TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID 2023 Owners Manual

469
7
7-1. Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
 Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty sur-
faces with a cloth dampened with
lukewarm water.
 If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it
off with a soft cloth dampened
with neutral detergent diluted to
approximately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent
and water.
■Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-
type cleaners available. Use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in over-lapping circles. Do not use water. Wipe
dirty surfaces and let them dry. Excel- lent results are obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possible.
■Handling the seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also check the belts periodically for exces-
sive wear, fraying or cuts.
NOTICE
●Keep the cleaning nozzle at least 30 cm (11.9 in.) away from the vehi-
cle body. Otherwise resin section, such as moldings and bumpers, may be deformed and damaged.
Also, do not continuously 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 pressure car
washer.
●Do not use the washer on the area
around the charging port lid. Water could get into the AC charging inlet and could damage the vehicle.
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior
Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each compo-
nent and its material.
Protecting the vehicle inte-
rior

4707-1. Maintenance and care
WARNING
■Water in the vehicle
●Do not splash or spill liquid in the
vehicle, such as on the floor, on the rear seats, in the DC/DC Converter air intake vent, junction box or in
the luggage compartment. ( P.99) Doing so may cause the DC/DC Converter, electrical components,
etc. to malfunction or catch fire.
●Do not get any of the SRS compo-
nents or wiring in the vehicle interior wet. ( P.40) An electrical malfunction may
cause the airbags to deploy or not function properly, resulting in death or serious injury.
●Vehicles with wireless charger:Do not let the wireless charger
( P.456) get wet. Failure to do so may cause the charger to become hot and cause burns or could cause
electric shock resulting in death or serious injury.
■Cleaning the interior (especially instrument panel)
Do not use a polish wax or polish
cleaner. The instrument panel may reflect off the windshield, obstructing the driver’s view and leading to an
accident, resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■Cleaning detergents
●Do not use the following types of
detergent, as they may discolor the vehicle interior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:
• Non-seat portions: Organic sub- stances such as benzene or gaso-line, alkaline or acidic solutions,
dye, and bleach
• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alco-
hol
●Do not use a polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel’s or other interior part’s painted surface
may be damaged.
■Preventing damage to leather
surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid damage to and deterioration of
leather surfaces:
●Remove any dust or dirt from leather surfaces immediately.
●Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of
time. Park the vehicle in the shade, especially during summer.
●Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or containing wax on the upholstery, as they may stick to the
leather surface if the vehicle interior heats up significantly.
■Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system may be damaged if water comes into contact with electrical
components such as the audio sys- tem above or under the floor of the vehicle. Water may also cause the
body to rust.
■When cleaning the inside of the
windshield (vehicles with Toyota Safety Sense)
Do not allow glass cleaner to contact
the lens. Also, do not touch the lens. ( P.338)
■Cleaning the inside of the rear window
●Do not use a glass cleaner to clean
the rear window, as this may cause damage to the rear window defog-ger heater wires. Use a cloth damp-
ened with lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the window in strokes running parallel
to the heater wires.

471
7
7-1. Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
 Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner.
 Wipe off any excess dirt and dust
with a soft cloth dampened with
diluted detergent.
Use a diluted water solution of approxi-
mately 5% neutral wool detergent.
 Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
all remaining traces of detergent.
 Wipe the surface with a dry, soft
cloth to remove any remaining
moisture. Allow the leather to dry
in a shaded and ventilated area.
■Caring for leather areas
Toyota recommends cleaning the inte-
rior of the vehicle at least twice a year to maintain the quality of the vehicle’s inte-rior.
 Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner.
 Wipe it off with a soft cloth damp-
ened with neutral detergent
diluted to approximately 1%.
 Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent
and water.
NOTICE
●Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires.
Cleaning the leather areas
Cleaning the synthetic
leather areas

4727-2. Maintenance
7-2.Mainte nance
■Where to go for maintenance ser-
vice?
In order to maintain your vehicle in the best possible condition, Toyota recom-
mends that maintenance service opera- tions as well as other inspections and repairs be carried out by authorized
Toyota retailers or Toyota authorized repairers, or any reliable repairers. For repairs and services covered by your
warranty, please visit an authorized Toyota retailer or repairer, who will use genuine Toyota parts in repairing any
difficulties you may encounter. There can also be advantages in utilizing authorized Toyota retailers or repairers
for non-warranty repairs and services, as members of the Toyota network will be able to expertly assist you with any
difficulties you may encounter.
Your Toyota retailer or Toyota autho-
rized repairer, or any reliable repairer will perform all of the scheduled mainte-nance on your vehicle reliably and eco-
nomically due to their experience with Toyota vehicles.
Scheduled maintenance should be
performed at specified intervals
according to the maintenance
schedule.
For full details of your maintenance
schedule, refer to the “Toyota Service
Booklet” or “Toyota Warranty Booklet”.
What about do-it-yourself mainte-
nance?
Many maintenance items are easy to
do yourself if you have a little mechani-
cal ability and a few basic automotive
tools.
Note, however, that some maintenance
tasks require special tools and skills.
These are best performed by qualified
technicians. Even if you’re an experi-
enced do-it-yourself mechanic, we rec-
ommend that repairs and maintenance
be conducted by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer,
or any reliable repairer. Any authorized
Toyota retailer or repairer will keep a
record of maintenance, which could be
useful should you ever require War-
ranty Service. Should you choose to
select a qualified and equipped profes-
sional other than an authorized Toyota
repairer to service or maintain your
vehicle, we recommend that you
Maintenance require-
ments
To ensure safe and economical
driving, day-to-day care and
regular maintenance are
essential. Toyota recom-
mends the maintenance below.
WARNING
■If your vehicle is not properly
maintained
Improper maintenance could result in serious damage to the vehicle and
possible death or serious injury.
■Handling of the 12-volt battery
12-volt battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds which are known to cause brain damage. Wash your hands after handling. ( P.484)
Scheduled maintenance
Do-it-yourself maintenance

