2012 TOYOTA RAV4 stop start

227
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently w hen towing a trailer. In order to
avoid accident, death or serious in jury, keep the following in mind
when towing:
● Before starting out, check the trailer lights and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reve rsing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle.
NOTICE
■ When installing a trailer hitch
●Use only the position recommended by your Toyota dealer. Do not install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
● Do not use axle-mounted hitches, as they can cause damage to the axle
housing, wheel bearings, wheels or tires.
■ Brakes
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
■ Safety chain
A safety chain must always be used between the towing vehicle and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns. The chain should cross
under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground in
the case that it becomes damaged or separated. For the correct safety chain
installation procedure, ask your Toyota dealer.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle's electrical system
and cause a malfunction.

228 2-5. Driving information
●Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least o ne vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of control. This is especiall y true on wet or slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak-
ing turns.
● Note that when making a turn, th e trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a larger than normal turning radius.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway . Periodically check the rear to
prepare for being passed by large trucks or buses, which may
cause your vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying occurs, firmly grip
the steering wheel, reduce speed immediately but gradually, and
steer straight ahead. Never increase speed. If you make no
extreme correction with the stee ring or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer will stabilize.
● Take care when passing other v ehicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a vehi cle, do not forget the length of
your trailer, and be sure you hav e plenty of room before changing
lanes.
● To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system perfor-
mance when using engine braking, do not use overdrive.

229
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●
Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle's engine may
overheat on hot days (at temperatures over 85°F [30°C]) when
driving up a long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, immedi ately turn off the air condition-
ing (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
(  P. 476)
● Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in P. Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do
so only after performing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in pl ace, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into P and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P, start the engine. Be sure to keep
the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
Release the parking brake and brake pedal, and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4

249
3-1. Using the air conditioning system
and defogger
3
Interior features
■The defogger can be operated when
Vehicles without smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
Vehicles with smart key system
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ Outside rear view mirror defoggers (vehicles with outside rear view
mirror defoggers)
Turning the rear window defogger on will turn the outside rear view mirror
defoggers on.
CAUTION
■ Outside rear view mirror defoggers (vehicles with outside rear view
mirror defoggers)
The surfaces of the outside rear view mirrors become hot. Do not touch
them to prevent from burning yourself.

250
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Windshield wiper de-icer
■The de-icer can be operated when
Vehicles without smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
Vehicles with smart key system
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
CAUTION
■ When the windshield wiper de-icer is on
Do not touch the glass at the lower part of the windshield or to the side of the
front pillars as the surfaces can become very hot and burn you.
This feature is used to prevent i ce from building up on the wind-
shield and wiper blades.
On/off
The de-icer will automatically
turn off after approximately 15
minutes.
: If equipped

315
3
Interior features
3-4. Using the interior lights
Interior lights list
Your Toyota is equipped with the illuminated entry system to assist
in entering the vehicle. Owing to the function of the system, the
lights shown in the following illu stration (except the luggage com-
partment light) automatically turn on/off according to the presence
of the electronic key (vehicles wit h smart key system), whether the
doors are locked/unlocked, whethe r the doors are opened/closed,
and the “ENGINE START STOP” switch mode or the engine switch
position.
The luggage compartment light tu rns on/off according to whether
the back door is opened/closed.
Interior light ( P. 317)
Personal/interior lights ( P. 316)
Engine switch light
Foot lights (if equipped)
Luggage compartment light (turns on/off according to whether
the back door is opened/closed)

329
3-6. Other interior features
3
Interior features
Clock
■The clock is displayed when
Vehicles without smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ACC” or “ON” position. Vehicles with smart key system
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode.
■ When disconnecting and reco nnecting battery terminals
The time display will automatically be set to 1:00.
Vehicles with a manual air conditioning system
Adjusts the hours.
Adjusts the minutes.
Rounds to the nearest
hour.*
*: e.g. 1:00 to 1:29  1:00
1:30 to 1:59  2:00
Vehicles with an automatic air conditioning system
Adjusts the hours.
Adjusts the minutes.
Rounds to the nearest
hour.*
*: e.g. 1:00 to 1:29  1:00
1:30 to 1:59  2:00

331
3-6. Other interior features
3
Interior features
■
The power outlet can be used when
12 V
● Vehicles without smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ACC” or “ON” position.
● Vehicles with smart key system
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode.
120 VAC
● Vehicles without smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
● Vehicles with smart key system
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ 120 VAC (if equipped)