check oil TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID 2023 Owners Manual

13Pictorial index
Precautions against winter season ................................................. P.422
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer)
*1............................. P.435
Precautions against car wash ......................................................... P.467
Replacing the wiper insert............................................................... P.508
Fuel filler door ............................................................................... P.336
Refueling method ............................................................................ P.336
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity ............................................................ P.586
Charging port ................................................................................ P.106
Charging method ............................................................................ P.127
Tires ............................................................................................... P.487
Tire size/inflation pressure .............................................................. P.590
Winter tires/tire chain ...................................................................... P.422
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system ............................. P.487
Coping with flat tires................................................................ P.548, 559
Hood ............................................................................................... P.476
Opening .......................................................................................... P.476
Engine oil ........................................................................................ P.587
Coping with overheat ...................................................................... P.578
Warning messages ......................................................................... P.544
Headlights/front position lights/daytime running lights ........... P.326
Turn signal lights .......................................................................... P.319
Front fog lights.............................................................................. P.331
Stop lights/tail lights..................................................................... P.326
Tail lights ....................................................................................... P.326
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R .............................................................. P.315
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P.516, Watts: P.591)
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M

183
3 3-1. Instrument cluster
Vehicle status information and indicators
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-
Warning lights
(Red)
Brake system warning light*1
(P.534)
(Yellow)
Brake system warning light*1
(P.534)
Charging system warning
light
*1 (P.535)
High coolant temperature
warning light
*2 (P.535)
Hybrid system overheat
warning light
*2 (P.535)
Low engine oil pressure
warning light
*2 (P.535)
Malfunction indicator lamp
*1
(P.536)
SRS warning light
*1
(P.536)
ABS warning light
*1
(P.536)
(Red)
Electric power steering sys-
tem warning light
*1 (P.536)
(Yellow)
Electric power steering sys-
tem warning light
*1 (P.536)
(Flashes or
illuminates)
PCS warning light*1 (if
equipped) (P.537)
(Orange)
LTA indicator (if equipped)
(P.537)
Toyota parking assist-sensor
OFF indicator
*3 (P.538)
PKSB OFF indicator
*1 (if
equipped) (P.538)
BSM OFF indicator
*1 (if
equipped) (P.539)
RCTA OFF indicator
*1 (if
equipped)
(P.539)
Slip indicator light
*1 (P.539)
Inappropriate pedal operation
warning light
*2 (P.540)
(Flashes)
Brake hold operated indica-
tor
*1 (P.540)
(Flashes)
Parking brake indicator
(P.540)
Tire pressure warning light
*1
(P.541)
Low fuel level warning light
(P.541)
Driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seat belt reminder light
(P.541)
Rear passengers’ seat belt
reminder lights
*4 (P.542)
Rear passengers’ seat
belt reminder lights
(P.542)

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.

357
5 5-5. Using the driving support systems
Driving
the steering wheel vibrates, check the
area around your vehicle and carefully
operate the steering wheel to move the
vehicle back to the center of the lane.
Vehicles with BSM: When the system
determines that the vehicle might
depart from its lane and that the possi-
bility of a collision with an overtaking
vehicle in the adjacent lane is high, the
lane departure alert will operate even if
the turn signals are operating.
*: Boundary between asphalt and the
side of the road, such as grass, soil,
or a curb
■Steering assist function
When the system determines that
the vehicle might depart from its
lane or course
*, the system pro-
vides assistance as necessary by
operating the steering wheel in
small amounts for a short period of
time to keep the vehicle in its lane.
Vehicles with BSM: When the system determines that the vehicle might
depart from its lane and that the possi-
bility of a collision with an overtaking
vehicle in the adjacent lane is high, the
steering assist function will operate
even if the turn signals are operating.
*: Boundary between asphalt and the
side of the road, such as grass, soil,
or a curb
■Vehicle sway warning function
When the vehicle is swaying within
a lane, the warning buzzer will
sound and a message will be dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play to alert the driver.

4265-6. Driving tips
cautions to ensure your driving
enjoyment and to help prevent the
closure of areas to off-road vehi-
cles:
 Drive your vehicle only in areas
where off-road vehicles are per-
mitted to travel.
 Respect private property. Get
owner’s permission before enter-
ing private property.
 Do not enter areas that are
closed. Honor gates, barriers
and signs that restrict travel.
 Stay on established roads. When
conditions are wet, driving tech-
niques should be changed or
travel delayed to prevent dam-
age to roads.
WARNING
■Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precau- tions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury or damage to your vehi-
cle:
●Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by
driving in dangerous places.
●Do not grip the steering wheel
spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands
and especially your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
●Always check your brakes for effec-tiveness immediately after driving in sand, mud, water or snow.
●After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the underbody. Clear off any such matter from the
underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody, a break-
down or fire could occur.
●When driving off-road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE
■To prevent the water damage
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the hybrid battery (traction battery),
hybrid system or other components does not occur.
●Water entering the engine compart-
ment may cause severe damage to the hybrid system.
●Water entering the hybrid transmis-sion will cause deterioration in transmission quality. The malfunc-
tion indicator may come on, and the vehicle may not be drivable.
●Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature failure, and may
also enter the hybrid transaxle case, reducing the gear oil’s lubri-cating qualities.

