steering TOYOTA RAV4 2023 Manual PDF

3836-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
NOTICE
■When using an automatic car
wash (vehicles with rain-
sensing windshield wipers)
Set the wiper switch to off posi-
tion.
If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”,
the wipers may operate and the
wiper blades may be damaged.
■When using a high pressure
car wash
●When washing the vehicle, do
not let water from the high-pres-
sure washer directly hit the
camera or the area around the
camera. Due to th e shock from
the high pressure water, it is
possible that the device may not
operate normally.
●Do not spray water directly on
the radar which is equipped
behind the radar sensor cover.
Otherwise it may cause the
device to be damaged.
●Do not bring the nozzle tip close
to boots (rubber or resin manu-
factured cover), or connectors
or the following parts.
The parts may be damaged if
they come into contact with
high-pressure water.
• Traction related parts
• Steering parts
• Suspension parts
• Brake parts
●Keep the cleaning nozzle at
least 11.9 in. (30 cm) away from
the vehicle body. Otherwise
resin section, such as moldings
and bumpers, may be deformed
and damaged. Also, do not con-
tinuously hold the nozzle in the
same place.
●Do not spray the lower part of
the windshield continuously. If
water enters the air conditioning
system intake located near the
lower part of the windshield, the
air conditioning system may not
operate correctly.
●Do not wash the underside of
the vehicle using a high pres-
sure car washer.

3906-2. Maintenance
Brakes
• The vehicle should not pull to
one side when
the brakes are
applied.
• The brakes should work
effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel
spongy.
• The brake pedal should not get
too close to the
floor when the
brakes are
applied.
Head
restraints
• Do the head restraints move
smoothly and
lock securely?
Indica-
tors/buzzers
• Do the indica-tors and buzzers
function prop-
erly?
Lights
• Do all the lights come on?
• Are the head- lights aimed cor-
rectly?
Parking brake
• Does the park-ing brake oper-
ate normally?
• When parked on a slope and the
parking brake is
on, is the vehicle
securely
stopped?
ItemsCheck points
Seat belts
• Do the seat belts operate
smoothly?
• The seat belts should not be
damaged.
Seats
• Do the seat con-trols operate
properly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steer-ing wheel rotate
smoothly?
• Does the steer- ing wheel have
the correct
amount of free
play?
• There should not be any strange
sounds coming
from the steer-
ing wheel.
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors
• Do the doors operate
smoothly?
Engine hood
• Does the engine hood lock system
work properly?
Fluid leaks
• There should not be any signs of
fluid leakage
after the vehicle
has been parked.
ItemsCheck points

4417-1. Essential information
7
When trouble arises
Vehicles with smart key sys-
tem
Press and hold the engine switch
for 2 consecutive seconds or more,
or press it briefly 3 times or more in
succession.
5Stop the vehicle in a safe
place by the road. 
If the door can be opened,
open the door and exit the
vehicle.
 If the door can not be opened,
open the window using the
power window switch and
ensure an escape route.
 If the window can be opened,
exit the vehicle through the
window.
 If the door and window cannot
be opened due to the rising
water, remain calm, wait until
the water level inside the
vehicle rises to the point that
the water pressure inside of
the vehicle equals the water
pressure outside of the vehi-
cle and then open the door
after waiting for the rising
water to enter the vehicle, and
exit the vehicle. When the
WARNING
■If the engine has to be turned
off while driving
●Power assist for the brakes and
steering wheel will be lost, mak-
ing the brake pedal harder to
depress and the steering wheel
heavier to turn. Decelerate as
much as possible before turning
off the engine.
●Vehicles without smart key sys-
tem: Never attempt to remove
the key, as doing so will lock the
steering wheel.
If the vehicle is sub-
merged or water on
the road is rising
This vehicle is not designed
to be able to drive on roads
that are deeply flooded with
water. Do not drive on roads
where the roads may be
submerged or the water
may be rising. It is danger-
ous to remain in the vehicle,
if it anticipated that the vehi-
cle will be flooded or set a
drift. Remain calm and fol-
low the following.

4447-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When using a flat-bed truck to
transport the vehicle, use tire
strapping belts. Refer to the
owner’s manual of the flat-bed
truck for the tire strapping
method.
In order to suppress vehicle
movement during transporta-
tion, set the parking brake and
turn the engine switch to off.
WARNING
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may result
in death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle
with the front wh eels raised or
with all four wheels raised off the
ground. If the vehicle is towed
with the front wh eels 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 vehi-
cle may fly off the truck.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when t owing using a
wheel-lift type truck
●Vehicles without smart key sys-
tem: 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.
●When raising the vehicle,
ensure adequate ground clear-
ance for towing at the opposite
end of the raised vehicle. With-
out adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while
being towed.
■Towing with a sling-type
truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
Using a flatbed truck

4457-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
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.
To have your vehicle towed by
another vehicle, the towing eye-
let must be installed to your
vehicle. Install the towing eyelet
using the following procedure.
1Take out the wheel nut
wrench and towing eyelet.
( P.464)
2 Using a flathead screw-
driver, remove eyelet cover
( ), and then remove eyelet
cover ( ).
To protect the bodywork, place a
rag between the screwdriver and
the vehicle body as shown in the
illustration.
Type A
Type B
3 Insert the towing eyelet into
the hole and tighten partially
by hand.
Type A
Emergency towing (vehi-
cles with towing eyelet)
Emergency towing proce-
dure (vehicles with towing
eyelet)
A
B

