steering TOYOTA RAV4 1999 Owner's Manual

'99 Rav4.U183
Tire surface and wheel nuts
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage
or excessive wear. See Chapter 7- 2 for
additional information. When checking the
tires, make sure no nuts are missing, and
check the nuts for looseness. Tighten
them if necessary.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires every 12000 km (7500
miles). See Chapter 7- 2 for additional in-
formation.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, wa-
ter or other fluid after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. If you smell fuel
fumes or notice any leak, have the cause
found and corrected immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors and back door oper-
ate smoothly and all latches lock securely.
Make sure the engine hood secondary
latch secures the hood from opening when
the primary latch is released.
INSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be checked
regularly, e.g. while performing periodic
services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights, and other lights
are all working.
Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers function properly.
Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified freeplay.
Be alert for changes in steering condition,
such as hard steering or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all seat controls such as seat
adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. operate
smoothly and that all latches lock securely
in any position. For folding- up rear seat-
backs, check that the latches lock secure-
ly.Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as
buckles, retractors and anchors operate
properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt
webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-aged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
uneven pedal effort or catching.
Clutch pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
that the pedal has the proper clearance.
Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do
not pull to one side when applied.
Parking brake
Check that the lever has the proper travel
and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle
is held securely with only the parking
brake applied.

'99 Rav4.U
184
Automatic transmission ºParkº mecha-
nism
Check the lock release button of the se-
lector lever for proper and smooth opera-
tion. On a safe incline, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the selector
lever in ºPº position and all brakes re-
leased.
IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Items listed below should be checked
from time to time, e.g. each time when
refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the
tank. See Chapter 7- 3 for additional in-
formation.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the ºFULLº and ºLOWº lines on the see-
through reservoir when the engine is cold.
See Chapter 7- 2 for additional information.
Battery electrolyte level
Make sure the electrolyte level of all bat-
tery cells is between upper and lower lev-
el lines on the case. Add only distilled
water when replenishing. See Chapter 7- 3
for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See Chapter 7- 2 for additional information.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the
engine turned off and the vehicle parked
on a level spot. See Chapter 7- 2 for addi-
tional information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir. The
level should be in the ºHOTº or ºCOLDº
range depending on the fluid temperature.
See Chapter 7- 2 for additional information.
Exhaust system
If you notice any change in the sound of
the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have
the cause located and corrected immedi-
ately. (See engine exhaust cautions in
Part 2.)
Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip- offs that
indicate service is needed. Some impor-
tant clues are as follows:
Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A leak under the vehicle (however, wa-
ter dripping from the air conditioning
after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked im-
mediately.)
Flat- looking tire; excessive tire squeal
when cornering; uneven tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when driving
straight on a level road
Strange noises related to suspension
movement
Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy
feeling brake or clutch pedal; pedal al-
most touches floor; vehicle pulls to one
side when braking
Engine coolant temperature continually
higher than normal
Does your vehicle need
repairing?

'99 Rav4.U
188
Engine compartment overview
1. Windshield and rear window washerfluid tank
2. Battery
3. Fuse blocks
4. Engine oil filler cap
5. Brake fluid reservoir
6. Engine coolant reservoir
7. Electric cooling fans
8. Engine oil level dipstick
9. Power steering fluid reservoir
10. Windshield washer fluid level dipstick

'99 Rav4.U
190
If you perform maintenance by yourself,
be sure to follow the correct procedure
given in this part.
You should be aware that improper or in-
complete servicing may result in operating
problems.
Performing do- it- yourself maintenance
during the warranty period may affect your
warranty coverage. Read the separate
Toyota Warranty statement for details and
suggestions.
This part gives instructions only for those
items that are relatively easy for an owner
to perform. As explained in Part 6, there
are still a number of items that must be
done by a qualified technician with special
tools.
For information on tools and parts for do-
it- yourself maintenance, see ºParts and
toolsº.
Utmost care should be taken when work-
ing on your vehicle to prevent accidental
injury. Here are a few precautions that
you should be especially careful to ob-
serve:CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from the moving fan and engine
drive belts. (Removing rings,
watches, and ties is advisable.)
Right after driving, the engine
compartmentÐthe engine, radiator,
exhaust manifold, power steering
fluid reservoir and spark plug
boots, etc.Ðwill be hot. So be care-
ful not to touch them. Oil, fluids
and spark plugs may also be hot.
If the engine is hot, do not remove
the radiator cap or loosen the drain
plugs to prevent burning yourself.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames around fuel or the
battery. Their fumes are flammable.
Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
Do not get under your vehicle with
just the body jack supporting it. Al-
ways use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.
Do- it- yourself service
precautions

