brakes TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID 2023 Owners Manual

41
1
1-1. For safe use
For safety and security
PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lights
The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The SRS air-
bag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. As the airbags
deploy, a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non-
toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occupants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Slight abrasions, burns, bruising etc., may be sustained from SRS airbags, due to the extremely high speed
deployment (inflation) by hot gases.
●A loud noise and white powder will be
emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steering
wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as well as the front seats, parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side
rails, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.
●The hybrid system will be stopped and
fuel supply to the engine will be stopped. ( P.99)
●All of the doors will be unlocked. ( P.236)
●Vehicles with Secondary Collision Brake: The brakes and stop lights will be controlled automatically. ( P.416)
●The interior lights will turn on automat- ically. ( P.443)
●The emergency flashers will turn on automatically. ( P.526)
●Vehicles with eCall: If any of the fol- lowing situations occur, the system is
designed to send an emergency call to the eCall control center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location (without
needing to push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to speak with the occupants to ascertain the
level of emergency and assistance required. If the occupants are unable to communicate, the agent automati-
cally treats the call as an emergency and helps to dispatch the necessary
emergency services. ( P.66)
• An SRS airbag is deployed. • A seat belt pretensioner is activated.
• The vehicle is involved in a severe rear-end collision.
■SRS airbag deployment conditions
(SRS front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy in
the event of an impact that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to an approxi-
mately 20 - 30 km/h [12 - 18 mph] frontal collision with a fixed wall that does not move or deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher in the following situ-
ations:
• If the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on impact
• If the vehicle is involved in an under- ride collision, such as a collision in which the front of the vehicle “under-
rides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck
●Depending on the type of collision, it is possible that only the seat belt preten-sioners will activate.
■SRS airbag deployment conditions
(SRS side and curtain shield air- bags)
●The SRS side and curtain shield air-bags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds the set threshold
level (the level of force corresponding to the impact force produced by an approximately 1500 kg [3300 lb.] vehi-
cle colliding with the vehicle cabin from a direction perpendicular to the vehicle orientation at an approximate
speed of 20 - 30 km/h [12 - 18 mph]).
●Both SRS curtain shield airbags may
O

101
2 2-1. Plug-in hybrid system
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 cannot 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 deceleration 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 timely manner. A greater amount of electrical energy
can be regenerated when slowing
down.
Repeated acceleration 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 freeway, 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

289
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
ilar to conventional vehicles, and it is
necessary to refrain from activities such as sudden acceleration. Refer to “Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle driving tips”
( P.100).
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining,
because visibility will be reduced, the windows may become fogged-up, and the road could be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, as the road surface could be espe-
cially slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driv-
ing on an expressway in the rain, because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road sur-
face, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
■ECO Accelerator Guidance ( P.202)
It is easier to drive in an Eco-friendly manner by driving while referring to the ECO Accelerator Guidance display.
Also, by using the ECO Accelerator Guidance it is easier to increase the “Eco Score” evaluation.
●When starting off: While staying within the ECO Accelerator Guidance range,
gradually depress the accelerator pedal and accelerate to the desired speed. If excessive acceleration is
avoided, the “Start” score will increase.
●When driving: After accelerating to the desired speed, release the accelera-tor pedal and drive at a stable speed
within the ECO Accelerator Guidance range. By keeping the vehicle within the ECO Accelerator Guidance range,
the “Cruise” score will increase.
●When stopping: When stopping the
vehicle, early releasing the accelera- tor pedal will cause the “Stop” score to increase.
■Restraining the hybrid system out-
put (Brake Override System)
●When the accelerator and brake ped-
als are depressed at the same time,
the hybrid system output may be restrained.
●A warning message is displayed on the multi-information display while the system is operating.
■Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observ- ing the following precautions is recom-mended:
●For the first 300 km (200 miles):Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 800 km (500 miles):Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 1000 km (600 miles):• Do not drive at extremely high
speeds. • Avoid sudden acceleration.• Do not drive continuously in low
gears. • Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign
country
Comply with the relevant vehicle regis- tration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P.586)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY” indicator is illuminated. This
prevents the vehicle from creeping.

2905-1. Before driving
WARNING
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar
with the location of the brake and accelerator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accel- erator pedal instead of the brake pedal will result in sudden accelera-
tion that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi-
culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving
posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and accel-
erator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-ing in an accident.
●The driver should pay extra atten-tion to pedestrians when the vehicle
is powered only by the electric motor (traction motor). As there is no engine noise, the pedestrians
may misjudge the vehicle’s move- ment. Even though the vehicle is equipped with the Acoustic Vehicle
Alerting System, drive with care as pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice the vehicle if the sur-
rounding area is noisy.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or
stop the vehicle near flammable materials such as leaves, paper or rags.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may cause a fire if there is
any flammable material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid system off while driving will
not cause loss of steering or brak- ing control. However, power assist for the steering wheel may be lost
making it difficult to steer smoothly before stopping the vehicle depend-ing on the remaining charge in the
12-volt battery or usage conditions. In this situation, you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon
as it is safe to do so. In the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way: P.526
●Use engine braking (downshift) to
maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep hill.Using the brakes continuously may
cause the brakes to overheat and lose effectiveness. ( P.315)
●Do not adjust the position of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rear view mirrors
while driving. Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●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.

