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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
232001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
2. In front of the vehicle, pull up the
auxiliary catch lever and lift the
hood.3. Hold the hood open by inserting the
support rod into the slot.
Before closing the hood, check to see that
you have not forgotten any tools, rags,
etc. and return the support rod to its
clipÐthis prevents rattles. Then lower the
hood and make sure it locks into place.
If necessary, press down gently on the
front edge to lock it.
CAUTION
After inserting the support rod into
the slot, make sure the rod supports
the hood securely from falling down
on to your head or body.
NOTICE
Be sure to return the support rod to
its clip before closing the hood. Clos-
ing the hood with the support rod up
could cause the hood to bend.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
242001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Fuel tank cap
This indicates that the fuel filler door
is on the left side of your vehicle.1. To open the fuel filler door, pull the
lever up.
When refueling, turn off the engine.
CAUTION
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames when refueling.
The fumes are flammable.
When opening the cap, do not re-
move the cap quickly. In hot weath-
er, fuel under pressure could cause
injury by spraying out of the filler
neck if the cap is suddenly re-
moved.
2. To remove the fuel tank cap, turn
the cap slowly counterclockwise,
then pause slightly before removing
it. After removing the cap, hang it
on the cap hanger.
It is not unusual to hear a slight swoosh
when the cap is opened. When installing,
turn the cap clockwise till you hear a
click.
If the cap is not tightened securely, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on.
Make sure the cap is tightened securely.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
252001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION
Make sure the cap is tightened se-
curely to prevent fuel spillage in
case of an accident.
Use only a genuine Toyota fuel tank
cap for replacement. It is designed
to regulate fuel tank pressure.
Electric moon roof
Sliding operation
Tilting operation
To operate the moon roof, use the
switch beside the personal light.
The key must be in the ªONº position.
Sun shade operationÐ
The sun shade can be opened or closed
by hand.
Sliding operationÐ
To open: Push the switch on the ªSLIDE
OPENº side.
The roof will fully open. To stop the roof
partway, push the switch on either the
ªSLIDE OPENº or ªTILT UPº side briefly.
The sun shade will be opened together
with the roof.
To close: Push the switch on the ªTILT
UPº side.
As a precaution when closing, the roof
stops at the three±quarters closed position
before fully closing. Therefore, release the
switch and then push it again to close it
completely.
Tilting operationÐ
To tilt up: Push the switch on the ªTILT
UPº side.
To lower: Push the switch on the ªSLIDE
OPENº side.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
262001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
You may stop the moon roof at any de-
sired position. The roof will move while
the switch is being pushed and stop when
released except to slide open.
CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
While the vehicle is moving, always
keep the heads, hands and other
parts of the bodies of all occupants
away from the roof opening. Other-
wise, they could be seriously in-
jured if the vehicle stops suddenly
or if the vehicle is involved in an
accident.
Always make sure nobody places
his/her head, hands and other parts
of the body in the roof opening be-
fore you close the roof. If some-
one's neck, head or hands gets
caught in the closing roof, it could
result in a serious injury. When
anyone close the roof, first make
sure it is safe to do so.
Never leave small children alone in
the vehicle, especially with the igni-
tion key still inserted. They could
use the moon roof switches and get
trapped in the roof opening. Unat-
tended children can be involved in
serious accidents.
Never sit on top of the vehicle
around the roof opening.
NOTICE
Do not touch the plastic resin moon
roof with anything hard or sharp.
The roof is damaged more easily
than ordinary glass.
When washing the plastic resin
moon roof, use a mild soap or neu-
tral detergent. Do not use wax, win-
dow cleaner or abrasive clean-
erÐthese may damage the plastic
resin moon roof. (See ªWashing and
waxing your Toyotaº on page 203 in
Section 5.)
Do not use organic substances
(gasoline, kerosene, benzine or
strong solvents), which may toxic
or cause damage.
Do not use window scraper or deic-
er when the plastic resin moon roof
is heavily coated with frost or ice.
The plastic resin moon roof is easi-
ly damaged.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
272001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors
Seats28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seats28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flattening seatbacks38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head restraints39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belts40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS driver and front passenger airbags50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt steering wheel74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside rear view mirrors74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti±glare inside rear view mirror76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sun visors76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1± 3
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
282001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
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 seatsÐ
ÐSeat adjustment
precautions
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
292001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
ÐAdjusting front seats
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
2. SEAT CUSHION ANGLE ADJUSTING
KNOB
Turn the knob either way.
3. 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 pas-
senger 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.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
302001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION
Any operations should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.
When adjusting the seat, be careful
not to hit the seat against a pas-
senger or luggage.
Adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seat-
backs at the same angle when a
person sits on the rear center posi-
tion. Otherwise, the person cannot
wear seat belt properly and this
may cause serious injuries in a col-
lision.
After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is lock in position.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
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 and are ready to use.
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent seat belt from operat-
ing properly.
Folding the seats up will enlarge the lug-
gage compartment. See ªLuggage stowage
precautionsº on page 162 in Section 2 for
precautions in loading luggage.
ÐAdjusting rear seats
Rear seatsÐ
ÐRear seat precautions
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