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 12 of 250
Rav4(U)
42000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Instrument cluster overview
1. Speedometer
2. Fuel gauge
3. Service reminder indicators and
indicator lights4. Engine coolant temperature gauge
5. Tachometer
6. Trip meter reset knob7. Odometer and two trip meters
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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 21 of 250

Rav4(U)
132000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
To open the quarter window, pull the
latch handle toward you and swing it
fully out.
When closing the window, make sure it is
completely closed.
CAUTION
When the quarter windows are
opened, observe the following:
Depending on driving conditions,
e.g. driving the vehicle with the
front windows slightly open, you
may smell exhaust fumes in the ve-
hicle. If so, close the quarter win-
dows.
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 back door (hardtop) or
tailgate (soft−top), make sure it is fully
closed.
See ”Luggage stowage precautions” in
Section 2 for precautions to observe in
loading luggage.
CAUTION
Keep the back door (hardtop) or
tailgate (soft−top) closed while driv-
ing. This not only keeps the lug-
gage from being thrown out but
also prevents exhaust gases from
entering the vehicle.
If the open back door (hardtop) or
tailgate (soft−top) 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
warning triangle or other device.
Quarter window
(2−door hardtop)Back door (hardtop) and
tailgate (soft−top)
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Page 84 of 250
Rav4(U)
762000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
NOTICE
If ice should jam the mirror, do not
operate the control or scrape the mir-
ror face. Use a spray de−icer to free
the mirror.
—Folding rear view mirrors
The rear view mirrors can be folded
backward for parking in restricted
areas.
To fold the rear view mirror, push back-
ward.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the mirrors folded
backward. Both the driver and pas-
senger side rear view mirrors must
be extended and properly adjusted
before driving.
Adjust the mirror so that you can just
see the rear of your vehicle in the mir-
ror.
To reduce glare from the headlights of
the vehicle behind you during night
driving, operate the lever on the lower
edge of the mirror.
Daylight driving—Lever at position 1
The reflection in the mirror has greater
clarity at this position.
Night driving—Lever at position 2
Remember that by reducing glare you also
lose some rear view clarity.
Anti−glare inside rear view
mirror
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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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