2017 TOYOTA RAV4 Owners Manual

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1213-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
■Security feature
If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again.
■ Jam protection function (veh icles with power back door)
If anything obstructs the power back door while it is closing/opening, the back
door will automatically operate in the opposite direction or stop.
■ When reconnecting th e battery (vehicles with power back door)
To enable the power back door to operate properly, close the back door man-
ually.
■ Back door closer (vehicl es with power back door)
In the event that the back door is left slightly open, the back door closer will
automatically close it to the fully closed position.
■ Fall-down protection function (vehicles with power back door)
While the power back door is opening automatically, applying excessive force
to it will stop the opening operation to prevent the power back door from sud-
denly shutting.
■ Back door closing assist (veh icles with power back door)
If the back door is lowered manually when the back door is stopped at an
open position, the back door will fully close automatically.
■ Canceling the adjusted open positi on of the back door (vehicles with
power back door)
Press and hold the power back door switch on the back door until the buzzer
sounds 4 times, pauses momentarily, and then sounds 2 times. The open
position is initialized to the fully opened position.
■ Situations in which the touchless sensor may operate unintentionally
(vehicles with touc hless power back door)
In the following situations, the touchless sensor may operate unintentionally.
To prevent unintentional operation, keep the electronic key out of the opera-
tional range or disable the touchless sensor operation. (→P. 697)
● When water is applied to the lower center part of the rear bumper, such as in
the rain or in a car wash
● When dirt is wiped off the lower center part of the rear bumper
● When a metal object is brought near the lower center part of the rear
bumper
● When a vehicle cover is installed or removed
● When pets or other moving things suddenly enter the area below the rear
bumper
● When attempting to remove an object from below the lower center part of
the rear bumper
● When attempting to remove snow, etc. from below the lower center part of
the rear bumper

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3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
■Situations in which the touchless sensor does not operate properly
(vehicles with touc hless power back door)
If the touchless sensor does not operate in the following situations, use the
back door opener switch or power back door switch or wireless remote con-
trol to open the power back door. ( →P. 114)
● When the rear bumper is subjected to strong impact
● When an external radio wave source interferes with the communication
between the vehicle and electronic key ( →P. 111 )
● When a large amount of water is kept applying to the lower center part of the
rear bumper, such as in heavy rain
● When the vehicle is being washed and water is kept applying to lower center
part of the rear bumper
● When the lower center part of the rear bumper is covered with mud, snow,
ice, etc.
● When a metal object, etc., such as a towing hitch is installed near the lower
center part of the rear bumper
● When the vehicle has been parked for a while near objects that may move
and contact the lower center part of the rear bumper, such as grass or trees
● When the vehicle is parked at an area where an electric field is generated,
such as a road with an electric snow melting system or parking meters
■ Customization (vehicles with power back door)
Settings (e.g. power back door opening angle) can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P. 697)

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1233-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■Before driving
● Make sure that the back door is fully closed. If the back door is not fully
closed, it may open unexpectedly while driving and hit near-by objects or
luggage in the luggage compartment may be thrown out, causing an acci-
dent.
● Do not allow children to play in the luggage compartment.
If a child is accidentally locked in the luggage compartment, they could
have heat exhaustion or other injuries.
● Do not allow a child to open or close the back door.
Doing so may cause the back door to operate unexpectedly, or cause the
child’s hands, head, or neck to be caught by the closing back door.
■ Important points while driving
● Keep the back door closed while driving.
If the back door is left open, it may hit near-by objects or luggage in the
luggage compartment may be thrown out, causing an accident.
● Never let anyone sit in the luggage compartment. In the event of sudden
braking, sudden swerving or a collision, they are susceptible to death or
serious injury.
■ Operating the back door
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause parts of the body to be caught, resulting in death
or serious injury.
● Remove any heavy loads, such as snow and ice, from the back door
before opening it. Failure to do so may cause the back door suddenly shut
again after it is opened.
● When opening or closing the back door, thoroughly check to make sure
the surrounding area is safe.
● If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that
the back door is about to open or close.
● Use caution when opening or closing the back door in windy weather as it
may move abruptly in strong wind.

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3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
WARNING
●Do not pull on the back door damper stay (vehicles without power back
door) or back door spindle (vehicles with power back door) to close the
back door, and do not hang on the back door damper stay (vehicles with-
out power back door) or back door spindle (vehicles with power back
door).
Doing so may cause hands to be caught or the back door damper stay
(vehicles without power back door) or back door spindle (vehicles with
power back door) to break, causing an accident.
● Vehicles without power back door: If a bicycle carrier or similar heavy
object is attached to a back door, it may suddenly shut again after being
opened, causing someone’s hands, head or neck to be caught and
injured. When installing an accessory part to the back door, using a genu-
ine Toyota part is recommended.
●Vehicles without power back door: The
back door may suddenly shut if it is not
opened fully. It is more difficult to open
or close the back door on an incline
than on a level surface, so beware of
the back door unexpectedly opening or
closing by itself. Make sure that the
back door is fully open and secure
before using the luggage compartment.
● When closing the back door, take extra
care to prevent your fingers etc. from
being caught.
● Vehicles without power back door:
When closing the back door, make sure
to press it lightly on its outer surface. If
the back door handle is used to fully
close the back door, it may result in
hands or arms being caught.

