'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2092001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
If you are a skilled do±it±yourself mechan-
ic, the Toyota service manuals are recom-
mended. Please be aware that do±it±your-
self maintenance can affect your warranty
coverage. See ªOwner 's Warranty Informa-
tion Bookletº or ªOwner 's Manual Supple-
mentº for the details.
General maintenance
Listed below are the general maintenance
items that should be performed as fre-
quently as specified. In addition to check-
ing the items listed, if you notice any
unusual noise, smell or vibration, you
should investigate the cause or take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer or a quali-
fied service shop immediately. It is recom-
mended that any problem you notice be
brought to the attention of your dealer or
the qualified service shop for their advice.
CAUTION
Make these checks only where ade-
quate ventilation can be obtained if
you run the engine.
OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be performed
from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Tire pressure
Check the pressure with a gauge every
two weeks, or at least once a month. See
page 225 in Section 7±2 for additional
information.Tire surface and wheel nuts
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage
or excessive wear. See page 226 in Sec-
tion 7±2 for additional information. When
checking the tires, make sure no nuts are
missing, and check the nuts for loose-
ness. Tighten them if necessary.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the
maintenance schedule. (For scheduled
maintenance information, please refer to
the ªScheduled Maintenance Guideº or
ªOwner 's Manual Supplementº.) See page
227 in Section 7±2 for additional
information.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, wa-
ter or other fluid after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. If you smell fuel
fumes or notice any leak, have the cause
found and corrected immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors and back door oper-
ate smoothly and all latches lock securely.
Make sure the engine hood secondary
latch secures the hood from opening when
the primary latch is released.
ProCarManuals.com
'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?
ProCarManuals.com
'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2472001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Fuel
Fuel type:
Unleaded gasoline, Octane Rating 87
(Research Octane Number 91) or higher
Fuel tank capacity, L (gal., lmp. gal.):
56 (14.8, 12.3)
Service specifications
ENGINE
Valve clearance (engine cold), mm (in.):
Intake 0.19Ð0.29 (0.007Ð0.012)
Exhaust 0.30Ð0.40 (0.012Ð0.016)
Spark plug type:
DENSO SK20R11
NGK IFR6A11
Spark plug gap, mm (in.):
1.1 (0.043)
ENGINE LUBRICATION
Oil capacity (drain and refill),
L (qt., Imp. qt.):
With filter 4.2 (4.4, 3.7)
Without filter 4.0 (4.2, 3.5)
Oil grade:
API grade SJ, ªEnergy±Conservingº or
ILSAC multigrade engine oil is recom-
mended.Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
5W-30 Preferred
Temperature range anticipated before
next oil change
COOLING SYSTEM
Total capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
Manual transaxle 6.3 (6.7, 5.6)
Automatic transaxle 6.2 (6.6, 5.5)
Coolant type:
ªTOYOTA Long Life Coolantº or equiva-
lent
With ethylene±glycol type coolant for a
proper corrosion protection of aluminum
components
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or
plain water alone.
ProCarManuals.com
'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2482001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
BATTERY
Open voltage
* at 20C (68F):
12.6Ð12.8 V Fully charged
12.2Ð12.4 V Half charged
11.8Ð12.0 V Discharged
*: Voltage that is checked 20 minutes af-
ter the key is removed with all the lights
turned off
Charging rates:
5 A max.
CLUTCH
Pedal free play, mm (in.):
5Ð15 (0.2Ð0.6)
Fluid type:
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
MANUAL TRANSAXLE
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
Two±wheel drive models
2.5 (2.6, 2.2)
Four±wheel drive models
3.4 (3.6, 3.0)
Oil type:
Gear oil API GL±4 or GL±5
Recommended oil viscosity:
SAE 75W±90AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
Fluid capacity (drain and refill), L (qt.,
Imp. qt.):
Two±wheel drive models
Up to 3.3 (3.5, 2.9)
Four±wheel drive models
Up to 3.9 (4.1, 3.4)
Fluid type:
Automatic transmission fluid Type T±IV
Change automatic transmission fluid only
as necessary.
Generally, it is necessary to change
automatic transmission fluid only if your
vehicle is driven under one of the Special
Operating Conditions listed in your
ªScheduled Maintenance Guideº or
ªOwner 's Manual Supplementº. When
changing the automatic transmission fluid,
use only Toyota Genuine ATF Type T±IV
(ATF JWS3309 or NWS6500) to aid in
assuring optimum transaxle performance.
