2001 TOYOTA RAV4 ignition

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1962001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by your Toyota
dealer or a commercial tow truck ser-
vice. In consultation with them, have
your vehicle towed using either (a) or
(b).
Only when you cannot receive a towing
service from a Toyota dealer or com-
mercial tow truck service, tow your ve-
hicle carefully in accordance with the
instructions given in ªÐEmergency tow-
ingº on page 197 in this section.
Proper equipment will help ensure that
your vehicle is not damaged while being
towed. Commercial operators are generally
aware of the state/provincial and local
laws pertaining to towing.
Your vehicle can be damaged if it is
towed incorrectly. Although most operators
know the correct procedure, it is possible
to make a mistake. To avoid damage to
your vehicle, make sure the following pre-
cautions are observed. If necessary, show
this page to the tow truck driver.TOWING PRECAUTIONS:
Use a safety chain system for all towing,
and abide by the state/provincial and local
laws. The wheels and axle on the ground
must be in good condition. If they are
damaged, use a towing dolly.
Two±wheel drive modelsÐ
(a) Towing with wheel lift type truck
From frontÐRelease the parking brake.
NOTICE
When lifting wheels, take care to en-
sure adequate ground clearance for
towing at the opposite end of the
raised vehicle. Otherwise, the bumper
and/or underbody of the towed vehicle
will be damaged during towing.
From rearÐ

Manual transmission:
We recommend using a towing dolly
under the front wheels. If you do not
use a towing dolly, place the ignition
key in the ªACCº position and put the
transmission in neutral.
NOTICE
Do not tow with the key removed or
in the ªLOCKº position when towing
from the rear without a towing dolly.
The steering lock mechanism is not
strong enough to hold the front
wheels straight.

Automatic transmission:
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
NOTICE
Never tow a vehicle with an automatic
transmission from the rear with the
front wheels on the ground, as this
may cause serious damage to the
transmission.
(b) Using flat bed truck
Four±wheel drive modelsÐ
(a) Towing with wheel lift type truck
Use a towing dolly under the wheels not
lifted by the truck.
(b) Using flat bed truck
ProCarManuals.com

'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
ProCarManuals.com

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
32001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
1. Power rear view mirror control switch
2. Instrument panel light control knob
3. Engine immobiliser system indicator
light
4. Headlight, turn signal and front fog
light switches
5. Wiper and washer switches
6. Front passenger 's seat belt reminder
light
7. Car audio
8. Clock display
9. Emergency flasher switch
10. Rear window and outside rear view
mirror defogger switch
11. Air conditioning controls
12. Cigarette lighter
13. Ashtray
14. Ignition switch
15. Cruise control switch
16. Tilt steering lock release lever
17. Power door lock switch
(without power windows)
ProCarManuals.com

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
112001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Engine immobiliser system
The engine immobiliser system is a
theft prevention system. When you in-
sert the key in the ignition switch, the
transponder chip in the key's head
transmits an electronic code to the ve-
hicle. The engine will start, only when
the electronic code in the chip corre-
sponds to the registered ID code for
the vehicle.The system is automatically set when the
key is removed from the ignition switch.
The indicator light will start flashing to
show the system is set.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer.

The indicator light stays on.

The indicator light does not start flash-
ing when the key is removed from the
ignition switch.

The indicator light flashes unsteady.
Inserting the registered key in the ignition
switch automatically cancels the system,
which enables the engine to start. The
indicator light will go off.For your Toyota dealer to make you a
new key with built±in transponder chip,
your dealer will need your key number
and master key. However, there is a limit
to the number of additional keys your
Toyota dealer can make for you.
If you make your own duplicate key,
you will not be able to cancel the sys-
tem or start the engine.
NOTICE
Do not modify, remove or disas-
semble the engine immobiliser sys-
tem. If any unauthorized changes or
modifications are made, the proper
operation of the system cannot be
guaranteed.
ProCarManuals.com

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
152001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the doors
are closed and locked, especially
when small children are in the ve-
hicle. Along with the proper use of
seat belts, locking the doors helps
prevent the driver and passengers
from being thrown out from the ve-
hicle during an accident. It also helps
prevent the doors from being opened
unintentionally.
ÐWireless remote control
Locking operation
Unlocking operation
Your vehicle has a wireless remote
control system that can lock or unlock
all the side doors and back door, or
activate the ªPANICº mode from a
distance within approximately 1 m (3
ft.) of the vehicle.
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE SIDE
DOORS AND BACK DOOR
To lock and unlock all the side doors
and back door, push the switches of
the transmitter slowly and securely.
To lock: Push the ªLOCKº switch. All the
side doors and back door are locked si-
multaneously. At this time, parking lights
and tail lights flash.
Check to see that all the side doors and
back door are securely locked.
If any of side doors or back door is not
securely closed, or if the key is in the
ignition switch, locking cannot be per-
formed by the ªLOCKº switch.
To unlock: Push the ªUNLOCKº switch
once to unlock the driver 's door alone.
Pushing the switch twice within 3 seconds
unlocks all the side doors and back door
simultaneously. At this time, parking lights
and tail lights flash twice.
ProCarManuals.com

