key TOYOTA RAV4 1998 Owner's Manual

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Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS±
Chapter 1- 6
Ignition switch,
Transmission
and Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock
Automatic transmission
Manual transmission
Center differential lock system
P ar k ing br ak e
Cruise control
ºSTARTºÐStarter motor on. The key
will return to the ºONº position when
released.
For starting tips, see Part 3.
ºONºÐEngine on and all accessories on.
This is the normal driving position.
ºACCºÐAccessories such as the radio
operate, but the engine is off.
If you leave the key in the ºACCº or
ºLOCKº position and open the driver's
door, a buzzer will remind you to remove
the key.
ºLOCKºÐEngine is off and the steering
wheel is locked. The key can be re-
moved only at this position.
You must push in the key to turn the key
from ºACCº to the ºLOCKº position. On
vehicles with an automatic transmission,
the selector lever must be in the ºPº posi-
tion before pushing the key.
When starting the engine, the key may
seem stuck at the ºLOCKº position. To
free it, first be sure the key is pushed all
the way in, and then rock the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key gently.
CAUTIONFor manual transmission:
Never remove the key when the ve-
hicle is moving, as this will lock the
steering wheel and result in loss of
steering control.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ºONºposition if the engine is not running.The battery will discharge and the ignition could be damaged.
Ignition switch with steering
lock

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Automatic transmission
Lock
release button
To prevent misshifting
Parking, engine starting and key removal position Reverse position Neutral position Normal driving position Position for engine braking Position for stronger engine braking than that in º2º position
With the brake pedal depressed, shift while holding the lock release button in.(The ignition switch must be in ºONºposition.)
Shift while holding the lockrelease button in Shift normally Driving pattern selector button For selecting a driving patternsuited to existing driving conditions
ºNORMALº (Normal)mode for generaldriving conditions ºPOWERº (Power)mode for powerful acceleration ºPOWERº mode indicatorlight on the instrument panelshows the driving pattern selector button is in theºPOWERº mode
Overdrive switch
ON position(Shifting into overdrive possible) OFF position(Shifting intooverdrive notpossible)ºO/D OFFº indicator light(Shows the overdriveswitch is in OFF position)
For selecting either a three-speed or Four-speed transmission
Vehicles with cruise control 'When the cruise control is being used, even if you downshift the transmis sion by turning off the overdrive
switch, engine braking will not be applied because the cruise cont rol is not cancelled. For ways to decrease the vehicle speed, see
ºCruise controlº in this chapter.

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This section describes some of the basic
features on Toyota audio systems. Some
information may not pertain to your sys-
tem.
Your audio system works when the ignition
key is in the ºACCº or ºONº position.
TURNING THE SYSTEM ON AND OFF
Push ºVOL/PWRº or ºPWR/VOLº to turn
the audio system on and off.
Push ºAMº, ºFMº, ºAM
F Mº, ºTAPEº or
ºCDº to turn on that function without push-
ing ºVOL/PWRº or ºPWR/VOLº.
You can turn on each player by inserting
a cassette tape or compact disc.
You can turn off each player by ejecting
the cassette tape or compact disc. If the
audio system was previously off, then the
entire audio system will be turned off
when you eject the cassette tape or com-
pact disc. If another function was pre-
viously playing, it will come on again.
SWITCHING BETWEEN FUNCTIONS
Push ºAM
F Mº or ºTAPEº if the system is
already on but you want to switch from
one function to another. TONE AND BALANCE
For details about your system's tone and
balance controls, see the description of
your own system.
Tone
How good an audio program sounds to
you is largely determined by the mix of
the treble and bass levels. In fact, differ-
ent kinds of music and vocal programs
usually sound better with different mixes
of treble and bass.
Balance
A good balance of the left and right stereo
channels and of the front and rear sound
levels is also important.
Keep in mind that if you are listening to
a stereo recording or broadcast, changing
the right/left balance will increase the vol-
ume of one group of sounds while de-
creasing the volume of another.
YOUR RADIO ANTENNA
To lower a manual antenna, carefully push
it down.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the antenna,
make sure it is retracted before driv-ing your Toyota through an automatic car wash.
YOUR CASSETTE PLAYER
When you insert a cassette, the exposed
tape should be to the right.
NOTICE
Do not oil any part of the player and
do not insert anything other than cas-sette tapes into the slot, or the tape player may be damaged.
ÐUsing your audio system:
some basics