291
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●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 vehicle 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 shift lever to a driv-ing position while the vehicle is
moving backward. Doing so can damage the transmis-sion and may result 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 damage the transmis-
sion and may result 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 authorized 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 in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accel-erate suddenly and unexpectedly,
causing an accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to
the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY”
indicator is illuminated, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent acci-dents caused by the vehicle rolling
forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely apply the parking brake as
needed.

2925-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Avoid revving or racing the engine. Running the engine at high speed
while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust system to over-heat, which could result in a fire if
combustible material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle when it is in the
sun. Doing so may result in the follow-ing:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to
deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, caus- ing the contents to spray over the
interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the seat
is adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the
windshield or windows. Do not place containers such as air fresh-eners on the instrument panel or
dashboard. Adhesive discs or con- tainers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated
with a metallized film such as a sil- ver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to act as a
lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unat- tended while the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the parking brake is not set, the vehicle may start to
move, possibly leading to an acci- dent.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the “READY” indicator is illu-minated or immediately after turn-
ing the hybrid system off. Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move
the shift lever or depress the acceler- ator pedal, this could cause an acci-dent or fire due to hybrid system
overheating. Additionally, if the vehi- cle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and
enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side of the vehicle to
brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
●If the electronically controlled brake system does not operate, do not fol-
low other vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual.
Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.

293
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems;
if one of the systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
■If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively
when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline
components or propel the vehicle for- ward or backward, causing an acci-dent.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time
during driving, as this may restrain the hybrid system output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time 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, under-side of the vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the
following situations.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Hold the steering wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P.548, 559)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain, etc. Doing so may cause the following serious dam-
age to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water
immersion
In the event that you drive on a
flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to have any autho-rized Toyota retailer or Toyota autho-
rized repairer, or any reliable repairer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine,
hybrid transaxle (front and rear), etc.
●Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possi-ble), and the function of all joints,
bearings, etc.
●Components connected to the trac-
tion battery.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or
the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.

3085-1. Before driving
is especially true when driving on
wet or slippery road surfaces.
■Sudden acceleration/steering
input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing
may result in the trailer colliding
with your vehicle. Decelerate well in
advance when approaching turns
and take them slowly and carefully
to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding
turning
The wheels of the trailer 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.315)
■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.578)
■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 factors (crosswinds, pass-
ing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can

309
5 5-1. Before driving
Driving
adversely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer
straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by
turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal
immediately but very gradually to
reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply
vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with
the steering or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer should stabilize (if enabled, Trailer
Sway Control can also help to stabilize
the vehicle and trailer.).
●After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants
out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the
trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appro-
priate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded
after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the
speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular
vehicle-trailer combination. Drive at a
lower speed to prevent instability.
Remember that swaying of the towing
vehicle-trailer increases as speed
increases.

3245-2. Driving procedures
enabled, the system will turn off and the
brake hold standby indicator light will go off. In addition, if any of the conditions are detected while the system is holding
the brake, a warning buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the multi-information display. The parking
brake will then be set automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a
period of about 3 minutes after the system has started holding the brake, the parking brake will be set automati-
cally. In this case, a warning buzzer sounds and a message is shown on the multi-information display.
●To turn the system off while the sys-tem is holding the brake, firmly
depress the brake pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep incline. In this situation, it may
be necessary for the driver to apply the brakes. A warning buzzer will sound and the multi-information dis-
play will inform the driver of this situa- tion. If a warning message is shown on the multi-information display, read
the message and follow the instruc- tions.
■When the parking brake is set auto-matically while the system is hold-
ing the brakes
Perform any of the following operations to release the parking brake.
●Depress the accelerator pedal. (The parking brake will not be released
automatically if the seat belt is not fas- tened.)
●Operate the parking brake switch with the brake pedal depressed.
Make sure that the parking brake indica-
tor light goes off. ( P.320)
■When an inspection at any autho-
rized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indicator (green) does not illuminate even when the brake hold switch is pressed with the
brake hold system operating conditions met, the system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected at any
authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
■If “Brake Hold Malfunction Press
Brake to Deactivate Visit Your Dealer” or “Brake Hold Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is displayed on
the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by any
authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
■Warning messages and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to indicate a system malfunction or to inform the driver of the need for cau-
tion. If a warning message is shown on the multi-information display, read the message and follow the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indicator
flashes
 P.540
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep
incline
Take care when using the brake hold system on a steep incline, exercise
caution. The brake hold function may not hold brakes in such situations.
Also, the system may not activate
depending on the angle of the slope.