TOYOTA RAV4 2001 Owners Manual

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
272001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors
Seats28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seats28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flattening seatbacks38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head restraints39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belts40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS driver and front passenger airbags50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt steering wheel74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside rear view mirrors74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti±glare inside rear view mirror76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sun visors76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1± 3
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
282001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Seats
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION

Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow sitting on top of a
folded±down seatback, or in the
luggage compartment. Persons not
properly seated and/or properly re-
strained by seat belts can be se-
verely injured in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.

During driving, do not allow pas-
sengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Severe inju-
ries can occur in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
Adjust the driver's seat so that the foot
pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel controls are within easy reach of
the driver.
CAUTION

Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving, as the
seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.

When adjusting the seat, be careful
not to hit the seat against a pas-
senger or luggage.

After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is locked in posi-
tion.

After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.

Do not put objects under the seats.
The objects may interfere with the
seat±lock mechanism or unexpect-
edly push up the seat position ad-
justing lever; the seat may suddenly
move, causing the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

While adjusting the seat, do not put
your hands under the seat or near
the moving parts. You may catch
and injure your hands or fingers.
Front seatsÐ
ÐSeat adjustment
precautions
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
292001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
ÐAdjusting front seats
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
2. SEAT CUSHION ANGLE ADJUSTING
KNOB
Turn the knob either way.
3. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maxi-
mum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the pas-
senger are sitting up straight and
well back in the seats. If you are
reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. Therefore, in
the event of a frontal collision, the
risk of personal injury may increase
with increasing recline of the seat-
back.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
302001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION

Any operations should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.

When adjusting the seat, be careful
not to hit the seat against a pas-
senger or luggage.

Adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seat-
backs at the same angle when a
person sits on the rear center posi-
tion. Otherwise, the person cannot
wear seat belt properly and this
may cause serious injuries in a col-
lision.

After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is lock in position.

After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.

When returning seats to their origi-
nal position:
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent seat belt from operat-
ing properly.
Folding the seats up will enlarge the lug-
gage compartment. See ªLuggage stowage
precautionsº on page 162 in Section 2 for
precautions in loading luggage.
ÐAdjusting rear seats
Rear seatsÐ
ÐRear seat precautions
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
312001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
When a person sits on the rear center
position, adjust both seat cushions to
the same position.
Do not place anything under the seats. It
might interfere with the seat±lock mecha-
nism.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
STRAP
Pull the strap up. Then lean back to the
desired angle and release the strap.
When a person sits on the rear center
position, align both seatbacks at the
same angle.
CAUTION

Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.

Adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seat-
backs at the same angle when a
person sits on the rear center posi-
tion. Otherwise, the person cannot
wear seat belt properly and this
may cause serious injuries in a col-
lision.

To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you
are reclined, the lap belt may slide
past your hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen.
Therefore, in the event of a frontal
collision, the risk of personal injury
may increase with increasing recline
of the seatback.

After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
NOTICE
Do not fold the seatback forward
while the luggage cover is set.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
322001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
ÐFolding up rear seats
BEFORE FOLDING UP REAR SEAT
Stow the rear center seat belt, do the
following:
1. Pull the seat belt out of its cover a
little and insert the concave end tab
into the higher slot of the cover.2. Insert the round end tab into the
cover. You will hear a click when the
tabs are locked in the seat belt cov-
er. Make sure the tabs are securely
locked in the cover.
NOTICE
The seat belt must be stowed before
you fold the seatback.
FOLDING UP REAR SEATS
1. Hold the center of the lever and pull
it up. Then slide the front seat fully
forward.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See ªLuggage stow-
age precautionsº on page 162 in Section
2 for precautions in loading luggage.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
332001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
2. Hold the center of the lever and pull
it up. Then slide the rear seat fully
backward and pull it forward slightly
till it locks.3. Lower the head restraint to the low-
est position. Pull up the strap to
unlock the seatback and fold the
seatback forward until it locks.
NOTICE
Do not fold the seatback forward
while the luggage cover is set.
4. Pull up the seat cushion lock release
lever and swing the whole seat up
and forward.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
342001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
5. Make sure the front legs are locked
and the seat is securely locked in
position.RETURNING REAR SEAT
1. To unlock the seat, hold the upper
back of the seat with your hand and
pull the lock release strap up. Swing
the whole seat down and set the
rear legs to the hooks on the floor.
Make sure the rear legs are securely
set to the hooks by trying to pull up
the rear part of the seat.2. Pull the seatback release strap and
swing the seatback up.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
352001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION
When returning seats to their original
position:

Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.

Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent seat belt from operat-
ing properly.
ÐRemoving rear seats
1. Fold up rear seats. (See ªÐFolding
up rear seatsº on page 32 in this
section for instructions.)2. Unlock the seat by pulling the lock
release lever. Pull the seat toward
you slightly and lift.
Removing the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See ªLuggage stow-
age precautionsº on page 162 in Section
2 for precautions in loading luggage.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
362001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION
When removing the seat, observe the
following to prevent personal injury:

Be careful not to get your hands or
feet pinched in the seat.

Be careful not to hit the removed
seat against a person or drop it on
yourself.
NOTICE
Avoid putting heavy loads on the re-
moved seat. The metallic tips of the
seat leg may be damaged and the
seat cannot be reinstalled.
ÐReinstalling rear seats
1. While pulling up the lock release le-
ver, place the rear hinge into the
rear hook on the floor.2. Push the seat forward until it locks.
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