air filter TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID 2021 Owners Manual

4TABLE OF CONTENTS
6-1. Using the air conditioning
system and defogger
Automatic air conditioning sys -
tem.................................... 452
Remote Air Conditioning System
.......................................... 460
Heated steering wheel/Front
seat heaters/Front seat heaters
and ventilators/Rear seat heat -
ers..................................... 462
6-2. Using the interior lights
Interior lights list .................. 465
6-3. Using the storage features
List of storage features ....... 468
Luggage compartment features
.......................................... 472
6-4. Using the other interior fea -
tures
Other interior features ......... 476
7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior ................. 488
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle interior .................. 491
7-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements . 494
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precau -
tions .................................. 496
Hood ................................... 498
Positioning a floor jack ........ 499
Engine compartment........... 501
12-volt battery ..................... 506
Tires .................................... 509
Tire inflation pressure ......... 529
Wheels ................................ 530
Air conditioning filter ........... 532
Cleaning the DC/DC Converter
air intake vent and filter .... 536
Wiper insert replacement .... 539
Electronic key battery ......... 543
Checking and replacing fuses
.......................................... 545
Light bulbs .......................... 548
8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ............ 560
If your vehicle has to be stopped
in an emergency ............... 560
If the vehicle is trapped in rising
water ................................. 561
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed
.......................................... 563
If you think something is wrong
.......................................... 566
If a warning light turns on or a
warning buzzer sounds..... 568
If a warning message is dis -
played ............................... 578
If you have a flat tire (vehicles
without spare tire) ............. 582
If you have a flat tire (vehicles
with spare tire) .................. 593
6Interior features
7Maintenance and care
8When trouble arises

982-1. Plug-in hybrid system
There is an air intake vent under
the rear seat for cooling the DC/DC
converter.
Blocking the air intake vent may
prevent the plug-in hybrid system
from operating properly.
When a certain level of impact is
detected by the im pact sensor, the
emergency shut off system blocks
off the high voltage current and
NOTICE
■Notice about fuel
●For plug-in hybrid vehicles, fuel
may remain in the tank for a long time and undergo changes in qual -
ity depending on the how the vehi -
cle is used. Refuel at least 20 L (5.3 gal., 4.4 Imp.gal. ) of fuel every 12
months (refuel a tot al of at least 20
L [5.3 gal., 4.4 Imp.gal.] over a 12-
month period), as this may affect components of the fuel system or
the gasoline engine.
●If the vehicle has not been refueled
for a certain amount of time and it is
possible that the quality of the fuel remaining in the tank has changed,
“No New Fuel has been Added
Recently Please refuel” is displayed on the multi-information display
when the power switch is turned to
ON. If the message is displayed, refuel the vehicle immediately.
DC/DC converter air intake
vent
NOTICE
■DC/DC converter air intake vent
●Make sure not to block the air
intake vent with anything, such as a seat cover, plastic cover, or lug -
gage. Blocking the air intake vent
may prevent the plug-in hybrid sys - tem from operating properly.
●When dust etc. has accumulated in
the air intake ven t, clean it with a vacuum cleaner to prevent the vent
from clogging.
●Do not wet or a llow foreign sub-
stances to enter the air vent as this
may cause a shor t circuit and dam- age the DC/DC converter.
●Do not carry large amounts of water such as water cooler bottles in the
vehicle. If water spills onto the
DC/DC converter, the converter may be damaged. Have the vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
●A filter is installed to the air intake vent. When the filter remains
noticeably dirty even after cleaning
the air intake vent, filter cleaning or replacement is recommended.
When cleaning the filter, refer to
P.536.
●If “Maintenance required for DCDC
converter cooling parts See Owner’s Manual” is shown on the
multi-information display, the air
intake vent and filter may be clogged. Refer to P.536 for informa -
tion on how to clean the air intake
vent.
Emergency shut off system