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Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1- 8
Other equipment
Clock
Cigarette lighter and ashtray
Power outlet
Glovebox
Auxiliary box
Floor mat
Clock
The digital clock indicates the time.
The key must be in the ºACCº or ºONº
position.
To reset the hour: Push the ºHº button.
To reset the minutes: Push the ºMº button.
If quick adjustment to a full hour is de-
sired, push the º:00º button.
For example, if the º:00º button is de-
pressed when the time is between
1:01Ð1:29, the time will change to 1:00.
If the time is between 1:30Ð1:59, the
time will change to 2:00.
If the electrical power source has been
disconnected from the clock, the time dis-
play will automatically be set to 1:00 (one
o'clock).
When the instrument panel lights are
turned on, the brightness of the time in-
dication will be reduced.

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Cigarette lighter and ashtray
CIGARETTE LIGHTER
To use the cigarette lighter, press it in.
When it becomes heated, it automatical-
ly pops out ready for use.
If the engine is not running, the key must
be in the ºACCº position.
Do not hold the cigarette lighter pressed
in.
Use a Toyota genuine cigarette lighter or
equivalent for replacement.
ASHTRAY
To use the ashtray, open the cover.
When finished with your cigarette, thor-
oughly extinguish it in the ashtray to pre-
vent other cigarette butts from catching
fire. After using the ashtray, close the
ashtray cover completely.
To remove the ashtray, open the ashtray
cover and pull it out.
CAUTION
To reduce the of injury in case of an
accident or sudden stop while driv-
ing, always close the ashtray cover
completely after using.
Power outlet (4- door hardtop)
The power outlet is designed for power
supply for car accessories.
The key must be in the ºACCº or ºONº
position for the power outlets to be used.

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NOTICE
To prevent the fuse from being blown, do not use the electricityover the total vehicle capacity of 12V/120W.
To prevent the battery from beingdischarged, do not use the power outlet longer than necessary when
the engine is not running.
Close the power outlet lid when thepower outlet is not in use. Insertinga foreign object other than the ap- propriate plug that fits the outlet,
or allowing any liquid into the out-let may cause electrical failure or
short circuits.
Glovebox
To use the glovebox, do this.
To open: Pull the lever.
To lock: Insert the master key and turn it
clockwise.
CAUTION
To reduce the chance of injury in
case of an accident or a sudden stop,
always keep the glovebox door closed
while driving.
Auxiliary box
2- door hardtop and soft- top (left side)
2- door hardtop and soft- top (right side),
and 4- door hardtop

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Even though the anti- lock brake sys-
tem is operating, a driver cannot main-
tain full control on certain slippery road
surfaces, when cornering at high
speeds, or in violent maneuvers.
Avoid high speeds on wet roads. The
anti- lock brake system cannot elimi-
nate the risk of hydroplaning and loss
of tire friction.
Always maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you. Compared with
vehicles not fitted with an anti- lock brake
system, your vehicle may r equire a longer
stopping distance in the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snow- cov-
ered roads.
Driving with tire chains installed.
Driving on roads where the road sur-
face is pitted or has other differences
in surface height.
CAUTION
Do not use tires other than the
manufacturer 's designated tires, and
do not mix tires or wheels of differ-
ent sizes. You may prevent the anti-
lock brake system from operating at
full effectiveness.
Ty p e A
Ty p e B ºABSº warning light
This light comes on when the ignition key
is turned to the ºONº position. After a few
seconds, the light will go off.
If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction somewhere in
the parts monitored by the warning light
system. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on as de-
scribed above, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
Even if the anti- lock brake system should
fail, the brake system will still operate
conventionally. However, when the ºABSº
warning light is on (and the brake system
warning light is off), anti- lock brake sys-
tem is not assisting brake performance so
that the wheel can lock- up during sudden
braking or braking on slippery road sur-
faces. Have your vehicle checked by your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

