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 9 of 466
’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
9
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Brake system warning light∗1
Charging system warning light∗1
Low engine oil pressure warning light∗1
Malfunction indicator lamp∗1
Automatic transmission fluid temperature
warning light∗1
Driver ’s seat belt reminder light∗1
Open door warning light∗1
Low fuel level warning light∗1
SRS warning light∗1
Anti −lock brake system warning light∗
1
or
or
Front passenger ’s seat belt reminder light∗1
or
Tire pressure warning light∗1
Enhanced vehicle stab ility control
system/traction control system warning light∗ 1
“4WD” warning light∗1
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel
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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the doors
are closed and locked, especially
when small children are in the ve-
hicle. Along with the proper use of
seat belts, locking the doors helps
prevent the driver and passengers
from being thrown out from the ve-
hicle in an accident. It also helps pre-
vent the doors from being opened
unintentionally.
The windows can be operated with the
switch on each door. The passengers’
windows can also be controlled by the
switches on the driver ’s door.
The power windows work when the engine
switch is in the “ON” position.
Key off operation: If the either front door
is closed, they work for 45 seconds even
after the engine switch is turned off. They
stop working when the either front door is
opened. OPERATING THE DRIVER’S WINDOW
Use the switch on the driver’s door.
Normal operation:
The window moves as
long as you hold the switch.
To open: Lightly push down the switch.
To close: Lightly pull up the switch.
Automatic operation: Push the switch
completely down or pull it completely up,
and then release it. The window will fully
open or close. To stop the window part-
way, lightly move the switch in the oppo-
site direction and then release it.
Jam protection function: During automat-
ic closing operation, the window stops and
opens half way if something gets caught
between the window and window frame.
If the window receives a strong impact,
this function may work even if nothing is
caught.
Power windows
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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Occupant restraint systems
Seats34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seats 34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flattening front seatbacks 38
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
Rear seats 41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrest 51
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head restraints 51
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Seat heaters 52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belts 53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbags 65
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint 85
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1 3
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’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
34
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
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 folded down 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 killed
or severely injured in the event of
emergency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow any
passengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Otherwise,
death or 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, non slippery 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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37
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
CAUTION
Avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts pro-
vide maximum protection in a frontal
or rear collision when the driver and
the front passenger are sitting up
straight and well back in the seats. If
you are reclined, the lap belt may
slide past your hips and apply re-
straint forces directly to the abdomen
or your neck may contact the shoul-
der belt. In the event of a frontal
collision, the more the seat is re-
clined, the greater the risk of death
or serious injury.
1. SEAT POSITION, SEAT CUSHIONANGLE AND SEAT HEIGHT
ADJUSTING SWITCH
Move the control switch in the desired
direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat at
that position.
Do not place anything under the front
seats, as this might interfere with the seat
movement. 2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING SWITCH
Move the control switch in the desired
direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat-
back at that position.
—Adjusting front seats (power
seat)
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’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
38
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
CAUTION
Avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts pro-
vide maximum protection in a frontal
or rear collision when the driver and
the front passenger are sitting up
straight and well back in the seats. If
you are reclined, the lap belt may
slide past your hips and apply re-
straint forces directly to the abdomen
or your neck may contact the shoul-
der belt. In the event of a frontal
collision, the more the seat is re-
clined, the greater the risk of death
or serious injury.
3. SEAT LUMBAR SUPPORTADJUSTING SWITCH
Push the control switch on either side.
The amount of lumbar support will change
while the switch is pushed.
1. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the rear/second
seats fully backward and pull it for-
ward slightly until it locks.2. Remove the front head restraint.Hold the center of the lever and pull
it up. Then slide the front seat fur-
ther forward than the front most
lock position.
Flattening front seatbacks
(manual seat)