2008 TOYOTA RAV4 check engine

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To ensure excellent lubrication perfor-
mance for your engine, “Toyota Genuine
Motor Oil” is available, which has been
specifically tested and approved for all
Toyota engines.
Please contact your Toyota dealer for fur-
ther details about “Toyota Genuine Motor
Oil”.Look at the seethrough coolant reser-
voir when the engine is cold. The cool-
ant level is satisfactory if it is between
the “FULL” and “LOW” lines on the
reservoir. If the level is low, add the
coolant. (For the coolant type, see
“Coolant type selection” described be-
low.)
The coolant level in the reservoir will vary
with engine temperature. However, if the
level is below the “LOW” line, add cool-
ant. Bring the level between the “FULL”
and “LOW” lines.
If the coolant level drops within a short
time after replenishing, there may be a
leak in the system. Visually check the
radiator, hoses, coolant reservoir cap and
drain cock and water pump.
If you can find no leak, have your Toyota
dealer test the cap pressure and check
for leaks in the cooling system.
CAUTION
To prevent burning yourself, do not
remove the coolant reservoir cap
when the engine is hot.
Coolant type selection
Use of improper coolants may damage
your engine cooling system.
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
or similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non
−silicate, non −amine, non− nitrite,
and non− borate coolant with long −life
hybrid organic acid technology. (Coolant
with long −life hybrid organic acid
technology consists of the combination of
low phosphates and organic acids.)
For the U.S.A.—“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and
50% deionized water. This coolant pro-
vides protection down to about −35 C
( − 31 F).
For Canada—“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and
45% deionized water. This coolant pro-
vides protection down to about −42 C
( − 44 F).
NOTICE
Do not use plain water alone.
Checking the engine coolant
level

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Toyota recommends “Toyota Super Long
Life Coolant”, which has been tested to
ensure that it will not cause corrosion nor
result in malfunction of your engine
coolant system with proper usage. “Toyota
Super Long Life Coolant” is formulated
with long−life hybrid organic acid
technology and has been specifically
designed to avoid engine cooling system
malfunction on Toyota vehicles.
Please contact your Toyota dealer for
further details. If any of the above parts are extremely
dirty or you are not sure of their condi-
tion, take your vehicle to a Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
To prevent burning yourself, be care-
ful not to touch the radiator or con-
denser when the engine is hot.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the radiator
and condenser, do not perform the
work by yourself.
To check the fluid level, simply look at
the seethrough reservoir. The level
should be between the “MAX” and
“MIN” lines on the reservoir.
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go
down slightly as the brake pads wear. So
be sure to keep the reservoir filled.
If the reservoir needs frequent refi
lling, it
may indicate a serious mechanical prob-
lem.
If the level is low, add SAE J1703 or
FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 brake fluid to the
brake reservoir.
Checking the radiator and
condenser Checking brake fluid

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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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Ty p e AGreen Dark Clear or
light yellow
Ty p e B Blue White Red
CHECKING BY INDICATOR
Check the battery condition by the indi-
cator color.
Indicator color
ConditionTy p e ATy p e B
GreenBlueGood
DarkWhite
Charging necessary.
Have battery
checked by your
Toyota dealer.
Clear orlight
yellow
RedHave battery
checked by your
Toyota dealer.
During recharging, the battery is pro-
ducing hydrogen gas.
Therefore, before recharging:
1. If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect
the ground cable.
2. Be sure the power switch on the re- charger is off when connecting the
charger cables to the battery and when
disconnecting them.
CAUTION
Always charge the battery in an un-
confined area. Do not charge the
battery in a garage or closed room
where there is not sufficient ventila-
tion.
Only do a slow charge (5 A or
less). Charging at a quicker rate is
dangerous. The battery may ex-
plode, causing personal injuries.
NOTICE
Never recharge the battery while the
engine is running. Also, be sure all
accessories are turned off.
Good Blown
Ty p e A
Good Blown
Ty p e B
—Checking battery c ondition Battery recharging pr ecautions Checking and replacing fuses

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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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COOLING SYSTEMTotal capacity, L(qt., lmp. qt.):2.4 L 4 −cylinder (2AZ −FE) engine
6.8 (7.2, 6.0)
3.5 L V6 (2GR −FE) engine
Without towing package 8.9 (9.4, 7.8)
With towing package
9.3 (9.8, 8.2)
Coolant type:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is
used in your Toyota vehicle at factory
fill. In order to avoid technical problems,
only use “Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” or similar high quality ethylene
glycol based non −silicate, non −amine,
non− nitrite, and non− borate coolant with
long− life hybrid organic acid technology.
(Coolant with long −life hybrid organic
acid technology consists of the combina-
tion of low phosphates and organic
acids.)
Do not use plain water alone.
Please contact your Toyota dealer for
further details. BATTERY
Open voltage
∗
at 20 C (68 F):
12.6—12.8 V Fully charged
12.2—12.4 V Half charged
11.8—12.0 V Discharged
∗: Voltage that is checked 20 minutes af-
ter the key is removed with all the lights
turned off
Charging rates: 5 A max.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
Fluid capacity (drain and refill), L (qt.,
Imp. qt.): Up to 3.5 (3.7, 3.1)
Fluid type: Toyota Genuine ATF WS
Change automatic transmission fluid only
as necessary.
Generally, it is necessary to change
automatic transmission fluid only if your
vehicle is driven under one of the Special
Operating Conditions listed in your
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner ’s Manual Supplement”. When
changing the automatic transmission fluid,
use only “Toyota Genuine ATF WS” (ATF
JWS3324 or NWS9638) to aid in assuring
optimum transaxle performance. Notice: Using automatic transmission
fluid other than “Toyota Genuine ATF
WS” may cause deterioration in shift
quality, locking up of your transmission
accompanied by vibration, and ultimate-
ly damage the automatic transmission
of your vehicle.
Please contact your Toyota dealer for fur-
ther details.
TRANSFER
(fourwheel drive models)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.45 (0.48 0.40)
Oil type: Hypoid gear oil API GL −5
Recommended oil viscosity: Above −18 C (0 F)
SAE 85W −90
Below −18 C (0 F)
SAE 80W −90

