warning TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV 2021 Owners Manual

4947-2. Maintenance
7-2.Maintenance
■Where to go for maintenance ser-
vice?
In order to maintain y our vehicle in the best possible condition, Toyota recom -
mends that maintenance service opera -
tions as well as other inspections and repairs be carried out by authorized
Toyota retailers or Toyota authorized
repairers, or any relia ble repairers. For repairs and services covered by your
warranty, please vi sit an authorized
Toyota retailer or repairer, who will use genuine Toyota parts in repairing any
difficulties you may encounter. There
can also be advantages in utilizing authorized Toyota reta ilers or repairers
for non-warranty repairs and services,
as members of the Toyota network will be able to expertly assist you with any
difficulties you may encounter.
Your Toyota retailer or Toyota autho -
rized repairer, or any reliable repairer will perform all of the scheduled mainte -
nance on your vehicle reliably and eco -
nomically due to the ir experience with Toyota vehicles.
Scheduled maintenance should be
performed at speci fied intervals
according to the maintenance
schedule.
For full details of your maintenance
schedule, refer to the “Toyota Service
Booklet” or “Toyota Warranty Booklet”.
What about do-it-yourself mainte -
nance?
Many maintenance it ems are easy to
do yourself if you have a little mechani -
cal ability and a few basic automotive
tools.
Note, however, that some maintenance
tasks require specia l tools and skills.
These are best per formed by qualified
technicians. Even if you’re an experi -
enced do-it-yourself mechanic, we rec -
ommend that repairs and maintenance
be conducted by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer,
or any reliable repairer. Any authorized
Toyota retailer or repairer will keep a
record of maintenance, which could be
useful should you ever require War -
ranty Service. Should you choose to
select a qualified and equipped profes -
sional other than an authorized Toyota
repairer to service or maintain your
vehicle, we recommend that you
Maintenance require-
ments
To ensure safe and economical
driving, day-to-day care and
regular maintenance are
essential. Toyota recom -
mends the maintenance below.
WARNING
■If your vehicle is not properly
maintained
Improper maintenanc e could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and
possible death or serious injury.
■Handling of the 12-volt battery
12-volt battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds which are known to cause brain damage. Wash your
hands after handling. ( →P.506)
Scheduled maintenance
Do-it-yourself maintenance

4967-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions
If you perform maintenance by
yourself, be sure to follow the
correct procedure as given in
these sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
12-volt battery
condition
( →P.506)
•Grease
• Conventional
wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)
Engine/power
control unit
coolant level
( →P.503)
• “Toyota Super Long
Life Coolant” or a
similar high quality
ethylene glycol-
based non-silicate,
non-amine, non-
nitrite and non-
borate coolant with
long-life hybrid
organic acid technol -
ogy
“Toyota Super Long
Life Coolant” is pre -
mixed with 50%
coolant and 50%
deionized water.
• Funnel (used only
for adding coolant)
Engine oil level
( →P.501)
• “Toyota Genuine
Motor Oil” or equiva -
lent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only
for adding engine
oil)
Fuses
( →P.545)
• Fuse with same
amperage rating as
original
DC/DC Con -
verter air
intake vent
( →P.536)
• Vacuum cleaner,
etc,
• Phillips screwdriver
Light bulbs
( →P.548)
• Bulb with same
number and watt -
age rating as origi -
nal
• Phillips-head screw -
driver
• Flathead screw -
driver
• Wrench
Radiator and
condenser
( →P.504)
⎯
Tire inflation
pressure
( →P.529)
• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air
source
Washer fluid
( →P.505)
• Water or washer
fluid containing anti -
freeze (for winter
use)
• Funnel (used only
for adding water or
washer fluid)
WARNING
The engine compartment contains
many mechanisms and fluids that may move suddenly, become hot, or
become electrically energized. To
avoid death or serious injury, observe the following precautions.
ItemsParts and tools

497
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
WARNING
■When working on the engine
compartment
●Make sure that “IGNITION ON” on the multi-information display and
the “READY” indicat or are both off.
●Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from the moving fan.
●Be careful not to touch the engine, power control unit, radiator, exhaust
manifold, etc. right after driving as
they may be hot. Oil and other flu - ids may also be hot.
●Do not leave anyt hing that may burn easily, such as paper and
rags, in the engi ne compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or
expose an open flame to fuel or the
12-volt battery. Fu el and 12-volt battery fumes are flammable.
●Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and dam -
age painted surfac es. If fluid gets
on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean water
immediately. If you still experience
discomfort, consult a doctor.
■When working near the electric
cooling fan or radiator grille
Be sure the power switch is off.
With the power swi tch in ON, the
electric cooling fan may automatically start to run if the air conditioning is on
and/or the coolant temperature is
high. ( →P.504)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc.,
from getting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove th e air cleaner fil-
ter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive
engine wear due to dirt in the air.
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the br ake fluid level to
go down slightly as the brake pads
wear or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refill -
ing, it may indicate a serious problem.