Notice: Using automatic transmission
fluid other than Toyota Genuine ATF
Type T±IV may cause deterioration in
shift quality, locking up of your trans-
mission accompanied by vibration, and
ultimately damage the automatic trans-
mission of your vehicle.TRANSFER
(four±wheel drive models)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.9 (1.0, 0.8)
Oil type:
Hypoid gear oil API GL±5
Recommended oil viscosity:
Above ±18C (0F)
SAE 90 or 85W±90
Below ±18C (0F)
SAE 80W or 80W±90
REAR DIFFERENTIAL
(four±wheel drive models)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.9 (1.0, 0.8)
Oil type:
Hypoid gear oil API GL±5
Recommended oil viscosity:
Above ±18C (0F)
SAE 90
Below ±18C (0F)
SAE 80W or 80W±90
ProCarManuals.com
'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
52001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
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 Driver 's 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*
1or
Low windshield washer fluid level warning light*
1
or
Front passenger 's seat belt reminder light*
1
or
Automatic transmission indicator lights
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)
922001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
(b) Driver's Seat Belt Reminder Light
and Buzzer
This light and buzzer remind you to
buckle up the driver's seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to ªONº or
ªSTARTº, the reminder light flashes and
buzzer sounds if the driver 's seat belt is
not fastened. Unless the driver fastens the
belt, the light keeps flashing and the
buzzer stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Front Passenger 's Seat Belt Re-
minder Light
This light reminds you to buckle up the
front passenger 's seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to ªONº or
ªSTARTº, the reminder light flashes if a
passenger sits in the front passenger seat
and does not fasten the seat belt. Unless
the front passenger fastens the belt, the
light keeps flashing.
If luggage load is placed on the front
passenger seat, depending on its weight
and how it is placed on the seat, built±in
sensors in the seat cushion may detect
the pressure, causing the reminder light to
keep flashing.(d) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being
discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to oper-
ate, however, until the battery is dis-
charged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, radio,etc., and drive directly to the
nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine
drive belt is broken or loose.
(e) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pres-
sure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light onÐeven for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(f) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty.
(See ªFuel gaugeº on page 88 in Sec-
tion 1±5 for instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened se-
curely. (See ªFuel tank capº on page
24 in Section 1±2 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your
engine or automatic transmission elec-
trical system.
If it comes on while you are driving in
case c, have your vehicle checked/re-
paired by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
ProCarManuals.com
'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1092001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
TONE AND BALANCE
For details about your system's tone and
balance controls, see the description of
your own system.
Tone
How good an audio program sounds to
you is largely determined by the mix of
the treble, midrange and bass levels. In
fact, different kinds of music and vocal
programs usually sound better with differ-
ent mixes of treble, midrange and bass.
Balance
A good balance of the left and right stereo
channels and of the front and rear sound
levels is also important.
Keep in mind that if you are listening to
a stereo recording or broadcast, changing
the right/left balance will increase the vol-
ume of one group of sounds while de-
creasing the volume of another.YOUR RADIO ANTENNA
Your vehicle has a mast type antenna.
To remove the antenna, carefully turn it
counterclockwise.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the antenna,
make sure it is removed before driv-
ing your Toyota through an automatic
car wash.
YOUR CASSETTE PLAYER
When you insert a cassette, the exposed
tape should be to the right.
NOTICE
Do not oil any part of the player and
do not insert anything other than cas-
sette tapes into the slot, or the tape
player may be damaged.
YOUR COMPACT DISC PLAYER
When you insert a disc, gently push it in
with the label side up. (The player will
automatically eject a disc if the label side
is down.) The compact disc player will
play from track 1 through the end of the
disc. Then it will play from track 1 again.
NOTICE
Never try to disassemble or oil any
part of the compact disc player. Do
not insert anything except a compact
disc into the slot.
8 cm (3 in.) compact disc singles
Your compact disc player does not need
an adaptor to play compact disc singles.
Compact disc singles are about 8 cm (3
in.) in diameter±smaller than standard
discs.
After you eject a compact disc single, do
not insert a standard 12 cm (4.7 in.) disc
until ªDISCº disappears from the display.
NOTICE
Do not use an adaptor for compact
disc singles
Ðit could cause tracking
errors or interfere with the ejection of
compact discs.
ProCarManuals.com