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A
“ABS” warning light129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“AUTO LSD” system 153
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Active torque control 4WD system 150 . . . . .
Adding washer fluid 422
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjustment
Front seats 36,37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear/second seat 41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belt 53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air conditioning filter 284
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air conditioning system
Automatic air conditioning system 276 . . . .
Manual air conditioning system 270 . . . . . .
Airbags 64,71,81
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aluminum wheel precautions 416
. . . . . . . . . .
Anti −glare inside rear view mirror 110 . . . . . .
Anti −theft steering column lock 142 . . . . . . . .
Appearance care
Cleaning the interior 386
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Protecting your Toyota from corrosion 382
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washing and waxing 383
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrest 51
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio system 172
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio system
AUX 191
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio/video system 194
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio/video system operating tips 232 . . . . . .
Automatic air conditioning system 276 . . . . . .
Automatic transmission
Driving with an automatic transmission 143,147
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shift lock override button 378
. . . . . . . . . . . . Shift pattern
143,147
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shifting speed 143,147
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission fluid
temperature warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . .
AUX 191
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auxiliary box 291,292
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auxiliary catch, Engine hood 27
. . . . . . . . . . .
B
Back door 26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery
Checking battery condition 418
. . . . . . . . . .
Gas caution 418
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Handling safety 418
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recharging precautions 420
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 346
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Before starting the engine 342
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bluetooth  239
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bottle holders 295
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake pad wear limit indicators 319 . . . . . . . .
Brake system 316
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Brakes
Fluid level 407
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pad wear limit indicators 319
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking 167
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Break −in tips 309
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brightness control 116
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C
Carbon monoxide caution 313
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cargo and luggage
Capacity 335
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Capacity and distribution 337
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Stowage precautions 336
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cargo net 300
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certification label 321
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charging system warning light 129
. . . . . . . . .
Checking and replacing fuses 420
. . . . . . . . .
Checking and replacing the air conditioning filter 284
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking brake fluid 407
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the engine oil level 404
. . . . . . . . . .
Checking the radiator and
condenser 407
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint
Child restraint system 86
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation 88
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation with child restraint lower anchorages 104
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions 85
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of child restraint system 87 . . . . . . . .
Using a top strap 100
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cleaning the interior 386
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clock 288
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cold weather
Operation 346
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact disc changer 172
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact disc changer controller 172 . . . . . . .
Compact disc player 172
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Condenser
Checking the condenser 407
. . . . . . . . . . . .

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Console boxRear 293 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controls, Instrument panel 2,8 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controls, overhead console 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controls, steering switches 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling system
Coolant level 406 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine overheating 360 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator and reservoir 406 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator cap 360 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 346 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corrosion prevention 382 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control 168 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cup holder
Front 294 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear 294 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D
Defogger
Outside rear view mirror 122 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear window 122
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimmer switch, Headlight 114
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dinghy towing 347
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Directional signals 114
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Do −it−yourself maintenance
Parts and tools 400
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service precautions 399
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Does your vehicle need repairing? 393 . . . . .
Doors
Back door 26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Side doors 22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Downhill assist control system 158
. . . . . . . . .
Driver ’s seat belt reminder buzzer 129 . . . . . .
Driver ’s seat belt reminder light 129 . . . . . . . . Driving
Automatic transmission 143,147
. . . . . . . . .
Driving tips 342
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving in the rain 344
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving tips
Driving in the rain 344
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving tips in various conditions 343 . . . . .
Driving with an automatic transmission 143,147
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Economical driving 353
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Good driving practice 143,147
. . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 346
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
During
Break −in 309
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DVD player 194
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E
Economical driving
Saving money on both fuel and repairs 353 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electric moon roof 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electric power steering system 320 . . . . . . . .
Electric power steering system warning light 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electrical system
Battery 418,420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuse locations 398 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuses 420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency flasher switch 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency, In case of
Blown fuse 420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency flasher switch 116 . . . . . . . . . . .
Flat tire 361 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . If you cannot increase
engine speed 359 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you cannot shift automatic transmission selector lever 378 . . . . . . . .
If you lose your keys 379 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your engine stalls while driving 359 . . . . .
If your vehicle becomes stuck 373 . . . . . . .
If your vehicle needs to be towed 373 . . . . .
If your vehicle will not start 356 . . . . . . . . . .
Jump starting 357 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overheating 360 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing 373 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M) programs 394 . . . . . . . . .
Engine
Before starting the engine 342 . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the coolant level 406 . . . . . . . . . .
Emission control device 312 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine compartment 396 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exhaust gas caution 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hood release 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identification number 322 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil consumption 314 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil level 404 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overheating 360 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting procedure 342 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Three −way catalytic converters 312 . . . . . .
Engine coolant
Temperature gauge 126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 346 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine coolant temperature gauge 126 . . . . .
Engine immobilizer system 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil
Winter driving tips 346 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .