four wheel drive TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV 2021 Owners Manual

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5
5-5. Using the driving support systems
Driving
■E-Four (Electronic On-Demand
AWD system)
Automatically switches from front
wheel drive to all-wheel drive
(AWD) according to the driving con -
ditions, helping to ensure reliable
handling and stability. Examples of
conditions where the system will
switch to AWD are when cornering,
going uphill, start ing off or acceler-
ating, and when the road surface is
slippery due to snow, rain, etc.
■Emergency brake signal
When the brakes are applied sud -
denly, the emergency flashers
automatically flash to alert the vehi -
cle behind.
■The Secondary Collision
Brake (if equipped)
When the SRS airbag sensor
detects a collision and the system
operates, the brakes and brake
lights are automatically controlled
to reduce the v ehicle speed and
help reduce the possibility of further
damage due to a secondary colli -
sion.
■When the TRC/VSC/ABS/Trailer Sway Control syst ems are operat-
ing
The slip indicator light will flash while the TRC/VSC/ABS/Traile r Sway Control
systems are operating.
■Disabling the TRC system
If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, dirt or snow, the TRC system may reduce
power from the hyb rid system to the
wheels.
Pressing to turn t he system off may
make it easier for you to rock the vehicle
in order to free it.
To turn the TRC system off, quickly
press and release .
“Traction Control Tu rned OFF” will be
shown on the multi-information display.
Press again to turn the system back
on.
■Turning off the TRC/VSC/Trailer
Sway Control systems
To turn the TRC/VS C/Trailer Sway Con-
trol systems off, press and hold for
more than 3 seconds wh ile the vehicle is
stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will come
on and the “Tractio n Control Turned
OFF” will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display.*
Press again to turn the systems
back on.
*: On vehicles with PCS (Pre-Collision

4405-5. Using the driving support systems
System), PCS will also be disabled
(only Pre-Collision warning is avail -
able). The PCS warning light will
come on and a message will be dis -
played on the multi-information dis -
play. ( →P.361)
■When the message is displayed on
the multi-information display show -
ing that TRC has been disabled
even if has not been pressed
TRC is temporary deactivated. If the information continues to show, contact
any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
■Operating conditions of hill-start
assist control
When the following four conditions are met, the hill-start as sist control will oper-
ate:
●The shift lever is in a position other
than P or N (when starting off for-
ward/backward on an upward incline).
●The vehicle is stopped.
●The accelerator pedal is not
depressed.
●The parking brake is not engaged.
■Automatic system cancelation of
hill-start assist control
The hill-start assist control will turn off in any of the following situations:
●The shift lever is shifted to P or N.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed.
●The parking brak e is engaged.
●No more than 2 seconds have elapsed after the brake pedal is
released.
■Sounds and vibrations caused by
the ABS, brake assist, VSC, Trailer Sway Control, TRC and hill-start
assist control systems
●A sound may be heard from the
engine compartment when the brake
pedal is depressed repeatedly, when
the hybrid system i s started or just
after the vehicle beg ins to move. This sound does not indicate that a mal -
function has occurred in any of these
systems.
●Any of the followin g conditions may
occur when the a bove 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 also
after the vehicle comes to a stop.
■ECB operating sound
ECB operating sound may be heard in
the following cases, but it does not indi-
cate that a malfun ction has occurred.
●Operating sound heard from the
engine compartment when the brake pedal is operated.
●Motor sound of the brake system heard from the front part of the vehicle
when the driver’ door is opened.
●Operating sound heard from the
engine compartment when one or two
minutes passed after the stop of the hybrid system.
■Active Cornering Assist operation
sounds and vibrations
When the Active Cornering Assist is operated, operation sounds and vibra -
tions may be generat ed from the brake
system, but thi s is not a malfunction.
■EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a
motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunc - tion.
■Automatic reacti vation of TRC,
Trailer Sway Control and VSC sys -
tems
After turning the TRC, Trailer Sway Control and VSC systems off, the sys -
tems will be automati cally re-enabled in
the following situations:
●When the power switch is turned off.
●If only the TRC syst em is turned off,

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5
5-6. Driving tips
Driving
5-6.Driving tips
 Use fluids that are appropriate to
the prevailing outside tempera-
tures.
• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Power control unit coolant
• Washer fluid
 Have a service technician
inspect the condition of the 12-
volt battery.
 Have the vehicle fitted with four
snow tires or purchase a set of
tire chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size
and brand, and that chains match the
size of the tires.*
*: Tire chains cannot be mounted on
vehicles with 235/55R19 tires.
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary prepa -
rations and inspections before
driving the vehicle in winter.
Always drive the vehicle in a
manner appropriate to the pre -
vailing weather conditions.
Pre-winter preparations
WARNING
■Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in a loss of
vehicle control and cause death or serious injury.
●Use tires of the specified size.
●Maintain the recommended level of air pressure.
●Do not drive at speeds in excess of the speed limit or the speed limit
specified for the snow tires being
used.
●Use snow tires on all, not just some
wheels.
■Driving with tire chains (except
235/55R19 tires)
Observe the following precautions to
reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the vehi - cle being unable to be driven safely,
and may cause death or serious
injury.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit specified for the tire chains being used, or 50 km/h (30 mph),
whichever is lower.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road sur -
faces or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt
steering, sudden br aking and shift-
ing operations that cause sudden engine braking.
●Slow down sufficiently before enter - ing a curve to ensure that vehicle
control is maintained.
●Do not use LTA (Lane Tracing
Assist) system (if equipped).
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs or replacement of snow tires from any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer or legitimate tire retailers.
This is because the removal and
attachment of snow tires affects the operation of the tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters.

563
8
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
8-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to
be towed
If towing is necessary, we rec -
ommend having your vehicle
towed by any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reli -
able repairer 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/provincia l and local laws.
If towing your vehicle with a
wheel-lift type truck, use a tow -
ing dolly. ( →P.563, 564)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
Be sure to transport the vehicle with
all four wheels raise d off the ground.
If the vehicle is t owed with the tires contacting the groun d, the drivetrain
or related parts may be damaged, the
vehicle may fly off the truck, or elec- tricity generated by the operation of
the motor may caus e a fire to occur
depending on the nature of the dam- age or malfunction.
■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, bro -
ken debris may hit people, and
cause serious damage.
●Do not turn the power switch off.
There is a possibility that the steer - ing wheel is locked and cannot be
operated.
■Installing towing eyelets to the
vehicle
Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely . If not securely
installed, towing ey elets may come
loose during towing.