RAV4_OM_OM0R005U_(U)
1253-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
WARNING
■Back door closer (vehicles with power back door)
● Use caution when using the back door closer as it still operates when the
power back door system is canceled.
■ Power back door (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions when operating the power back door.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Check the safety of the surrounding area to make sure there are no obsta-
cles or anything that could cause any of your belongings to get caught.
● If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that
the back door is about to open or close.
● If the power back door system is turned off while the back door is operat-
ing during automatic operation, the back door stops operating. Take extra
care when on an incline, as the back door may open or close suddenly.
● If the operating conditions of the power back door are no longer met, a
buzzer may sound and the back door may stop opening or closing. The
back door then has to be operated manually. Take extra care in this situa-
tion, as the back door may move abruptly.
● On an incline, the back door may suddenly shut after it opens automati-
cally. Make sure the back door is fully open and secure.
●In the event that the back door is left
slightly open, the back door closer will
automatically close it to the fully closed
position. It takes several seconds
before the back door closer begins to
operate. Be careful not to catch fingers
or anything else in the back door, as this
may cause bone fractures or other seri-
ous injuries.

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3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
WARNING
●In the following situations, the power back door may detect an abnormality
and automatic operation may be stopped. In this case, the back door has
to be operated manually. Take extra care in this situation, as the stopped
back door may suddenly open or close, causing an accident.
• When the back door contacts an obstacle
• When the battery voltage suddenly drops, such as when the engine
switch is turned to the “ON” position (vehicles without smart key sys-
tem) or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with smart key system) or the
engine is started during automatic operation
● If a bicycle carrier or similar heavy object is attached to the back door, the
power back door may not operate, causing itself to malfunction, or the
back door may move slightly in the closing direction after being opened,
causing someone’s hands, head or neck to be caught and injured. When
installing an accessory part to the back door, ask your Toyota dealer for
details.
■ Touchless sensor (vehicles with touchless power back door)
Observe the following precautions when operating the touchless power
back door.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Check the safety of the surrounding area to make sure there are no obsta-
cles or anything that could cause any of your belongings to get caught.
● When putting your foot near the lower center part of the rear bumper and
moving it from the rear bumper, be careful not to touch the exhaust pipes
until they have cooled down sufficiently, as touching hot exhaust pipes can
cause burns.
■ Jam protection function (vehicles with power back door)
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection
function.
● The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just
before the back door fully closes. Be careful not to catch fingers or any-
thing else.
● The jam protection function may not work depending on the shape of the
object that is caught. Be careful not to catch fingers or anything else.\

RAV4_OM_OM0R005U_(U)
1273-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
NOTICE
■Back door damper stays (vehicles without power back door)
The back door is equipped with damper stays that hold the back door in
place.
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the back door damper stay, resulting
in malfunction.
● Do not place your hand on the damper stay or apply lateral forces to it.
■ Back door spindles (vehicles with power back door)
The back door is equipped with spindles that hold the back door in place.
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the back door spindle, resulting in
malfunction.
● Do not place your hand on the spindle or apply lateral forces to it.
■ To prevent back door closer malfun ction (vehicles with power back
door)
Do not apply excessive force to the back door while the back door closer is
operating.
● Do not attach any foreign objects, such
as stickers, plastic sheets, or adhesives
to the damper stay rod.
● Do not touch the damper stay rod with
gloves or other fabric items.
● Do not attach any accessories other
than genuine Toyota parts to the back
door.
Damper stays
●Do not attach any foreign objects, such
as stickers, plastic sheets, or adhesives
to the spindle rod.
● Do not touch the spindle rod with gloves
or other fabric items.
● Do not attach heavy accessories to the
back door. When attaching, ask your
Toyota dealer for details.
Spindles

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3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the po wer back door (if equipped)
● Make sure that there is no ice between the back door and frame that
would prevent movement of the back door. Operating the power back door
when excessive load is present on the back door may cause a malfunc-
tion.
● Do not apply excessive force to the back door while the power back door
is operating.
● Take care not to damage the sensors (installed on the right and left edges
of the power back door) with a knife or other sharp object. If the sensor is
disconnected, the power back door will not close automatically.