emergency towing TOYOTA RAV4 2018 Owners Manual (in English)

16Pictorial index
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Engine switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 198, 200
Starting the engine/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 198, 201
Emergency stop of the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 609
When the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 658
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 640
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 205
Changing the shift position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 205
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 611
When the shift lever does not move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 211
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 84
Reading the meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 84
Adjusting the instrument cluster light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 86
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 78
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 619
Multi-information display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 88
When the warning messages are displayed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 629
Parking brake lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 214
Applying/releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 214
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 318
Warning buzzer/message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 6321
2
3
4
5

266
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
WARNING
■Situations unsuitable for dynamic radar cruise control
Do not use dynamic radar cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in inappropriate speed control and could cause an acci-
dent resulting in death or serious injury.
● Roads where there are pedestrians, cyclists, etc.
● In heavy traffic
● On roads with sharp bends
● On winding roads
● On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
● On steep downhills, or where there are sudden changes between sharp up
and down gradients
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
● At entrances to freeways and highways
● When weather conditions are bad enough that they may prevent the sen-
sors from detecting correctly (fog, snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
● When there is rain, snow, etc. on the front surface of the radar sensor or
camera sensor
● In traffic conditions that require frequent repeated acceleration and decel-
eration
● When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing
● When an approach warning buzzer is heard often

RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
2794-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
WARNING
■To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
■ Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
● In heavy traffic
● On roads with sharp bends
● On winding roads
● On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
● On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
● When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing

611
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
If your vehicle needs to be towed
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service before towing.
● The engine is running but the vehicle does not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
If towing is necessary, we re commend having your vehicle
towed by your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service,
using a wheel-lift type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/
provincial and local laws.
2WD models: If towing your vehicl e with a wheel-lift type truck
from the front, the vehicle’s rear wheels and axles must be in
good conditions. ( →P. 612, 615)
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flatbed truck.
AWD models: If towing your vehicle with a wheel-lift type truck,
use a towing dolly. ( →P. 612, 615)
Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck

6128-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
shaded in black must be 45°.
Do not overly tighten the tie
downs or the vehicle may be dam-
aged.
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck
From the front (2WD models)From the front (AWD models)
Release the parking brake. Use a towing dolly under the rear wheels.
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
Using a flatbed truck

6138-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency
towing eyelets. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads
for at most 50 miles (80 km) at under 18 mph (30 km/h).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.Take out the towing eyelet. ( →P. 646)
Remove the eyelet cover using
a flathead screwdriver.
To protect the bodywork, place a
rag between the screwdriver and
the vehicle body as shown in the
illustration.
Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by
hand.
Emergency towing (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
Emergency towing procedure (veh icles with a towing eyelet)
1
2
3

6148-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut
wrench or hard metal bar.
Securely attach cables or chains to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
Enter the vehicle being towed and start the engine.
If the engine does not start, turn the engine switch to the “ON” position
(vehicles without smart key system) or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with
smart key system).
Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted: →P. 2 1 1
■While towing (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will
not function, making steering and braking more difficult.
■ Wheel nut wrench (vehic les with a towing eyelet)
Wheel nut wrench is installed in the tool bag. ( →P. 646)
4
5
6
7

6158-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
■ While towing (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
● When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets, cables or chains. The towing eye-
lets, cables or chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit peo-
ple, and cause serious damage.
● Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without
smart key system) or off (vehicles with smart key system).
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and cannot be oper-
ated.
■ Installing towing eyelets to the vehic le (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing.
2WD models:
Be sure to transport the vehicle with the
front wheels raised or with all four wheels
raised off the ground. If the vehicle is
towed with the front wheels contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and related
parts may be damaged.
AWD models:
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the drivetrain or related parts
may be damaged, the vehicle may fly off
the truck.

6168-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing using a wheel-lift type
truck
● Vehicles without smart key system: Do not tow the vehicle from the rear
when the engine switch is in the “LOCK” position or the key is removed.
The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheels
straight.
● Vehicles with smart key system: Do not tow the vehicle from the rear when
the engine switch is off. The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough
to hold the front wheels straight.
● When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while being towed.
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle wh en towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.
■ To prevent damage to the vehic le during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.
■ Recreational towing (beh ind motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to prevent
causing serious damage to the Dynamic
Torque Control AWD system (AWD mod-
els) and transmission. (→P. 197)

6488-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
Vehicles with full-size spare
tire: Turn the knob of each clip
on the rear deck board to
unlock.
Remove the rear deck board.
Take out the jack.
Unclasp the hook and remove
the jack.
When stowing the jack, wind back
the jack until it dose not move, fix it
with the rubber band and then stow
it.
Taking out the jack
1
2
3