473
7 7-2. Maintenance
Maintenance and care
request that a record of maintenance
be kept.
■Does your vehicle need repairs?
Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance and sounds, and visual tip-offs
that indicate service is needed. Some
important clues are:
●Engine missing, stumbling or pinging
●Appreciable loss of power
●Strange engine noises
●A fluid leak under the vehicle (How-
ever, water dripping from the air con-
ditioning system after use is normal.)
●Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monox-
ide leak. Drive with the windows open
and have the exhaust system checked
immediately.)
●Flat-looking tires, excessive tire
squeal when cornering, uneven tire
wear
●Vehicle pulls to one side when driven
straight on a level road
●Strange noises related to suspension
movement
●Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy
feeling brake pedal, pedal almost
touches the floor, vehicle pulls to one
side when braking
●Engine coolant temperature continu-
ally higher than normal (P.187, 193)
If you notice any of these clues, take
your vehicle to any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or
any reliable repairer as soon as possi-
ble.
Your vehicle may need adjustment or
repair.

4747-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7-3.Do-it-y ours elf main ten ance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions
If you perform maintenance by
yourself, be sure to follow the
correct procedure as given in
these sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
12-volt battery
condition
( P.484)
•Grease
• Conventional
wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)
Engine/power
control unit
coolant level
( P.481)
• “Toyota Super Long
Life Coolant” or a
similar high quality
ethylene glycol-
based non-silicate,
non-amine, non-
nitrite and non-
borate coolant with
long-life hybrid
organic acid technol-
ogy
“Toyota Super Long
Life Coolant” is pre-
mixed with 50%
coolant and 50%
deionized water.
• Funnel (used only
for adding coolant)
Engine oil level
( P.479)
• “Toyota Genuine
Motor Oil” or equiva-
lent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only
for adding engine
oil)
Fuses
( P.513)
• Fuse with same
amperage rating as
original
DC/DC Con-
verter air
intake vent
( P.504)
• Vacuum cleaner,
etc,
• Phillips screwdriver
Light bulbs
( P.516)
• Bulb with same
number and watt-
age rating as origi-
nal
• Phillips-head screw-
driver
• Flathead screw-
driver
•Wrench
Radiator and
condenser
( P.482)

Tire inflation
pressure
( P.498)
• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air
source
Washer fluid
( P.483)
• Water or washer
fluid containing anti-
freeze (for winter
use)
• Funnel (used only
for adding water or
washer fluid)
WARNING
The engine compartment contains many mechanisms and fluids that may move suddenly, become hot, or
become electrically energized. To avoid death or serious injury, observe the following precautions.
ItemsParts and tools

475
7
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Maintenance and care
WARNING
■When working on the engine compartment
●Make sure that “IGNITION ON” on the multi-information display and the “READY” indicator 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 anything that may burn easily, such as paper and
rags, in the engine compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or
expose an open flame to fuel. Fuel fumes are flammable.
●Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and dam-age painted surfaces. 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 switch 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.482)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc., from getting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the 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 brake 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.

4767-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
1Pull the hood lock release lever.
The hood will pop up slightly.
2Push the auxiliary catch lever to
the left and lift the hood.
3 Hold the hood open by inserting
the supporting rod into the slot.Hood
Release the lock from the
inside of the vehicle to open
the hood.
Opening the hood
WARNING
■Pre-driving check
Check that the hood is fully closed
and locked. If the hood is not locked properly, it
may open while the vehicle is in motion and cause an accident, which may result in death or serious injury.
■To prevent injuries
The support rod may be hot after driv-
ing the vehicle. Touching the hot sup- port rod may lead to burns or other serious injuries.
■To prevent burns
Do not touch the pipes when the com-
pressor is operating or after it is stopped, because the pipes are hot.
Touching by hands before the pipes
cool down may cause burns.

477
7
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Maintenance and care
■Front
WARNING
■After installing the support rod into the slot
Make sure the rod supports the hood securely from falling down on to your head or body.
■When closing the hood
When closing the hood, take extra
care to prevent your fingers etc. from being caught.
NOTICE
■When closing the hood
Be sure to return the support rod to its clip before closing the hood. Closing the hood without returning the support
rod properly could cause the hood to bend.
Positioning a floor jack
When using a floor jack, follow
the instructions in the manual
provided with the jack and per-
form the operation safely.
When raising your vehicle with
a floor jack, position the jack
correctly.
Improper placement may dam-
age your vehicle or cause
injury.
Location of the jack point

4787-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Rear