height TOYOTA RAV4 1998 Owners Manual

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Part 2
INFORMATION
BEFORE DRIVING
YOUR TOYOTA
Off- road vehicle precautions
Break- in period
Fuel
Operation in foreign countries
Three- way catalytic converter
Engine exhaust cautions
Facts about engine oil
consumption
Twin ground electrode
platinum- tipped spark plugs
Brake system
Brake pad wear limit indicators
Luggage stowage precautions
Limited- slip differential
Your Toyota's identification
Theft prevention labels
Suspension and chassis
Types of tires
Off- road vehicle precautions
This vehicle is one of the class of ve-
hicles which have higher ground clear-
ance and narrower tread in relation to
the height of their center of gravity to
make them capable of performing in a
wide variety of off- road applications.
Specific design characteristics give it a
higher center of gravity than ordinary
cars. An advantage of the higher
ground clearance is a better view of the
road allowing you to anticipate prob-
lems. It is not designed for cornering
at the same speeds as conventional
two- wheel drive vehicles any more than
low- slung sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off- road
conditions.

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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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Part 3
STARTING AND DRIV-
ING
Before starting the engine
How to start the engine
Tips for driving in various
conditions
Off- road driving precautions
Winter driving tips
Tr ailer towing
How to save fuel and make your
vehicle last longer, too
Before starting the engine
1. Check the area around the vehicle be- fore entering it.
2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle, head restraint height and steering
wheel angle.
3. Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors.
4. Lock side doors, back door (hardtop) and tail gate (soft- top).
5. Fasten seat belts. 1. Apply the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-
sories.
3. Manual transmission: Press the clutch
pedal to the floor and shift the trans-
mission into neutral. Hold the clutch
pedal to the floor until the engine is
started. A starter safety device will pre-
vent the starter from operating if the
clutch pedal is not fully depressed.
Automatic transmission: Put the se-
lector lever in ºPº. If you need to re-
start the engine while the vehicle is
moving, put the selector lever in ºNº.
A starter safety device will prevent the
starter from operating if the selector
lever is in any drive position.
4. Automatic transmission only: De-
press the brake pedal and hold it to
the floor until driving off.
How to start the engineÐ
(a) Before cranking

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NOTICE
If the wrong combination of tire and chain is used, the chains could dam-age the vehicle body.
* RAV4 genuine tire chains
(Part No. 08329- 42801)
Laws about using tire chains vary ac-
cording to locality and type of road, so
always check your local laws before
you install tire chains.
CHAIN INSTALLATION
Four- wheel drive models:
Install the chains on the rear tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the front tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5Ð1.0 km
(1/4Ð1/2 mile).
Two- wheel drive models:
Install the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the rear tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5Ð1.0 km
(1/4Ð1/2 mile). When installing chains on your tires, care-
fully follow the instructions of the chain
manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so remove the
covers before putting on the chains.CAUTION

Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or
the chain manufacturer 's recom-
mended speed limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully avoiding bumps,
holes, and sharp turns, which may
cause the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked- wheel
braking, as use of chains may ad-
versely affect vehicle handling.
Replacing wheels
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS
If you have wheel damage such as
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion, the
wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the
tire may slip off the wheel or they may cause
loss of handling control.
WHEEL SELECTION
When replacing wheels, care should be
taken to ensure that the wheels are re-
placed by ones with the same load ca-
pacity, diameter, rim width, and offset.
Correct replacement wheels are available at
your Toyota dealer.
A wheel of a different brand, size and type
may adversely affect handling, wheel and
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/
odometer calibration, stopping ab ility, head-
light aim, bumper height, vehicle ground
clearance, and tire or snow chain clearance
to the body and chassis.

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Dimensions and weight
2- door hardtop4- door hardtopSoft- top
215/70R16 tires235/60R16 tires215/70R16 tires235/60R16 tires215/70R16 tires235/60R16 tires
Overall length mm (in.)3750 (147.6)3765 (148.2)4160 (163.8)4175 (164.4)3750 (147.6)3765 (148.2)
Overall width mm (in.)1695 (66.7)1760 (69.3)1695 (66.7)1760 (69.3)1695 (66.7)1760 (69.3)
Overall height mm (in.)1655 (65.2)
*
1
1645 (64.8) *
21635 (64.4)1660 (65.4) *
1
1650 (65.0) *
21640 (64.6)1660 (65.4) *
1
1650 (65.0) *
21640 (64.6)
Wheelbase mm (in.)2200 (86.6)2200 (86.6)2410 (94.9)2410 (94.9)2200 (86.6)2200 (86.6)
Front tread mm (in.)1460 (57.5)1480 (58.3)1460 (57.5)1480 (58.3)1460 (57.5)1480 (58.3)
Rear tread mm (in.)1465 (57.7) *
3
1470 (57.9) *
41490 (58.7)1465 (57.7) *
3
1470 (57.9) *
41490 (58.7)1465 (57.7) *
3
1470 (57.9) *
41490 (58.7)
Vehicle capacity weight
(occupants + luggage) kg(lb)273 (601) *
3
333 (734) *
4273 (601)341 (751) *
3
351 (773) *
4341 (751)273 (601) *
3
333 (734) *
4273 (601)
*
1
:Unladen vehicle (four- wheel drive models)
* 2
:Unladen vehicle (two- wheel drive models)
* 3
:Four- wheel drive models
* 4
:Two- wheel drive models