2011 TOYOTA RAV4 parking brake

TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex
2
1-1. Key informationKeys ..................................... 24
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
Smart key system................. 26
Wireless remote control ....... 38
Side doors ............................ 42
Back door ............................. 46
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors,
steering wheel)
Front seats ........................... 49
Rear seats ............................ 54
Head restraints ..................... 65
Seat belts ............................. 68
Steering wheel ..................... 76
Anti-glare inside rear view mirror .................................. 77
Outside rear view mirrors ..... 79
1-4. Opening and closing the windows and moon roof
Power windows .................... 81
Moon roof ............................. 84
1-5. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .... 88 1-6. Theft deterrent system
Engine immobilizer system ................................ 92
Theft prevention labels (U.S.A.)............................... 95
1-7. Safety information Correct driving posture ......... 96
SRS airbags ......................... 98
Front passenger occupant classification system ......... 110
Child restraint systems ....... 116
Installing child restraints ..... 120
2-1. Driving procedures Driving the vehicle .............. 134
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart
key system) ...................... 143
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart
key system) ...................... 147
Automatic transmission ...... 150
Turn signal lever ................. 153
Parking brake ..................... 154
Horn .................................... 155
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ............ 156
Indicators and warning lights ................................. 159
Trip information display ...... 162
1Before driving
2When driving

11
C
Shift lever P. 150
Outside rear view mirror switches P. 79
Parking brake lever
P. 154
AUX port P. 269
Cup holders P. 315

When driving2
133
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 134
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart
key system).................... 143
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart
key system).................... 147
Automatic transmission .... 150
Turn signal lever .............. 153
Parking brake ................... 154
Horn ................................. 155
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 156
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 159
Trip information display .... 162
2-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ............... 165
Fog light switch ................ 168
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 169
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 171 2-4. Using other driving
systems
Cruise control ................... 172
Rear view monitor system (vehicles with auto
anti-glare inside rear
view mirror) .................... 176
Driving assist systems ..... 184
Hill-start assist control ...... 191
Downhill assist control system ........................... 193
Four-wheel drive lock switch (4WD models) ..... 196
2-5. Driving information Utility vehicle precautions .................... 197
Cargo and luggage .......... 202
Vehicle load limits ............ 208
Winter driving tips ............ 210
Trailer towing ................... 214
Dinghy towing .................. 224

134
2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driv-
ing.
■ Starting the engine
P. 143, 147
■ Driving
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( P. 150)
Release the parking brake. ( P. 154)
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the
accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■ Stopping
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
When the vehicle is stopped for an extended period of time, shift
the shift lever to P or N. ( P. 150)
■Parking the vehicle
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake. ( P. 154)
Shift the shift lever to P. ( P. 150)
When parking on a hill, if necessary, block the wheels.
Vehicles without smart key system:
Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position to stop the
engine.
Vehicles with smart key system:
Press the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to stop the
engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the key on your
person.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5

135
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Starting on a steep uphill
Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially slippery.
● Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road
surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended
to observe:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
● For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
● For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in the low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■ Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system.
This type of brake system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodi-
cally or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drums are replaced.
Have your Toyota dealer perform the bedding-down.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

138 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
● Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-
shifting or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.
● After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in
an accident.
■ When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
■ When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate
suddenly and unexpectedly, and may cause an accident.
● Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space
and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
● In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the
parking brake as necessary.
● If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake as needed.
● Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible
material is nearby.

139
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following.
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a
fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of eye glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehi-
cle's electrical components.
● Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the engine
and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
● Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the engine is running or immediately
after turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
● Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it
is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is
running, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. This may lead
to death or a serious health hazard.
■ Exhaust gases
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO) that is colorless and
odorless. Inhaling exhaust gases may lead to death or a serious health haz-
ard.
●If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area, stop the engine. In a closed
area, such as a garage, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle.
This may lead to death or a serious health hazard.
● The exhaust should be checked occasionally. If there is a hole or crack
caused by corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise, be
sure to have the vehicle inspected and repaired by your Toyota dealer.
Failure to do so may allow exhaust gases to enter the vehicle, resulting in
death or a serious health hazard.

140 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, you may accidentally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal, which could cause an accident or fire
due to engine overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leadin\
g to
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking the vehicle
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and may cause one
side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also the parking
brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other
vehicles closely and avoid downhills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but it will require more force on the
pedal than usual. Braking distance may also increase.
● Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
● The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems: If one of the
systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and braking distance
becomes longer.
Do not drive your vehicle with only a single brake system. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
■ If the vehicle becomes stu ck or bogged (4WD models)
Do not spin the wheels recklessly when any of the tires is up in the air, or
stuck in sand or mud etc. This may damage the drive system components or
propel the vehicle forward (or in another direction) and cause an accident.