tow TOYOTA RAV4 2005 XA30 / 3.G User Guide

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(b) Overdrive switch
You can select either third gear (with
overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-
drive on) by pushing this switch.
To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.
The O/D OFFº indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The O/D OFFº indicator
light should go off.
Always drive your vehicle with the over-
drive on for better fuel economy and
quieter driving.
If the engine is turned off when the over-
drive is off and restarted, the overdrive
will be on automatically.Vehicles with cruise controlÐWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking will not be enabled because the
cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see Cruise controlº on page 135 in this
Section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in How to start the engineº on page 228 in
Section 3. The transmission must be in
Pº or Nº.
2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to Dº.
When the lever is in the Dº position, the
automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for running condi-
tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-
ing, hard towing, etc.
Always turn the overdrive on for better
fuel economy and quieter driving. If the
engine coolant temperature is low, the
transmission will not shift into the over-
drive gear even with the overdrive on.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(d) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:

Push the overdrive switch. The O/D
OFFº indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to third
gear.

Shift into the 2º position. The trans-
mission will downshift to second gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
stronger engine braking will be en-
abled. Two- wheel drive models107 km/h (66 mph)
Four- wheel drive models 101 km/h (62 mph)

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Shift into the Lº position. The trans-
mission will downshift to first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.Two- wheel drive models53 km/h (33 mph)
Four- wheel drive models
50 km/h (31 mph)
Vehicles with cruise controlÐWhen the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking will not be enabled because the
cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see Cruise controlº on page 135 in this
Section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to skid or
spin.
(e) Using 2º and Lº positions
The 2º and Lº positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in 2º or Lº, you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in Dº.
With the selector lever in 2º, the vehicle
will start in first gear and automatically
shift to second gear.
With the selector lever in Lº, the trans-
mission is engaged in first gear.
NOTICE

Be careful not to over- rev the en- gine. Watch the tachometer to keepengine rpm from going into the redzone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position isgiven below for your reference:
Two- wheel drive models2º 119 km/h (74 mph) . . . . . . . . .
Lº 66 km/h (41 mph) . . . . . . . . . .
Four- wheel drive models 2º 110 km/h (68 mph) . . . . . . . . .
Lº 61 km/h (38 mph) . . . . . . . . . .

Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the2º or Lº position. This may causesevere automatic transmission dam-
age from overheating. To preventsuch damage, Dº position shouldbe used in hill climbing or hard
towing.
(f) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the selector lever to the
Rº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-hicle is moving.

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(g) Parking1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever up fully to securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down, shift the selector lever to the Pº posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into Pº position under any cir-
cumstances while the vehicle is mov-
ing. Serious mechanical damage and
loss of vehicle control may result.
(h) Good driving practice

If the transmission repeatedly shifts up
and down between third gear and over-
drive when climbing a gentle slope, the
overdrive should be turned off. Be sure
to turn the switch on immediately after-
ward.

When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use overdrive.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping.
NOTICE
Always use the brake pedal or theparking brake to hold the vehicle onan upgrade. Do not attempt to holdthe vehicle using the accelerator ped-
al, as this can cause the transmissionto overheat.
(i) If you cannot shift the selector le- ver out of Pº position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the Pº position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see If
you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector leverº on page 262 in Section 4.
The shift pattern is as shown above.
Press the clutch pedal down fully while
shifting, and then release it slowly. Do not
rest your foot on the pedal while driving,
because it will cause clutch trouble. Do
not use the clutch to hold the vehicle
when stopped on an uphill gradeÐuse the
parking brake.
Manual transmission

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Recommended shifting speeds
The transmission is fully synchronized and
upshifting or downshifting is easy.
For the best compromise between fuel
economy and vehicle performance, you
should upshift or downshift at the following
speeds:gear km/h (mph)
1 to 2 or 2 to 1 24 (15)
2 to 3 or 3 to 2 40 (25)
3 to 4 or 4 to 3 64 (40)
4 to 5 or 5 to 4 72 (45)
Downshift to the appropriate gear if accel-
eration is needed when you are cruising
below the above downshifting speeds.
Upshifting too soon or downshifting too
late will cause lugging and, possibly, ping-
ing. Regularly revving the engine to maxi-
mum speed in each gear will cause ex-
cessive engine wear and high fuel
consumption. Maximum allowable speeds
To get on a highway or to pass slower
traffic, maximum acceleration may be nec-
essary. Make sure you observe the follow-
ing maximum allowable speeds in each
gear:
Two- wheel drive models gear km/h (mph)1 50 (31)
2 94 (58)
3 144 (89)
4 186 (115)
Four- wheel drive models
gear km/h (mph)1 43 (26)
2 85 (53)
3 131 (81)
4 170 (106)
NOTICE
Do not downshift if you are going
faster than the maximum allowablespeed for the next lower gear.
Good driving practice

If it is difficult to shift into reverse, put
the transmission in neutral, release the
clutch pedal momentarily, and then try
again.