4987-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
1Pull the hood lock release lever.
The hood will pop up slightly.
2Push the auxiliary catch lever to
the left and lift the hood.
3 Hold the hood open by inserting
the supporting rod into the slot.Hood
Release the lock from the
inside of the vehicle to open
the hood.
Opening the hood
WARNING
■Pre-driving check
Check that the hood is fully closed
and locked.
If the hood is not lo cked properly, it
may open while the vehicle is in motion and cause an accident, which
may result in death or serious injury.
■To prevent burns
Do not touch the pipes when the com -
pressor is operati ng or after it is stopped, because the pipes are hot.
Touching by hands before the pipes
cool down may cause burns.
■After installing the support rod
into the slot
Make sure the rod supports the hood
securely from falli ng down on to your
head or body.

499
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
■Front
WARNING
■When closing the hood
When closing the hood, take extra
care to prevent your fingers etc. from being caught.
NOTICE
■When closing the hood
Be sure to return the support rod to its
clip before closing the hood. Closing the hood without returning the support
rod properly could cause the hood to
bend.
Positioning a floor jack
When using a floor jack, follow
the instructions in the manual
provided with the jack and per -
form the operation safely.
When raising your vehicle with
a floor jack, position the jack
correctly.
Improper place ment may dam-
age your vehicle or cause
injury.
Location of the jack point

503
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
■Engine oil consumption
A certain amount o f engine oil will be
consumed while driving. In the following
situations, oil consumption may increase, and engine oil may need to be
refilled in between oil maintenance inter -
vals.
●When the engine is new, for example
directly after purchasing the vehicle or after replacing the engine
●If low quality oil or oil of an inappropri - ate viscosity is used
●When driving at high engine speeds or with a heavy load , when towing, or
when driving while accelerating or
decelerating frequently
●When leaving the engine idling for a
long time, or when driving frequently through heavy traffic
The coolant level is satisfactory if it
is between the “ FULL” and “LOW”
lines on the reservoir when the
hybrid system is cold.
■Engine coolant reservoir
Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
WARNING
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains poten -
tially harmful contaminants which may cause skin di sorders such as
inflammation and skin cancer, so
care should be taken to avoid pro - longed and repeated contact. To
remove used engine oil from your
skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
●Dispose of used oi l and filters only in a safe and acceptable manner.
Do not dispose of used oil and fil -
ters in household trash, in sewers or onto the ground. Call any autho -
rized Toyota ret ailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer, service station or auto
parts store for in formation concern-
ing recycling or disposal.
●Do not leave used e ngine oil within
the reach of children.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious engine dam -
age
Check the oil level on a regular basis.
■When replacing the engine oil
●Be careful not to spill engine oil on the vehicle components.
●Avoid overfilling, or the engine
could be damaged.
●Check the oil leve l on the dipstick
every time you refill the vehicle.
●Be sure the engine oil filler cap is
properly tightened.
■If oil is spilled on the engine
cover
To prevent the engine cover from
being damaged, remove any engine
oil from the engine cover as soon as possible using a neutral detergent. Do
not use an organic solvent such as
brake cleaner.
Checking the coolant
A
B

5047-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL” line.
( →P.611)
■Power control unit coolant
reservoir
Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL” line.
( →P.613)
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coo - lant” or a similar hig h quality ethylene
glycol based non-si licate, non-amine,
non-nitrite, and non- borate coolant with long-life hybrid org anic acid technology.
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a
mixture of 50% coolant and 50% deion - ized water. (Minimu m temperature: -
35°C [-31°F])
For more details about coolant, contact any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer.
■If the coolant level drops within a short time of replenishing
Visually check the radiators, hoses,
engine/power control unit coolant reser - voir caps, drain cock and water pump.
If you cannot find a leak, have any
authorized Toyota r etailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer, test the cap and check for
leaks in the cooling system.
Check the radiator and condenser,
and clear away any foreign objects.
If either of the above parts is
extremely dirty or you are not sure
of their condition, have your vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
C
A
B
C
WARNING
■When the hybrid system is hot
Do not remove the engine/power con -
trol unit coolant reservoir caps.
The cooling system may be under
pressure and may spray hot coolant if the cap is removed, causing serious
injuries, such as burns.
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor
straight antifreeze. The correct mix - ture of water and antifreeze must be
used to provide proper lubrication,
corrosion protection and cooling. Be sure to read the anti freeze or coolant
label.
■If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to
prevent it from damaging parts or
paint.
Checking the radiator and
condenser

