Page 3 of 466
’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
3
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
1. Instrument panel light control dial
2. Headlight, turn signal and front foglight switches
3. Wiper and washer switches
4. Four −wheel drive lock switch
(four −wheel drive models) or “AUTO
LSD” switch (two −wheel drive models)
5. Audio system
6. Emergency flasher switch
7. Front passenger occupant classification indicator light
8. Air conditioning controls
9. Clock display
10. Rear window and outside rear view mirror defogger switch
11. Power outlet
12. Windshield wiper de −icer switch
13. Seat heater switch
14. Downhill assist control switch
15. Front passenger ’s seat belt reminder light
16. Engine immobilizer system indicator light
View B (with manual air conditioning system)
Page 5 of 466
’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
5
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
1. Instrument panel light control dial
2. Headlight, turn signal and front foglight switches
3. Wiper and washer switches
4. Four −wheel drive lock switch
(four −wheel drive models) or “AUTO
LSD” switch (two −wheel drive models)
5. Audio system
6. Emergency flasher switch
7. Front passenger occupant classification indicator light
8. Air conditioning controls
9. Rear window and outside rear view mirror defogger switch
10. Clock and air conditioning display 11. Power outlet
12. Windshield wiper de −icer switch
13. Seat heater switch
14. Downhill assist control switch
15. Front passenger ’s seat belt reminder light
16. Engine immobilizer system indicator light
View B (with automatic air conditioning system)
Page 122 of 466

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
122
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
To deice the windshield wiper blades,
push the switch.
The engine switch must be in the “ON”
position.
The system will automatically shut off af-
ter the deicer has operated about 15 min-
utes. An indicator light will illuminate to
indicate the deicer is operating.
If further deicing is desired, simply actuate
the switch again. When the wiper blades
have deiced, push the switch once again
to turn the deicer off. Continuous use may
cause the battery to discharge, especially
during stop−and−go driving.Manual air conditioning system
Automatic air conditioning system
To defog or defrost the rear window,
push the switch.
The engine switch must be in the “ON”
position.
The thin heater wires on the inside of the
rear window will quickly clear the window
surface. An indicator light will illuminate to
indicate the defogger is operating.
On some models, the heater panels in the
outside rear view mirrors will also quickly
clear the surfaces.
Push the switch once again to turn the
defoggers off.
The system will automatically shut off af-
ter the defoggers have operated about 15
minutes.
CAUTION
On some models: Since the mirror
surfaces can get hot, do not touch
them when the switch is on.
Windshield wiper de icer Rear window and outside rear
view mirror defoggers
Page 127 of 466

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
127
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Idling for a long period with the air
conditioning on in stop−and− go traffic.
Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to con-
trol the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within
the specified operating range.
Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See “If your ve-
hicle overheats” on page 360 in
Section 4.
The tachometer indicates engine speed
in thousands of rpm (revolutions per
minute). Use it while driving to select
correct shift points and to prevent en-
gine lugging and over revving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get
into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
This meter displays the odometer and
two trip meters.
1. Odometer—Shows the total distance the vehicle has been driven.
2. Two trip meters—Show two different distances independently driven since
the last time each trip meter was set
to zero.
You can use one trip meter to calculate
the fuel economy and the other to
measure the distance on each trip. All
trip meter data is cancelled if the elec-
trical power source is disconnected.
Tachometer Odometer and two trip meters
Page 234 of 466

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
234
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
For vehicles sold in the U.S.A. (and
Canada)—
Part 15 of the FCC Rules
FCC Warning:
Any unauthorized changes or modifi-
cations to this equipment will void
the user’s authority to operate this
device.
Laser products
Do not take this unit apart or at-
tempt to make any changes your-
self. This is an intricate unit that
uses a laser pickup to retrieve in-
formation from the surface of com-
pact discs. The laser is carefully
shielded so that its rays remain in-
side the cabinet. Therefore, never
try to disassemble the player or al-
ter any of its parts since you may
be exposed to laser rays and dan-
gerous voltages.
This product utilizes a laser. Use of
controls or adjustments or perfor-
mance of procedures other than
those specified herein may result in
hazardous radiation exposure.
CARING FOR YOUR COMPACT DISC
PLAYER, DVD PLAYER AND DISCS
Extremely high temperatures can keep
your compact disc player and DVD
player from working. On hot days, use
the air conditioning to cool the vehicle
interior before you use the players.
Bumpy roads or other vibrations may
make your compact disc player and
DVD player skip.
If moisture gets into your compact disc
player and DVD player, the players
may not play even though they appear
to be working. Remove the disc from
the player and wait until it dries.
CAUTION
Compact disc players and DVD play-
ers use an invisible laser beam which
could cause hazardous radiation ex-
posure if directed outside the unit. Be
sure to operate the players correctly.
Compact disc player
Audio CDs
Use only compact discs marked as
shown above. The following products
may not be playable on your compact
disc player.
SACD
dts −CD
Copy −protected CD
CD− ROM
Page 268 of 466

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
268
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
To transfer a call to the phone:
The received call can be transferred from
the hands−free system to the cellular
phone that is connected to Bluetooth . For
details, refer to the user’s guide for the
cellular phone. While talking on the phone, the display is
as follows. The display differs depending
on whether or not the vehicle is in motion.
When the vehicle is stopped:
Number is displayed.
When the vehicle is in motion:
[Talking] is displayed.
When the call is finished, push the on
−
hook switch.
In the following situations, your voice may
not reach the party.
Talk alternately with the other party on
the phone. If you talk at the same
time, the voice may not reach each
other. (It is not a malfunction.)
Keep the volume of receiving voice
down. Otherwise, echo is coming up.
When you talk on the phone, speak
clearly towards the microphone.
When driving on a rough road.
When driving at high speeds.
When the window is open.
When the air conditioning vents face
the microphone.
When the sound of the air conditioning
fan is loud.
The microphone can be muted by pushing
the talk switch and say [Mute]. To transfer a call from the phone:
Pushing the off
−hook switch while talking
on the cellular phone that is connected to
Bluetooth allows you to talk hands −free.
A call can also be transferred by pushing
the talk switch and say [Call transfer].
To transfer a call to the phone:
The call can be transferred from the
hands −free system to the phone that is
connected to Bluetooth . For details, refer
to the user’s guide for the cellular phone.
—Talking on the phone
Page 269 of 466

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
269
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Air conditioning system
Manual air conditioning systemControls 270
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Air flow selector settings 273
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating tips 273
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . .
Automatic air conditioning system Controls 276
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air flow selector settings 280
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating tips 280
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . .
Side vents 283
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air conditioning filter 284
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . .
SECTION 1 9
Page 270 of 466
’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
270
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
1. Air flow selector
2. Fan speed selector
3. Temperature selector
4. “A/C” button
5. Air intake selector
Manual air conditioning system—
—Controls