Rav4(U)
22000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Instrument panel overview
1. Side vents
2. Instrument cluster
3. Center vents
4. Electric moon roof switch and personal
lights
5. Glove box
6. Power door lock switches
(with power windows)
7. Power window switches
8. Parking brake lever
9. Automatic transmission selector lever
or manual transmission gear shift lever
10. Ashtray
11. Lower vent
12. Hood lock release lever
13. Window lock switch
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Rav4(U)
52000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel
Brake system warning light∗
1
Discharge warning light∗
1
Low oil pressure warning light∗
1
Malfunction indicator lamp∗
1
Headlight high beam indicator light SRS warning light
∗
1
Turn signal indicator lights Seat belt reminder light
∗
1Open door warning light∗
1
Low fuel level warning light∗
1
Automatic transmission fluid temperature warning
light∗
1
Anti-lock brake system warning light∗
1(type A)
(type B)
(type A)
(type B)(type A)
(type B)
Low windshield washer fluid level warning light∗
1
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Rav4(U)
802000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Headlights and turn signals
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.
Position 1—Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights
Position 2—Headlights and all of the
above
Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer will remind you to turn the lights
off when the driver’s door is opened if you
remove the key with the headlights left
on.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not leave the lights on
for a long period when the engine is
not running.
Daytime running light system (on some
models)
The headlights turn on when the parking
brake is released with the engine started,
even with the light switch in the ”OFF”
position. They will not go off until the
ignition switch is turned off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and
instrument panel lights, twist the knob to
the position 1.
Under the daytime running light system,
the headlights turn on at reduced intensity.
Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
to full intensity for driving at night.
High−Low beams—For high beams, turn
the headlights on and push the lever away
from you (position 1). Pull the lever to-
ward you (position 2) for low beams.
The headlight high beam indicator light
(blue light) on the instrument panel will
tell you that the high beams are on.
Flashing the high beam headlights
(position 3)—Pull the lever all the way
back. The high beam headlights turn off
when you release the lever.
You can flash the high beam headlights
with the knob turned to ”OFF”.
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Rav4(U)
912000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
(m) Remove key. (i) Stop and check.
(j) Take vehicle to
Toyota dealer
immediately.
(l) Turn off light.Light reminder
buzzer
Key reminder
buzzer (h) Close all side
doors, back door
(hardtop) and
tailgate (soft−top).
(k) Add washer fluid.If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...Do this.(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light comes on in the following cases
when the ignition key is turned on.
When the parking brake is applied...
When the brake fluid level is low...
Have your vehicle checked at your
Toyota dealer in the following case:
The light does not come on even if the
parking brake is applied with the ignition
“ON”.
CAUTION
If the light does not go out even after
the parking brake is released during
the engine running, immediately stop
your vehicle at a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer. In this case,
the brakes may not work properly and
your stopping distance will be longer.
Depress the brake pedal firmly.
(b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and
Buzzer
This light and buzzer remind you to
buckle up the driver’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to ”ON” or
”START”, the reminder light flashes and
buzzer sounds if the driver ’s seat belt is
not pulled out. Unless the driver starts to
pull the shoulder belt out of the retractor,
the light keeps flashing and the buzzer
stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being
discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, radio,etc., and drive directly to the
nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine
drive belt is broken or loose.
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Rav4(U)
922000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
(d) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light on—even for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(e) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See
”Fuel gauge” in Section 1−5 for instruc-
tions.)b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened se-
curely. (See ”Fuel tank cap” in Section
1−2 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your
engine or automatic transmission electrical
system.
If it comes on while you are driving in
case c, have your vehicle checked/re-
paired by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
(f) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel level
in the tank becomes nearly empty. Fill up
the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the move-
ment of fuel in the tank, the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual.
(g) ”ABS” Warning Light
The light comes on with the ignition key
turned to “ON”. If the anti−lock brake sys-
tem works properly, the light goes out
after a few seconds. Thereafter, if the
system malfunctions, the light comes on.
When the “ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti−lock brake system does not operate,
but the brake system still operates con-
ventionally.When the “ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti−lock brake system does not operate
so that the wheels could lock up during
a sudden braking or braking on slippery
road surfaces.
If the following conditions occur, this
indicates a malfunction somewhere in
the parts monitored by the warning
light system. Contact your Toyota deal-
er as soon as possible to service the
vehicle.
The light does not come on with the
ignition key turned to “ON”, or remains
on.
The light comes on while driving.
If the light lit during driving goes out and
does not come on again, it is a normal
operation.
(h) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the doors,
back door (hardtop) and tailgate (soft−top)
are completely closed.
(i) Automatic Transmission Fluid Tem-
perature Warning Light (four−wheel
drive models)
This light warns that the automatic trans-
mission fluid temperature is too high.
