tires TOYOTA RAV4 2012 XA30 / 3.G Owners Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex
4
Security and system setup ................................ 304
Using the phone book ........ 307
3-4. Using the interior lights Interior lights list ................. 315
• Personal/interior light main switch ...................... 316
• Personal/interior lights...... 316
• Interior light ...................... 317
• Luggage compartment light .................................. 317
3-5. Using the storage features List of storage features....... 319
• Glove box ......................... 320
• Console box ..................... 321
• Overhead console ............ 322
• Cup holders ...................... 323
• Bottle holders ................... 324
• Auxiliary box ..................... 326
3-6. Other interior features Sun visors .......................... 327
Vanity mirrors ..................... 328
Clock .................................. 329
Power outlets ..................... 330
Seat heaters ....................... 335
Armrest............................... 337
Coat hooks ......................... 338
Floor mat ............................ 339
Luggage compartment features ............................ 340 4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ........... 346
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ............ 349
4-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements .................... 352
General maintenance ......... 355
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs .......................... 358
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions ....................... 359
Hood ................................... 363
Positioning a floor jack........ 365
Engine compartment .......... 367
Tires.................................... 381
Tire inflation pressure ......... 388
Wheels................................ 392
Air conditioning filter ........... 395
Key battery ......................... 397
Checking and replacing fuses ................................. 401
Light bulbs .......................... 413
4Maintenance and care

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
5
5-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers ............ 424
If your vehicle needs to be towed ........................... 425
If you think something is wrong ............................ 432
Fuel pump shut off system .............................. 433
Event data recorder ............ 434
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds... .......................... 436
If you have a flat tire (vehicles with
standard tires) ................... 449
If you have a flat tire (vehicles with
run-flat tires)...................... 467
If the engine will not start ................................... 468
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P............... 469
If you lose your keys ........... 470
If the electronic key does not operate properly.......... 471
If the battery is discharged ........................ 473
If your vehicle overheats ..... 476
If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................. 478
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ........................ 480 6-1. Specifications
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.) ........... 484
Fuel information.................. 496
Tire information .................. 499
6-2. Customization Customizable features........ 510
6-3. Initialization Items to initialize ................. 513
Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners ................ 516
Seat belt instructions for Canadian owners
(in French) ........................ 517
SRS airbag instructions for Canadian owners
(in French) ........................ 519
Abbreviation list ......................... 530
Alphabetical index ..................... 532
What to do if... ........................... 541
5When trouble arises6Vehicle specifications
7For owners
Index

7
Tires
●Rotation
● Replacement
● Inflation pressure
● Information
P. 381
P. 449
P. 494
P. 499
Back door P. 46
Rear turn signal lights P. 155
Stop/tail and rear side
marker lights
P. 167
Rear
window
wiper
P. 177
License plate lights P. 167
Side doors P. 42
Rear
window
defogger

P. 248
License
plate light
P. 167
With spare tire Spare tire
P. 449
Fuel filler door P. 91
Roof luggage carrier 
P. 209

: If equipped

137
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Starting on a steep uphill
Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially slippery.
● Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road
surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended
to observe:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
● For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
● For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in the low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■ Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system.
This type of brake system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodi-
cally or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drums are replaced.
Have your Toyota dealer perform the bedding-down.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

140 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
●Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire
failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer
to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
● Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-
shifting or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.
● After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in
an accident.
■ When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
■ When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate
suddenly and unexpectedly, and may cause an accident.
● Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space
and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
● In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the
parking brake as necessary.
● If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake as needed.

142 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
●The exhaust should be checked occasionally. If there is a hole or crack
caused by corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise, be
sure to have the vehicle inspected and repaired by your Toyota dealer.
Failure to do so may allow exhaust gases to enter the vehicle, resulting in
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, you may accidentally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal, which could cause an accident or fire
due to engine overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leadin\
g to
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking the vehicle
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and may cause one
side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also the parking
brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other
vehicles closely and avoid downhills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but it will require more force on the
pedal than usual. Braking distance may also increase.
● Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
● The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems: If one of the
systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and braking distance
becomes longer.
Do not drive your vehicle with only a single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
■ If the vehicle becomes stu ck or bogged (4WD models)
Do not spin the wheels recklessly when any of the tires is up in the air, or
stuck in sand or mud etc. This may damage the drive system components or
propel the vehicle forward (or in another direction) and cause an accident.

