Toyota Tundra Owners Manual: If your vehicle overheats

Toyota Tundra Owners Manual / When trouble arises / Steps to take in an emergency / If your vehicle overheats

The following may indicate that your vehicle is overheating:
  • The needle of the engine coolant temperature gauge enters the red zone or a loss of engine power is experienced. (For example, the vehicle speed does not increase.)
  • "ENGINE COOLANT OVERTEMP" is shown on the multi-information display.
  • Steam comes out from under the hood.

Correction procedures

1. Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air conditioning system, and then stop the engine.

2. If you see steam: Carefully lift the hood after the steam subsides.

If you do not see steam: Carefully lift the hood.

3. After the engine has cooled down sufficiently, inspect the hoses and radiator core (radiator) for any leaks.

  1. Radiator
  2. Cooling fan

Steps to take in an emergency

If a large amount of coolant leaks, immediately contact your Toyota dealer.

4. The coolant level is satisfactory if it is between the "FULL" and "LOW" lines on the reservoir.

  1. Reservoir
  2. "FULL"
  3. "LOW"
  4. Radiator cap

Steps to take in an emergency

5. Add coolant if necessary.

Water can be used in an emergency if coolant is unavailable.

Steps to take in an emergency

6. Start the engine to check that the radiator cooling fan operates and to check for coolant leaks from the radiator or hoses.

7. If the fan is not operating: Stop the engine immediately and contact your Toyota dealer.

If the fan is operating: Have the vehicle inspected at the nearest Toyota dealer.

WARNING

■When inspecting under the hood of your vehicle Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in serious injury such as burns.

  • If steam is seen coming from under the hood, do not open the hood until the steam has subsided. The engine compartment may be very hot.
  • Keep hands and clothing away from the fans, etc., while the engine is running.
  • Do not loosen the radiator cap and the coolant reservoir cap while the engine and radiator are hot.

    High temperature steam or coolant could spray out.

 

NOTICE

■When adding engine coolant Add coolant slowly after the engine has cooled down sufficiently. Adding cool coolant to a hot engine too quickly can cause damage to the engine.

■To prevent damage to the cooling system Observe the following precautions:

  • Avoid contaminating the coolant with foreign matter (such as sand or dust, etc.).
  • Do not use any coolant additives.
    If the vehicle battery is discharged

    If the vehicle becomes stuck

    See More:

    Toyota Tundra Owners Manual > Instrument cluster: Gauges and meters
    Tachometer Displays the engine speed in revolutions per minute Engine oil pressure gauge Displays the engine oil pressure Outside temperature display Displays the outside temperature within the range of -40ºF (-40ºC) to 122ºF (50ºC). Low outside temperature indicator comes on when the ambient t ...

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