2003 TOYOTA RAV4 Owners Manual

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
672003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
Same
angle
Same position
When installing a child restraint
system on the rear center position,
adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seat-
backs at the same angle. Otherwise,
the child restraint system cannot be
securely restrained and this may
cause death or serious injuries in a
collision.1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through
or around the convertible seat following
the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the
belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt
tight.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the child restraint system until
the seat belt is fixed.

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
682003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put itin the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted slightly, it cannot be ex-
tended.
To hold the convertible seat securely,
make sure the belt is in the lock mode
before letting the belt retract.3. While pressing the convertible seat firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, let the shoulder belt retract
as far as it will go to hold the convert-
ible seat securely.CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint sys-
tem in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufac-
turer.

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
692003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
4. To remove the convertible seat, pressthe bucklerelease button and allow the
belt to retract completely. The belt will
move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or older child passen-
ger.(C) BOOSTER SEAT INSTALLATION
A booster seat is used in forwardfac-
ing position only.
Move seat
fully back
CAUTION
A forwardfacing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to be
installed on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable.
Always move the seat as far back
as possible, because the force of
the deploying front passenger air-
bag could cause death or serious
injury to the child.

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
702003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
Same
angle
Same position
When installing a child restraint
system on the rear center position,
adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seat-
backs at the same angle. Otherwise,
the child restraint system cannot be
securely restrained and this may
cause death or serious injuries in a
collision.1. Sit the child on a booster seat. Run
the lap and shoulder belt through or
around the booster seat and child fol-
lowing the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the
belt.
Make sure the shoulder belt is correctly
across the child’s shoulder and that the
lap belt is positioned as low as possible
on child’s hips. See “Seat belts” on page
42 for details.
CAUTION
Always make sure the shoulder belt
is positioned across the center of
child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from child’s neck, but
not falling off child’s s houlder. Fail-
ure to do so could reduce the
amount of protection in an accident
and cause serious injuries in a col-
lision.
Both highpositioned lap belts and
loosefitting belts could cause seri-
ous injuries due to sliding under
the lap belt during a collision or
other unintended. Keep the lap belt
positioned as low on a child’s hips
as possible.
For child’s safety, do not place the
shoulder belt under child’s arm.
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent your
child from properly latching the tab
and buckle.

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
712003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the child restraint system until
the seat belt is fixed.
2. To remove the child restraint system,press the bucklerelease button and al-
low the belt to retract.Outside position
Center position (U.S.A. only)
— U sin g a to p st rap

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
722003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
Follow the procedure below for a child
restraint system that requires the use
of a top strap.
Anchor brackets
U.S.A.
Anchor brackets
Canada
For U.S.A.—
Use the anchor brackets behind the rear
seatbacks and on the luggage compart-
ment to attach the top strap.
Anchor brackets are installed for each
rear seating position.
For Canada—
Use the anchor brackets behind the rear
seatbacks to attach the top strap.
Anchor brackets are installed for both out-
side rear seating positions.

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
732003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
TO USE THE ANCHOR BRACKET:1. Outside anchor brackets only— Remove the head restraint.Outside position
Center position (U.S.A. only)
2. Fix the child restraint system withthe seat belt.
Center anchor bracket only—
Run the top strap through between
both seatbacks.
Latch the hook onto the anchor
bracket and tighten the top strap.
For instructions to install the child re-
straint system, see “Child restraint” on
page 59 in this section.
CAUTION
When you use the center anchor
bracket, make sure the top strap
runs through between both seat-
backs and tighten it. The top strap
on seatback could cause death or
serious injury due to abnormal
moving of the child restraint system
in case of sudden braking or a col-
lision.
Make sure the top strap is securely
latched, and check that the child
restraint system is secure by push-
ing and pulling it in different direc-
tions. Follow all the installation in-
structions provided by its manufac-
turer.

’03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
742003 RAV4 from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM42517U)
3. Outside anchor brackets only—Replace the head restraint.The lower anchorages for the child re-
straint system interfaced with the
FMVSS225 specification are installed in
the rear seat.
The anchorages are installed in the clear-
ance between the seat cushion and seat-
back of both outside rear seats.
Child restraint system interfaced with the
FMVSS225 specification can be fixed with
these anchorages. In this case, it is not
necessary to fix the child restraint system
with a seat belt on the vehicle.
Ty p e A
—Installation with child
restraint lower anchorages