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Rav4(U)
932000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
If this light comes on while you are driv-
ing, slow down and pull off the road. Stop
the vehicle at a safe place and put the
selector lever in ”P”. With the engine id-
ling, wait until the light goes off. If the
light goes off, you can start the vehicle
again. If the light does not go off, call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
NOTICE
Continued driving with the warning
light on may damage the automatic
transmission.
(j) SRS Warning Light
This light will come on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position. After about 6 seconds,
the light will go off. This means the
system of the airbag and front seat belt
pretensioners are operating properly.
The warning light system monitors the air-
bag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
inflators, warning light, interconnecting wir-
ing and power sources.If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction somewhere in
the parts monitored by the warning light
system. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position or remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving.
(k) Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level
Warning Light (Canada)
The light warns that the windshield washer
fluid level is too low. Add washer fluid at
your earliest opportunity. (For instructions,
see ”Adding washer fluid” in Section 7−3.)
(l) Light Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer will sound if the headlight
switch is left on and the driver’s door is
opened with the key removed from the
ignition switch.
(m) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove the
key when you open the driver’s door with
the ignition key in the ”ACC” or ”LOCK”
position.CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER INDICA-
TORS (except the low fuel level warning
light and low windshield washer fluid
level warning light)
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Open one of the doors or tailgate
(soft−top).
The open door warning light should
come on.
3. Close the door or tailgate (soft−top).
The open door warning light should go
off.
4. Turn the ignition key to ”ACC”.
The SRS warning light should come on.
It goes off after about 6 seconds.
5. Turn the ignition key to ”ON”, but do
not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex-
cept the open door warning light, SRS
warning light and automatic transmis-
sion fluid temperature warning light
should come on. The ”ABS” warning
light goes off after a few seconds.
6. Turn the ignition key to ”START”. The
automatic transmission fluid tempera-
ture warning light should come on.
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Rav4(U)
972000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Automatic transmission
Lock release button
To prevent misshifting
Parking, engine
starting and key
removal
Reverse
Neutral
Maximum engine braking
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock release
button in. (The ignition switch must
be in ”ON” position.)
Shift while holding the lock
release button in
Shift normallyDriving pattern selector button
For selecting a driving pattern
suited to existing driving conditions
”NORMAL” (Normal)
mode for general
driving conditions”POWER” (Power)
mode for powerful
acceleration”POWER” mode indicator
light on the instrument
panel shows the driving
pattern selector button is
in the ”POWER” mode
Overdrive switchFor selecting either a three−speed or
four−speed transmission
ON position
(Shifting into
overdrive possible)OFF position
(Shifting into
overdrive not
possible)”O/D OFF” indicator light
(Shows the overdrive
switch is in OFF
position)
Always turn the overdrive switch on for better fuel economy.
Stronger engine braking Normal driving
(with overdrive on)
Vehicles with cruise control⎯When the cruise control is being used, even if you downshift the transmission by turning off the overdrive
switch, engine braking will not be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For ways to decrease the vehicle speed, see
”Cruise control” in this section.
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Rav4(U)
982000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of ”P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ”ON” position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in ”How
to start the engine” in Section 3. The
transmission must be in ”P” or ”N”.
2. After starting the engine, always push
in the overdrive switch.
3. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, shift the selector lever to ”D”.
With the selector lever in the “D” position
and the overdrive switch in the “ON” posi-
tion, the automatic transmission will shift
automatically from the first gear through
the fourth gear and select the most suit-
able gear meeting the driving condition.
Even during ordinary driving, keep the
overdrive switch turned on. (At this time,
the “O/D OFF” indicator light on the in-
strument cluster will be off.)Always keep the overdrive switch turned
on for better fuel economy and quieter
driving. If you have turned off the over-
drive switch, be sure to turn the overdrive
switch on again. If the engine coolant
temperature is low, the transmission will
not shift into the overdrive gear even with
the overdrive switch on.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
4. Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(b) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Turn off the overdrive switch. The ”O/D
OFF” indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to the
third gear.
Shift into the ”2” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to the second
gear when the vehicle speed drops
down to or lower than the following
speed, and stronger engine braking will
be enabled.Tw o−wheel drive models
110 km/h (68 mph)
Four−wheel drive models
215/70R16 tires
100 km/h (62 mph)
235/60R16 tires
97 km/h (60 mph)
Shift into the ”L” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to the first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
maximum engine braking will be en-
abled.
Tw o−wheel drive models
50 km/h (31 mph)
Four−wheel drive models
215/70R16 tires
44 km/h (27 mph)
235/60R16 tires
42 km/h (26 mph)
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
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