check engine TOYOTA RAV4 2023 Workshop Manual

3996-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Checking the engine oil
1 Park the vehicle on level
ground. After warming up the
engine and turning off the
engine, wait more than 5
minutes for the oil to drain
back into the bottom of the
engine.
2 Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out.
3 Wipe the dipstick clean.
4 Reinsert the dipstick fully.
5 Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out and
check the oil level.
Low
Normal
Excessive
The shape of the dipstick may differ
depending on the type of vehicle or
engine.
6Wipe the dipstick and reinsert
it fully.
■Checking the oil type and
preparing the items needed
Make sure to check the oil type
and prepare the items needed
before adding oil.
 Engine oil selection
P.488
 Oil quantity (Low  Full)
1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp. qt.)
 Item
Clean funnel
■Adding engine oil
If the oil level is below or near
the low level mark, add engine
oil of the same type as that
already in the engine.
1 Remove the oil filler cap by
turning it counterclockwise.
2 Add engine oil slowly, check-
ing the dipstick.
3 Install the oil filler cap by
turning it clockwise.
■Engine oil consumption
A certain amount of engine oil will
be consumed while driving. In the
following situatio ns, oil consump-
A
B
C

4006-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
tion may increase, and engine oil
may need to be ref illed in between
oil maintenance intervals.
●When the engine is new, for
example directly after purchasing
the vehicle or after replacing the
engine
●If low quality oil or oil of an inap-
propriate viscosity is used
●When driving at high engine
speeds or with a heavy load,
when towing, or when driving
while accelerating o r decelerating
frequently
●When leaving the engine idling for
a long time, or wh en driving fre-
quently through heavy traffic
The coolant level is satisfactory
if it is between the “FULL” and
“LOW” lines on the reservoir
when the engine is cold.
Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL”
line. ( P.480)
WARNING
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains poten-
tially harmful contaminants
which may cause skin disorders
such as inflammation and skin
cancer, so care should be taken
to avoid prolonged and
repeated contact. To remove
used engine oil from your skin,
wash thoroughly with soap and
water.
●Dispose of used oil and filters
only in a safe an d acceptable
manner. Do not dispose of used
oil and filters in household trash,
in sewers or onto the ground.
Call your Toyota dealer, service
station or auto parts store for
information concerning recy-
cling or disposal.
●Do not leave used engine oil
within the rea ch of children.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious engine
damage
Check the oil level on a regular
basis.
■When replacing the engine oil
●Be careful not to spill engine oil
on the vehicle components.
●Avoid overfilling, or the engine
could be damaged.
●Check the oil level on the dip-
stick every time you refill the
vehicle.
●Be sure the engine oil filler cap
is properly tightened.
■If oil is spilled on the engine
cover
To prevent the engine cover from
being damaged, remove any
engine oil from the engine cover
as soon as possible using a neu-
tral detergent. Do not use an
organic solvent such as brake
cleaner.
Checking the coolant
A
B
C

4016-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” or a similar high quality
ethylene glycol based non-silicate,
non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-
borate coolant with long-life hybrid
organic acid technology.
U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is
a mixture of 50% coolant and 50%
deionized water. (Minimum tem-
perature: -31°F [-35°C])
Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is
a mixture of 55% coolant and 45%
deionized water. (Minimum tem-
perature: -44°F [-42°C])
For more details about coolant, con-
tact your To yota dealer.
■If the coolant level drops within
a short time of replenishing
Visually check the radiators, hoses,
engine/power control unit coolant
reservoir caps, drain cock and water
pump.
If you cannot find a leak, have your
Toyota dealer, t est the cap and
check for leaks in the cooling sys-
tem.
Check the radiator and con-
denser, and clear away any for-
eign objects.
If either of the above parts is
extremely dirty or you are not
sure of their condition, have
your vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer.
■Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN”
lines on the tank.
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not remove the engine coolant
reservoir cap.
The cooling system may be under
pressure and may spray hot cool-
ant if the cap is removed, causing
serious injuries, such as burns.
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor
straight antifreeze. The correct
mixture of water and antifreeze
must be used to provide proper
lubrication, corrosion protection
and cooling. Be sure to read the
antifreeze or coolant label.
■If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to
prevent it from damaging parts or
paint.
Checking the radiator and
condenser
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator or con-
denser as they may be hot and
cause serious injuries, such as
burns.
■When the electric cooling fan
is operating
Do not touch the engine compart-
ment.
With the engine switch in ON, the
electric cooling fa n may automati-
cally start to run if the air condi-
tioning is on and/or the coolant
temperature is high. Be sure the
engine switch is off when working
near the electric cooling fan or
radiator grille.
Checking and adding the
brake fluid