When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use fifth gear.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to skid or
spin.
NOTICE
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before shifting into reverse.

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LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT
This light comes on when the ignition key
is turned to the ONº position. It goes off
after a few seconds. This indicates that
the tire pressure warning system is func-
tioning properly.
If the low tire pressure warning light
comes on or blinks while driving, do
the following.If the warning light comes on:
1. Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified level as soon as pos-
sible. (See Tiresº on page 316 in
Section 8.)
2. Push the tire pressure warning sys- tem reset switch for a few seconds
and make sure the warning light
goes off.
If the light remains on after the reset
switch has been pushed, have the tire
pressure warning system checked at your
Toyota dealer.
If you have a flat tire, replace it with the
spare tire. For details, see If you have
a flat tireº on page 247 in Section 4.
If the warning light blinks once every
second:
The low tire pressure warning system may
be malfunctioning. Contact your Toyota
dealer.
If the warning light blinks twice every
second:
The low tire pressure warning system
needs to be initialized. Reset the system
with the tire pressure warning system re-
set switch. (To reset the system, see
TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM
RESET SWITCHº.) The tire pressure warning system does
not function properly under certain cir-
cumstances. In the following cases, the
low tire pressure warning light may not
come on even if the tire inflation pres-
sure is low, or it may come on when
the tire inflation pressure is actually
normal.

Snow tires, or tire chains are used.

The tire inflation pressure is excessive-
ly higher than specified, or tire inflation
pressure suddenly drops due to burst-
ing or other causes.

The vehicle is driven on a slippery
road surface such as rough or frozen
roads.

The vehicle speed is less than 30 km/h
(19 mph) or more than 100 km/h (62
mph), and the driving duration is less
than 5 minutes.

The tires differ in tread pattern or
manufacturer.

The tires are not the specified size.

The tread wear is very different among
the installed tires.

Rapid acceleration/deceleration or
sharp turns is continued.

Towing a trailer.

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If following another vehicle on a dusty
road, or driving in windy and dusty
conditions, it is recommended that the
air intake selector be temporarily set to
RECIRCULATE, which will close off the
outside passage and prevent outside
air and dust from entering the vehicle
interior.Heating
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speedÐ Any setting except OFFº
TemperatureÐ To w a r d s WARM
(red zone)
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐFLOOR
Air conditioningÐOFF

For quick heating, select recirculated
air for a few minutes. To keep the
windows from fogging, select fresh af-
ter the vehicle interior has been
warmed.

Press the A/Cº button on for dehumidi-
fied heating.

Choose floor/windshield air flow to heat
the vehicle interior while defrosting or
defogging the windshield.
Air conditioning
For best results, set controls to:
Fan speedÐ Any setting except OFFº
TemperatureÐ To w a r d s COLD
(blue zone)
Air intakeÐFRESH (outside air)
Air flowÐPANEL
Air conditioningÐON

For quick cooling, turn the temperature
selector knob fully towards COLD and
change the air intake selector mode to
RECIRCULATE.

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To secure your luggage, use the tie- down
hooks as shown above.
See ÐStowage precautionsº on page 221
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
CAUTION
To avoid personal injury, keep the tie-
down hooks stored under the carpet
when not in use.
NOTICE
Do not use the seat anchors insteadof the tie- down hooks.
This hook is designed to hang things
like grocery bags.
To use the hook, pull it down.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the hook, donot hang any object heavier than 4 kg(8.8 lb.) on it.
This hook is designed to hang things
like grocery bags.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the hook, do
not hang any object heavier than 4 kg(8.8 lb.) on it.
Tie- d o wn ho o ks Gro cery bag ho o ks (t yp e A) Gro cery bag ho o ks (t yp e B)

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Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. Because of its profile and
higher center of gravity, your ve-
hicle is more sensitive to side
winds than an ordinary passenger
car. Slowing down will allow you to
have better control.

When driving off- road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle's suspension and
chassis.

