart the engine using the normal engine starting procedure specified for the Toyota Tacoma.
- While the engine is being restarted automatically by the Stop & Start system, the power outlets may become temporarily unavailable. Normal outlet operation should return after the restart is completed, and this temporary interruption does not indicate a malfunction.
- Installing or removing electrical components, accessories, or wireless devices may affect operation of the Stop & Start system. If such equipment is being added to or removed from the Toyota Tacoma, contact your Toyota dealer for additional information.
- If the vehicle will remain stopped for an extended period, turn the engine switch off so that the engine is completely shut down rather than relying on the temporary stop performed by the Stop & Start system.
- When the engine is automatically restarted by the Stop & Start system, the steering wheel may briefly feel heavier than usual. This temporary change can occur during the restart process.
Operating conditions
- The Stop & Start system can operate when all of the following conditions are satisfied. These conditions help determine whether the Toyota Tacoma is in an appropriate state for automatic engine stopping:
- The vehicle has been driven for a certain amount of time before coming to a stop.
- The brake pedal is being depressed firmly. This condition does not apply when the vehicle has been stopped by the dynamic radar cruise control while operating in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode.
- The D shift position is selected.
- The driver's seat belt is securely fastened.
- The driver's door is fully closed.
- The selected driving mode is not "4H" or "4L" mode. This applies to 4WD models only.
- Multi-terrain Select is not being operated, if the vehicle is equipped with this feature.
- The selected driving mode is not rear differential lock mode.
- The windshield defogger is switched off.
- The accelerator pedal is not being depressed.
- The engine has warmed up sufficiently for Stop & Start operation.
- The hood is completely closed.
- "TOW HAUL" mode is not operating, if equipped.
- In any of the following situations, the engine may continue running instead of being stopped by the Stop & Start system. This behavior is part of normal system operation and does not indicate a malfunction:
- When the air conditioning system is operating and engine operation is required.
- When the battery is undergoing a periodic charging cycle.
- When the battery does not have sufficient charge. This may occur after the vehicle has been parked for an extended period and battery charge has decreased, when electrical demand is high, when battery fluid temperature is excessively low, or when the battery has deteriorated.
- When the available brake booster vacuum is low.
- When only a short period of time has passed since the engine was last restarted.
- When the Toyota Tacoma is repeatedly stopping and moving, such as during heavy or slow-moving traffic.
- When the engine coolant temperature or transmission fluid temperature is extremely low or extremely high.
- When the vehicle is stopped on a steep incline.
- When the vehicle is being driven in a high-altitude area.
- When the battery fluid temperature is extremely low or high.
- For a certain period after the battery terminals have been disconnected and then reconnected.
- When the engine has been stopped by the Stop & Start system, it will restart automatically if any of the following conditions occur. To allow the engine to be stopped automatically by the Stop & Start system again, drive the vehicle before the next stop:
- The air conditioning system is being used. This applies to vehicles without a manual air conditioning system.
- The windshield defogger is switched on. This applies to vehicles without a manual air conditioning system.
- The shift lever is moved from the D position.
- The driver's seat belt is unfastened.
- The driver's door is opened.
- The selected driving mode is changed to "4H" or "4L" mode. This applies to 4WD models only.
- Multi-terrain Select is operated, if equipped.
- "TOW HAUL" mode is activated, if the Toyota Tacoma is equipped with this function.
- The driving mode is changed to rear differential lock mode.
- The Stop & Start cancel switch is pressed.
- The accelerator pedal is depressed.
- The vehicle begins to roll while positioned on an incline.
- While the engine is stopped by the Stop & Start system, it may also restart automatically under the following circumstances. After this occurs, drive the vehicle before expecting the Stop & Start system to stop the engine again:
- When the brake pedal is pumped repeatedly or depressed with greater force.
- When operation of the air conditioning system requires the engine to restart.
- When an air conditioning system control is operated, such as the windshield defogger switch.
- If the battery charge level becomes low while the engine is stopped.
When the hood is opened
- If the hood is opened while the engine has been stopped by the Stop & Start system, the engine will stall and the automatic engine start function will no longer be able to restart it. In this situation, restart the Toyota Tacoma engine using the normal engine starting procedure rather than relying on the automatic restart function.
