engine TOYOTA RAV4 1997 Owners Manual

Publication No. OM42453U
Part No. 01999-42453
Printed in Japan 01- 9705- 00
Quick index If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 71 . . . . .
If your vehicle will not start 131
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If your engine stalls while driving 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle overheats 135
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If you have a flat tire 136
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If your vehicle needs to be towed 143 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tips for driving during break- in period 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to start the engine 119
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General maintenance 156
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Complete index 203
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Gas station information
Fuel type: UNLEADED gasoline, Octane Rating 87 (Research Octane Number
91) or higher.
For improved vehicle performance, the use of premium unleaded
gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91 (Research Octane Number
96) or higher is recommended.
See page 108 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity: 58 L (15.3 gal., 12.8 lmp. gal.)
Engine oil: API SH, ''Energy- Conserving II'' or ILSAC multigrade engine oil
is recommended.
See page 170 for detailed information.
Tire information: See pages 173 through 178.
Tire pressure: See page 198. U
3
I

4
1. Speedometer
2. Odometer
3. Fuel gauge4. Service reminder indicators or
indicator lights
5. Engine coolant temperature gauge
6. Tachometer 7. Trip meter reset knob
8. Trip meter
Instrument cluster overview

13
2. In front of the vehicle, pull up on theauxiliary catch lever and lift the hood.3. Hold the hood open by insertingthe support rod into the slot.
Before closing the hood, check that you
have not forgotten any tools, rags, etc.
and return the support rod to its clip-this
prevents ra ttles. Then lower the hood until
it is about 20 cm (8 in.) above the engine
compartment and release it. If the hood is
still not fully closed, lift and release the
hood again. After closing the hood, make sure it is securely locked.
If you notice while driving that the hood is not securely locked, stop the vehicle at
once and close the hood.
Right after driving the support rod may be hot, so only touch the part coated with nylon.
After inserting the rod into the slot,
make sure the rod supports the
hood securely from falling down on
to your head or body.
When closing the hood, be careful
not to get your hands caught be-
tween the hood and the vehicle
body.
NOTICE
Do not press on the hood, or you may deform the hood.
! CAUTION

60
CAUTION!
Do not adjust the mirror while the
vehicle is moving. It may cause the
driver to mishandle the vehicle and
an accident may occur resulting inpersonal injuries.
To adjust a mirror, use the switches.
1. Master switchÐTo select the mirror to be adjusted Place the switch at Lº (left) or Rº (right)
2. Control switchÐTo move the mirror push the switch in the desired direc-tion.
If the engine is not running, the key must be in the ACCº position.
If ice should jam the mirror, do not operate the control or scrape the
mirror face. Use a spray de-icer to free the mirror.
NOTICE
ÐPower rear view mirror control

Part 1Headlights and turn signals
63
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS ANDCONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1-4
Lights, Wipers and Defogger
Headlights and turn signals
Emergency flashers
Instrument panel light control
Interior light
Personal lights
Windshield wipers and washer
Rear window wiper and washer
Rear window defogger
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob. Position 1ÐParking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights Position 2ÐHeadlights and all of the above
If you remove the key with the headlights
left on, a buzzer reminds you to turn the
lights off
when you open the driver's door.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not leave the lights
on for a long period when theengine is not running.
Daytime running light system (Canada only)
The headlights turn on when the parking brake is released with the engine started,
even with the light switch in the OFFº position. They will not go off until the igni-
tion switch is turned off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and in-
strument panel lights, twist the knob to the
position 1.
Under the daytime running light system,
the headlights turn on at reduced intensi-
ty. Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
to full intensity for driving at night.

65
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not leave the lights
on for a long period when the engine is not running.
To adjust the brightness of the instru-
ment panel lights, turn the knob.To turn on the interior light, slide the switch.
The interior light has the following posi- tion:
ONºÐKeeps the light on all the time.
OFFºÐTurns the light off.DOORºÐ
2-door models: Turns the light on when the back door is opened. The light goes
off when the back door is closed.
4-door models: Turns the light on when either rear door or back door is opened.
The light goes off when both rear doors
and back door are closed.
Instrument panel light control
Interior light

68
To defog or defrost the rear window,
push the switch. The key must be in the ONº position.
The thin heater wires on the inside of the rear window will quickly clear the surface. An indicator light will illuminate to indicatethe defogger is operating. Push the switch once again to turn the de-
fogger off.
Make sure you turn the defogger off when
the window is clear. Leaving the defogger
on for a long time could cause the battery
to discharge, especially during stop-and-
go driving. The defogger is not designed
for drying rain water or for melting snow.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, turn the switch on
when the engine is running.
When cleaning the inside of the
rear window, be careful not to
scratch or damage the heaterwires.
Rear window defogger

Part 1Fuel gauge
69
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS ANDCONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1-5 Gauges, Meters and Service reminderindicators
Fuel gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge
Tachometer
Odometer and trip meter
Service
reminder indicators and
warning buzzers
The gauge works when the ignition
switch is on and indicates the approxi-
mate quantity of fuel remaining in the tank. Nearly fullÐNeedle at Fº Nearly emptyÐNeedle at Eº
It is a good idea to keep the tank over 1/4 full.
This fuel gauge has a non-return type
needle wh ich remains at the last indicated
position when the ignition switch is turned
off.
If the level approaches Eº or the low fuel
level warning light comes on, fill the fuel
tank as soon as possible. On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the fuel gauge
needle may fluctuate or the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than usual.
If the fuel tank is completely empty, the malfunction
indicator lamp comes on. Fill
the fuel tank immediately.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

70
The gauge indicates the engine cool-
ant temperature when the ignition
switch is on. The engine operating
temperature will vary with changes in weather and engine load.
If the needle moves into the red zone, your engine is too hot. If your vehicle
overheats, stop your vehicle and allow the
engine to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe operating conditions, such as: Driving up a long hill on a hot day.
Reducing speed or stopping after high
speed driving.
Idling for a long period with the air con-
ditioning on in stop-and-go traffic.
Towing a trailer
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat. The thermostat is designed tocontrol the flow of coolant to keep
the temperature of the engine within the specified operatingrange.
Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See If yourvehicle overheatsº in Part 4.The tachometer indicates engine
speed in thousands of rpm (revolu-
tions per minute). Use it while driving
to select correct shift points and to
prevent engine lugging and overrev- ving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Tachometer
Engine coolant temperature gauge

72
(a) Brake System Warning Light This light has the following functions: Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the parking
brake is fully released. The light should go
off.
Low brake fluid level warning
If this light comes on and stays on while
you are driving, slowdown and pull off the
road. Then stop the vehicle carefully.There maybe a problem somewhere in
the brake system. check the fluid level of
the see-through reservoir.
To make sure the parking brake has not
caused the warning light to come on,
check to see that the parking brake is fully
released.
If the brake fluid level is low...
At a safe place, test your brakes by start-
ing and stopping. If you judge that the brakes still work
adequately, drive cautiously to yournearest dealer or shop for repairs.
If the brakes are not working, have the
vehicle towed in for repairs. (For tow-
ing information, see Part 4.)
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level
is low. CAUTION
!
If the brake fluid level is correct...
Have the warning system checked by
your Toyota dealer. (b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzzer
Once the ignition key is turned to ONº or
STARTº, the reminder light and buzzer
come on if the driver's seat belt is not fas-
tened. Unless the driver fastens the belt,
the light stays on and the buzzer stops af-
ter about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, ra dio, ect., and drive directly to the
nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.