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(b) Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to fol-
low the instructions in º(a) Before crank-
ingº.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/sequen-
tial multiport fuel injection system in your
engine automatically controls the proper
air- fuel mixture for starting. You can start
a cold or hot engine as follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator ped- al, crank the engine by turning the key
to ºSTARTº. Release it when the en-
gine starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 se- conds, you are ready to drive.
If the weather is below freezing, let the
engine warm up for a few minutes before
driving.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct proce-
dure given in normal starting.
If the engine will not startÐ
See ºIf your vehicle will not startº in Part 4.
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 se- conds at a time. This may overheatthe starter and wiring systems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult tostart or stalls frequently, have the
engine checked immediately.
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
This will allow you much better control.
Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving
onto high, sharp- edged objects and
other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire damage result-
ing in tire bursts.
When parking on a hill, turn the front
wheels until they touch the curb so
that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the
parking brake, and place the transmis-
sion in ºPº (automatic) or in first or
reverse (manual). If necessary, block
the wheels.
Washing your vehicle or driving through
deep water may get the brakes wet. To
see whether they are wet, check that
there is no traffic near you, and then
press the pedal lightly. If you do not
feel a normal braking force, the brakes
are probably wet. To dry them, drive
the vehicle cautiously while lightly
pressing the brake pedal with the park-
ing brake pulled. If they still do not
work safely, pull to the side of the road
and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.
Tips for driving in various
conditions

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The driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts when-
ever the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE
If driving through water, such as
when crossing shallow streams,first check the depth of the water and the bottom of the river bed for
firmness. Drive slowly and avoiddeep water.
Take all necessary safety measures
to ensure that water damage to theengine or other components does not occur.
Water entering the engine air intakewill cause severe engine damage.
Water can wash the grease fromwheel bearings, causing rusting and
premature failure, and may also en-ter the differentials, transmissionand transfer case, reducing the gear
oil's lubricating qualities.
Sand and mud that has accumulatedin brake drums and around brakediscs may affect braking efficiencyand may damage brake system com-
ponents.
Always perform a maintenance in-spection after each day of off- road
driving that has taken you throughrough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, refer to the separate ºOwner'sManual Supplement/MaintenanceScheduleº.
Winter driving tips
Make sure you have ethylene- glycol an-
tifreeze in the radiator.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze.
Check the condition of the battery and
cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of
any battery, so it must be in top shape
to provide enough power for winter start-
ing. Chapter 7- 3 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer
and most service stations will be pleased
to check the level of charge.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See Chapter 7- 2 for recommended viscos-
ity. Leaving a heavy summer oil in your
vehicle during winter months may cause
harder starting. If you are not sure about
which oil to use, call your Toyota dealer±
he will be pleased to help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de- icer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing. To open
a frozen lock, try heating the key before
inserting it.

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Part 4
IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY
If your vehicle will not start
If your engine stalls while
driving
If your vehicle overheats
If you have a flat tire
If your vehicle needs to be
towed
If you cannot shift automatic
transmission selector lever
If you lose your keys
Before making these checks, make sure
you have followed the correct starting pro-
cedure given in ºHow to start the engineº
in Part 3 and that you have sufficient fuel.
If the engine is not turning over or is
turning over too slowlyÐ
1. Check that the battery terminals are tight and clean.
2. If the battery terminals are O.K., switch on the interior light.
3. If the light is out, dim or goes out when the starter is cranked, the battery
is discharged. You may try jump start-
ing. See º(c) Jump startingº for further
instructions.
If the light is O.K., but the engine still will
not start, it needs adjustment or repair.
Call a Toyota dealer or qualified repair
shop.
NOTICE
Do not pull- or push- start the ve- hicle. It may damage the vehicle orcause a collision when the engine starts. Also the three- way catalytic
converter may overheat and become afire hazard.
If the engine turns over at its normal
speed but will not startÐ
1. Check that all the push- on connectors are tight. (For example, connections at
the spark plugs,ignition coil and/or dis-
tributor)
2. If the connectors are O.K., the engine may be flooded because of repeated
cranking. See º(b) Starting a flooded
engineº for further instructions.
If your vehicle will not startÐ
(a) Simple checks