- If the hood is closed after the engine has been started while the hood was open, the Stop & Start system will remain unavailable. Close the hood completely, turn the engine switch off, wait for at least 30 seconds, and then start the engine again using the normal procedure. This sequence restores the conditions required for Stop & Start system operation.
Air conditioning system operation while the engine is stopped by the Stop & Start system
Vehicles equipped with an automatic air conditioning system: When the air conditioning system is operating in automatic mode and the Toyota Tacoma engine is temporarily stopped by the Stop & Start system, fan operation may automatically change. The fan may continue running at a low speed to limit an increase or decrease in cabin temperature, or it may stop depending on the operating conditions.
To give priority to air conditioning system performance while the vehicle is stopped, disable the Stop & Start system by pressing the Stop & Start cancel switch. Doing so prevents automatic engine stopping from taking priority over the requested climate control operation.
- If the windshield is fogged up
Turn the windshield defogger on to clear the glass and maintain proper forward visibility.
If the windshield tends to fog up frequently while using the Stop & Start function, press the Stop & Start cancel switch to disable the system. Keeping the engine running may help the climate control system maintain the airflow required for windshield defogging.
- If an odor is emitted from the air conditioning system
- Vehicles with a manual air conditioning system
If the idling stop time setting is set to "Extended", change the setting to "Standard". This reduces the period during which the Toyota Tacoma engine remains stopped while the air conditioning system is operating.
If an odor is still emitted when the idling stop time setting is already set to "Standard", press the Stop & Start cancel switch to deactivate the Stop & Start system.
- Vehicles with an automatic air conditioning system
Press the Stop & Start cancel switch to deactivate the Stop & Start system if an odor is emitted from the automatic air conditioning system.
Changing the idling stop time with the air conditioning system on
The amount of time the Stop & Start system remains active while the air conditioning system is operating can be changed through the appropriate setting in 
of the multi-information display. This adjustment applies only when the air conditioning system is on; the length of time the Stop & Start system operates when the air conditioning system is off cannot be changed.
Multi-information display messages
Under certain operating conditions, 
and a related message may appear on the Toyota Tacoma multi-information display. These messages provide information about why the system cannot currently stop the engine or indicate an operating condition that requires attention.
- When the engine cannot be stopped by the Stop & Start system
"Press Brake More to Activate"- The brake pedal has not been depressed far enough for the Stop & Start system to activate.
If the brake pedal is depressed further, the system will operate once the required braking input is detected.
"Non-Dedicated Battery" - A battery that is not designed for use with the Stop & Start system may have been installed. Because the system depends on a compatible battery for proper operation, this message should not be ignored.
Have the Toyota Tacoma inspected by your Toyota dealer.
"Battery Charging"
- The battery charge may be low, so the Stop & Start system may temporarily prevent automatic engine stopping in order to give priority to battery charging.
Engine stopping is temporarily prohibited while charging of the battery is given priority. After the Toyota Tacoma engine has operated for a certain amount of time and the required charging condition is reached, the Stop & Start system will become available again. - A refresh charge may be in progress, during which normal Stop & Start operation is temporarily suspended.
After the refresh charge is completed, which may take up to an hour, the system can operate again. - If the message remains displayed continuously for a long period of time, specifically for more than one hour, the condition may require further attention.
The battery may have deteriorated and may no longer be maintaining the condition required for normal Stop & Start system operation.Contact your Toyota dealer for details and have the condition checked as necessary.
"Stop & Start Unavailable" - The Stop & Start system is temporarily disabled, and automatic engine stopping will not occur while this condition remains active.
Allow the Toyota Tacoma engine to continue running for some time. The system may become available again after the necessary operating conditions are restored. - The engine may have been started while the hood was open, preventing normal Stop & Start system operation.
Close the hood securely, turn the engine switch off, wait for 30 seconds or more, and then start the engine again using the normal starting procedure.
"In Preparation" - The vehicle is being driven in a high-altitude area. Under these conditions, the Stop & Start system may remain in preparation rather than stopping the engine automatically.
- The brake booster vacuum is low, so the system is not yet ready to perform an automatic engine stop.
When the brake booster vacuum reaches the predetermined level, the Stop & Start system will be enabled again.
"For Climate Control" - The air conditioning system is being used while the ambient temperature is high or low. In this situation, climate control requirements may take priority over automatic engine stopping.
If the difference between the selected temperature and the cabin temperature becomes small, the Toyota Tacoma Stop & Start system will become available again. - The windshield defogger is on. While defogging is required, the system may keep the engine running so that the requested climate control operation can continue.
When the engine automatically restarts while it has been stopped by the Stop & Start system, one of the following messages or conditions may explain why the restart occurred.
"In Preparation"
- The brake pedal has been depressed further or pumped, which may reduce the brake booster vacuum below the level required for continued Stop & Start operation.
The system will become available after the engine has run and the brake booster vacuum reaches the predetermined level.
"For Climate Control" - The air conditioning system is being used, and the engine may restart automatically when continued engine operation is required for climate control.
- The windshield defogger has been turned on, causing the engine to restart so the requested defogging operation can continue.
"Battery Charging" - The battery charge may be low, causing the engine to restart so that battery charging can be prioritized.
The system will be enabled after the Toyota Tacoma engine has operated long enough to sufficiently charge the battery.
When the buzzer sounds
If the driver's door is opened while the engine is stopped by the Stop & Start system and the shift lever remains in D, a buzzer will sound and the Stop & Start system indicator will flash. This warning alerts the driver to the current operating state while the engine is temporarily stopped. To stop the buzzer, close the driver's door securely.
The Stop & Start system protection function
- When the audio system volume is excessively high, sound output may suddenly be interrupted as part of the Stop & Start system protection function in order to reduce battery consumption. To help prevent the Toyota Tacoma audio system from being cut off, keep the volume at a moderate level rather than operating it continuously at an unusually high setting.
If audio output has been cut off, turn the engine switch off, wait for at least 3 seconds, and then turn the engine switch to ACC or ON. This procedure should re-enable normal operation of the audio system.
- The audio system may fail to activate normally after the battery terminals have been disconnected and then reconnected.
If this occurs, turn the engine switch off and then perform the following operation twice. Repeating this sequence restores normal activation of the audio system after the battery connection has been interrupted.
- Turn the engine switch to ON, and then turn it back to off.
If the Stop & Start cancel indicator flashes continuously
If the Stop & Start cancel indicator continues flashing rather than returning to its normal state, the system may have a malfunction.
Have the Toyota Tacoma inspected by your Toyota dealer so the cause of the malfunction can be identified and corrected.
If "Stop & Start System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer" is displayed on the multi-information display
If this message appears on the multi-information display, the Stop & Start system may be malfunctioning and should not be assumed to operate normally.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer. A dealer inspection can determine why the Toyota Tacoma Stop & Start system has detected a fault.
WARNING
When the Stop & Start system is operating
Make sure to disable the Stop & Start system whenever the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area. Automatic engine restart must not be relied upon safely in an enclosed or inadequately ventilated location.
If the system is not disabled, the engine may restart automatically and unexpectedly. Exhaust gases could then accumulate and enter the vehicle, creating a serious health hazard and potentially resulting in death.
- Do not leave the Toyota Tacoma while the engine is temporarily stopped by the Stop & Start system and the Stop & Start indicator is illuminated. Because the engine can restart automatically, leaving the vehicle in this condition may create a risk of an accident.
- Keep the brake pedal depressed and apply the parking brake whenever necessary while the engine is stopped by the Stop & Start system and the Stop & Start indicator is on. Maintain proper control of the vehicle even though the engine is temporarily stopped.
NOTICE
To ensure the system operates correctly
If any of the following conditions occur, the Stop & Start system may not operate correctly because the system may be receiving incorrect information about the driver's seat belt or driver's door status. Have your Toyota Tacoma inspected by your Toyota dealer if any of these symptoms are observed.
- While the driver's seat belt is securely fastened, the driver's and front passenger's seat belt reminder light continues to flash.
- Even though the driver's seat belt is not fastened, the driver's and front passenger's seat belt reminder light does not illuminate as expected.
- Even though the driver's door is fully closed, the open door warning light remains illuminated, or the interior light stays on when the interior light switch is set to the door position.
- Even though the driver's door is open, the open door warning light does not illuminate, or the interior light does not turn on when the interior light switch is set to the door position.
