check engine light 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

13Pictorial index
Precautions against winter season ................................................. P.445
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer)*1............................. P.457
Precautions against car wash ................................... ...................... P.489
Replacing the wiper insert..................................... .......................... P.539
Fuel filler door ............................................... ................................ P.342
Refueling method ............................................... ............................. P.342
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity ................................... ......................... P.620
Charging port .................................................. .............................. P.105
Charging method ................................................ ............................ P.127
Tires .......................................................... ..................................... P.509
Tire size/inflation pressure .............................................................. P.624
Winter tires/tire chain ........................................ .............................. P.445
Checking/rotation/tire pressu re warning system ............................. P.509
Coping with flat tires......................................... ....................... P.582, 593
Hood ........................................................... .................................... P.498
Opening ........................................................ .................................. P.498
Engine oil ..................................................... ................................... P.621
Coping with overheat ........................................... ........................... P.611
Warning messages ............................................... .......................... P.578
Headlights/front position lights/daytime running lights ........ ... P.332
Turn signal lights ............................................. ............................. P.325
Front fog lights............................................... ............................... P.337
Tail lights .................................................... ................................... P.332
Tail lights .................................................... ................................... P.332
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R .................................. ............................ P.321
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P.548, Watts: P.626)
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M

1002-1. Plug-in hybrid system
Shift the shift lever to D when
stopped at a traffic light, or driving
in heavy traffic etc. Shift the shift
lever to P when parking. When
using the N, there is no positive
effect on fuel consumption. In the
N, the gasoline engine operates but
electricity canno t be generated.
Also, when using the air condition -
ing system, etc., the hybrid battery
(traction battery) power is con -
sumed.
 Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and
deceleration. Gradual accelera -
tion and deceler ation will make
more effective use of the electric
motor (traction motor) without
having to use gasoline engine
power.
 Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration con -
sumes hybrid battery (traction
battery) power, resulting in poor
fuel consumption. Battery power
can be restored by driving with
the accelerator pedal slightly
released.
Make sure to operate the brakes
gently and a ti mely manner. A
greater amount of electrical energy
can be regenerated when slowing
down.
Repeated acceler ation and decel-
eration, as well as long waits at traf -
fic lights, will lead to high fuel and
electricity consumption. Check traf -
fic reports before leaving and avoid
delays as much as possible. When
driving in a traffic jam, gently
release the brake pedal to allow the
vehicle to move forward slightly
while avoiding overuse of the accel -
erator pedal. Doing so can help
control excessive electricity and
fuel consumption.
 Control and maintain the vehicle
at a constant speed. Before stop -
ping at a toll booth or similar,
allow plenty of time to release
the accelerator and gently apply
the brakes. A greater amount of
electrical energy can be regener -
ated when slowing down.
 Electricity consumption will
increase significantly when driv -
ing at high speeds in EV mode or
AUTO EV/HV mode. If there will
be a long distance to the next
external charging point after
leaving a freewa y, it is recom-
mended to drive in HV mode
while on the freeway and change
Shift lever operation
Accelerator pedal/brake
pedal operation
When braking
Delays
Highway driving

1703-1. Instrument cluster
Warning lights inform the driver of
malfunctions in the indicated vehi -
cle’s systems.
*1: These lights turn on when the power
switch is turned to ON to indicate
that a system check is being per -
formed. They will turn off after the
hybrid system is on , or after a few
seconds. There may be a malfunc-
tion in a system if the light does not
come on, or turn off. Have the vehi -
cle inspected by any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
Warning lights
(Red)
Brake system warning
light*1 ( →P.568)
(Yellow)
Brake system warning
light*1 ( →P.568)
Charging system warn -
ing light*1 ( →P.569)
High coolant temperature
warning light*2 ( →P.569)
Hybrid system overheat
warning light*2 ( →P.569)
Low engine oil pressure
warning light*2 ( →P.569)
Malfunction indicator
lamp*1 ( →P.570)
SRS warning light*1
( →P.570)
ABS warning light*1
( →P.570)
(Red/yellow)
Electric power steering
system warning light*1
( →P.570)
(Flashes or illu- minates)
PCS warning light*1 (if
equipped) ( →P.571)
(Orange)
LTA indicator (if
equipped) ( →P.571)
Toyota parking assist-
sensor OFF indicator*3 ( i f
equipped) ( →P.572)
PKSB OFF indicator*1 (if
equipped) ( →P.572)
BSM OFF indicator*1 (if
equipped) ( →P.573)
RCTA OFF indicator*1 (if
equipped)
( →P.573)
Slip indicator light*1
( →P.573)
Brake Override Sys -
tem/Drive-Start Con -
trol/PKSB (if equipped)
warning light*2 ( →P.574)
(Flashes)
Brake hold operated indi-
cator*1 ( →P.574)
(Flashes)
Parking brake indicator
( →P.574)
Tire pressure warning
light*1 ( →P.575)
Low fuel level warning
light ( →P.575)
Driver’s and front pas -
senger’s seat belt
reminder light ( →P.575)
Rear passengers’ seat
belt reminder lights
( →P.576)