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
162001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
When all the side doors and back door
are unlocked simultaneously with a wire-
less remote control transmitter, the interior
light comes on for about 15 seconds and
then fades out, even if the door is not
opened. (For further information, see ªInte-
rior lightº on page 82 in Section 1±4.)
You have 30 seconds to open a door after
using the wireless remote unlock feature.
If a door is not opened by then, all the
side doors and back door will be automati-
cally locked again.
If the ªLOCKº or ªUNLOCKº switch is kept
pressed in, the locking or unlocking opera-
tion is not repeated. Release the button
and then push again.
ªPANICº SWITCH
Pushing the ªPANICº switch blows the
horn intermittently and flashes the
headlights and tail lights.
The ªPANICº switch is used to deter ve-
hicle theft when you witness anyone at-
tempting to break into or damage your
vehicle.
The alarm will last for one minute. To stop
alarm midway, do the following:

Push the ªPANICº switch once again.

Unlock any of side door or back door
with the key or wireless remote control
transmitter.

Turn the ignition key from the ªLOCKº
to ªONº position.The ªPANICº mode does not work when
the ignition key is in the ªONº position.
WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL
TRANSMITTER
The wireless remote control transmitter is
an electronic component. Observe the fol-
lowing instructions in order not to cause
damage to the transmitter.

Do not leave the transmitter on places
where the temperature becomes high
such as on the dashboard.

Do not disassemble it.

Avoid knocking it hard against other
objects or dropping it.

Avoid putting it in water.
You can use up to 4 wireless remote con-
trol transmitters for the same vehicle.
Contact your Toyota dealer for detailed
information.
If the wireless remote control transmitter
does not actuate the doors or alarm, or
operate from a normal distance:

Check for closeness to a radio trans-
mitter such as a radio station or an
airport which can interfere with normal
operation of the transmitter.
ProCarManuals.com

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
192001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
3. Put a new transmitter battery with posi-
tive (+) side up.
Close the transmitter case securely.
NOTICE
Make sure the positive side and
negative side of the transmitter bat-
tery should be faced correctly.
Be careful not to bend the electrode
of the transmitter battery insertion
and that dust or oils do not adhere
to the transmitter case.
Close the transmitter case securely.
After replacing battery, check that the
transmitter operates properly. If the trans-
mitter still does not operate properly, con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
Power windows
The windows can be operated with the
switch on each side door.
The power windows work when the ignition
switch is in the ªONº position.
Key off operation: If the either front door
is closed, they work for 43 seconds even
after the ignition switch is turned off. They
stop working when the either front door is
opened.
OPERATING THE DRIVER'S WINDOW
Use the switch on the driver's door.
Normal operation: The window moves as
long as you hold the switch.
To open: Lightly push down the switch.
To close: Lightly pull up the switch.
ProCarManuals.com

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
492001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
When the front seat belt pretensioners are
activated, an operating noise may be
heard and a small amount of smoke±like
gas may be released. This gas is harm-
less and does not indicate that a fire is
occurring.
Once the front seat belt pretensioners
have been activated, the seat belt retrac-
tors remain locked.
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open
the front seat belt pretensioner as-
semblies, airbag sensor or surround-
ing area or wiring. Doing any of
these may cause sudden operation of
the front seat belt pretensioners or
disable the system, which could re-
sult in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious inju-
ries.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
front seat belt pretensioners in some
cases.
Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile two±way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
Repairs on or near the front seat
belt retractor assemblies
Modification of the suspension sys-
tem
Modification of the front end struc-
ture
Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure or con-
sole
This front seat belt pretensioner system
has a service reminder indicator to inform
the driver of operating problems. If any of
the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction of the airbags or
pretensioners. 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 ªONº posi-
tion, or the light remains on.

The light comes on or flashes while
driving.

If either front seat belt does not retract
or cannot be pulled out due to a mal-
function or activation of the relevant
front seat belt pretensioner.
ProCarManuals.com