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242002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
This indicates that the fuel filler door
is on the left side of your vehicle.1. To open the fuel filler door, pull thelever up.
When refueling, turn off the engine.
CAUTION
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames when refueling.
The fumes are flammable.
When opening the cap, do not re-
move the cap quickly. In hot weath-
er, fuel under pressure could cause
injury by spraying out of the filler
neck if the cap is suddenly re-
moved.
2. To remove the fuel tank cap, turnthe cap slowly counterclockwise,
then pause slightly before removing
it. After removing the cap, hang it
on the cap hanger.
It is not unusual to hear a slight swoosh
when the cap is opened. When insta lling,
turn the cap clockwise till you hear a
click.
If the cap is not tightened securely, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on.
Make sure the cap is tightened securely.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Fuel tank cap
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’02 Rav4_U (L/O 0108)
282002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow sitting on top of a
folded down seatback, or in the
luggage compartment or cargo area.
Persons not properly seated and/or
properly restrained by seat belts
can be severely injured in the event
of emergency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow pas-
sengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Severe inju-
ries can occur in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
Adjust the driver’s seat so that the foot
pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel controls are within easy reach of
the driver.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving, as the
seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When adjusting the seat, be careful
that the seat does not hit a passen-
ger or luggage.
After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is locked in posi-
tion.
After adjusting the seatback, push
back your body to make sure it is
locked in position.
Do not put objects under the seats.
The objects may interfere with the
seat lock mechanism or unexpect-
edly push up the seat position ad-
justing lever. Otherwise the seat
may suddenly move, causing the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
While adjusting the seat, do not put
your hands under the seat or near
the moving parts. Otherwise you
may catch and injure your hands or
fingers.
SeatsFront seats—
—Seat adjustment precautions
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302002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
CAUTION
Adjustment should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.
When adjusting the seat, be careful
that the seat does not hit a passen-
ger or luggage.
Adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seat-
backs at the same angle when a
person sits in the rear center posi-
tion. Otherwise, the person cannot
wear the seat belt properly and this
may cause serious injuries in a col-
lision.
After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is lock in position.
After adjusting the seatback, push
back your body to make sure it is
locked in position.
When returning seats to their origi-
nal position, observe the following
precautions in order to prevent per-
sonal injury in a collision or sud-
den stop:
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent the seat belt from oper-
ating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
Folding the seats up will enlarge the lug-
gage compartment. See “Luggage stowage
precautions” on page 164 in Section 2 for
precautions in loading luggage.
Rear seats—
—Rear seat precautions—Adjusting rear seats
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’02 Rav4_U (L/O 0108)
312002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
When a person sits in the rear center
position, adjust both seat cushions to
the same position.
Do not place anything under the seats. It
might interfere with the seat lock mecha-
nism.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING STRAP
Pull the strap up. Then lean back to the
desired angle and release the strap.
When a person sits in the rear center
position, align both seatbacks at the
same angle.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seat-
backs at the same angle when a
person sits in the rear center posi-
tion. Otherwise, the person cannot
wear the seat belt properly and this
may cause serious injuries in a col-
lision.
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you
are reclined, the lap belt may slide
past your hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen.
Therefore, in the event of a frontal
collision, the risk of personal injury
may increase with increasing recline
of the seatback.
After adjusting the seatback, push
back your body to make sure it is
locked in position.
NOTICE
Do not fold the seatback forward
while the luggage cover is set.
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’02 Rav4_U (L/O 0108)
322002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
BEFORE FOLDING UP REAR SEAT
Stow the rear center seat belt, do the
following:1. Pull the seat belt out of its cover a little and insert the concave end tab
into the higher slot of the cover.2. Insert the round end tab into thecover. You will hear a click when the
tabs are locked in the seat belt cov-
er. Make sure the tabs are securely
locked in the cover.
NOTICE
The seat belt must be stowed before
you fold the seatback.
FOLDING UP REAR SEATS
1. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the front seat fully
forward.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See “Luggage stow-
age precautions” on page 164 in Section
2 for precautions in loading luggage.
—Folding up rear seats
Page 42 of 283
’02 Rav4_U (L/O 0108)
332002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
2. Hold the center of the lever and pullit up. Then slide the rear seat fully
backward and pull it forward slightly
till it locks.3. Lower the head restraint to the low-est position. Pull up the strap to
unlock the seatback and fold the
seatback forward until it locks.
NOTICE
Do not fold the seatback forward
while the luggage cover is set.
4. Pull up the seat cushion lock releaselever and swing the whole seat up
and forward.
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’02 Rav4_U (L/O 0108)
342002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
5. Make sure the front legs are lockedand the seat is securely locked in
position.RETURNING REAR SEATS
1. To unlock the seat, hold the upper back of the seat with your hand and
pull the lock release strap up. Swing
the whole seat down and set the
rear legs to the hooks on the floor.
Make sure the rear legs are securely
set to the hooks by trying to pull up
the rear part of the seat.2. Pull the seatback lock release strapand swing the seatback up.
Page 44 of 283
’02 Rav4_U (L/O 0108)
352002 MY RAV4_U (OM42503U)
CAUTION
When returning seats to their original
position, observe the following pre-
cautions in order to prevent personal
injury in a collision or sudden stop:
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent the seat belt from oper-
ating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.1. Fold up rear seats. (See “—Foldingup rear seats” on page 32 in this
section for instructions.)2. Unlock the seat by pulling the lockrelease lever. Pull the seat toward
you slightly and lift.
Removing the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See “Luggage stow-
age precautions” on page 164 in Section
2 for precautions in loading luggage.
—Removing rear seats