459
6 6-4. Using the other interior features
Interior features
Repeatedly flashes 3 times con-
tinuously (Orange)
Repeatedly flashes 4 times con-
tinuously (Orange)■The wireless charger can be oper-
ated when
The power switch is in ACC or ON.
■Usable portable devices
●Qi standard wireless charge standard
can be used on compatible devices.
However, not all Qi standard devices
and compatibility are guaranteed.
●Starting with mobile phones and
smartphones, it is aimed for low
power electrically supplied portable
devices of no more than 5W.
●However, charging exceeding 5 W is
supported by the following portable
devices.
• Charging at 7.5 W or less is supported
by iPhone’s that support 7.5 W
charging.
• Charging at 10 W or less is supported
by portable devices compliant with
EPP output as defined by WPC stan-
dard Ver1.2.4.
■Using the smart entry & start sys-
tem
If the smart entry & start system detects
the key while a device is being charged,
charging will be temporarily stopped.
■When covers and accessories are
attached to portable devices
Do not charge in situations where cover
and accessories not able to handle Qi
are attached to the portable device.
Depending on the type of cover (includ-
ing the certain genuine manufacture
parts) and accessory, it may not be pos-
sible to charge. When charging is not
performed even with the portable device
placed on the charge area, remove the
cover and accessories.
■Important points of the wireless
charger
●If the electronic key cannot be
detected within the vehicle interior,
charging cannot be done. When the
door is opened and closed, charging
may be temporarily suspended.
●When charging, the wireless charging
Suspected causesHandling method
Foreign substance
detection:
A metallic foreign
substance is in the
charge area, and
so the abnormal
heating prevention
function operated
Remove the for-
eign substance
from the charge
area.
Portable device
misaligned:
The charging coil
in the portable
device moved out-
side of the charge
area, and so the
abnormal heating
prevention function
operated
Remove the porta-
ble device from the
charging tray,
check that the
operation indicator
light switches back
to green, and then
once again place
the device near the
center of the
charging tray. If
there is a case or
cover attached to
the portable
device, remove it.
Suspected causesHandling method
Safety shutdown
resulting when the
temperature within
the wireless char-
ger exceeded the
set value
Stop charging,
remove the porta-
ble device from the
charging tray, wait
for the temperature
to drop, and then
start charging
again.

4667-1. Maintenance and care
7-1.Mainte nance a nd care
Working from top to bottom, lib-
erally apply water to the vehicle
body, wheel wells and underside
of the vehicle to remove any dirt
and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a
sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
For hard-to-remove marks, use
car wash soap and rinse thor-
oughly with water.
Wipe away any water.
Wax the vehicle when the water-
proof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean sur-
face, apply wax when the vehicle body
is cool.
■Before car washes
Check that the fuel filler door and
charging port lid on your vehicle are
closed properly.
■Automatic car washes
●Before washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door (if
equipped)
Start washing from the front of the vehi-
cle. Make sure to extend the mirrors
before driving.
●Brushes used in automatic car
washes may scratch the vehicle sur-
face, parts (wheel, etc.) and harm
your vehicle’s paint.
●Rear spoiler may not be washable in
some automatic car washes. There
may also be an increased risk of dam-
age to vehicle.
■High pressure car washes
As water may enter the cabin, do not
bring the nozzle tip near the gaps
around the doors or perimeter of the
windows, or spray these areas continu-
ously.
■Note for a smart entry & start sys-
tem
If the door handle becomes wet while
the electronic key is within the effective
range, the door may lock and unlock
repeatedly. In that case, follow the fol-
lowing correction procedures to wash
the vehicle:
●Place the key in a position 2 m (6 ft.)
or more separate from the vehicle
while the vehicle is being washed.
(Take care to ensure that the key is
not stolen.)
●Set the electronic key to battery-sav-
ing mode to disable the smart entry &
start system. (P.254)
■Wheels and wheel ornaments
●Remove any dirt immediately by using
a neutral detergent.
●Wash detergent off with water imme-
diately after use.
●To protect the paint from damage,
make sure to observe the following
precautions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive
detergent.
• Do not use hard brushes.
• Do not use detergent on the wheels
when they are hot, such as after driv-
ing or parking in hot weather.
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior
Perform the following to pro-
tect the vehicle and maintain it
in prime condition:
Cleaning instructions

479
7 7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Maintenance and care
Fuse boxes (P.513)
Engine oil filler cap (P.480)
Engine oil level dipstick (P.479)
Radiator (P.482)
Electric cooling fan
Condenser (P.482)
Power control unit coolant reservoir (P.482)
Washer fluid tank (P.483)
Engine coolant reservoir (P.481)
■12-volt battery
P.484
With the engine at operating tem-
perature and turned off, check the
Engine compartment
Components
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Checking and adding the
engine oil

4807-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
oil level on the dipstick.
■Checking the engine oil
1Park the vehicle on level
ground. After warming up the
engine and turning off the hybrid
system, wait more than 5 min-
utes for the oil to drain back into
the bottom of the engine.
2Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out.
3Wipe the dipstick clean.
4Reinsert the dipstick fully.
5Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out and check
the oil level.
Low
Normal
Excessive
The shape of the dipstick may differ depending on the type of vehicle or
engine.
6Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it
fully.
■Checking the oil type and pre-
paring the items needed
Make sure to check the oil type and
prepare the items needed before
adding oil.
Engine oil selection
P.587
Oil quantity (Low  Full)
1.5 L (1.6 qt., 1.3 Imp. qt.)
Item
Clean funnel
■Adding engine oil
If the oil level is below or near the
low level mark, add engine oil of the
same type as that already in the
engine.
1Remove the oil filler cap by turn-
ing it counterclockwise.
2Add engine oil slowly, checking
the dipstick.
3Install the oil filler cap by turning
it clockwise.
A
B
C

481
7
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Maintenance and care
■Engine oil consumption
A certain amount of 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 disorders 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 oil 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 retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer, service station or auto parts store for information concern-
ing recycling or disposal.
●Do not leave used engine 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 level 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