2001 TOYOTA RAV4 flat tire

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1922001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION
Never get under the vehicle when the
vehicle is supported by the jack
alone.
ÐChanging wheels
6. Remove the wheel nuts and change
tires.
Lift the flat tire straight off and put it
aside.
Roll the spare wheel into position and
align the holes in the wheel with the bolts.
Then lift up the wheel and get at least the
top bolt started through its hole. Wiggle
the tire and press it back over the other
bolts.Before putting on wheels, remove any cor-
rosion on the mounting surfaces with a
wire brush or such. Installation of wheels
without good metal±to±metal contact at the
mounting surface can cause wheel nuts to
loosen and eventually cause a wheel to
come off while driving. Therefore after the
first 1600 km (1000 miles), check to see
that the wheel nuts are tight.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1942001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
ÐStowing flat tire
9. Install the flat tire and spare tire
cover on the back door.
CAUTION
Make sure flat tire and spare tire cov-
er are securely in place in their stor-
age location to reduce the possibility
of personal injury during a collision
or sudden braking.
Install the full spare tire cover by the
following procedure:
Guides
Insert the hooks under the guides to the
upper slots. Then lower the cover and
lock the latch handle. Check that the cov-
er is securely in place.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1952001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
ÐAfter changing wheels
10. Check the air pressure of the re-
placed tire.
Adjust the air pressure to the specification
designated on page 249 in Section 8. If
the pressure is lower, drive slowly to the
nearest service station and fill to the cor-
rect pressure.
Do not forget to reinstall the tire inflation
valve cap as dirt and moisture could get
into the valve core and possibly cause air
leakage. If the cap is missing, have a new
one put on as soon as possible.
11. Restow all the tools and jack secure-
ly.
As soon after changing wheels as pos-
sible, tighten the wheel nuts to the torque
specified on page 249 in Section 8 with
a torque wrench. Have a technician repair
the flat tire and replace the spare tire with
it.
CAUTION
Before driving, make sure all the
tools and jack are securely in place
in their storage location to reduce the
possibility of personal injury during a
collision or sudden braking.
(a) Towing with wheel lift type truckÐ
ÐFrom front
ÐFrom rear
(b) Using flat bed truck
Two±wheel drive models(a) Towing with wheel lift type truckÐ
ÐFrom front
ÐFrom rear
(b) Using flat bed truck
Four±wheel drive models
If your vehicle needs to be
towedÐ
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1992001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION
If the emergency towing eyelet is
used to get out when your vehicle
becomes struck in mud, sand or oth-
er condition from which the vehicle
cannot be driven out under its own
power, make sure to observe the pre-
cautions mentioned below. Otherwise,
excessive stress will be put on the
eyelet and the towing cable or chain
may break, causing serious injury or
damage.

If the towing vehicle can hardly
move, do not forcibly continue the
towing. Contact your Toyota dealer
or a commercial tow truck service
for assistance.

Tow the vehicle as straight ahead
as possible.

Keep away from the vehicle during
towing.
The following methods are effective to get
out when your vehicle is struck in mud,
sand or other condition from which the
vehicle cannot be driven out under its own
power. Use extreme caution when towing
vehicles. In addition, keep away from the
vehicles and towing cable or chain when
towing.

Remove the soil and sand in the front
and the back of the tires.

Place a stone or wood under the tires.
If you cannot shift the selector lever
out of ªPº position to other positions
even though the brake pedal is de-
pressed, use the shift lock override but-
ton as follows:
1. Turn the ignition key to ªLOCKº
position. Make sure the parking
brake is set.
2. Pry up the cover with a flat±bladed
screwdriver or equivalent.
ÐTips for towing a stuck
vehicleIf you cannot shift automatic
transmission selector lever
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2112001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See page 222 in Section 7±2 for addition-
al information.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the
engine turned off and the vehicle parked
on a level spot. See page 220 in Section
7±2 for additional information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir. The
level should be in the ªHOTº or ªCOLDº
range depending on the fluid temperature.
See page 223 in Section 7±2 for addition-
al information.
Exhaust system
If you notice any change in the sound of
the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have
the cause located and corrected immedi-
ately. (See ªEngine exhaust cautionsº on
page 157 in Section 2.)Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip±offs that
indicate service is needed. Some impor-
tant clues are as follows:

Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging

Appreciable loss of power

Strange engine noises

A leak under the vehicle (however, wa-
ter dripping from the air conditioning
after use is normal.)

Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked im-
mediately.)

Flat±looking tire; excessive tire squeal
when cornering; uneven tire wear

Vehicle pulls to one side when driving
straight on a level road

Strange noises related to suspension
movement

Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy
feeling brake or clutch pedal; pedal al-
most touches floor; vehicle pulls to one
side when braking

Engine coolant temperature continually
higher than normalIf you notice any of these clues, take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible. It probably needs adjustment or
repair.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving with the ve-
hicle unchecked. It could result in se-
rious vehicle damage and possibly
personal injury.
Does your vehicle need
repairing?
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2552001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
TreadwearÐThe treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test
course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1±1/2) times
as well on the government course as a
tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may de-
part significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service prac-
tices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.Traction AA, A, B, CÐThe traction
grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C, and they represent the tire's
ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on spe-
cified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on braking (straight
ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A, B, CÐThe temperature
grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissi-
pate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire to de-
generate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a lev-
el of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No.109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of perfor-
mance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.Warning: The temperature grades for this
tire are established for a tire that is prop-
erly inflated and not overloaded. Exces-
sive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2262001 RAV4 (OM42483U)

Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of a tire can be mis-
leading. Besides, tire pressures that
are even just a few pounds off can
degrade ride and handling.

Do not bleed or reduce tire pressure
after driving. It is normal for the tire
pressure to be higher after driving.

Never exceed the vehicle capacity
weight. The passenger and luggage
weight should be located so that the
vehicle is balanced.

Be sure to reinstall the tire inflation
valve caps. Without the valve caps,
dirt or moisture could get into the valve
core and cause air leakage. If the caps
have been lost, have new ones put on
as soon as possible.
Checking and replacing tires
Tread wear indicator
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire tread for the tread wear
indicators. If the indicators show, re-
place the tires.
The tires on your Toyota have built±in
tread wear indicators to help you know
when the tires need replacement. When
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06
in.) or less, the indicators will appear. If
you can see the indicators in two or more
adjacent grooves, the tire should be re-
placed. The lower the tread, the higher
the risk of skidding.
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost
if the tread wears down below 4 mm
(0.16 in.).Check the tires regularly for damage
such as cuts, splits and cracks. If any
damage is found, consult with a techni-
cian and have the tire repaired or re-
placed.
Even if the damage does not appear seri-
ous, a qualified technician should examine
the damage. Objects which have pene-
trated the tire may have caused internal
damage.
Any tires which are over 6 years old
must be checked by a qualified techni-
cian even if damage is not obvious.
Tires deteriorate with age even if they
have never or seldom been used.
This also applies to the spare tire and
tires stored for future use.
REPLACING YOUR TIRES
Two±wheel drive modelsÐWhen replac-
ing a tire, use only the same size and
construction as originally installed and
with the same or greater load capacity.
Four±wheel drive modelsÐWhen replac-
ing tires, make sure all the tires are the
same brand. Only use the same size
and construction as the originally
installed tires, with the same or greater
load capacity.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2272001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Using any other size or type of tire may
seriously affect handling, ride, speedome-
ter/odometer calibration, ground clearance,
and clearance between the body and tires
or snow chains.
CAUTION

Do not mix radial, bias belted, or
bias±ply tires on your vehicle. It
can cause dangerous handling char-
acteristics, resulting in loss of con-
trol.

Do not use tire or wheels other
than the manufacturer 's recom-
mended size.
NOTICE
Four±wheel drive models:
Do not use tires of different brands,
sizes and constructions. This may
damage the drive system.
Toyota recommends all four tires, or at
least both front or rear tires be re-
placed as a set.
See ªIf you have a flat tireº on page 187
in Section 4 for tire change procedure.When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect vehicle
handling and tire life. Wheels can get out
of balance with regular use and should
therefore be balanced occasionally.
When replacing a tubeless tire, the air
valve should also be replaced with a
new one.
Rotating tires
With a spare tire of the same wheel type
as the installed tires
With a spare tire of different wheel type
from the installed tires
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