steering TOYOTA RAV4 EV 2014 1.G Service Manual

195
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
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 shifting between D and B position may accelerate or slow the
vehicle and 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 changing the shift position
Be careful not to change the shift position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
Changing the shift position to any positions other than P or N may cause the
vehicle to accelerate abruptly, causing an accident and resulting in death or
serious injury.
After changing the shift position, make sure to confirm the current shift posi-
tion displayed on the shift position indicator inside the meter.
■ If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon
as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads
and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded.

198 2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during
driving, as this may restrain driving torque.
● Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals together to hold the vehicle on a hill.
■ Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for
an extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
● When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
■ If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle
● The vehicle will make abnormal sounds
● The vehicle will behave abnormally
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P. 447)

204 2-1. Driving procedures
■If the EV system does not start
●The immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. ( P. 149)
Contact your Toyota dealer.
● The charging cable may be connected to the vehicle. ( P. 82)
■ When the steering lock cannot be released
■ When the “POWER” switch in dicator flashes in amber
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
■ If the “READY” indicator does not come on
If the “READY” indicator does not come on when you press the “POWER”
switch with the shift position in P and the brake pedal pressed, contact your
Toyota dealer immediately.
■ If the EV system is malfunctioning
P. 428
■ When the electronic key battery is discharged
P. 383
The green indicator light on the “POWER”
switch will flash and a message will be
shown on the multi-information display.
Press the “POWER” switch again while
turning the steering wheel left and right.

205
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
When starting the EV system
Always start the EV system while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress
the accelerator pedal while starting the EV system under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■ Stopping the EV system in an emergency
If you want to stop the EV system in an emergency while driving the vehi\
cle,
press and hold the “POWER” switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it
briefly 3 times or more in succession. ( P. 479)
However, do not touch the “POWER” switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the EV system off while driving will not cause loss of steering
or braking control, however, power assist to the steering will be lost. This will
make it more difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull over and stop the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
■ To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the “POWER” switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long
periods of time without the EV system on.
■ When starting the EV system
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
● If the EV system becomes difficult to start, have your vehicle checked by
your Toyota dealer immediately.

217
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Hor n
■After adjusting the steering wheel
Make sure that the steering wheel is securely locked.
The horn may not sound if the steering wheel is not securely locked.
(P. 140)
To sound the horn, press on or
close to the mark.

251
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
Driving assist systems
When the TRAC/VSC/ABS systems are operatingThe slip indicator light will flash
while the TRAC/VSC/ABS sys-
tems are operating.
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following sys-
tems operate automatically in res ponse to various driving situations.
Be aware, however, that these systems are supplementary and
should not be relied upon too heavi ly when operating the vehicle.
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if
the brakes are applied while driving on a slippery road surface
■Brake assist
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed, when the system detects a panic stop situation
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning
on slippery road surfaces
■TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and prevent the drive wheels from spin-
ning when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads
■Hill-start assist control
P. 256
■EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce the amount of effort needed to turn
the steering wheel

253
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
■Sounds and vibrations caused by the ABS, brake assist, TRAC, and
VSC systems
●A sound may be heard from the motor compartment when the EV system
is started or just after the vehicle begins to move, if the brake pedal is
depressed forcefully or repeatedly, or 1 - 2 minutes after the EV system is
stopped. This sound does not indicate that a malfunction has occurred in
any of these 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 after the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■ EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may
be heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■ Automatic reactivation of TRAC and VSC systems
After turning the TRAC and VSC systems off, the systems will be automati-
cally re-enabled in the following situations:
●When the “POWER” switch is turned off
● If only the TRAC system is turned off, the TRAC will turn on when vehicle
speed increases
If both the TRAC and VSC systems are turned off, automatic re-enabling
will not occur when vehicle speed increases.
■ Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system 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 EV sys-
tem off. The EPS system should return to normal within 10 minutes.
■ If the slip indicator comes on...
It may indicate a malfunction in the TRAC, VSC and ABS. Contact your
Toyota dealer.

261
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of serious per-
sonal injury or damage to your vehicle:
●Drive carefully when off-road driving is unavoidable. Do not take unneces-
sary risks by driving in dangerous places.
● Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when off-road driving is unavoid-
able. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both
hands and especially your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
● Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.
● When it is unavoidable to drive through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, etc.,
take care not to damage the traction batteries equipped under the floor.
After driving through such terrain, check that there is no grass, bush,
paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the underbody. Clear
off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with these
materials trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown or fire could
occur.
● When driving off-road is unavoidable, do not drive at excessive speeds,
jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control
or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also risking
expensive damage to your vehicle’s suspension, chassis, drive unit or the
traction batteries.

266 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment, as they may shift and
injure someone during sudden braking, sudden swerving or an acci-
dent.
●When you fold down the rear seats, long items should not be place
directly behind the front seats.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage compartment. It is not
designed for passengers. They should ride in their seats with their seat
belts properly fastened. Otherwise, th ey are much more likely to suffer
death or serious bodily injury, in t he event of sudden braking, sudden
swerving or an accident.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight rating or the total vehicle
weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant's weight and the cargo load is less
than the total load capacity, do not apply the load unevenly.
Improper loading may cause deterioration of steering or braking con-
trol which may cause death or serious injury.

267
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Vehicle load limits
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information
label. (P. 374)
CAUTION
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the ti res, but also degrade steering and
braking ability, resulting in an accident.
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capacity.
■ Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): ( P. 482)
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
■ Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maxi mum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
■ Towing capacity
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
■Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the weight
and the number of occupants.