2001 TOYOTA RAV4 brake

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1512001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR
TOYOTA
Off±road vehicle precautions152 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Break±in period153 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel153 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel pump shut off system155 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation in foreign countries156 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Three±way catalytic converter156 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust cautions157 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Facts about engine oil consumption158 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Iridium±tipped spark plugs159 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system159 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake pad wear limit indicators162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Luggage stowage precautions162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Limited±slip differential163 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Your Toyota's identification163 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft prevention labels165 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suspension and chassis165 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of tires165 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 2
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1592001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Iridium±tipped spark plugs
Your engine is fitted with iridium±tipped
spark plugs.
NOTICE
Use only iridium±tipped spark plugs
and do not adjust gaps for your en-
gine performance and smooth drivabil-
ity.
Brake system
The tandem master cylinder brake system
is a hydraulic system with two separate
sub±systems. If either sub±system should
fail, the other will still work. However, the
pedal will be harder to press, and your
stopping distance will be longer. Also, the
brake system warning light may come on.
CAUTION
Do not drive your vehicle with only a
single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
BRAKE BOOSTER
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to
power±assist the brakes. If the engine
should quit while you are driving, you can
bring the vehicle to a stop with normal
pedal pressure. There is enough reserved
vacuum for one or two stopsÐbut no
more!
CAUTION

Do not pump the brake pedal if the
engine stalls. Each push on the
pedal uses up your reserved vacu-
um.

Even if the power assist is com-
pletely lost, the brakes will still
work. But you will have to push the
pedal hard, much harder than nor-
mal. And your braking distance will
be longer.
ANTI±LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(with ªABSº warning light)
The anti±lock brake system is designed
to help prevent lock±up of the wheels
during a sudden braking or braking on
slippery road surfaces. This assists in
providing directional stability and steer-
ing performance of the vehicle under
these circumstances.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1602001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Effective way to press the ABS brake
pedal: When the anti±lock brake system
function is in action, you may feel the
brake pedal pulsating and hear a noise.
In this situation, to let the anti±lock
brake system work for you, just hold the
brake pedal down more firmly. Do not
pump the brake in a panic stop. This
will result in reduced braking performan-
ce.
The anti±lock brake system becomes op-
erative after the vehicle has accelerated
to a speed in excess of approximately 10
km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the
vehicle decelerates to a speed below
approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).
Depressing the brake pedal on slippery
road surfaces such as on the manhole
cover, the steel plate under the construc-
tion, joints in the bridge, etc. on a rainy
day tends to activate the anti±lock brake
system.
You may hear a click or motor sound in
the engine compartment for a few seconds
when the engine is started or just after
the vehicle is started. This means that the
anti±lock brake system is in the self±
check mode, and does not indicate a mal-
function.When the anti±lock brake system is ac-
tivated, the following conditions may
occur. They do not indicate a malfunc-
tion of the system:

You may hear the anti±lock brake sys-
tem operating and feel the brake pedal
pulsating and the vibrations of the ve-
hicle body and steering wheel. You
may also hear the motor sound in the
engine compartment even after the ve-
hicle is stopped.

At the end of the anti±lock brake sys-
tem activation, the brake pedal may
move a little forward.
CAUTION
Do not overestimate the anti±lock
brake system: Although the anti±lock
brake system assists in providing ve-
hicle control, it is still important to
drive with all due care and maintain
a moderate speed and safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you, be-
cause there are limits to the vehicle
stability and effectiveness of steering
wheel operation even with the anti±
lock brake system on.
If tires grip performance exceeds its
capability, or if hydroplaning occurs
during high speed driving in the rain,
the anti±lock brake system does not
provide vehicle control.
Anti±lock brake system is not de-
signed to shorten the stopping dis-
tance: Always drive at the moderate
speed and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you.
Compared with vehicles without an
anti±lock brake system, your vehicle
may require a longer stopping dis-
tance in the following cases:

Driving on rough, gravel or snow±
covered roads.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1612001 RAV4 (OM42483U)

Driving with tire chains installed.

Driving over the steps such as the
joints on the road.

Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.
Install all 4 tires of specified size at
appropriate pressure: The anti±lock
brake system detects vehicle speeds
using the speed sensors for respec-
tive wheels' turning speeds. The use
of tires other than specified may fail
to detect the accurate turning speed
resulting in a longer stopping dis-
tance.
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
ªABSº warning light
The light comes on when the ignition key
is turned to the ªONº position. If the anti±
lock brake system works properly, the
light turns off after a few seconds. There-
after, if the system malfunctions, the light
comes on again.
When the ªABSº warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti±lock brake system does not operate,
but the brake system still operates con-
ventionally.
When the ªABSº warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
anti±lock brake system does not operate
so that the wheels could lock up during
a sudden braking or braking on slippery
road surfaces.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1622001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction
somewhere in the parts monitored by
the warning light system. 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 remains on.

The light comes on while you are driv-
ing.
A warning light turning on briefly during
operation does not indicate a problem.
CAUTION
If the ªABSº warning light remains on
together with the brake system warn-
ing light, immediately stop your ve-
hicle at a safe place and contact your
Toyota dealer.
In this case, not only the anti±lock
brake system will fail but also the
vehicle will become extremely unsta-
ble during braking.
Brake pad wear limit indicators
The brake pad wear limit indicators on
your disc brakes give a warning noise
when the brake pads are worn to where
replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise
while driving, have the brake pads
checked and replaced by your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. Expensive ro-
tor damage can result if the pads are not
replaced when necessary.
Luggage stowage precautions
When stowing luggage or cargo in the
vehicle, observe the following:

Put luggage or cargo in the luggage
compartment when at all possible. Be
sure all items are secured in place.