4036-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Check the battery as follows.
■Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery termi-
nals are not corroded and that
there are no loose connections,
cracks, or loose clamps.
Terminals
Hold-down clamp
■Before recharging
When recharging, t he battery pro-
duces hydrogen ga s which is flam-
mable and explosive. Therefore,
observe the following precautions
before recharging:
●If recharging wi th the battery
installed on the vehicle, be sure to
disconnect the ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on
the charger is off when connecting
and disconnecting the charger cables to the battery.
■After recharging/reconnecting
the battery (vehicles with smart
key system)
●Unlocking the doors using the
smart key system may not be pos-
sible immediately
after reconnect-
ing the battery. If this happens,
use the wireless remote control or
the mechanical key to lock/unlock
the doors.
●Start the engine with the engine
switch in ACC. T he engine may
not start with th e engine switch
turned off. However, the engine
will operate normally from the sec-
ond attempt.
●The engine switch mode is
recorded by the vehicle. If the bat-
tery is disconnected and recon-
nected, the vehicle will return the
engine switch mode to the status
it was in before t he battery was
disconnected. Make sure to turn
off the engine switch before dis-
connecting the battery. Take extra
care when connecting the battery
if the engine switch mode prior to
the battery being disconnected is
unknown.
If the engine will no t start even after
multiple attempts, contact your
Toyota dealer.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level
to go down slightly as the brake
pads wear out or when the fluid
level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent
refilling, there may be a serious
problem.
Checking the battery
A
B:$51,1*
■Chemicals in the battery
A battery contains poisonous and
corrosive sulfur ic acid and may
produce hydrogen gas which is
flammable and explosive. To
reduce the risk of death or serious
injury, take the following precau-
tions while working on or near the
battery:
●Do not cause sparks by touch-
ing the battery terminals with
tools.

4056-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Check if the treadwear indica-
tors are showing on the tires.
Also check the tires for uneven
wear, such as excessive wear
on one side of the tread.
Check the spare tire condition
and pressure if not rotated.New tread
Worn tread
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators
is shown by a “TWI” or “ ” mark,
NOTICE
■Do not use any fluid other
than washer fluid
Do not use soapy water or engine
antifreeze instead of washer fluid.
Doing so may cause streaking on
the vehicle’s painted surfaces, as
well as damaging the pump lead-
ing to problems of the washer
fluid not spraying.
■Diluting washer fluid
Dilute washer fluid with water as
necessary.
Refer to the freezing tempera-
tures listed on the label of the
washer fluid bottle.
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in
accordance with mainte-
nance schedules and tread-
wear.
Checking tires
A
B
C

4086-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■When rotating the tires (vehi-
cles with tire pressure warning
system)
Make sure that the engine switch is
OFF. If the tires are rotated while
the engine switch i s in ON, the tire
position informa tion will not be
updated. If this accidentally occurs,
either turn the engine switch to OFF
and then to ON, or initialize the sys-
tem after checking that the tire pres-
sure is properly adjusted.
Your vehicle is equipped with a
tire pressure warning system
that uses tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters to detect
low tire inflation pressure before
serious problems arise.
 If the tire pressure drops
below a predetermined level,
the driver is warned by a
screen display and a warning
light. ( P.455)
 The tire pressure detected by
the tire pressure warning sys-
tem can be displayed on the
multi-information display.
( P.93)
The illustration used is intended
as an example, and may differ
from the image that is actually
displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display.
With 7-inch display: With 12.3-inch display:
■Routine tire inflation pressure
checks
The tire pressure warning system
does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks . Make sure to
check tire inflation pressure as part
of your routine o f daily vehicle
checks.
■Tire inflation pressure
●It may take a few minutes to dis-
play the tire inflation pressure
after the engine switch is turned to
ON. It may also take a few min-
utes to display the tire inflation
pressure after infl ation pressure
has been adjusted.
●Tire inflation pressure changes
with temperature. The displayed
values may also be different from
the values measured using a tire
pressure gauge.
■Situations in which the tire
pressure warning system may
not operate properly
●In the following cases, the tire
pressure warning system may not
Tire pressure warning
system (if equipped)

4286-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
1Turn the engine switch to
OFF.
2 Open the fuse box cover.
Engine compartment: Type A
fuse box (if equipped)
Push claws and to com-
pletely release the lock, and then lift
up the cover.
Engine compartment: Type B
fuse box
Push claws and to com-
pletely release the lock, and then lift
up the cover.
NOTICE
■For normal operation after
replacing the battery
Observe the following precautions
to prevent accidents:
●Always work with dry hands.
Moisture may cau se the battery
to rust.
●Do not touch or move any other
component inside the remote
control.
●Do not bend either of the battery
terminals.
Checking and replac-
ing fuses
If any of the electrical com-
ponents do not operate, a
fuse may have blown. If this
happens, check and replace
the fuses as necessary.
Checking and replacing
fuses
AB
AB

4557-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
■Tire pressure warning light
■Low fuel level warning light
■Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light (warn-
ing buzzer*)
*: Driver’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The driver’s seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert the drive r that his or
her seat belt is not fastened. Once the engine switch is turned to ON, the
buzzer sounds. If the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer sounds inter-
mittently for a certain period o f time after the vehicle reaches a certain
speed.
Front passenger’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The front passenger’s seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert the front
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(If equipped)
When the light comes on after blinking for 1 min-
ute:
Malfunction in the tire pressure warning system
Have the system checked by your Toyota
dealer.
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure such as
 Natural causes
 Flat tire
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe
place.
Handling method ( P.457)
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately
2.2 gal. (8.3 L, 1.8 Imp. gal.) or less
 Refuel the vehicle.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Warns the driver and/or front passenger to fas-
ten their seat belts
 Fasten the seat belt.
If the front passenger’s seat is occupied,
the front passenger’s seat belt also needs
to be fastened to m ake the warning light
(warning buzzer) turn off.

4577-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
■Electric power steering system
warning light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes
insufficient or the voltage temporar-
ily drops, the electric power steering
system warning light may come on
and the warning buzzer may sound.
■When the tire pressure warning
light comes on (vehicles with
tire pressure warning system)
Inspect the tires to check if a tire is
punctured.
If a tire is punctured: P.463
If none of the tires are punctured:
Turn the engine switch to OFF then
turn it to ON. Check if the tire pres-
sure warning light comes on or
blinks.
If the tire pressure warning light
blinks for approximately 1 minute
then stays on
There may be a malfunction in the
tire pressure warning system. Have
the vehicle insp ected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
If the tire pressure warning light
comes on
1 After the temperature of the tires
has lowered suff iciently, check
the inflation pressure of each tire
and adjust them to the specified
level.
2 If the warning light does not turn
off even after several minutes
have elapsed, check that the
inflation pressure of each tire is
at the specified level and perform
initialization. ( P.410)
■The tire pressure warning light
may come on due to natural
causes (vehicles with tire pres-
sure warning system)
The tire pressure warning light may
come on due to natural causes such
as natural air leaks and tire inflation
pressure changes caused by tem-
perature. In this case, adjusting the
tire inflation pressure will turn off the warning ligh
t (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with a
compact spare tire (vehicles
with tire pressure warning sys-
tem)
The compact spare tire is not
equipped with a tire pressure warn-
ing valve and tran smitter. If a tire
goes flat, the tire pressure warning
light will not turn off even though the
flat tire has been replaced with the
spare tire. Replace the spare tire
with the standard tire and adjust the
tire inflation pressure. The tire pres-
sure warning light will go off after a
few minutes.
■Conditions that the tire pres-
sure warning system may not
function properly
 P.408
WARNING
■If a warning light comes on or
a warning buzzer sounds
when a warning message is
shown on the multi-informa-
tion display
*
Check and follow the message
shown on the multi-information
display.
Failure to do so may result in
death or serious injury.
*: Warning lights illuminate in red
or yellow and the warning
buzzer beeps once or sounds
continuously.

4617-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
■If “Engine Oil Level Low Add or
Replace” is displayed
The engine oil level may be low.
Check the level of the engine oil,
and add engine oil if necessary.
This message may be displayed if
the vehicle is sto pped on a slope.
Move the vehicle to a level surface
and check if the message disap-
pears.
■If “Maintenance Required
Soon” is shown
Indicates that all maintenance
according to the dr iven distance on
the maintenance schedule
* should
be performed soon.
Comes on approximately 4500
miles (7200 km) after the message
has been reset.
If necessary, perf orm maintenance.
Please reset the message after the
maintenance is performed.
(  P.388)
*: Refer to the separate “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’
Manual Supplement” for the main-
tenance interval applicable to your
vehicle.
■If “Maintenance Required Visit
Your Dealer” is shown
Indicates that all maintenance is
required to correspond to the driven
distance on the maintenance sched-
ule
*.
Comes on approximately 5000
miles (8000 km) after the message
has been reset. (The indicator will
not work properly unless the mes-
sage has been reset.)
Perform the necessary mainte-
nance. Please reset the message
after the maintenance is performed.
(  P.388)
*: Refer to the separate “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’
Manual Supplement” for the main-
tenance interval applicable to your vehicle.
■If “Engine Maintenance
Required Visit Your Dealer” is
shown
The engine or an engine component
is malfunctioning. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
■If a message that indicates the
malfunction of front camera is
displayed
The following systems may be sus-
pended until the problem shown in
the message is resolved. (P.237,
449)
●PCS (Pre-Collision System)
●LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
●AHB (Automatic High Beam)
●RSA (Road Sign Assist)*
●Dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range
*: If equipped
■If a message that indicates the
malfunction of radar sensor is
displayed
The following systems may be sus-
pended until the problem shown in
the message is resolved. (P.237,
449)
●PCS (Pre-Collision System)
●LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
●Dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range
■If “Radar Cruise Control
Unavailable See Owner’s Man-
ual” is shown
The dynamic radar cruise control
with full-speed range system is sus-
pended temporarily or until the prob-
lem shown in the message is
resolved. (causes and coping meth-
ods: P.237)
■If “Radar Cruise Control
Unavailable” is shown
The dynamic radar cruise control