1783-1. Instrument cluster
changed suddenly (at the
entrance/exit of a garage, tunnel, etc.)
●When “--” or “E” is displayed, the sys -
tem may be malfunctioning. Take your vehicle to any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
●Displays the outsi de temperature
within the range o f -40°C (-40°F) to 50°C (122°F).
●When the outside temperature is
approximately 3°C (37°F) or lower,
the indicator will flash for approxi-
mately 10 seconds, then stay on.
■Liquid crystal display
→ P.180
■Customization
Settings (e. g. mete r display) can be
changed on the scre en of the multi-
information display. ( →P.186)
Switches the items of the odome-
ter, trip meter A, trip meter B and
the brightness of the instrument
cluster lights by pressing the “ODO
TRIP” switch.
 When the trip meter is displayed,
pressing and holding the switch
will reset the tr ip meter.
 When the instrument cluster light
control display is displayed,
pressing and holding the switch
will adjust the brightness of the
instrument cluster lights.
■Instrument cluster brightness
adjustment
The instrument cluster brightness levels when the tail lights are on and off can be
WARNING
■The information display at low
temperatures
Allow the interior o f the vehicle to
warm up before usin g the liquid crys-
tal information display. At extremely low temperatures, the display moni -
tor may respond slowly, and display
changes may be delayed.
For example, there is a lag between
the driver’s shifting and the new shift
range appearing on the display. This lag could cause the driver to down -
shift again, causing rapid and exces -
sive engine braking and possibly an accident resulting in death or injury.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the engine
and its components
●The engine may be overheating if “Engine Coolant Temp High Stop in
a Safe Place See Owner’s Manual”
is shown on the multi-information display. In this case, immediately
stop the vehicle in a safe place, and
check the engine after it has cooled
completely. ( →P.611)
Using the “ODO TRIP”
switch

303
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●Always check that all passengers’
arms, head or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.
■When driving on slippery road
surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and
steering may cause tire slippage
and reduce your ability to control
the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine brak -
ing due to shifting, or changes in engine speed could cause the vehi -
cle to skid.
●After driving through a puddle,
lightly depress the brake pedal to
make sure that the brakes are func - tioning properly. Wet brake pads
may prevent the brakes from func -
tioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not func-
tioning properly, steering control
may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehi cle roll backward while a forward driving position is
selected, or roll forward while the
shift lever is in R. Doing so may result in an accident
or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmis - sion and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while
the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmis - sion and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Do not shift the sh ift lever to a driv- ing position while the vehicle is
moving backward.
Doing so can dama ge the transmis- sion and may resu lt in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Moving the shift lever to N while the
vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system. Engine braking is not available with the hybrid system
disengaged.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever
with the accelerator pedal
depressed. Shifting the shift lever to a gear
other than P or N may lead to unex -
pected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident
and result in death or serious injury.
Doing so can dama ge the transmis- sion and may resu lt in a loss of
vehicle control.
■If you hear a squealing or scrap -
ing noise (brake pad wear indica -
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and
replaced by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota a uthorized repairer, or any reliable repairer 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.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not depress the accelerator
pedal unnecessarily.
If the vehicle is i n any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accel -
erate suddenly an d unexpectedly,
causing an accident.

315
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
■Sudden acceleration/steering
input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing
may result in the trailer colliding
with your vehicle. D ecelerate well in
advance when approaching turns
and take them slowly and carefully
to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding
turning
The wheels of the tr ailer will travel
closer to the inside of the curve
than the wheels of the vehicle. To
make allowance for this, take the
turns wider than you would nor -
mally do.
■Important points regarding
stability
Vehicle movement resulting from
uneven road surfaces and strong
crosswinds will affect handling. The
vehicle may also be rocked by
passing buses or large trucks. Fre -
quently check behind when moving
alongside such vehicles. As soon
as such vehicle movement occurs,
immediately start to decelerate
smoothly by slowly applying the
brakes. Always steer the vehicle
straight ahead while braking.
■Passing other vehicles
Consider the total combined length
of your vehicle and trailer and
ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance is sufficient before execut -
ing lane changes.
■Transmission information
To maintain engine braking effi -
ciency, when using engine braking,
do not use the transmission in D.
( →P.321)
■If the hybrid system overheats
Towing a loaded trailer up a long,
steep incline in temperatures
exceeding 30°C (85°F) may result
in the hybrid system overheating. If
the high coolant temperature warn -
ing light indicates that the hybrid
system is overheating, turn the air
conditioning off immediately, leave
the road and stop the vehicle in a
safe place. ( →P.611)
■When parking the vehicle
Always place wheel chocks under
the wheels of both the vehicle and
trailer. Firmly set the parking brake
and shift the shift lever to P.
■Break-in schedule
Toyota recommends that vehicles fitted
with new power train components
should not be used for towing trailers for the first 800 km (500 miles).
■Maintenance
●Maintenance must be performed more frequently when using the vehicle for
towing due to the greater weight bur -
den placed on the vehicle compared to normal driving.
●Retighten all bolts securing the hitch - ing ball and bracket after towing for
approximately 1000 km (600 miles).
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factor s (crosswinds, pass- ing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing instability.

