2008 TOYOTA RAV4 section

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DOITYOURSELF MAINTENANCE
Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level404
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Checking the engine coolant level 406
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Checking the radiator and condenser 407
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Checking brake fluid 407
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Checking tire inflation pressure 408
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Checking and replacing tires 410
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Rotating tires 412
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Installing snow tires and chains 413
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Replacing wheels 415
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Aluminum wheel precautions 416
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SECTION 7 2

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Low level Full level
Add oil O.K. Too full
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level
on the dipstick. 1. To get a correct reading, the vehicle should be on level ground. After turning
off the engine, wait a few minutes for
the oil to drain back into the bottom of
the engine.
2. Pull the dipstick out, hold a rag under the end and wipe it clean.
3. Reinsert the dipstick—push it in as far as it will go, or the reading will not be
correct.
4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil level while holding a rag under the
end.
CAUTION
Be careful not to touch the hot ex-
haust manifold.
NOTICE
Be careful not to drop engine oil on
the vehicle components.
If the oil level is below or only slightly
above the low level, add engine oil of
the same type as already in the engine.
Remove the oil filler cap and add engine
oil in small quantities at a time, checking
the dipstick. We recommend that you use
a funnel when adding oil.
The approximate quantity of oil needed to
raise the level between low and full on the
dipstick is indicated as follows:2.4 L 4 −cylinder (2AZ −FE) engine
1.1L(1.2qt.,1.0lmp.qt.)
3.5 L V6 (2GR −FE) engine
1.5L(1.6qt.,1.3lmp.qt.)
For the engine oil capacity, see “Service
specifications” on page 429 in Section 8.
When the level reaches within the correct
range, install the filler cap hand− tight.
NOTICE
Be careful not to spill engine oil on
the vehicle components.
 Avoid overfilling, or the engine
could be damaged.
 Check the oil level on the dipstick
once again after adding the oil.
Checking the engine oil level

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For details about the side wall of the
tire and the Certification Label, see
pages 321 and 324.
CAUTION
Observe the following instruc-
tions. Otherwise, an accident
may occur resulting in death or
serious injuries.
Do not mix radial, bias belted,
or biasply tires on your ve-
hicle, as this may cause dan-
gerous handling characteris-
tics resulting in loss of control.
 Do not use tires other than the
manufacturer’s recommended
size, as this may cause danger-
ous handling characteristics
resulting in loss of control.
Fourwheel drive models:
Do not use tires of different
brands, sizes, construction or
tread patterns, as this may
cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
Toyota recommends all four tires,
or at least both of the front or rear
tires be replaced at a time as a set.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page
361 in Section 4 for tire change proce-
dure.
When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect ve-
hicle handling and tire life. Wheels
can get out of balance with regular
use and should therefore be balanced
occasionally.
When replacing a tubeless tire, the
air valve should also be repl aced
w i t h a new on e.
With a spare tire of the same
wheel type as the installed tires
Rotating tires

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With a spare tire of different
wheel type from the installed
tiresTo equalize tire wear and help ex-
tend tire life, Toyota recommends
that you rotate your tires accord-
ing to the maintenance schedule.
(For scheduled maintenance infor-
mation, please refer to the “Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide” or “Own-
er’s Manual Supplement”.)
However, the most appropriate tim-
ing for tire rotation may vary ac-
cording to your driving habits and
road surface conditions.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page
361 in Section 4 for tire change proce-
dure.
When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is
usually caused by incorrect tire pres-
sure, improper wheel alignment, out
−
of −balance wheels, or severe braking.
WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR
CHAINS
Snow tires or chains are recommended
when driving on snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires
provide better traction than snow tires.
SNOW TIRE SELECTION
If you need snow tires, select tires of
the same size, construction and load
capacity as the originally installed tires.
Also, on fourwheel drive models, all
the tires must be the same brand and
have the same tread patterns.
Do not use tires other than those men-
tioned above. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions.
CAUTION
Observe the following instructions.
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-
sulting in death or serious injuries.
Do not use snow tires other than
the manufacturer ’s recommended si-
ze, as this may cause dangerous
handling characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
Installing snow tires and
chains

