’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
383
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Check the interior of your vehicle. Wa-
ter and dirt can accumulate under the
floor mats and could cause corrosion. Oc-
casionally check under the mats to make
sure the area is dry. Be particularly care-
ful when transporting chemicals, cleans-
ers, fertilizers, salt, etc; these should be
transported in proper containers. If a spill
or leak should occur, immediately clean
and dry the area.
Use mud shields on your wheels. If you
drive on salted or gravel roads, mud
shields help protect your vehicle. Full −size
shields, which come as near to the ground
as possible, are the best. We recommend
that the fittings and the area where the
shields are installed be treated to resist
corrosion. Your Toyota dealer will be
happy to assist in supplying and installing
the shields if they are recommended for
your area.
Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated
garage or a roofed place. Do not park
your vehicle in a damp, poorly venti-
lated garage. If you wash your vehicle in
the garage, or if you drive it covered with
water or snow, your garage may be so
damp as to cause corrosion. Even if your
garage is heated, a wet vehicle can cor-
rode if the ventilation is poor. Washing your Toyota
Keep your vehicle clean by regular
washing.
The following cases may cause weakness
to the paint or corrosion to the body and
parts. Wash your vehicle as soon as pos-
sible.
When driving in a coastal area
When driving on a road sprinkled with
antifreeze
When exposed to coal tar, tree sap,
bird droppings and carcass of an insect
When driving in areas where there is
a lot of smoke, soot, dust, iron dust or
chemical substances
When the vehicle becomes remarkably
dirty with dust and mud
Hand washing your Toyota
Work in the shade and wait until the
vehicle body is not warm to the touch.
CAUTION
When cleaning under floor or chas-
sis, be careful not to injure your
hands.
Exhaust gases cause the exhaust
pipe to become quite hot. When
washing the vehicle, be careful not
to touch the pipe until it has cooled
sufficiently, as touching a hot ex-
haust pipe can cause burns.
NOTICE
When the front wiper arms need to be
lifted away from the windshield to
wash the vehicle, raise the arm on
the driver side first. Conversely, when
returning the wipers to their original
positions, fold down the arm on the
front passenger side first. Failure to
perform the operations in the correct
order results in damage.
Washing and waxing your
To y o t a
’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
400
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
NOTICE
Remember that battery and ignition
cable carry high currents or volt-
ages. Be careful of accidentally
causing a short circuit.
Add only “Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” or similar high quality eth-
ylene glycol based non silicate,
non amine, non nitrite, and non bo-
rate coolant with long life hybrid
organic acid technology to fill the
radiator. “Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is a mixture of 50% cool-
ant and 50% deionized water (for
the U.S.A.) or 55% coolant and 45%
deionized water (for Canada).
If you spill some of the coolant, be
sure to wash it off with water to
prevent it from damaging the parts
or paint.
Do not allow dirt or anything else
to fall through the spark plug holes.
Use only spark plugs of the speci-
fied type. Using other types will
cause engine damage, loss of per-
formance or radio noise.
Do not reuse iridium tipped spark
plugs by cleaning or regapping.
Do not overfill automatic transmis-
sion fluid, or the transmission
could be damaged.
Do not drive with the air cleaner
filter removed, or excessive engine
wear could result. Also backfiring
could cause a fire in the engine
compartment.
Be careful not to scratch the glass
surface with the wiper frame.
When closing the engine hood,
check to see that you have not for-
gotten any tools, rags, etc.Here is a list of parts and tools you will
need to perform do −it−yourself mainte-
nance. Remember all Toyota parts are de-
signed in metric sizes, so your tools must
be metric.
CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL
Parts (if level is low):
“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equiva-
lent
See page 404 in Section 7− 2 for de-
tails about engine oil selection.
Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding oil)
CHECKING THE ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Parts (if level is low):
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or
similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non −silicate, non −amine, non− ni-
trite, and non −borate coolant with long −
life hybrid organic acid technology.
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a
mixture of 50% coolant and 50% deion-
ized water (for the U.S.A.) or 55%
coolant and 45% deionized water (for
Canada).
Parts and tools
’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
449
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Tilt steering wheel108
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure warning system
Tire pressure warning light 163
. . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure warning system 163 . . . . . . .
Tires
Changing 361
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking and replacing 410
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flat tire 361
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glossary 329
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflation pressure 408,433
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels 415
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotating tires 412
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Size 326,433
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Snow tires and chains 413
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare 362
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Symbols 324
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Identification Number (TIN) 325 . . . . . .
Tools 362
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To w i n g
Capacity 335
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dinghy towing 347
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency towing 375
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency towing eyelet 376
. . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency towing eyelet precautions 377
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle needs to be towed 373 . . . . .
Installing front towing eyelet 376
. . . . . . . . .
Tips for towing a stuck vehicle 378 . . . . . . .
Trailer 348
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction control system 152
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer towing 348
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trip meter 127
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn signals 114
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of tires 338
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U
Uniform tire quality grading 326,327 . . . . . . . .
Utility vehicle precautions 308 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
V
Vanity mirrors 111
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle identification number 321
. . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle stability control system 155,157 . . . .
Vehicle stability control system/traction control system
warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W
Warning buzzer 129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washer fluid
Adding washer fluid 422
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washing and waxing 383
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheels
Aluminum wheel 416
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels 415
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wiper and washer switch 120
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wiper de −icer 122
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 346
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wireless remote control 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .