TOYOTA RAV4 2008 XA30 / 3.G Owners Manual

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
141
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Engine (ignition) switch, Transmission and Parking
brake
Engine (ignition) switch142
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
.
Automatic transmission 143
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
.
Active torque control 4WD system 150
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction control system 152
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
“AUTO LSD” system 153
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . .
Enhanced vehicle stability control system 155
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Downhill assist control system 158
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hill −start assist control system 161
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure warning system 163
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake 167
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 168
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1 7

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
142
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
“START”—Starter motor on. The key
will return to the “ON” position when
released.
For starting tips, see page 341 in Section
3.
“ON”—Engine on and all accessories
on.
This is the normal driving position.
“ACC”—Accessories such as the radio
operate, but the engine is off.
If you leave the engine switch in the
“ACC” or “LOCK” position and open the
driver ’s door, a buzzer will remind you to
remove the key.“LOCK”—Engine is off and the steering
wheel is locked. The key can be re-
moved only at this position.
You must push in the key to turn the
engine switch from the “ACC” to “LOCK”
position. The selector lever must be in the
“P” position before pushing the key.
Vehicles with engine immobilizer sys-
tem—Once you remove the key, the en-
gine immobilizer system is automatically
set. (See “Engine immobilizer system” on
page 15 in Section 1
−2.)
When starting the engine, the engine
switch may seem stuck at the “LOCK”
position. To free it, first be sure the key
is pushed all the way in, and then rotate
the steering wheel slightly while turning
the key gently.
Approximately five hours after the engine
is turned off, you may hear sound coming
from under the floor around the driver ’s
seat for several minutes. This is normal
operation and does not indicate a malfunc-
tion. (See “Leak detection pump” on page
ix.)
It is not a malfunction if the needle on all
meters and gauges move slightly when the
engine switch is turned to the “ON” or
“START” position.
NOTICE
Do not leave the engine switch in the
“ON” position if the engine is not
running. The battery will discharge
and the ignition could be damaged.
Engine (ignition) switch

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
143
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of the “P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the engine
switch in the “ON” position).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and
key removal
R: Reverse
N: Neutral
D: Normal driving
(shifting into overdrive possible)
3: Engine braking
(shifting into overdrive not possible)
2: Stronger engine braking
L: Maximum engine braking
Automatic transmission (4speed)
Selector lever
Shift normally. Shift with the brake pedal
depressed.
(The engine switch must
be in the “ON” position.)

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
144
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
(b) Normal driving1. Start the engine as instructed in “How to start the engine” on page 342 in
Section 3. The transmission must be in
the “P” or “N” position.
2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to the
“D” position.
When the lever is in the “D” 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 use the “D” position for better fuel
economy and quieter driving. If the engine
coolant temperature is low, the transmis-
sion will not shift into the overdrive gear
even in the “D” position.
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. (c) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Shift into the “3” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to third gear and
engine braking will be enabled.
Tw o −wheel drive models
173 km/h (108 mph)
Four −wheel drive models
164 km/h (102 mph)
Shift into the “2” 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.
Tw o −wheel drive models
113 km/h (70 mph)
Four −wheel drive models
107 km/h (66 mph)
Shift into the “L” 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.
Tw o −wheel drive models
56 km/h (35 mph)
Four −wheel drive models
53 km/h (33 mph)
When the cruise control is being used,
even if you downshift from the “D” to “3”
position, engine braking will not be en-
abled because the cruise control is not
cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” on page 168 in this
Section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to skid or
spin.

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
145
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
(d) Using the “2” and “L” positions
The “2” and “L” positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in the “2” or “L”
position, you can start the vehicle in mo-
tion as with the lever in the “D” position.
With the selector lever in the “2” position,
the vehicle will start in first gear and au-
tomatically shift to second gear.
With the selector lever in the “L” position,
the transmission is engaged in first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the en-
gine. Watch the tachometer to keep
engine rpm from going into the red
zone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
Twowheel drive models“2” 126 km/h (78 mph) . . . . . . . . .
“L” 70 km/h (43 mph) . . . . . . . . . .
Fourwheel drive models “2” 120 km/h (74 mph) . . . . . . . . .
“L” 67 km/h (41 mph) . . . . . . . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
“2” or “L” position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission dam-
age from overheating. To prevent
such damage, the “3” position
should be used in hill climbing or
hard towing.
(e) 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
“R” position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(f) Parking
1. 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 “P” posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into the “P” position under any
circumstances while the vehicle is
moving. Serious mechanical damage
and loss of vehicle control may re-
sult.
(g) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up
and down between third gear and over-
drive when climbing a gentle slope,
shift the selector lever to the “3” posi-
tion. Be sure to shift the selector lever
to the “D” position immediately after-
ward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use the “D” position.