Do not drive horizontally across
steep slopes. Driving straight up or
straight down is preferred. Your ve-
hicle (or any similar off- road ve-
hicle) can tip over sideways much
more easily than forward or back-
ward.
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break- in. But following a few simple tips
for the first 1600 km (1000 miles) can add
to the future economy and long life of
your vehicle:

Avoid full throttle acceleration when
starting and driving.

Avoid racing the engine.

Try to avoid hard stops during the first
300 km (200 miles).

Do not drive slowly with the manual
transmission in a high gear.

Do not drive for a long time at any
single speed, either fast or slow.

Do not tow a trailer during the first 800
km (500 miles).FUEL TYPE
Your new vehicle must use only un-
leaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mix- ups, your
Toyota has a smaller fuel tank opening.
The special nozzle on pumps with un-
leaded fuel will fit it, but the larger stan-
dard nozzle on pumps with leaded gas will
not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use
should meet the specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB 3.5- M93
in Canada.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of
leaded gasoline will cause the three-way catalytic converter to lose its ef-fectiveness and the emission control
system to function improperly. Also,this can increase maintenance costs.
Break- in period Fuel

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Vehicle load limits include total load
capacity, seating capacity, towing ca-
pacity and cargo capacity. Follow the
load limits shown below.
Total load capacity:Four- wheel drive modelsWith automatic transmission
345 kg (761 lb.)
With manual transmission 375 kg (826 lb.)
Two- wheel drive models With automatic transmission 417 kg (919 lb.)
With manual transmission 447 kg (985 lb.)
Total load capacity means com-
bined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage. Tongue load is in-
cluded when trailer towing.
Seating capacity: Total 5 (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maxi-
mum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 68 kg
(150 lb.) per person. Depending on
the weight of each person, the seat-
ing capacity given may exceed the
total load capacity.NOTICE
Even if the number of occupantsare within the seating capacity,
do not exceed the total load ca-pacity.
Towing capacity: 680 kg (1500 lb.)
Towing capacity means the maxi-
mum gross trailer weight (trailer
weight plus its cargo weight) that
your vehicle is able to tow.
Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or de-
crease depending on the size (weight)
and the number of occupants. For de-
tails, see Capacity and distributionº
that follows.
CAUTION
Do not apply the load more than
each load limit. That may cause
not only damage to the tires, but
also deterioration to the steering
ability and braking ability, which
may cause an accident.
When stowing cargo and luggage in
the vehicle, observe the following:
Put cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment when at all
possible. Be sure all items are se-
cured in place.

Be careful to keep the vehicle bal-
anced. Locating the weight as far
forward as possible helps maintain
balance.

For better fuel economy, do not
carry unneeded weight.
Veh icle lo ad limit s Cargo and luggageÐ
ÐStowage precautions

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4. The resulting figure equals theavailable amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example,
if the XXXº amount equals 1400
lbs. and there will be five 150 lb.
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400±750 (5x150)=650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available car-
go and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
For details about trailer towing, see
page 234.
Cargo
capacity
Total load
capacity
EXAMPLE ON YOUR VEHICLE
In case that 2 people with the com-
bined weight of 166 kg (366 lb.) are
riding in your vehicle, the available
amount of cargo and luggage load ca-
pacity will be as follows:
Four- wheel drive modelsÐ
With automatic transmission
Total load capacity: 345 kg (761 lb.) 345 kg ± 166 kg = 179 kg.
( 761 lb. ± 366 lb. = 395 lb. )
With manual transmission
Total load capacity: 375 kg (826 lb.) 375 kg ± 166 kg = 209 kg.
( 826 lb. ± 366 lb. = 460 lb. ) Two- wheel drive modelsÐ
With automatic transmission
Total load capacity: 417 kg (919 lb.)
417 kg ± 166 kg = 251 kg.
( 919 lb. ± 366 lb. = 553 lb. )
With manual transmission
Total load capacity: 447 kg (985 lb.) 447 kg ± 166 kg = 281 kg.
( 985 lb. ± 366 lb. = 619 lb. )
From this condition, if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of 176
kg (388 lb.) get on, the available car-
go and luggage load will be reduced
as follows:
Four- wheel drive modelsÐ
With automatic transmission 179 kg ± 176 kg = 3 kg.
( 395 lb. ± 388 lb. = 7 lb. )
With manual transmission 209 kg ± 176 kg = 33 kg.
( 460 lb. ± 388 lb. = 72 lb. )