'99 Rav4.U
192
Parts and tools
Here is a list of parts and tools you will
need on performing do- it- yourself mainte-
nance. Remember all Toyota parts are de-
signed in metric sizes, so your tools must
be metric.
Checking the engine oil level
Parts (if level is low):
Engine oil API grade SJ,
ºEnergy- Conservingº or ILSAC
multigrade having viscosity proper for
your climate
Tools: Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding oil)
Checking the engine coolant level
Parts (if level is low): ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or equiva-
lent
See Chapter 7- 2 for details about cool-
ant type selection.
Demineralized or distilled water
Tools:
Funnel (only for adding coolant)
Checking brake fluid
Parts (if level is low): SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
brake fluid Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking power steering fluid
Parts (if level is low): Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON II
or III
Tools: Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking battery condition
Tools:
Warm water
Baking soda
Grease
Conventional wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)
Checking and replacing fuses
Parts (if replacement is necessary): Fuse with same amperage rating as
original Tools:
Screwdriver (for driver's side instru-
ment lower panel nut)
Conventional wrench (for passenger 's
side kick panel nut)
Adding washer fluid
Parts: Water
Washer fluid containing antifreeze
(for winter use)
Tools:
Funnel
Replacing light bulbs
Parts: Bulb with same number and wattage
rating as original (See charts in ºRe-
placing light bulbsº in Chapter 7- 3.)
Tools:
Screwdriver

'99 Rav4.U193
Part 7
DO- IT- YOURSELF
MAINTENANCEÐ
Chapter 7- 2
Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level
Checking the engine coolant level
Checking brake fluid
Checking power steering fluid
Checking tire pressure
Checking and replacing tires
Rotating tires
Installing snow tires and chains
Replacing wheels
Aluminum wheel precautions
Checking the engine oil level
Low level Full level
Add oil O.K. Too full
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level
on the dipstick. 1. To get a true reading, the vehicle should be on a level spot. After turning
off the engine, wait a few minutes for
the oil to drain back into the bottom of
the engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, and wipe it clean with a rag.
3. Reinsert the dipstickÐpush it in as far as it will go, or the reading will not be
correct.
4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil level on the end.
CAUTION
Be careful not to touch the hot ex-
haust manifold.
If the oil level is below or only slightly
above the low level, add engine oil of
the same type as already in the engine.
Remove the oil filler cap and add engine
oil in small quantities at a time, checking
the dipstick.
The approximate quantity of oil needed to
fill between the low level and the full level
on the dipstick is indicated below for refer-
ence.
When the level reaches within the correct
range, install the f iller cap hand- tight.
Oil quantity, L (qt., lmp. qt.): 1.0 (1.1, 0.9)
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the enginecould be damaged.
Check the oil level on the dipstickonce again after adding the oil.

'99 Rav4.U
196
Checking brake fluid
To check the fluid level, simply look at
the see- through reservoir. The level
should be between the ºMAXº and
ºMINº lines on the reservoir.
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go
down slightly as the brake pads wear. So
be sure to keep the reservoir filled.
If the reservoir needs frequent ref
illing, it
may indicate a serious mechanical problem.
If the level is low, add SAE J1703 or
FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 brake fluid to the
brake reservoir.
Remove and replace the reservoir cover by
hand. Fill the brake fluid to the dotted line.
This brings the fluid to the correct level when
you put the cover back on. Use only newly opened brake fluid. Once
opened, brake fluid absorbs moisture from
the air, and excess moisture can cause a
dangerous loss of braking.
CAUTION
Take care when filling the r
eservoir
because brake fluid can harm your
eyes and damage painted surfaces. If
fluid gets in your eyes, flush your
eyes with clean water.
NOTICE
If you spill the fluid, be sure to wash
it off with water to prevent it fromdamaging the parts or paint.
Checking power steering fluid
Close Open
If hot O.K. If hot add If cold O.K.
If cold add
Check the fluid level through the reser-
voir. If necessary, add automatic trans-
mission fluid DEXRON II or III.
If the vehicle has been driven around 80
km/h (50 mph) for 20 minutes (a little more
in frigid temperatures), the fluid is hot
(60 CÐ80 C or 140 FÐ175 F). You may
also check the level when the fluid is cold
(about room temperature, 10 CÐ30 C or
50 FÐ85 F) if the engine has not been run
for about five hours.