190 2-4. Using other driving systems
CAUTION
■Conditions which may affect the rear view monitor system
● If the back of the vehicle has been hit, the camera’s position and mounting
angle may have changed. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer.
● When the outside temperature is low, the displayed image may become
faint or dark, and moving images will be distorted, or not entirely visible.
● Rapid temperature changes, such as when hot water is poured on the
vehicle in cold weather, may cause the system to function abnormally.
● If the camera lens is dirty, it cannot transmit a clear image. Rinse with
water and wipe with a soft cloth. If the camera lens is extremely dirty, wash
with a mild cleanser and rinse.
● When replacing tires, please consult your Toyota dealer. If you replace the
tires, the area displayed on the screen may change.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the camera
●As the camera has a water proof construction, do not detach, disassemble
or modify it. This may cause incorrect operation.
● When washing the vehicle, do not apply intensive bursts of water to the
camera or camera area. Doing so may result in camera malfunctions.
● Take care so that organic solvent, car wax, window cleaner or glass coat
does not adhere to the camera. If this happens, wipe it off as soon as pos-
sible.

196 2-4. Using other driving systems
●Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are
operating. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■ When the AUTO LSD function operates continuously
The brake actuator may overheat. In that case, the system will stop the
AUTO LSD function, a buzzer will sound and the slip indicator will stay on
steady. Refrain from using the AUTO LSD function until the slip indicator
goes off. (There is no problem with continuing driving normally.)
■ EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel operates, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard.
This does not indicate a malfunction.
■ Reduced effectiveness of EPS
The effectiveness of EPS is reduced to prevent the system from overheating
when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of time. The
steering wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur, refrain from
excessive steering input or stop the vehicle and turn the engine off. The sys-
tem should return to normal within 10 minutes.
■ If the slip indicator comes on
It may indicate a malfunction in the VSC, TRAC and AUTO LSD function.
Contact your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
■The ABS does not operate effectively when
●Tires with inadequate gripping ability are used (such as excessively worn
tires on a snow covered road).
● The vehicle hydroplanes while driving at high speed on wet or slick road.

197
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
CAUTION
■Stopping distance when the ABS is operating may exceed that of nor-
mal conditions
The ABS is not designed to shorten the vehicle's stopping distance. Always
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you in the following situ-
ations.
● When driving on dirt, gravel or snow-covered roads
● When driving with tire chains
● When driving over bumps in the road
● When driving over roads with potholes or roads with uneven surfaces
■ TRAC may not operate effectively when
Directional control and power may not be achievable while driving on slip-
pery road surfaces, even if the TRAC system is operating.
Do not drive the vehicle in conditions where stability and power may be lost.
■ When the VSC is activated
The slip indicator flashes and a warning buzzer sounds. Always drive care-
fully. Reckless driving may cause an accident. Exercise particular care when
the indicator light flashes and a buzzer sounds.
■ When TRAC and VSC are off
Be especially careful and drive at a speed appropriate to the road condi-
tions. As these are systems to ensure vehicle stability and driving force, do
not turn off TRAC and VSC unless necessary.
■ Replacing tires
Make sure that all tires are of the same size, brand, tread pattern and total
load capacity. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated to the appro-
priate tire pressure level.
The ABS and VSC systems will not function correctly if different tires are fit-
ted on the vehicle.
Contact your Toyota dealer for further information when replacing tires or
wheels.
■ Handling of tires and suspension
Using tires with any kind of problem or modifying the suspension will affect
the driving assist systems, and may cause the system to malfunction.

216 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, but also degrade steering and
braking ability, resulting in an accident.