2008 TOYOTA RAV4 tow

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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
CAUTION
To avoid death or serious personal
injury, you must do the following.
Before you close the power win-
dows, always make sure there is
nobody around the power windows.
You must also make sure the
heads, hands and other parts of the
bodies of all occupants are kept
completely inside the vehicle. If
someone’s neck, head or hands get
caught in a closing window, it
could result in death or serious in-
jury. When anyone closes the power
windows, make sure he or she op-
erates the windows safely.
When small children are in the ve-
hicle, never let them use the power
window switches without supervi-
sion. Use the window lock switch to
prevent them from making unex-
pected use of the switches.
Be sure to remove the key when
you leave your vehicle.
Never leave anyone (particularly a
small child) alone in your vehicle,
especially with the key still in-
serted. Otherwise, he/she could use
the power window switches and get
trapped in a window. Unattended
person (particularly a small child)
can be involved in a serious acci-
dent.
To open the back door, pull the handle.
All the side doors and back door lock and
unlock simultaneously with the driver ’s
door.
Operating the power door lock switch or
wireless remote control key simultaneously
locks or unlocks the back door. (See
“—Locking and unlocking doors” on page
18 and “Side doors” on page 22 in this
Section.)
When closing the back door, make sure
it is fully closed.
See “—Stowage precautions” on page 336
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
Back door

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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
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

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
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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 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 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, 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

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
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 all 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 death or serious injuries
in a collision.
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 the
seat is locked in position.
When returning seats to their origi-
nal position, observe the following
precautions in order to prevent
death or serious injury in a colli-
sion or sudden stop:
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating 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 down the seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See “—Stowage
precautions” on page 336 in Section 2 for
precautions when loading luggage.
Without third seat
Rear seats—
—Rear seat precautions—Adjusting rear/second seats

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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
2. Insert the tabs of the center seatbelt into the cover. Make sure the
tabs are securely locked in the cov-
er.
NOTICE
The seat belt tabs must be stowed
before you fold the seatback.
3. Make sure the outer seat belt passesthrough the hanger when folding the
rear/second seat.
This prevents the shoulder belt from being
damaged.
CAUTION
The seat belt must be removed from
the hanger when the seat belt is in
use.
4. Stow the rear/second seat belt buckles as shown in the illustration.
This prevents the buckles from falling out
when you fold down the rear/second 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.

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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
4. Pull down the seatback angle adjust-ing lever and fold down the seat-
back.Left side
Right side
Without third seats—
The rear seat can be folded down for
the luggage compartment. Open the
back door and pull the lock release le-
ver to fold down the rear seat.
Before folding down the rear seat, slide
the rear seat fully backward and pull it
forward slightly until it locks. Then raise
the armrest until it locks.
Folding down the seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See “—Stowage
precautions” on page 336 in Section 2 for
precautions when loading luggage.

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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
CAUTION
Do not fold the rear seatback when
the rear passengers sit on the rear
seats or the luggage is placed on the
seat. Make sure that no passengers
or luggage are on the rear seats.
RETURNING SEATBACKS
Raise the seatback until it locks.
CAUTION
Do not allow passengers to ride on
the folded seat or in the luggage
compartment while driving; use the
seat in its normal position.
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the follow-
ing precautions in order to prevent
serious injury in a collision or sud-
den stop:
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
BEFORE FOLDING DOWN THIRD SEATS1. Stow the third seat belt buckles as shown in the illustration.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the seat belt
buckles, they must be stowed before
you fold down the seatback.
—Stowing third seats for
luggage space

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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
2. Pass the third seat belts through thehangers.
This prevents the shoulder belt from being
damaged.
CAUTION
The seat belt must be removed from
the hanger when the seat belt is in
use.
STOWING THIRD SEATS 1. Lower the head restraint to the low- est position.2. Pull the seatback lock release strapto fold down the seatback. Make
sure it is locked securely.