505
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
Without level gauge
Type A: If any washer does not
work, the washer tank may be
empty. Add washer fluid.
Type B: If any washer does not
work or the wa rning message
appears on the multi-information
display, the washer tank may be
empty. Add washer fluid.
With level gauge
If the washer fluid level is at “LOW”,
add washer fluid.
■Using the gauge (if equipped)
The washer fluid level can be checked
by observing the position of the level on
the liquid-covered holes in the gauge.
If the level falls below the second hole
from the bottom (the “LOW” position),
refill the washer fluid.
Current fluid level
WARNING
■When the hybrid system is hot
Do not touch the radiator or con -
denser as they may be hot and cause serious injuries, such as burns.
■When the electric cooling fan is operating
Do not touch the engine compart -
ment.
With the power swi tch in ON mode, the electric cooli ng fan may automati-
cally start to run if t he air conditioning
is on and/or the c oolant temperature is high. Be sure the power switch is
off when working near the electric
cooling fan or radiator grille.
Checking and adding the
washer fluid
WARNING
■When adding washer fluid
Do not add washer fluid when the
hybrid system is hot or operating as
washer fluid contains alcohol and may catch fire if sp illed on the hybrid
system, etc.
A

507
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
doors.
●Start the hybrid system with the power
switch in ACC. The hybrid system
may not start with the power switch turned off. Howeve r, the hybrid sys-
tem will operate normally from the
second attempt.
●The power switch mode is recorded
by the vehicle. If the 12-volt battery is reconnected, the vehicle will return
the power switch mode to the status it
was in before the 12-volt battery was disconnected. Make sure to turn off
the power switch b efore disconnect
the 12-volt battery. Take extra care when connecting the 12-volt battery if
the power switch m ode prior to dis-
charge is unknown.
If the hybrid system will not start even
after multiple attem pts at all methods
above, contact any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or
any reliable repairer.
WARNING
■Chemicals in the 12-volt battery
The 12-volt battery contains poison - ous and corrosive sulfuric acid and
may produce hydrogen gas which is
flammable and expl osive. To reduce the risk of death or serious injury, take
the following precautions while work -
ing on or near the 12-volt battery:
●Do not cause sparks by touching
the 12-volt batter y terminals with tools.
●Do not smoke or light a match near the 12-volt battery.
●Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothes.
●Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.
●Wear protective safety glasses
when working near the 12-volt bat- tery.
●Keep children away from the 12-volt battery.
■Where to safely charge the 12-volt battery
Always charge the 12-volt battery in
an open area. Do not charge the 12- volt battery in a garage or closed
room where there is not sufficient
ventilation.
■Emergency measures regarding
electrolyte
●If electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean water for
at least 15 minutes and get immediate
medical attention. If possible, con-
tinue to apply wate r with a sponge or
cloth while traveling to the nearest
medical facility.
●If electrolyte g ets on your skin
Wash the affec ted area thoroughly. If
you feel pain or burning, get medical
attention immediately.
●If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to
your skin. Immediat ely take off the
clothing and follow the procedure
above if necessary.
●If you accidentally swallow electro -
lyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk.
Get emergency medical attention
immediately.
■When there is insu fficient 12-volt
battery fluid
Do not use if there is insufficient fluid in the 12-volt battery. There is a pos -
sible danger that the 12-volt battery
may explode.

5107-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
molded into the sidewall of each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear indi -
cators are showing on a tire.
■When to replace your vehicle’s
tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●The treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
●You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to expose
the fabric, and bulges indicating inter -
nal damage.
●A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot
be properly repaired due to the size or location of a cut or other damage.
If you are not sure, consult with any
authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 y ears old must be checked by a qualified technician even if
it has seldom or never been used or
damage is not obvious.
■If the tread on snow tires wears down below 4 mm (0.16 in.)
The effectiveness of t he tires as snow
tires is lost.
Rotate the tires in the order shown.
To equalize tire wear and help extend
tire life, Toyota re commends that tire
rotation is carried out approximately
WARNING
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to
prevent accidents. Failure to do so may cause damage
to parts of the driv e train as well as
dangerous handling c haracteristics, which may lead to an accident result -
ing in death or serious injury.
●Do not mix tires of different makes, models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of remarkably
different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota.
●Do not mix differently constructed tires (radial, bias-belted or bias-ply
tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season and
snow tires.
●Do not use tires that have been
used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not know how they were used previously.
●Vehicles with compact spare tire: Do not tow if your vehicle has a
compact spare tire installed.
●Vehicles with emergency tire punc -
ture repair kit: Do not tow anything
if a tire that has been repaired using the emergency tire puncture repair
kit is installed. The load on the tire
may cause unexpec ted damage to the tire.
NOTICE
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on
roads with loose sur faces or potholes. These conditions may cause losses in
tire inflation pressure, reducing the
cushioning ability of the tires. In addi - tion, driving on rough roads may
cause damage to the tires them -
selves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels and body.
■If tire inflation pressure of each tire becomes low while driving
Do not continue drivi ng, or your tires
and/or wheels may be ruined.
Tire rotation