Be careful to keep the vehicle bal-
anced. Locating the weight as far for-
ward as possible helps maintain bal-
ance.

For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded weight.
CAUTION

To prevent luggage or packages
from sliding forward during braking,
do not stack anything in the lug-
gage compartment higher than the
seatbacks. Keep luggage or pack-
ages low, as close to the floor as
possible.

Never allow anyone to ride in the
luggage compartment. It is not de-
signed for passengers. They should
ride in their seats with their seat
belts properly fastened. Otherwise,
they are much more likely suffer
serious bodily injury, in the event
of sudden braking or a collision.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1682001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Before starting the engine
1. Check the area around the vehicle be-
fore entering it.
2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle,
seat cushion angle, head restraint
height and steering wheel angle.
3. Adjust the inside and outside rear view
mirrors.
4. Lock all doors.
5. Fasten seat belts.1. Apply the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-
sories.
3.Manual transmission: Press the clutch
pedal to the floor and shift the trans-
mission into neutral. Hold the clutch
pedal to the floor until the engine is
started. A starter safety device will pre-
vent the starter from operating if the
clutch pedal is not fully depressed.
Automatic transmission: Put the se-
lector lever in ªPº. If you need to re-
start the engine while the vehicle is
moving, put the selector lever in ªNº.
A starter safety device will prevent the
starter from operating if the selector
lever is in any drive position.
4.Automatic transmission only: De-
press the brake pedal and hold it to
the floor until driving off.
(b) Starting the engine
Before starting the engine, be sure to fol-
low the instructions in ª(a) Before crank-
ingº.
Normal starting procedure
The multiport fuel injection system/sequen-
tial multiport fuel injection system in your
engine automatically controls the proper
air±fuel mixture for starting. You can start
a cold or hot engine as follows:
1. With your foot off the accelerator ped-
al, crank the engine by turning the key
to ªSTARTº. Release it when the en-
gine starts.
2. After the engine runs for about 10 se-
conds, you are ready to drive.
If the weather is below freezing, let the
engine warm up for a few minutes before
driving.
If the engine stalls...
Simply restart it, using the correct proce-
dure given in normal starting.
If the engine will not start...
See ªIf your vehicle will not startº on page
182 in Section 4.
How to start the engineÐ
(a) Before cranking
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1692001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
NOTICE
Do not crank for more than 30 se-
conds at a time. This may overheat
the starter and wiring systems.
Do not race a cold engine.
If the engine becomes difficult to
start or stalls frequently, have the
engine checked immediately.

Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
This will allow you much better control.

Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-
sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving
onto high, sharp±edged objects and
other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire damage result-
ing in tire bursts.

When parking on a hill, turn the front
wheels until they touch the curb so
that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the
parking brake, and place the transmis-
sion in ªPº (automatic) or in first or
reverse (manual). If necessary, block
the wheels.

Washing your vehicle or driving through
deep water may get the brakes wet. To
see whether they are wet, check that
there is no traffic near you, and then
press the pedal lightly. If you do not
feel a normal braking force, the brakes
are probably wet. To dry them, drive
the vehicle cautiously while lightly
pressing the brake pedal with the park-
ing brake applied. If they still do not
work safely, pull to the side of the road
and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.
CAUTION

Before driving off, make sure that
the parking brake is fully released
and the parking brake reminder
light is off.

Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is running.

Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. It can cause
dangerous overheating, needless
wear, and poor fuel economy.

To drive down a long or steep hill,
reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly.

Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, downshifting or braking on
a slippery surface. Sudden accelera-
tion or engine braking, could cause
the vehicle to spin or skid.
Tips for driving in various
conditions
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1702001 RAV4 (OM42483U)

Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has high±speed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are high±speed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.

Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a
longer stopping distance, and it
may pull to one side when the
brakes are applied. Also, the park-
ing brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.
Off±road driving precautions
When driving your vehicle off±road, please
observe the following precautions to en-
sure your driving enjoyment and to help
prevent the closure of areas to off±road
vehicles.
a. Drive your vehicle only in areas where
off±road vehicles are permitted to trav-
el.
b. Respect private property. Get owner 's
permission before entering private prop-
erty.
c. Do not enter areas that are closed.
Honor gates, barriers and signs that re-
strict travel.
d. Stay on established roads. When condi-
tions are wet, driving techniques should
be changed or travel delayed to pre-
vent damage to roads.
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining
to driving your vehicle off±road, consult
the following organizations.

State and Local Parks and Recreation
Departments

State Motor Vehicle Bureau

Recreational Vehicle Clubs

U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management
CAUTION
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of serious
personal injury or damage to your ve-
hicle:

Drive carefully when off the road.
Do not take unnecessary risks by
driving in dangerous places.

Do not grip the steering wheel
spokes when driving off±road. A
bad bump could jerk the wheel and
injure your hands. Keep both hands
and especially your thumbs on the
outside of the rim.

Always check your brakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.

After driving through tall grass,
mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check
that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or
trapped on the underbody. Clear off
any such matter from the under-
body. If the vehicle is used with
these materials trapped or adhering
to the underbody, a breakdown or
fire could occur.
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