2001 TOYOTA RAV4 power steering

'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1732001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
NOTICE
Dinghy towing does not eliminate the
possibility of damage to your vehicle.
DINGHY TOWING TIPS
Before dinghy towing, be sure to ob-
serve the following in order to reduce
the damage to your vehicle.
With automatic transmissionÐ
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ªONº
position.
2. Shift the selector lever into the ªNº
position.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ªACCº
position. Make sure the audio is turned
off and any item is not plugged into
the power outlet.
NOTICE
To avoid the locking of the steering
wheel, turn the ignition switch to the
ªACCº position.
4. Release the parking brake.
NOTICE
To prevent the vehicle from being
damaged, observe following.
Do not tow the vehicle at the ve-
hicle speed more than 88 km/h (55
mph).
Do not tow the vehicle for more
than 320 km (200 miles).
After dinghy towing or at the recom-
mended distance limit, let the engine idle
for more than 3 minutes before driving the
vehicle or resuming towing.
With manual transmissionÐ
1. Put the shift lever in neutral.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the ªACCº
position. Make sure the audio is turned
off and any item is not plugged into
the power outlet.
NOTICE
To avoid the locking of the steering
wheel, turn the ignition switch to the
ªACCº position.
3. Release the parking brake.
NOTICE
Four±wheel drive models:
To prevent the vehicle from being
damaged, observe following.
Do not tow the vehicle at the ve-
hicle speed more than 88 km/h (55
mph).
Do not tow the vehicle for more
than 320 km (200 miles).
After dinghy towing or at the recom-
mended distance limit, let the engine idle
for more than 3 minutes before driving the
vehicle or resuming towing.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1772001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
BREAK±IN SCHEDULE

Toyota recommends that you do not
tow a trailer with a new vehicle or a
vehicle with any new power train com-
ponent (engine, transmission, differen-
tial, wheel bearing, etc.) for the first
800 km (500 miles) of driving.
MAINTENANCE

If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will
require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. For this informa-
tion, please refer to the scheduled
maintenance information in the ªSched-
uled Maintenance Guideº or ªOwner 's
Manual Supplementº.

Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately
1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.
PRE±TOWING SAFETY CHECK

Check that your vehicle remains level
when a loaded or unloaded trailer is
hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has
an abnormal nose±up or nose±down
condition, and check for improper
tongue load, overload, worn suspension
or other possible causes.

Make sure the trailer cargo is securely
loaded so that it cannot shift.

Check that your rear view mirrors con-
form to any applicable federal, state/
provincial or local regulations. If not,
install the rear view mirrors required
for towing purpose.
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will
handle differently than when not tow-
ing. The three main causes of vehicle±
trailer accidents are driver error, exces-
sive speed and improper trailer loading.
Keep these in mind when towing:

Before starting out, check operation of
the lights and all vehicle±trailer connec-
tions. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and con-
nections. Before actually towing a trail-
er, practice turning, stopping and back-
ing with a trailer in an area away from
traffic until you learn the feel.

Because stopping distance may be in-
creased, vehicle±to±vehicle distance
should be increased when towing a
trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and
trailer length between you and the ve-
hicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as
you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.

Avoid jerky starts or sudden accelera-
tion. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, prevent excessive clutch
slippage by keeping engine rpm low
and not racing the engine. Always start
out in first gear.

Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns.
The trailer could hit your vehicle in a
tight turn. Slow down before making a
turn to avoid the necessity of sudden
braking.

Backing with a trailer is difficult and
requires practice. Grip the bottom of
the steering wheel and move your hand
to the left to move the trailer to the
left. Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to the right. (This pro-
cedure is generally opposite to that
when backing without a trailer). Also,
just turn the steering wheel a little at
a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged
turning. Have someone guide you when
backing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.

Remember that when making a turn,
the trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Therefore, compensate for this by
making a larger than normal turning
radius with your vehicle.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1802001 RAV4 (OM42483U)

Keep the front wheels in proper
alignment. Avoid hitting the curb and
slow down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire
wear but also puts an extra load on
the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.