325
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
■S mode
●You can choose from 6 levels of
accelerating force and engine braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide greater accelerating force and engine braking
force than a higher shift range, and
the engine revolutions will also increase.
●To prevent the eng ine from over-rev- ving, upshifting may automatically
occur when the shif t range is 3 or
lower.
●When the shift range is 4 or lower,
holding the shift le ver toward “+” sets the shift range to 6.
■Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safe ty and driving per- formance, downshifting operation may
sometimes be restricted. In some cir -
cumstances, downshifting may not be possible even when the shift lever or
paddle shift switches (if equipped) is
operated. (A buzze r will sound twice.)
■If the “S” indicator does not come on or the “D” indicator is displayed
even after shifting t he shift lever to
S
This may indicate a malfunction in the transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer immediately. (In
this situation, the transmission will oper -
ate in the same manner as when the shift lever is in D.)
1 Right turn
2 Lane change to the right (move
the lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
3 Lane change to the left (move
the lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
4 Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when
The power switch is in ON.
■If the indicator flashes faster than
usual
Check that a light b ulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned
out.
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions

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

579
8
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
A warning message about an operation
of the brake pedal m ay be shown while
the driving suppor t systems such as
PCS (Pre-Collis ion system) (if
equipped) or the dynamic radar cruise
control with full- speed range (if
equipped) is operating. If a warning
message is shown, be sure to deceler -
ate the vehicle or follow an instruction
shown on the multi-in formation display.
• A warning message is shown when
Brake Override System operates. ( →P.301, 574)
• A warning message is shown when
Drive-Start Control or Parking Support Brake function (if equipped) operates
( →P.301, 420). Follow the instructions
on the multi-information display.
●If a message about an operation of
the power switch is shown
An instruction for operation of the power
switch is shown when the incorrect pro -
cedure for starting the hybrid system is
performed or the power switch is oper -
ated incorrectly. Follow the instructions
shown on the multi-in formation display
to operate the pow er switch again.
●If a message about a shift lever opera-
tion is shown
To prevent the shift lever from being
operated incorrectly or the vehicle from
moving unexpectedly, a message that
requires shifting the shift lever may be
shown on the multi-in formation display.
In that case, follow the instruction of the
message and shift the shift lever.
●If a message or image about an
open/close state of a part or replen-
ishment of a consumable is shown
Confirm the part indicated by the multi-
information display or a warning light,
and then perform the coping method
such as closing the open door or replen -
ishing a consumable.
■If a message that indicates the
need for visiting any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota autho -
rized repairer, or any reliable
repairer is displayed
The system or part sh own on the multi-
information display is malfunctioning.
Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota r etailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer immediately.
■If a message that indicates the need for referring to Owner’s Man -
ual is displayed
●If the following messages are shown,
follow the instructions, accordingly.
• “Blind Spot Monitor Unavailable” ( →P.394, 578)
• “RCTA Unavailable” ( →P.394, 578)
• “Engine Coolant Temp High” ( →P.611)
• “Exhaust Filter Full” ( →P.437)
●If the following messages are shown,
there may be a malfunction. Immedi -
ately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer,
or any reliable repairer. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
• “Plug-in charging system malfunction”
• “Hybrid System Malfunction” • “Charging System Malfunction”
• “Check Engine”
• “Hybrid Battery System Malfunction” • “Accelerator System Malfunction”
• “Smart Entry & Start System Malfunc -
tion”
●If the following messages are shown,
there may be a malfunction. Immedi - ately have the vehi cle inspected by
any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reli -
able repairer. • “Oil Pressure Low”
• “Braking Power Low”
●If any of the following messages are
shown on the multi-information dis -
play, the vehicle ma y have run out of fuel. Stop the vehicle in a safe place
and, if the fuel leve l is low, refuel the