The second pillar from front to rear that connects the rocker panel (the section below the doors) and the roof.

Years ago, engineers discovered that four-cylinder engines give off a bad vibe at certain engine speeds. The solution? Two horizontal balance shafts located underneath–and driven by–the crankshaft, which are spun at twice the engine rpm in the opposite direction of crankshaft rotation. The vibration of the engine and the opposite-phase vibration of the balance shafts cancel each other out, resulting in much smoother engine operation.

The suspension equivalent of your shoulder. Used primarily in the front suspension because of its wide range of motion, a ball joint is a flexible joint consisting of a ball in a socket.

A cool feature of the Smart Key System that helps reduce the likelihood of a drained battery when the vehicle is not in use. When the doors are locked, a Smart Key-equipped vehicle emits a signal every quarter of a second (0.25 second), seeking response from the Smart Key. Because these signals use a tiny fraction of the battery’s power, the Smart Key System [4] features a “stepped shutdown” that emits fewer and fewer signals until it eventually shuts down to save battery power. Don’t worry–it can be easily reactivated by locking or unlocking the doors.

The name pretty much says it all. This clever accessory extends the usable length of the bed to accommodate long cargo like motorcycles and ATVs. Most commonly used in short-bed trucks, the extender is like a three-rail tubular fence that mounts to the walls of the bed on pivot points just inside the tailgate. With the tailgate lowered, the bed extender can be flipped outward to rest its rubber feet on the tailgate.

Dented, scratched and otherwise mangled truck beds are just plain ugly. A bedliner functions like a protective “armor” that’s designed to protect the inner surface of a pickup bed. These come in several varieties, including spray-on and drop-in liners.

If your Toyota were human, this is where its belt would go. It’s the line that runs along the bottom edge of the vehicle’s glass area and contributes to the vehicle’s styling and visual appeal.

BSM with RCTA uses radar technology to help identify vehicles that may not be visible when changing lanes or backing out of the driveway or parking space.  When a vehicle is detected, the system illuminates a warning indicator (and audible warning for RCTA) on the appropriate sideview mirror.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) detects approaching vehicles in the driver's blind spot when backing out of a parking space. Upon detection, the system alerts the driver with a warning signal.

What you get from eating blueberry ice cream. Kidding. Bluetooth^® is wireless technology that integrates compatible cell phones with a vehicle’s built-in phone controls, allowing drivers to make and receive “one-touch” voice-activated calls by pressing a button on the steering wheel or instrument panel. Bluetooth^® is currently an integrated feature of the Toyota navigation system and some JBL^® premium audio systems. Bluetooth^® can also be used for music streaming or playing music wirelessly from your phone or MP3 player on your vehicle’s audio system.

The plastic panels that cover the lower portion of the vehicle’s doors, rocker panels, and bumper caps. Body cladding can be used for two primary purposes: protecting the lower door panels and rocker panels of off-road-capable trucks and SUVs, or providing aerodynamic/aesthetic improvements for on-road vehicles.

Rugged construction for rugged use. Describes a vehicle with a body structure attached to a separate frame (Toyota 4Runner is an example of a vehicle that uses this type of construction).

In an emergency stop, BA acts as your copilot. If it recognizes that you’ve suddenly hit the brake pedal very hard, but not quite hard enough for full stopping power, it increases the fluid pressure into the braking system, helping to provide maximum stopping power.

Remember the brakes on your ten-speed? The brake caliper works similarly, except that instead of grabbing the rim itself, the caliper applies clamping pressure on the brake disc (also known as a rotor). The caliper can have one or more pistons, which press the brake pads against the rotor to slow or stop the vehicle.

This unit serves as the messenger between a tow vehicle and the electric brakes of the trailer. When you apply the brakes, it tells the trailer to do the same for maximum stopping power. It can be inertia-activated or based on time delay from the activation of vehicle brakes, and is adjustable to compensate for varying trailer load.