Keep the bottom of your vehicle free
from mud, etc. This not only lessens
weight but also helps prevent corro-
sion.

Keep your vehicle tuned±up and in
top shape. A dirty air cleaner, improp-
er valve clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil
and grease,brakes not adjusted, etc. all
lower engine performance and contrib-
ute to poor fuel economy. For longer
life of all parts and lower operating
costs, keep all maintenance work on
schedule, and if you often drive under
severe conditions, see that your vehicle
receives more frequent maintenance.
(For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, please refer to the ªScheduled
Maintenance Guideº or ªOwner 's Manu-
al Supplementº).
CAUTION
Never turn off the engine to coast
down hills. Your power steering and
brake booster will not function with-
out the engine running. Also, the
emission control system operates
properly only when the engine is run-
ning.
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
1862001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
If your engine stalls while driving...
1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping
a straight line. Move cautiously off the
road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Turn the ignition key to ªACCº or
ªLOCKº, and try starting the engine
again.
If the engine will not start, see ªIf your
vehicle will not startº on page 182.
CAUTION
If the engine is not running, the pow-
er assist for the brakes and steering
will not work so steering and braking
will be much harder than usual.
If your vehicle overheats
If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you ex-
perience a loss of power, or if you hear
a loud knocking or pinging noise, the
engine has probably overheated. You
should follow this procedure...
1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve-
hicle and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the transmission in ªPº
(automatic) or neutral (manual) and ap-
ply the parking brake. Turn off the air
conditioning if it is being used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the
radiator or reservoir, stop the engine.
Wait until the steam subsides before
opening the hood. If there is no coolant
boiling over or steam, leave the engine
running and make sure the electric
cooling fan is operating. If it is not,
turn the ignition off.
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury, keep
the hood closed until there is no
steam. Escaping steam or coolant is
a sign of very high pressure.
3. Look for obvious coolant leaks from the
radiator, hoses, and under the vehicle.
However, note that water draining from
the air conditioning is normal if it has
been used.
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive belts.
4. If the coolant is leaking, stop the en-
gine immediately. Call a Toyota dealer
for assistance.
5. If there are no obvious leaks, check
the coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add
coolant to the reservoir while the en-
gine is running. Fill it about half full.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to remove the radiator
cap when the engine and radiator are
hot. Serious injury could result from
scalding hot fluid and steam blown
out under pressure.
If your engine stalls while
driving
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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)
2492001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
BRAKES
Minimum pedal clearance when depressed
with the force of 490 N (50 kgf, 110 lbf)
with the engine running, mm (in.):
118 (4.6)
Pedal free play, mm (in.):
1Ð6 (0.04Ð0.24)
Pad wear limit, mm (in.):
1.0 (0.04)
Lining wear limit, mm (in.):
1.0 (0.04)
Parking brake adjustment when pulled with
the force of 196 N (20 kgf, 44 lbf):
6Ð8 clicks
Fluid type:
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3STEERING
Wheel free play:
Less than 30 mm (1.2 in.)
Power steering fluid type:
Automatic transmission fluid DEXRONII
or III
Tires
Tire size:
215/70R16 99S
235/60R16 100H
Tire pressure, kPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar, psi):
200 (2.0, 29)
Wheel size:
Steel wheel 16
6.5J
Aluminum Wheel 16
7JJ
Wheel nut torque, N
´m (kgf´m, ft´lbf):
103 (10.5, 76)
NOTE: For a complete information on
tires (e.g. replacing tires or re-
placing wheels), see ªChecking
tire pressureº through ªAluminum
wheel precautionsº, pages 225
through 230, in Section 7±2.
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'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)
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'01 Rav4_U (L/O 0008)
2142001 RAV4 (OM42483U)
Engine compartment overview
1. Battery
2. Power steering fluid reservoir
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Fuse block
6. Engine coolant reservoir
7. Electric cooling fans
8. Engine oil level dipstick
9. Windshield and rear window washer
fluid tank
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