2012 TOYOTA RAV4 automatic transmission

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 ........................... 50
Rear seats ............................ 55
Head restraints ..................... 66
Seat belts ............................. 70
Steering wheel ..................... 78
Anti-glare inside rear view mirror .................................. 79
Outside rear view mirrors ..... 81
1-4. Opening and closing the windows and moon roof
Power windows .................... 83
Moon roof ............................. 87
1-5. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .... 91 1-6. Theft deterrent system
Engine immobilizer system ................................ 95
Theft prevention labels (U.S.A.)............................... 98
1-7. Safety information Correct driving posture ......... 99
SRS airbags ....................... 101
Front passenger occupant classification system ......... 113
Child restraint systems ....... 119
Installing child restraints ..... 123
2-1. Driving procedures Driving the vehicle .............. 136
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart
key system) ...................... 145
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart
key system) ...................... 149
Automatic transmission ...... 152
Turn signal lever ................. 155
Parking brake ..................... 156
Horn .................................... 157
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ............ 158
Indicators and warning lights ................................. 161
Trip information display ...... 164
1Before driving
2When driving

When driving2
135
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 136
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart
key system).................... 145
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart
key system).................... 149
Automatic transmission................... 152
Turn signal lever .............. 155
Parking brake ................... 156
Horn ................................. 157
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 158
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 161
Trip information display .... 164
2-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ............... 167
Fog light switch ................ 171
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 173
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 177 2-4. Using other driving
systems
Cruise control ................... 179
Rear view monitor system ........................... 183
Driving assist systems ..... 191
Hill-start assist control ...... 198
Downhill assist control system ........................... 200
Four-wheel drive lock switch ............................. 203
2-5. Driving information Utility vehicle precautions .................... 204
Cargo and luggage .......... 209
Vehicle load limits ............ 215
Winter driving tips ............ 217
Trailer towing ................... 221
Dinghy towing .................. 231

152
2-1. Driving procedures
Automatic transmission
Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
■Shifting the shift lever
4-speed models
5-speed models

159
2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
Instrument panel light control
The brightness of the instrument panel lights can be adjusted.
Brighter
Darker
When the headlight switch is
turned on, the brightness will
be reduced slightly unless the
control dial is turned fully up.
Trip information display
P. 164
Automatic transmission shift position indicator lights
P. 152
Odometer/trip meterOdometer
Displays the total distance the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter
Displays the distance the vehi cle has been driven since the
meter was last reset. Trip meters A and B can be used to
record and display different distances independently.
Odometer/trip meter switching and trip meter resetting button
Switches between odometer and trip meter displays. Pushing and hold-
ing the button will reset the trip meter when the trip meter is being dis-
played.

202 2-4. Using other driving systems
CAUTION
■Conditions which may affect the downhill assist control system opera-
tion
● Do not rely too heavily on the downhill assist control system. On extremely
steep inclines, icy surfaces or muddy roads, the vehicle may slip and the
system may not be able to maintain the constant low vehicle speed of
about 3 mph (5 km/h), leading to an accident causing death or serious
injury.
● Do not shift the shift lever to R while driving forward, or to D while driving
backward. Doing so may cause the wheels to lock up, leading to an acci-
dent causing death or serious injury. In addition, excessive stress will be
applied to the automatic transmission, possibly resulting in damage.

207
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death or
serious personal injury or damage to your vehicle:
●Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving
in dangerous places.
● Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump
could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and espe-
cially your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
● Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.
● After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, water, etc., check that
there is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped
on the underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the
vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody,
a breakdown or fire could occur.
● When driving off-road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss
of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also
risking expensive damage to your vehicle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE
■To prevent the water damage
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the
engine or other components does not occur.
●Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe engine damage.
● Water entering the automatic transmission will cause deterioration in shift
quality, locking up of your transmission accompanied by vibration, and ulti-
mately damage.
● Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and pre-
mature failure, and may also enter the differentials, transmission and
transfer case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricating qualities.

356 4-2. Maintenance
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal • Moves smoothly (without uneven
pedal effort or catching)?
Automatic transmission “Park”
mechanism • Can the vehicle be held securely
on an incline with the shift lever in
P?
Brake pedal • Moves smoothly?
• Does it have appropriate clear-
ance and correct amount of free
play?
Brakes • Not pull to one side when
applied?
• Loss of brake effectiveness?
• Spongy feeling brake pedal?
• Pedal almost touches floor?
Head restraints • Move smoothly and lock
securely?
Indicators/buzzers • Function properly?
Lights • Do all the lights come on?
• Headlights aimed correctly?
Parking brake • Moves smoothly?
• Can hold the vehicle securely on
an incline?
Seat belts • Does the seat belt system oper-
ate smoothly?
• Are the belts undamaged?
Seats • Do the seat controls operate
properly?
Steering wheel • Moves smoothly?
• Has correct free play?
• No strange noises?

410 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
9 ACC7.5 AAudio system, power outlets,
power rear view mirror control,
automatic transmission shift lock
system, main body ECU, clock,
smart key system
10 MIR HTR 10 A Outside rear view mirror defoggers
11 PWR OUTLET 15 A Power outlet
12 RR FOG 10 A No circuit
13 IGN 7.5 AMultiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection
system, steering lock system, front
passenger occupant classification
system, smart key system, SRS
airbag system
14 GAUGE 2 7.5 A Gauges and meters
15 S-HTR 15 A Seat heaters
16 FR WIP 25 A Windshield wipers
17 RR WIP 15 A Rear window wiper
18 WSH 15 AWindshield washer, rear window
washer
19 ECU IG 1 10 AElectric cooling fan, ABS, TRAC,
VSC, AUTO LSD function, downhill
assist control system, hill-start
assist control system, Active
Torque Control 4WD system, auto-
matic transmission shift lock sys-
tem, air conditioning system, main
body ECU, electric moon roof,
stop/tail lights, electric power steer-
ing system, clock, AC inverter, auto
anti-glare inside rear view mirror
20 ECU IG 2 10 AAir conditioning system, rear win-
dow defogger, emergency flashers
FuseAmpereCircuit