1997 TOYOTA RAV4 ECU

47
CAUTION!
Push and pull the child restraint
system in different directions to be sure it is secure. Follow all the
installation instructions provided by
its manufacturer.
3. To remove the infant seat, press the buckle-release button.(B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLA-
TION
A convertible seat is used in forward
facing and rear-facing position de-
pending on the child's age and size.
When installing, following the
manufacturer 's instructions about the
applicable child's age and size as well as direction for installing of a child re-
straint system.

49
2. While pressing the convertible seatfirmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, tighten the lap belt by pulling
its free end to hold the convertible seat
securely.
CAUTION!
Push and pull the child restraint
system in different directions to be
sure it is secure. Follow all the
installation instructions provided
by its manufacturer.
3. To remove the convertible seat, press the buckle-release button.

51
1. Run the lap and shoulder belt throughor around the infant seat following the
instructions provided by its manufac-
turer and insert the tab into the buckle taking care not to twist the belt. Keepthe lap portion of the belt tight.
CAUTION!
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent
you from properly latching the
tab and buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do
not use the seat until the seat belt
is fixed.
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it
in the lock mode. When the belt is then
retracted even slightly, it cannot be ex-
tended.
To hold the infant seat securely, makesure the belt is in the lock mode before let-
ting the belt to retract.

52
3. While pressing the infant seat firmlyagainst the seat cushion and seat-
back, let the shoulder belt retract as far
as it will go to hold the infant seat se-
curely.
CAUTION!
Make sure the seat belt is securely
locked. Also make sure the child
restraint system is secure by
pushing and pulling it in different
directions. Follow all the installa-
tion instructions provided by its
manufacturer.
4. To remove the infant seat, press the
buckle-release button and allow the
belt to retract completely. The belt will
move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or older child passen-
ger.

55
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put itin the lock mode. When the belt is then
retracted slightly, it cannot be ex- tended.
To hold the convertible seat securely,
make sure the belt is in the lock mode be-
fore letting the belt to retract.3. While pressing the convertible seat firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, let the shoulder belt retract
as far as it will go to hold the convert-
ible seat securely.
CAUTION!
Make sure the seat belt is securely
locked. Also make sure the child
restraint system is secure by
pushing and pulling it in different
directions. Follow all the installa-
tion instructions provided by its
manufacturer.

78With the selector lever in 2º, the vehicle
will
start in the first gear and automatically
shift to the second gear.
With the selector lever in Lº, the trans-
mission is engaged in the first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the en-
gine. Watch the tachometer to
keep engine rpm from going intothe red zone. The approximatemaximum allowable speed for
each position is given below foryour reference:Two-wheel drive models
2º 130 km/h (80 mph). . . . . .
Lº 72 km/h (44 mph) . . . . .
Four-wheel drive models
215/70R16 tires 2º 121 km/h (75 mph). . . . . .
Lº 67 km/h (41 mph) . . . . .
235/60R16 tires 2º 188 km/h (73 mph). . . . . .
Lº 65 km/h (40 mph) . . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
2º or Lº position. This may
cause severe automatic transmis-sion damage from overheating.
To prevent such damage, Dºposition should be used in hillclimbing or hard towing.
(d) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the selector lever to the
Rº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle is moving.
(e) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever up fully to securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down, shift the selector lever to the Pº posi- tion.
While the vehicle is moving, never
attempt to move the selector lever
into Pº position under any circum-
stances. Serious mechanical dam-
age and loss of vehicle control mayresult. CAUTION
!
(f) Good driving practice If the transmission is repeatedly up-
shifted and downshifted between third
gear and overdrive when climbing a
gentle slope, the overdrive switch
should be turned off. Be sure to turn the switch on immediately afterward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do notuse overdrive.
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping. CAUTION
!

121
CAUTION!
Before driving off, make sure that the parking brake if fully released
and the parking brake reminder
light is off.
Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is running.
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. It can cause
dangerous overheating, needless
wear, and poor fuel economy.
To drive down a long or steep hill,reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly.
Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, down shifting or braking
on a slippery surface. Sudden ac-
celeration or engine braking, could cause the vehicle to spin or skid.Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has high-speed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are high-speed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.
Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a lon-ger stopping distance, and it may
pull to one side when the brakes are
applied. Also, the parking brake
will not hold the vehicle securely.CAUTION!
Always observe the following pre-
cautions to minimize the risk of seri-
ous personal injury or damage to
your vehicle: 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 cehck your brakes for ef-fectiveness immediately after driv-
ing 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 un-
derbody. If the vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adher-
ing to the underbody, a breakdown
or fire could occur.
Off-road driving precautions

125
The trailer cargo load should be
distributed so that the tongue load
is 9 to 11% of the total trailer weight,
not exceeding 68 kg (150 lb.).
Never load the trailer with more
weight in the back than in the front.
About 60% of the trailer load
should be in thefront half of the
trailer and the remaining 40% in the
rear. HITCHES
Use only a weight carring hitch de-
signed for the total trailer weight. T oyota
does not recommend using a weight
distribution (load equalizing) hitch.
The hitch must be bolted securely to the vehicle frame and installed according to
the hitch manufacturer's instructions.
The hitch ball should have a light coat of grease.
Toyota recommends that the trailer
hitch be removed when not towing toprevent injury and/or damage by the
hitch in event of a rear end collision. Af-
ter removing the hitch, the installation
area should be sealed to prevent entry of exhaust fumes and mud.
NOTICE
Do not use an axle-mounting hitch as it may cause damage to the axle
housing, wheel bearings, wheels and/or tires.
BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable
federal and state/provincial regulations.
A safety chain must always be used
between the towing vehicle and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the
chain for turns. The chain should
cross under the trailer tongue toprevent the tongue from dropping to
the ground in case it becomes dam-
aged or separated. For correct safety
chain procedures, follow the hitch or
trailer manufacturer's recommenda-tions.
CAUTION!
If the total trailer weight exceeds
272 kg (600 lb.), trailer brakes are required.
Never tap into your vehicle's hy-
draulic system as it would lower its
braking effectiveness.
Never tow a trailer without using a
safety chain securely attached to
both the trailer and the vehicle. If
damage occurs to the coupling unit
or hitch ball, there is danger of the
trailer wandering over into anotherlane.