2015 TOYOTA RAV4 emergency towing

18Pictorial index
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Engine switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 197, 200
Starting the engine/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 197, 201
Emergency stop of the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 601
When the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 643
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Changing the shift position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 603
When the shift lever does not move. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 645
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 85
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . P. 85
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 80
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 611
Multi-information display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 87
Parking brake lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 215
Applying/releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 215
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 2881
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5

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RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
CAUTION
■To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
■ Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
● In heavy traffic
● On roads with sharp bends
● On winding roads
● On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
● On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
● When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing

603
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7
When trouble arises
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service before towing.
●The engine is running but the vehicle will not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
If towing is necessary, we re commend having your vehicle
towed by your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service,
using a wheel-lift type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/
provincial and local laws.
2WD models: If towing your vehicle with a wheel-lift type truck
from the front, the vehicle’s rear wheels and axles must be in
good conditions. ( P. 604, 607)
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flatbed truck.
AWD models: If towing your vehicl e with a wheel-lift type truck,
use a towing dolly. ( P. 604, 607)
Situations need to contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck

6047-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
shaded in black must be 45.
Do not overly tighten the tie
downs or the vehicle may be dam-
aged.
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck
From the front (2WD models)From the front (AWD models)
Release the parking brake. Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
Using a flatbed truck

6057-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency
towing eyelets. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads
for 50 miles (80 km) at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
Take out the towing eyelet. ( P. 627)
Remove the eyelet cover using
a flathead screwdriver.
To protect the bodywork, place a
rag between the screwdriver and
the vehicle body as shown in the
illustration.
Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by
hand.
Emergency towing
Emergency towing procedure
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3

6067-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut
wrench or hard metal bar.
Securely attach a cable or chain to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
Enter the vehicle being towed and start the engine.
If the engine does not start, turn the engine switch to the “ON” position
(vehicles without a smart key system) or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles
with a smart key system).
Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted: P. 6 4 5
■While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will
not function, making steering and braking more difficult.
■ Wheel nut wrench
Wheel nut wrench is installed in the luggage compartment. (P. 627)
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6077-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
■ While towing
● When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets, cables or chains. The towing eye-
lets, cables or chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit peo-
ple and cause serious damage.
● Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without a
smart key system) or off (vehicles with a smart key system).
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and cannot be oper-
ated.
■ Installing towing eyelets to the vehicle
Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing.
2WD models:
Be sure to transport the vehicle with the
front wheels raised or with all four wheels
raised off the ground.If the vehicle is
towed with the front wheels contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and related
parts may be damaged.
AWD models:
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the drivetrain or related parts
may be damaged, the vehicle may fly off
the truck.

6087-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing using a wheel-lift type
truck
When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while being towed.
■ To prevent body damage when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.
■ Recreational towing (beh ind motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to prevent
causing serious damage to the Dynamic
Torque Control AWD system (AWD mod-
els) and transmission. (P. 196)