TOYOTA RAV4 2011 XA30 / 3.G Owners Manual

221
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●
Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least o ne vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of control. This is especiall y true on wet or slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak-
ing turns.
● Note that when making a turn, th e trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a larger than normal turning radius.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway . Periodically check the rear to
prepare for being passed by large trucks or buses, which may
cause your vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying occurs, firmly grip
the steering wheel, reduce speed immediately but gradually, and
steer straight ahead. Never increase speed. If you make no
extreme correction with the stee ring or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer will stabilize.
● Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a vehicle, do not forget the length of
your trailer, and be sure you hav e plenty of room before changing
lanes.
● In order to maintain efficient engine braking and electrical charging
performance, do not use overdrive.

222 2-5. Driving information
●Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle's engine may
overheat on hot days (at temper atures over 85°F [30°C]) when
driving up a long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, immediately turn off the air condition-
ing (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
(  P. 466)
● Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in P. Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do
so only after performing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel bloc ks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into P and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P, start the engine. Be sure to keep
the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
Release the parking brake and brake pedal, and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4

223
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
To avoid an accident
●Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or posted towing speed limit, whichever
is lower. As instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination
increases as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may cause
loss of control.
● Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too
frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Do not use cruise control when you are towing.

224
2-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
■ To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission and Active
Torque Control 4WD system (4WD models)
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on
the ground) behind a motor home.
Do not tow your vehicle with 4 wheels on
the ground.
CTN25AN019
2WD models: Never tow this vehicle from
the rear with the front wheels on the
ground. This may cause serious damage
to the transmission.
4WD models: Never tow this vehicle with
any of the wheels on the ground. This
may cause serious damage to the trans-
mission and Active Torque Control 4WD
system.
CTN25AN020
CTN25AN021

Interior features3
225
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Manual air conditioning system ........................... 226
Automatic air conditioning system ....... 232
Rear window and outside rear view
mirror defoggers ............ 240
Windshield wiper de-icer ............................ 242
3-2. Using the audio system Audio system types .......... 243
Using the radio ................. 246
Using the CD player ......... 252
Playing back MP3 and WMA discs ..................... 259
Optimal use of the audio system ........................... 266
Using the AUX port .......... 269
Using the steering wheel audio switches ............... 270
3-3. Using the hands-free phone system
(for cellular phone)
Hands-free phone system (for cellular phone)
features .......................... 273
Using the hands-free phone system
(for cellular phone) ......... 277
Making a phone call ......... 285
Setting a cellular phone ... 291 Security and system
setup .............................. 296
Using the phone book ...... 299
3-4. Using the interior lights Interior lights list ............... 307
• Personal/interior light main switch .................... 308
• Personal/interior lights ... 308
• Interior light .................... 309
• Luggage compartment light ................................ 309
3-5. Using the storage features List of storage features .... 311
• Glove box....................... 312
• Console box ................... 313
• Overhead console .......... 314
• Cup holders ................... 315
• Bottle holders ................. 316
• Auxiliary box .................. 318
3-6. Other interior features Sun visors ........................ 319
Vanity mirrors ................... 320
Clock ................................ 321
Power outlets ................... 322
Seat heaters..................... 327
Armrest ............................ 329
Coat hooks ....................... 330
Floor mat .......................... 331
Luggage compartment features .......................... 332

226
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Manual air conditioning system
Adjusting the settings■ Adjusting the temperature setting
Turn the temperature control dial clockwise (warm) or counter-
clockwise (cool).
If is not pressed, the system will blow ambient temperature air or
heated air.
■ Adjusting the fan speed
Turn the fan speed control dial clockwise (increase) or counter-
clockwise (decrease).
Set the dial to “0” to turn the fan off.
Fan speed control dial
Air outlet selection dial
Air conditioning on/off switch
Temperature control dial
Outside air or recirculated air mode
: If equipped

227
3-1. Using the air conditioning system
and defogger
3
Interior features
■Changing the air outlets
Set the air outlet selection di al to an appropriate position.
The positions between the air outlet selections shown below can be also
selected for more detailed adjustment.
Air flows to the upper body.
Air flows to the upper body and
feet.
: Vehicles with third seats Air flows mainly to the feet.
: Vehicles with third seats

228 3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Air flows to the feet and the
windshield defogger operates.
The air intake is automatically
switched to outside air mode. It is
not possible to return to recircu-
lated air mode when the dial is set
at this position.
Pressing
to turn the air
conditioning on clears the wind-
shield and side windows faster.
: Vehicles with third seats
Air flows to the windshield and
side windows.
The air intake is automatically
switched to outside air mode. It is
not possible to return to recircu-
lated air mode when the dial is set
at this position.
Pressing
to turn the air
conditioning on clears the wind-
shield and side windows faster.
■ Switching between outside air and recirculated air modes
Press .
The mode switches between outside air mode (indicator off) and recircu-
lated air mode (indicator on) each time is pressed.

229
3-1. Using the air conditioning system
and defogger
3
Interior features
Adjusting the position of the air outlets
Front outlets (center) Direct air flow to the left or right,
up or down.
Front outlets (right and left sides) Direct air flow to the left or right,
up or down.
Opening and closing the side outlets
Open the vent.
Close the vent.

230 3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
■Using the system in recirculated air mode
The windows will fog up more easily if the recirculated air mode is used for
an extended period.
■ Window defogger feature
Recirculated air mode may automatically be switched to outside air mode in
situations where the windows need to be defogged.
■ When outside air temperat ure approaches 32°F (0°C)
The air conditioning system may not operate even when
is pressed.
■ When the indicator light on flashes
Press
and turn off the air conditioning system before turning it on once
more. There may be a problem in the ai r conditioning system if the indicator
light keeps flashing. Turn the air conditioning system off and have it
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
■ When
is selected for the air outlets used
For your driving comfort, air flowing to the feet may be warmer than air flow-
ing to the upper body depending on the position of the temperature setting.
■ Air conditioning odors
●During use, various odors from inside and outside the vehicle may enter
into and accumulate in the air conditioning system. This may then cause
odor to be emitted from the vents.
● To reduce potential odors from occurring:
It is recommended that the air conditioning system be set to outside air
mode prior to turning the vehicle off.
CAUTION
■To prevent the windshield from fogging up
Do not set the air outlet selection dial to during cool air operation in
extremely humid weather. The difference between the temperature of the
outside air and that of the windshield can cause the outer surface of the
windshield to fog up, blocking your vision.