437
5
5-5. Using the driving support systems
Driving
■If “Exhaust Filter Full See Owner’s
Manual” is shown on the multi-
information display
●The message may be displayed while
high load driving with particulate mat - ter accumulating.
●Hybrid system output (engine speed) is restricted when a certain amount of
particulate matter accumulates, how-
ever, it is possible to drive the vehicle unless the malfuncti on indicator lamp
comes on.
●Particulate matter can accumulate
more quickly if t he vehicle is fre-
quently driven short trips or at low speeds, or if the h ybrid system is reg-
ularly started in an extremely cold
environment. Excessive accumula -
tion of particulate matter can be pre - vented by periodically driving long
distances continu ously with intermit-
tent releasing of the accelerator pedal, such as when dri ving on highways
and freeways.
■If the malfunction indicator lamp
comes on or “Hybrid System Mal - function Output Power Reduced
Visit Your Dealer” is shown on the
multi-information display
The amount of accumulated particulate
matter has exceeded a certain level.
Have the vehicle i nspected by any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer immediately.
GPF (Gasoline Particu-
late Filter) system
The GPF system collects par -
ticulate matter in the exhaust
gas by using an exhaust gas
filter. The system will operate
to regenerate the filter auto -
matically, depending on the
vehicle conditions.
NOTICE
■To prevent the GPF system from
not operating properly
●Do not use fuel other than the spec - ified type
●Do not modify the exhaust pipes

4566-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
●During use, various odors from inside
and outside the vehicle may enter into and accumulate in the air conditioning
system. This may t hen cause odor to
be emitted from the vents.
●To reduce potential odors from occur -
ring: • It is recommended that the air condi-
tioning system be se t to outside air
mode prior to turning the vehicle off. • The start timing o f the blower may be
delayed for a short period of time
immediately after t he air conditioning system is started in automatic mode.
●When parking, the system automati- cally switches to outside air mode to
encourage better air circulation
throughout the vehicle, helping to reduce odors that occur when starting
the vehicle.
■Air conditioning filter
→ P.532
■Noise from air conditioning system
Approximately 90 seconds after the
power switch turned to OFF, you may
hear sound coming from air conditioning system. This is the sound of a air condi -
tioning system initial ize and, it does not
indicate a malfunction.
■Customization
Settings (e.g. A/C Auto switch opera-
tion) can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P.640)
1Press the “AUTO” switch.
The dehumidification function begins to
operate. Air outlets and fan speed are automatically adjusted according to the
temperature setting and humidity.
2 Adjust the temperature setting.
3 To stop the operation, press the
“OFF” switch.
If the fan speed se tting or air flow
modes are operated, the automatic
mode indicator goes off. However,
automatic mode for functions other
than that operated is maintained.
■Using automatic mode
Fan speed is adjusted automatically
according to the temperature setting and
the ambient conditions.
WARNING
■Cautions for using “My Room Mode”
Do not leave children, people who
need assistance, or pets inside the vehicle. The system may turn off
automatically and the interior tem-
perature may become high or low, resulting in heat stroke, dehydration
or hypothermia. Fa ilure to do so may
result in death or serious injury.
■To prevent the windshield from fogging up
Do not use the wi ndshield defogger
switch during cool air operation in extremely humid weather.
The difference bet ween the tempera-
ture of the outside air and that of the windshield can cause the outer sur -
face of the windshield to fog up,
blocking your vision.
■When the outside rear view mir -
ror defoggers are operating
Do not touch the rear view mirror sur -
faces when the out side rear view mir-
ror defoggers are on.
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery dis - charge
Do not leave the ai r conditioning sys-
tem on longer than necessary when the hybrid system is off.
Using automatic mode

7
487
7
Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior ............... 488
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle interior ................ 491
7-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements 494
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precau -
tions ................................ 496
Hood ................................. 498
Positioning a floor jack ...... 499
Engine compartment ........ 501
12-volt battery ................... 506
Tires.................................. 509
Tire inflation pressure ....... 529
Wheels.............................. 530
Air conditioning filter ......... 532
Cleaning the DC/DC Con -
verter air intake vent and filter
....................................... 536
Wiper insert replacement .. 539
Electronic key battery ....... 543
Checking and replacing fuses
....................................... 545
Light bulbs ........................ 548

497
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
WARNING
■When working on the engine
compartment
●Make sure that “IGNITION ON” on the multi-information display and
the “READY” indicat or are both off.
●Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from the moving fan.
●Be careful not to touch the engine, power control unit, radiator, exhaust
manifold, etc. right after driving as
they may be hot. Oil and other flu - ids may also be hot.
●Do not leave anyt hing that may burn easily, such as paper and
rags, in the engi ne compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or
expose an open flame to fuel or the
12-volt battery. Fu el and 12-volt battery fumes are flammable.
●Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and dam -
age painted surfac es. If fluid gets
on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean water
immediately. If you still experience
discomfort, consult a doctor.
■When working near the electric
cooling fan or radiator grille
Be sure the power switch is off.
With the power swi tch in ON, the
electric cooling fan may automatically start to run if the air conditioning is on
and/or the coolant temperature is
high. ( →P.504)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc.,
from getting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove th e air cleaner fil-
ter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive
engine wear due to dirt in the air.
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the br ake fluid level to
go down slightly as the brake pads
wear or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refill -
ing, it may indicate a serious problem.

