2004 TOYOTA RAV4 tow

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
Never leave anyone (particularly a
small child) alone in your vehicle,
especially with the ignition key still
inserted. Otherwise, he/she could
use the power window switches and
get trapped in a window. Unat-
tended person (particularly a small
child) can be involved in a serious
accident.
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH KEY
Insert the key into the keyhole and turn
it.
To lock: Turn the key clockwise.
To unlock: Turn the key counterclockwise.
To open the back door, pull the lock re-
lease lever.
Vehicles with the power door lock sys-
tem—
All the side doors and back door lock and
unlock simultaneously with the back door.When all the side doors and back door
are unlocked simultaneously using a key,
the interior lights and ignition switch light
will come on and remain on for about 15
seconds before fading out. (For further
information, see “Interior lights” on page
100 and “Ignition switch light” on page
102 in Section 1
−5.)
Operating the power door lock switch or
wireless remote control transmitter simul-
taneously locks or unlocks the back door.
(See “Side doors” on page 14 in this Sec-
tion.)
When closing the back door, make sure
it is fully closed.
See “—Stowage precautions” on page 219
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
Back door

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
3. Hold the hood open by inserting thesupport rod into the slot.
To insert the support rod into the slot,
move it straight up. If it is moved to the
side or toward the inside of the vehicle,
it may become detached.
Before closing the hood, check to see that
you have not forgotten any tools, rags,
etc. and return the support rod to its
clip—this prevents rattles. Then lower the
hood and make sure it locks into place.
If necessary, press down gently on the
front edge to lock it.
CAUTION
After inserting the support rod into
the slot, make sure the rod supports
the hood securely from falling down
on to your head or body.
NOTICE
Be sure to return the support rod to
its clip before closing the hood. Clos-
ing the hood with the support rod up
could cause the hood to bend.
This indicates that the fuel filler door
is on the left side of your vehicle.
Fuel tank cap

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
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 any passengers to sit on
top of a foldeddown seatback, or
in the luggage compartment or car-
go area. Persons not properly
seated and/or not properly re-
strained by seat belts can be se-
verely injured in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow any
passengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Otherwise,
severe injuries can occur in the
event of emergency braking or a
collision.
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with
considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if
the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag
is the first 50—75 mm (2—3 in.) of
inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10
in.) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety.
This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your
breastbone. If you sit less than 250
mm (10 in.) away now, you can
change your driving position in sever-
al ways:
Move your seat to the rear as far
as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
Slightly recline the back of the
seat. Although vehicle designs vary,
many drivers can achieve the 250
mm (10 in.) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply by reclining the back of the
seat somewhat. If reclining the back
of your seat makes it hard to see
the road, raise yourself by using a
firm, nonslippery cushion, or raise
the seat if your vehicle has that
feature.
If your steering wheel is adjustable,
tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as rec-
ommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
Seats Front seats—
—Front seat precautions

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
CAUTION
Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving.
Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger 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 locked in posi-
tion.
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 “—Stowage pre-
cautions” on page 219 in Section 2 for
precautions when loading luggage.
Rear seats—
—Rear seat precautions—Adjusting rear seats

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
BEFORE TUMBLING REAR SEAT1. Stow the rear seat belt buckles as shown in the illustration.
This prevents the buckles from falling out
when you tumble the rear seat.
CAUTION
Before using the seat belt, pull out
the buckle and make sure the belt is
not twisted.
NOTICE
The seat belt buckles must be stowed
before you fold the seatback.
2. To stow the rear center seat belt, pull the belt out of its cover a little
and insert the concave end tab into
the higher slot of the cover.3. 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.
—Tumbling rear seats

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
TUMBLING REAR SEATS1. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the front seat fully
forward.
Tumbling the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See “—Stowage
precautions” on page 219 in Section 2 for
precautions when loading luggage.2. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the rear seat fully
backward and pull it forward slightly
until 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.

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
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 “—Stowage
precautions” on page 219 in Section 2 for
precautions when loading luggage.
CAUTION
When removing the seat, observe the
following precautions in order to pre-
vent personal injury:
Be careful not to get your hands or
feet pinched in the seat.
Be careful not to hit the removed
seat against a person or drop it on
yourself.
NOTICE
Avoid putting heavy loads on the re-
moved seat. The metallic tips of the
seat leg may be damaged and the
seat cannot be reinstalled.1. While pulling up the lock rel ease le-
ver, place the rear hinge into the
rear hook on the floor.
—Reinstalling rear seats

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2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
The rear seat belt buckles can be
stowed when not in use.
Seat belt buckles must be stowed before
you fold the seatback. (See “—Tumbling
rear seats” on page 35 or “—Removing
rear seats” on page 38 in this Section.)
CAUTION
Before using the seat belt, pull out
the buckle and make sure the belt is
not twisted.
STOWING THE REAR CENTER SEAT
BELT1. To stow the rear center seat belt, 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.
Seat belt must be stowed before you fold
the seatback. (See “—Tumbling rear
seats” on page 35 or “—Removing rear
seats” on page 38 in this Section.)
NOTICE
Stow the rear center seat belt when
not in use.
—Stowing the rear seat belt
buckles —Stowing the rear center seat
belt