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
146
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
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 the
parking brake to hold the vehicle on
an upgrade. Do not attempt to hold
the vehicle using the accelerator ped-
al, as this can cause the transmission
to overheat.
(h) If you cannot shift the selector le-ver out of the “P” position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the “P” position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see “If
you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever” on page 378 in Section 4.

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
147
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of the “P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the engine
switch in the “ON” position).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and key
removal
R: Reverse
N: Neutral
D: Normal driving
(shifting into overdrive possible)
4: Engine braking
(shifting into overdrive not possible)
3, 2: Stronger engine braking
L: Maximum engine braking
Automatic transmission (5speed)
Shift normally. Selector lever
Shift with the brake pedal
depressed.
(The engine switch must
be in the “ON” position.)

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
148
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
(b) Normal driving1. Start the engine as instructed in “How to start the engine” on page 342 in
Section 3. The transmission must be in
the “P” or “N” position.
2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to the
“D” position.
When the lever is in the “D” 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 use the “D” position for better fuel
economy and quieter driving. If the engine
coolant temperature is low, the transmis-
sion will not shift into the overdrive gear
even in the “D” position.
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. (c) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Shift into the “4” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to fourth gear
and engine braking will be enabled.
Shift into the “3” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to third gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 161 km/h (100 mph),
and stronger engine braking will be en-
abled.
Shift into the “2” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to second gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 99 km/h (62 mph), and
stronger engine braking will be en-
abled.
Shift into the “L” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than 42 km/h (26 mph), and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.
When the cruise control is being used,
even if you downshift from the “D” to “4”
position, engine braking will not be en-
abled because the cruise control is not
cancelled. For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” on page 168 in this
Section.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to skid or
spin.
(d) Using the “3”, “2” and “L” posi-
tions
The “3”, “2” and “L” positions are used for
strong engine braking as described pre-
viously.
With the selector lever in the “3”, “2” or
“L” position, you can start the vehicle in
motion as with the lever in the “D” posi-
tion.
With the selector lever in the “3” or “2”
position, the vehicle will start in first gear
and automatically shift to third gear or
second gear.
With the selector lever in the “L” position,
the transmission is engaged in first gear.

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
149
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the en-
gine. Watch the tachometer to keep
engine rpm from going into the red
zone. The approximate maximum al-
lowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
“3” 175 km/h (109 mph). . . . . . . .
“2” 113 km/h (70 mph) . . . . . . . . .
“L” 63 km/h (39 mph) . . . . . . . . . .
 Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
“3”, “2” or “L” position. This may
cause severe automatic transmis-
sion damage from overheating. To
prevent such damage, the “4” posi-
tion should be used in hill climbing
or hard towing.
(e) 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
“R” position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(f) Parking
1. 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 “P” posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into the “P” position under any
circumstances while the vehicle is
moving. Serious mechanical damage
and loss of vehicle control may re-
sult.
(g) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up
and down between fourth gear and
overdrive when climbing a gentle slope,
shift the selector lever to the “4” posi-
tion. Be sure to shift the selector lever
to the “D” position immediately after-
ward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use the “D” position.
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 the
parking brake to hold the vehicle on
an upgrade. Do not attempt to hold
the vehicle using the accelerator ped-
al, as this can cause the transmission
to overheat.

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
150
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
(h) If you cannot shift the selector le-ver out of the “P” position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the “P” position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see “If
you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever” on page 378 in Section 4. The active torque control 4WD system
controls the engine torque that is ap-
plied to the rear wheels according to
the driving conditions and road condi-
tions. When the vehicle’s driving condi-
tions are stable such as driving straight
ahead, the engine torque is applied to
only the front wheels.
FOURWHEEL DRIVE LOCK SWITCH
When the vehicle is driven on loose
surfaces, such as sand, gravel, or deep
snow, or if the vehicle gets stuck,
pushing the fourwheel drive lock
switch to ensure that the engine torque
is applied to the 4 wheels.
When the four
−wheel drive lock switch is
pushed, the four −wheel drive lock indicator
light blinks twice and remains on until the
four −wheel drive lock is canceled.
To cancel the four −wheel drive lock, push
the switch once again and the four −wheel
drive lock indicator light will go off.
Active torque control 4WD
system