503
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
■Engine oil consumption
A certain amount o f engine oil will be
consumed while driving. In the following
situations, oil consumption may increase, and engine oil may need to be
refilled in between oil maintenance inter -
vals.
●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 inappropri - ate viscosity is used
●When driving at high engine speeds or with a heavy load , when towing, or
when driving while accelerating or
decelerating frequently
●When leaving the engine idling for a
long time, or when driving frequently through heavy traffic
The coolant level is satisfactory if it
is between the “ FULL” and “LOW”
lines on the reservoir when the
hybrid system is cold.
■Engine coolant reservoir
Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
WARNING
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains poten -
tially harmful contaminants which may cause skin di sorders such as
inflammation and skin cancer, so
care should be taken to avoid pro - longed and repeated contact. To
remove used engine oil from your
skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
●Dispose of used oi l and filters only in a safe and acceptable manner.
Do not dispose of used oil and fil -
ters in household trash, in sewers or onto the ground. Call any autho -
rized Toyota ret ailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer, service station or auto
parts store for in formation concern-
ing recycling or disposal.
●Do not leave used e ngine oil within
the reach of children.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious engine dam -
age
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 leve l on the dipstick
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 neutral detergent. Do
not use an organic solvent such as
brake cleaner.
Checking the coolant
A
B

5327-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Left-hand drive vehicles
1 Turn the power switch off.
Confirm that the charging connector is not connected. Also, do not use the
Remote Air Conditioning System during
the procedure.
2 Open the front passenger’s
door.
By keeping the door open, unexpected
operation of the Re mote Air Condition- ing System can be prevent. ( →P.460)
3Open the glove box and slide off
the damper.
4 Push in each side of the glove
box to disconnect the claws, and
then slowly and fully open the
glove box while s upporting it.
5 With the glove box fully open,
slightly lift up the glove box and
pull toward the seat to detach
the bottom of the glove box.
Do not use excessive f orce if the glove
box does not detac h when lightly
pulled. Instead, pul l toward the seat while slightly adjusting the height of the
glove box.
6 Unlock the filter cover ( ), pull
the filter cover out of the claws
Air conditioning filter
The air conditioning filter must
be changed regularly to main -
tain air conditioning efficiency.
Removal method
A

533
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
( ), and remove the filter
cover.
7 Remove the filter case.
8 Remove the air conditioning fil-
ter from the filter case and
replace it wit h a new one.
The “ UP” marks shown on the filter
should be pointing up.
9 When installing, reverse the
steps listed.
Right-hand drive vehicles
1 Turn the power switch off.
Confirm that the charging connector is
not connected. Also, do not use the Remote Air Conditioning System during
the procedure.
2 Open the front passenger’s
door.
By keeping the door open, unexpected
operation of the Remote Air Condition -
ing System can be prevent. ( →P.460)
3Open the glove box and slide off
the damper.
4 Push in each side of the glove
box to disconnect the claws, and
then slowly and fully open the
glove box while s upporting it.
5 With the glove box fully open,
slightly lift up the glove box and
B

5347-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
pull toward the seat to detach
the bottom of t he glove box.
Do not use excessive force if the glove
box does not detach when lightly pulled. Instead, pu ll toward the seat
while slightly adjusting the height of the
glove box.
6 Unlock the filter cover ( ), pull
the filter cover o ut of the claws
( ), and remove the filter
cover.
7 Remove the filter case.
8 Remove the air conditioning fil-
ter and replace it with a new
one.
The “ UP” marks shown on the filter
should be pointing up.
9 When installing, reverse the
steps listed.
■Checking interval
Inspect and replace the air conditioning
filter according to the maintenance schedule. In dusty areas or areas with
heavy traffic flow, early replacement
may be required. (For scheduled main - tenance information, please refer to the
“Toyota Service Bo oklet” or “Toyota
Warranty Booklet”.)
■If air flow from the vents decreases dramatically
The filter may be clogged. Check the fil -
ter and replace if necessary.
A
B