2012 TOYOTA RAV4 engine

474 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■Starting the engine when the battery is discharged
The engine cannot be started by push-starting.
■ To prevent battery discharge
●Turn off the headlights and the audio system while the engine is turned
off.
● Turn off any unnecessary electrical components when the vehicle is run-
ning at a low speed for an extended period, such as in heavy traffic, etc.
■ Charging the battery
The electricity stored in the battery will discharge gradually even when the
vehicle is not in use, due to natural discharge and the draining effects of cer-
tain electrical appliances. If the vehicle is left for a long time, the battery may
discharge, and the engine may be unable to start. (The battery recharges
automatically during driving.)
Maintain the engine speed of the second vehicle, and turn
the engine switch to the “ON” position (vehicles without
smart key system) or turn the “ENGINE START STOP”
switch to IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with smart key sys-
tem), to start the vehicle's engine.
Once the vehicle’s engine has started, remove the jumper
cables in the exact reverse order in which they were con-
nected.
Once the engine starts, have the vehicle checked at your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible.STEP 4
STEP 5

476
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle overheats
If your engine overheats:
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air condi-
tioning system.
Check to see if steam is coming out from under the hood.
If you see steam:
Stop the engine. Carefully lift the hood after the steam sub-
sides and then restart the engine.
If you do not see steam:
Leave the engine running and carefully lift the hood.
Check to see if the cooling fans are operating.
If the fans are operating:
Wait until the temperature of the engine (shown on the
instrument cluster) begins to fall and then stop the engine.
If the fans are not operating:
Stop the engine and call your Toyota dealer.After the engine has cooled
down sufficiently, check the
engine coolant level and
inspect the radiator core (radi-
ator) for any leaks.
If the engine compartment
cover needs to be removed.
( P. 369)
Add engine coolant if neces-
sary.
Water can be used in an emer-
gency if engine coolant is
unavailable.
(  P. 491)
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 5 STEP 4
STEP 5

5
When trouble arises
477
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■
Overheating
If you observe the following, your vehicle may be overheating.
●The engine coolant temperature gauge enters the red zone or a loss of
power is experienced.
● Steam is coming from under the hood.
CAUTION
■To prevent an accident or injury when inspecting under the hood of
your vehicle
●If steam is seen coming from under the hood, do not open the hood until
the steam has subsided. The engine compartment may be very hot, caus-
ing serious injury such as burns.
● Keep hands and clothing away from the fan and other belts while the
engine is running.
● Do not loosen the coolant reservoir cap while the engine and radiator are
hot.
Serious injury, such as burns, may result from hot coolant and steam
released under pressure.
NOTICE
■When adding engine coolant
Wait until the engine has cooled down before adding engine coolant.
When adding coolant, do so slowly. Adding cool coolant to a hot engine too
quickly can cause damage to the engine.
Have the vehicle chec ked at the nearest Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.

478
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If the vehicle becomes stuck
CAUTION
■When attempting to free a stuck vehicle
If you choose to rock the vehicle back and forth to free it, make sure the sur-
rounding area is clear, to avoid striki ng other vehicles, objects or persons.
The vehicle may also lunge forward or lunge back suddenly as it becomes
free. Use extreme caution.
■ 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.
Carry out the following procedures if the tires spin or the vehicle
becomes stuck in mud, dirt, or snow.
Stop the engine. Set the parking brake and put the shift
lever in P.
Remove the mud, snow, or sand from around the stuck tire.
Place wood, stones or some other material to help provide
traction under the tires.
Restart the engine.
4WD models: Activate four-wheel drive lock mode. ( P. 203)
Shift the shift lever to the D or R position, release the park-
ing brake and carefully depress the accelerator pedal to
free the vehicle.
Turn off TRAC and/or VSC if these functions are hampering your
attempts to free the vehicle. ( P. 193)
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6

5
When trouble arises
479
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
NOTICE
■
To avoid damaging the transmission and other components
●Avoid spinning the wheels and do not rev the engine.
● If the vehicle remains stuck after trying these procedures, the vehicle may
require towing to be freed.

480
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency
Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way, stop the vehicle using the following pro-
cedure:
Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly
depress it.
Do not pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the
effort required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to N.
If the shift lever is shifted to N After slowing down, stop the vehi cle in a safe place by the
road.
Stop the engine.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted to N Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce
vehicle speed as much as possible.
Vehicles without a smart key
system: Stop the engine by
turning the engine switch to
the “ACC” position.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 3
STEP 4

5
When trouble arises
481
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■
If the engine has to be turned off while driving
●Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the
brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the engine.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Never attempt to remove the key, as
doing so will lock the steering wheel.
Vehicles with a smart key sys-
tem: Stop the engine by press-
ing and holding the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch for 3
consecutive seconds or more.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
Press and hold for 3 seconds or more
STEP 4
STEP 5

485
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
*1: Without spare tire
*2: 215/70R16 tires
*3: 225/65R17 tires
*4: 235/55R18 tires
*5: With spare tire cover
*6: Unladen vehicle
*7: With third seats
*8: With towing package
Towing capacity
(Trailer weight + cargo)
2.5 L 4-cylinder (2AR-FE) engine
1500 lb. (680 kg)
3.5 L V6 (2GR-FE) engine 2000 lb. (905 kg)
3500 lb. (1585 kg)*
8