4467-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Type B
4 Tighten down the towing eye-
let securely using a wheel nut
wrench or hard metal bar.
Type A
Type B
5 Securely attach cables or
chains to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehi-
cle body.
6Enter the vehicle being towed
and start the engine.
Turn off the Parkin g Support Brake function (if equipped):
P.299
If the engine does not start, turn the
engine switch to ON.
Vehicles with Stop & Start system:
Before towing the ve hicle, turn the
engine switch to OFF once, and
then start the engine.
7 Shift the shift lever to N and
release the parking brake.
Turn automatic mode off. ( P.215)
When the shift lever cannot be
shifted:  P.210
■While towing
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 (if equipped)
Wheel nut wrench is installed in the
tool bag in luggage compartment.
(  P.464)
WARNING
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may result
in death or serious injury.
■While towing
●When towing using cables or
chains, avoid sudden starts, etc.
which place excessive stress on
the towing eyelets, cables or
chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become
damaged, broken debris may hit
people, and cause serious dam-
age.
●Vehicles without smart key sys-
tem: Do not turn the engine
switch to the “LOCK” position.
There is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and
cannot be operated.

4517-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
■ABS warning light
■Electric power steering system warning light (warning
buzzer)
■PCS warning light (warning buzzer)
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Indicates a malfunction in:
 The ABS; or
 The brake assist system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(Red)
(Yellow)
Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric
Power Steeri ng) system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(Flashes or illuminates)
When a buzzer sounds simultaneously:
Indicates a malfunction has occurred in the PCS
(Pre-Collision System).
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
When a buzzer does not sound:
The PCS (Pre-Collision System) has become
temporarily unavailable, corrective action may
be necessary.
 Follow the instructions displayed on the
multi-information display. ( P.237, 461)
If the PCS (Pre-Collision System) or VSC (Vehi-
cle Stability Control) system is disabled, the
PCS warning light will illuminate.
 P.249

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.

4587-2. Steps to take in an emergency
WARNING
■When the electric power
steering system warning light
comes on
When the light comes on yellow,
the assist to the power steering is
restricted. When the light comes
on red, the assist to the power
steering is lost and handling oper-
ations of the steering wheel
become extremely heavy.
If the steering wheel becomes
heavier than usual when operat-
ing, hold firmly and operate using
more force than usual.
■If the tire pressure warning
light comes on (vehicles with
tire pressure warning system)
Be sure to observe the following
precautions. Failure to do so
could cause a loss of vehicle con-
trol and result in death or serious
injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe
place as soon as possible.
Adjust the tire inflation pressure
immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light
comes on even after tire infla-
tion pressure adjustment, it is
probable that y ou have a flat
tire. Check the tires. If a tire is
flat, change it with the spare tire
and have the flat tire repaired by
the nearest Toyota dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and
braking. If the vehicle tires dete-
riorate, you could lose control of
the steering wheel or the
brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air
leakage should occur (vehi-
cles with tire pressure warn-
ing system)
The tire pressure warning system
may not activate immediately.
■Maintenance of the tires
(vehicles with tire pressure
warning system)
Each tire, includi ng the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufac-
turer on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label (tire and
load information label). (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load infor-
mation label], you should deter-
mine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS-tire pressure warning sys-
tem) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale (tire pressure
warning light) w hen one or more
of your tires is s ignificantly under-
inflated. Accord ingly, when the
low tire pressure te lltale (tire pres-
sure warning light) illuminates,
you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly
under-inflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping abil-
ity.
Please note that the TPMS (tire
pressure warning system) is not a
substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to m aintain correct
tire pressure, even if under-infla-
tion has not reached the level to
trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure te lltale (tire pres-
sure warning light).

4717-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
WARNING
●Avoid sudden acceleration,
abrupt steering, sudden brak-
ing and shifting operations that
cause sudden engine braking.
■When the compact spare tire
is attached
The vehicle speed may not be
correctly detecte d, and the follow-
ing systems may not operate cor-
rectly:
• ABS & Brake assist
• VSC/Trailer Sway Control
• TRAC
• Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range
• PCS (Pre-Collision System)
• EPS
• LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
• Tire pressure warning system (if equipped)
• AHB (Automatic High Beam)
• BSM (if equipped)
• RCTA (if equipped)
• PKSB (if equipped)
• Intuitive parking assist (if equipped)
• Downhill assist control system (if equipped)
• Rear view monitor system (if equipped)
• Panoramic view monitor (if equipped)
• Toyota parking assist monitor (if equipped)
• Navigation system (if equipped)
Also, not only c an the following
systems not be ut ilized fully, but
they may actually negatively
affect the drive-train components:
• Dynamic Torque Control AWD system (if equipped)
• Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system (if equipped)
■Speed limit when using the
compact spare tire
Do not drive at speeds in excess
of 50 mph (80 km /h) when a com-
pact spare tire is installed on the
vehicle.
The compact spare tire is not
designed for driving at high
speeds. Failure to observe this
precaution may lead to an acci-
dent causing death or serious
injury.
■After using the tools and jack
Before driving, ma ke sure all the
tools and jack are securely in
place in their storage location to
reduce the possibility of personal
injury during a collision or sudden
braking.
NOTICE
■Be careful when driving over
bumps with the compact
spare tire installed on the
vehicle
The vehicle height may become
lower when drivi ng with the com-
pact spare tire compared to when
driving with standard tires. Be
careful when driving over uneven
road surfaces.