1997 TOYOTA RAV4 seats

18
Install the removed sun roof panels on
the back door as follows.
If the rear seats are reclined, return
them to the upright position before
closing the back door. Otherwise,they will interfere with the installed sun roof panels, possibly damagingthem.
NOTICE
1. Remove the holder from the back door by turning the bolts counter- clockwise.
The upper holder is for the front sun roof
panel and the lower one is for the rear panel.2. Set the front edge of the sun roof panel into the holders.
The fore part of holders is for the front sun roof panel and the back part is for the rearpanel.
ÐStowing

Part 1Seats Front seatsÐ
ÐSeat adjustment precautions
21
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS ANDCONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1-3 Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors
Seats
Front seats
Rear seats
Flattening seatbacks
Head restraints
Seat belts
SRS airbags
Child restraint
Tilt steering wheel
Outside rear view mirrors
Anti-glare inside rear view mir- ror
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle
occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belt provided.
CAUTION!
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow sitting on top of a folded-
down seatback, or in the luggage
compartment. Persons not proper-
ly seated and not properly re-
strained by seat belts can be se-
verely injured in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow pas-
sengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Severe inju-
ries can occur in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision. Adjust the driver's seat so that the foot
pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel
controls are within easy reach of the
driver.CAUTION!
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving, as the
seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When adjusting the seat, be careful not to hit the seat against a passen- ger or luggage.
After adjusting the seat position,try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is locked in posi- tion.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
Do not put objects under the seats
as they may interfere with the seat-
lock mechanism or unexpectedly
push up the seat position adjusting
lever; the seat may suddenly move,
causing the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.

22
While adjusting the seat, do not put
your hands under the seat or near
the moving parts. You may catch
and injure your hands or fingers.1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LE-
VER
Pull the lever up. Then slide the seat to
the desired position with slight body
pressure and release lever.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.
CAUTION!
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maxi-
mum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the
passenger are sitting up straight and
well back in the seats. If you are re-
clined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. Therefore,
in the event of a frontal collision, therisk of personal injury may increase
with increasing recline of the seat- back.
ÐAdjusting front seats

23
For easy access to the rear seat, do this.
1. Lift the seatback angle adjusting leveror press the pedal behind the seat- back.
The seat will slide forward slightly.
2. Move the seat to the front-most posi- tion.
After passengers are in, lift up the seat- back and return the seat until it locks.
CAUTION!
After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat forward and rear-
ward to make sure it is secured inplace.
Never allow anyone to rest their
foot on the release pedal while the
vehicle is moving.
Lean forward and pull the lock release
lever. Then lean back to the desired
angle and release the lever.
ÐMoving passenger's seat for rear seat entry (2-door models)
Rear seatsÐ ÐAdjusting seatback angle

24
CAUTION!
Adjustments should not be made while the vehicle is moving.
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection
when the passengers are sitting up straight and well back in the
seats. If you are reclined, the lap
belt may slide past your hips and
apply restraint forces directly to
the abdomen. Therefore, in the
event of a frontal collision, the risk
of personal injury may increase
with increasing recline of the seat-
back.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
1. Remove the head restraint. Unlock
the seatback and fold it down.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See Luggagestowage precautionsº in Part 2 for precau-
tions to observe in loading luggage.2. Unlock the seat cushion. Swing the
whole seat up and forward.
ÐFolding up rear seats (2-door models)

25
3. Lock the raised bottom cushion inplace by attaching the support rod
onto the hook. Then store the head
restraint in the head restraint re-
straining holes in the bottom cush-ion.When returning the rear seat to its
original position, first remove the
head restraint. Unlock the seat and re-
turn it. Be certain to replace the headrestraint.
CAUTION!
When returning seats to their origi-
nal position: Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position for ready use.
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rearward on the top of the seat-
back or by trying to pull up the
edge of the bottom cushion.

26
BEFORE FOLDING REAR SEAT
Stow the rear seat belts as shown in
the illustration.
This prevents the belts from falling out
when you fold the seatbacks.
NOTICE
The seat belts must be stowed before you fold the seatback.
FOLDING REAR SEAT
1. Remove the head restraint. Unlock the seatback and fold it down.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See Luggage stowage precautionsº in Part 2 for precau-
tions to observe in loading luggage.2. Unlock the seat cushion. Swing the
whole seat up and forward.
ÐFolding up rear seats (4-door models)

27
3. Lock the raised bottom cushion inplace by clipping the strap to the
hook. Then store the head restraint
in the head restraint retaining holes
in the bottom cushion.When returning the rear seat to its
original position, first remove the
head restraint. Unlock the seat and re-
turn it. Be certain to replace head re-straint.
CAUTION!
When returning seats to their origi- nal position: Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position for ready use.
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and
rearward on the top of the seat-
back or by trying to pull up the
edge of the bottom cushion.