1997 TOYOTA RAV4 hood release

21. Side vent
2. Instrument cluster
3. Center vents
4. Electronic moon roof switch and
personal lights
5. Glovebox
6. Power door lock switch
7. Power window switches
8. Parking brake lever
9. Automatic transmission selector lever or manual transmissiongear shift lever
10. Ashtray
11. Hood lock release lever
Instrument panel overview

12
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH KEY
Insert the key into the keyhole and turn
it.
To lock: Turn the key counterclockwise.
To unlock: Turn the key clockwise.
When closing the backdoor, make sure it is fully closed. See Luggage stowage precautionsº in
Part 2 for precautions to observe in load- ing luggage.
CAUTION!
Keep the back door closed while
driving. This not only keeps the
luggage from being thrown out but
also prevents exhaust gases from
entering the vehicle.
If the open back door hides the rear
stop and tail lights or rear turn sig-
nal lights while you are parked, oth- er road users must be warned of the
presence of your vehicle by a warn-
ing triangle or other device.
To open the hood, do the following.
1. Pull the hood lock release lever.
The hood will spring up slightly.
Before driving, be sure that the hood
is securely locked. Otherwise, the
hood may open unexpectedly while
driving and an accident may occur.
CAUTION!
Back door
Hood

13
2. In front of the vehicle, pull up on theauxiliary catch lever and lift the hood.3. Hold the hood open by insertingthe support rod into the slot.
Before closing the hood, check that you
have not forgotten any tools, rags, etc.
and return the support rod to its clip-this
prevents ra ttles. Then lower the hood until
it is about 20 cm (8 in.) above the engine
compartment and release it. If the hood is
still not fully closed, lift and release the
hood again. After closing the hood, make sure it is securely locked.
If you notice while driving that the hood is not securely locked, stop the vehicle at
once and close the hood.
Right after driving the support rod may be hot, so only touch the part coated with nylon.
After inserting the 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, be careful
not to get your hands caught be-
tween the hood and the vehicle
body.
NOTICE
Do not press on the hood, or you may deform the hood.
! CAUTION

157
Tire surface and wheel nuts Check the tires carefully
for cuts, damage
or excessive wear. See Chapter 7-2 for
additional information. When checking the tires, make sure no nuts are missing,
and check the nuts for looseness. T ighten
them if necessary.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires every 12000 km (7500
miles). See Chapter 7-2 for additional in-formation.
Fluid leaks Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, wa-
ter or other fluid after the vehicle has been
parked for a while. If you smell fuel fumes
or notice any leak, have the cause found
and corrected immediately. Doors and engine hood Check that all doors and back door oper-
ate smoothly and all latches lock securely. Make sure the engine hood secondary latch secures the hood from opening
when the primary latch is released. INSIDE THE VEHICLE Items listed below should be checked
regularly, e.g. while performing peri-
odic services, cleaning the vehicle,etc. Lights Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other lights are all working. Check headlight aim. Service reminder indicators and
warn-
ing buzzers Check that all service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers function properly. Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified freeplay.
Be alert for changes in steering condition,such as hard steering or strange noise. Seats Check that all seat controls such as seat
adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. operate
smoothly and that all latches lock securely
in any position. For folding-up rear
seat-backs, check that the latches lock
securely. Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as
buckles, retractors and anchors operate
properly
and smoothly. Make sure the belt
webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-aged. Accelerator pedal Check the pedal for smooth operation and
uneven pedal effort or catching. Clutch pedal Check the pedal for smooth operation. Brake pedal Check the pedal for smooth operation and
that the pedal has the proper clearance. Check the brake booster function. Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do not pull to one side when applied. Parking brake Check that the lever has the proper travel and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle is
held securely with only the parking brake applied.

187
1. Open the hood. Unplug the con-nector. Turn the plastic cover coun-
terclockwise and remove it.
If the connector is tight, wiggle it.2. Remove the rubber cover.3. Release the bulb retaining spring and remove the bulb. Install a new
bulb and the bulb retaining spring.
To install a bulb, align the tabs of the bulb with the cutout of the mounting hole.
ÐHeadlights