'99 Rav4.U197
Clean all dirt from outside of the reservoir
tank and look at the fluid level. If the fluid
is cold, the level should be in the ºCOLDº
range. Similarly, if it is hot, the fluid level
should be in the ºHOTº range. If the level
is at the low side of either range, add auto-
matic transmission fluid DEXRON
II or III
to bring the level within the range.
To remove the filler cap, turn it c ounterclock-
wise and lift up. To reinstall it, turn it clock-
wise. After replacing the filler cap, visually
check the steering box case, vane pump and
hose connections for leaks or damage.
CAUTION
The reservoir tank may be hot so be
careful not to burn yourself.
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the power steer-
ing could be damaged.
Checking tire pressure
2- door hardtop and soft- top
4- door hardtop Keep your tire pressures at the proper
level.
The recommended cold tire pressures, tire
size and the vehicle capacity weight are giv-
en in Part 8. They are also on the tire pres-
sure label as shown.
You should check the tire pressures every
two weeks, or at least once a month. And
do not forget the spare!
Incorrect tire pressure can reduce tire
life and make your vehicle less safe to
drive.
Low tire pressure results in excessive wear,
poor handling, reduced fuel economy, and
the possibility of blowouts from over
heated
tires. Also, low tire pressure can cause poor
sealing of the tire bead. If the tire pressure
is excessively low, there is the possibility
of wheel deformation and/or tire separation.
High tire pressure produces a harsh ride,
handling problems, excessive wear at the
center of the tire tread, and a greater possi-
bility of tire damage from road hazards.
If a tire frequently needs ref illing, have it
checked by your Toyota dealer.
The following instructions for checking
tire pressure should be observed:

'99 Rav4.U217
Engine
Model:
3S- FE
Type: 4 cylinder in line, 4 cycle, gasoline
Bore and stroke, mm (in.): 86.0 86.0 (3.39 3.39)
Displacement, cm 3
(cu. in.):
1998 (121.9) Fuel
Fuel type:
Unleaded gasolene, Octane Rating 87
(Research Octane Number 91) or
higher
Fuel tank capacity, L (gal., lmp. gal.): 58 (15.3, 12.8) Service specifications
ENGINE
Valve clearance (engine cold), mm (in.):
Intake 0.19Ð0.29 (0.007Ð0.011)
Exhaust 0.28Ð0.38 (0.011Ð0.015)
Spark plug type: DENSO PK20TR11
NGK BKR6EKPB11
Spark plug gap, mm (in.): 1.1 (0.043)
Drive belt tension measured with Bor-
roughs drive belt tension gauge No.
BT- 33- 73F (used belt), Ibf: Generator belt 65
20
Air conditioning
compressor belt 66
99
Power steering
pump belt 80
20
ENGINE LUBRICATION
Oil capacity (drain and ref ill),
L (qt., Imp. qt.):
With filter4.1 (4.3, 3.6)
Without filter
3.9 (4.1, 3.4)

'99 Rav4.U219
TRANSFER
(four- wheel drive models with an auto-
matic transaxle)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.7 (0.7, 0.6)
Oil type: Gear oil API GL- 5
Recommended oil viscosity: SAE 75W- 90
REAR DIFFERENTIAL
(four- wheel drive models)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.): 0.9 (1.0, 0.8)
Oil type: Hypoid gear oil API GL- 5
Recommended oil viscosity: Above -18 5C (0 5F)
SAE 90
Below -18 5C (0 5F)
SAE 80W or 80W- 90 BRAKES
Minimum pedal clearance when depressed
with the pressure of 490 N (50 kgf, 110
lbf) with the engine running, mm (in.):
75 (3.0)
Pedal freeplay, mm (in.): 1Ð6 (0.04Ð0.24)
Pad wear limit, mm (in.): 1.0 (0.04)
Lining wear limit, mm (in.): 1.0 (0.04)
Parking brake adjustment when pulled with
the force of 196 N (20 kgf, 44 lbf): 5Ð8 clicks
Fluid type: SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
STEERING
Wheel freeplay: Less than 30 mm (1.2 in.)
Power steering fluid type: Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON II or III