Page 9 of 250
Rav4(U)
12000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Overview of instruments and controls
Instrument panel overview2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instrument cluster overview4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1− 1
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Page 10 of 250
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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Page 11 of 250
Rav4(U)
32000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
1. Instrument panel light control knob
2. Headlight and turn signal switch
3. Wiper and washer switches
4. Clock
5. Center differential lock button or driving
pattern selector button
6. Air conditioning controls
7. Emergency flasher switch
8. Rear window defogger switch
9. Car audio
10. Cigarette lighter
11. Ignition switch
12. Cruise control switch
13. Tilt steering lock release lever
14. Power door lock switch
(without power windows)
15. Power rear view mirror control switch
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Page 13 of 250
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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Page 40 of 250

Rav4(U)
322000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Seats
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 belts 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
properly seated and/or 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 pas-
senger 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.
The objects may interfere with the
seat−lock mechanism or unexpect-
edly push up the seat position ad-
justing lever; the seat may suddenly
move, causing the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
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.
Front seats—
—Seat adjustment precautions
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Page 87 of 250
Rav4(U)
792000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Lights, Wipers and Defogger
Headlights and turn signals80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency flashers81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instrument panel light control82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interior light82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Personal lights82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wipers and washer83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear window wiper and washer84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear window defogger84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1− 4
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Page 88 of 250

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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Page 89 of 250

Rav4(U)
812000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
TURN SIGNALS
To signal a turn, push the headlight/
turn signal lever up or down to position
1.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
The lever automatically returns after you
make a turn, but you may have to return
it by hand after you change lanes.
To signal a lane change, move the lever
up or down to the pressure point (position
2) and hold it.
If the turn signal indicator lights (green
lights) on the instrument panel flash faster
than normal, a front or rear turn signal
bulb is burned out. See ”Replacing light
bulbs” in Section 7−3.
Emergency flashers
To turn on the emergency flashers,
push the switch.
All the turn signal lights will flash. To turn
them off, push the switch once again.
Turn on the emergency flashers to warn
other drivers if your vehicle must be
stopped where it might be a traffic hazard.
Always pull as far off the road as pos-
sible.
The turn signal light switch will not work
when the emergency flashers are operat-
ing.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not leave the switch on
longer than necessary when the en-
gine is not running.
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