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DOITYOURSELF MAINTENANCE
Electrical components
Checking battery condition418
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Battery recharging precautions 420
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Checking and replacing fuses 420
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Adding washer fluid 422
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Replacing light bulbs 422
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SECTION 7 3

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Before replacing the battery, remove the
cover as shown.Removing clip
Installing clip
NOTICE
Be sure the engine and all accesso-
ries are off before performing main-
tenance.
 When checking the battery, remove
the ground cable from the negative
terminal (“” mark) first and rein-
stall it last.
 Be careful not to cause a short cir-
cuit with tools.
 Take care no solution gets into the
battery when washing it.
If the battery is disconnected or run
down, You should normalize the power
window and moon roof may not operate
correctly after you reconnect, replace or
recharge the battery. In any of these
cases, you should normalize each system.
To normalize them, see “Power windows”
on page 24 and “Electric moon roof” on
page 30 in Section 1 −2.

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GoodBlown
Ty p e C
If the headlights or other electrical
components do not work, check the
fuses. If any of the fuses are blown,
they must be replaced.
See “Fuse locations” on page 398 in Sec-
tion 7 −1 for locations of the fuses.
Turn the engine switch and inoperative
component off. Pull the suspected fuse
straight out and check it.
Determine which fuse may be causing the
problem. The lid of the fuse box shows
the name of the circuit for each fuse. See
page 434 in Section 8 for the functions
controlled by each circuit. Type A fuses can be pulled out by using
the pull
−out tool. The location of the pull −
out tool is shown in the illustration.
If you are not sure whether the fuse has
blown, try replacing the suspected fuse
with one that you know is good.
If the fuse has blown, push a new fuse
into the clip.
Only install a fuse with the amperage rat-
ing designated on the fuse box lid.
If you do not have a spare fuse, in an
emergency you can pull out the “RAD
NO.1” or “CIG” fuse, which may be dis-
pensable for normal driving, and use it if
its amperage rating is the same.
If you cannot use one of the same amper-
age, use one that is lower, but as close
to the rating as possible. If the amperage
is lower than that specified, the fuse
might blow out again but this does not
indicate anything wrong. Be sure to get
the correct fuse as soon as possible and
return the substitute to its original clip.
It is a good idea to purchase a set of
spare fuses and keep them in your ve-
hicle for emergencies.

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If the new fuse immediately blows out,
there is a problem with the electrical sys-
tem. Have your Toyota dealer correct it as
soon as possible.
You should normalize the power window
and moon roof may not operate correctly
after replacing blown fuses. To normalize
the power window and moon roof, see
“Power windows” on page 24 and “Electric
moon roof” on page 30 in Section 1−2.
CAUTION
Never use a fuse with a higher am-
perage rating, or any other object, in
place of a fuse. This may cause ex-
tensive damage and possibly a fire.
If any washer does not work or wind-
shield washer fluid level warning light
comes on, the washer tank may be
empty. Add washer fluid.
You may use plain water as washer fluid.
However, in cold areas where tempera-
tures range below the freezing point, use
washer fluid containing antifreeze. This
product is available at your Toyota dealer
and most auto parts stores. Follow the
manufacturer’s directions for how much to
mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitute because it may dam-
age your vehicle’s paint.
The following illustrations show how to
gain access to the bulbs. When replacing
a bulb, make sure the engine switch and
light switch are off. Use bulbs with the
wattage ratings given in the table.
The stop/tail lights and high mounted stop-
light consist of a number of LEDs. If any
of the LEDs burn out, take your vehicle
to your Toyota dealer to have the light
replaced.
If two or more LEDs in a stop/tail light
burn out, your vehicle may not conform to
local laws (SAE).
CAUTION
To prevent burning yourself, do not
replace the light bulbs while they
are hot.
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas
inside and require special handling.
They can burst or shatter if
scratched or dropped. Hold a bulb
only by its plastic or metal case.
Do not touch the glass part of a
bulb with bare hands.
Adding washer fluid Replacing light bulbs—