2018 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID overheating

831-2. Hybrid system
RAV4-HV_OM_OM42B81U_(U)
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For safety and security
WARNING
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
● Never resell, hand over or modify the hybrid battery. To prevent accidents,
hybrid batteries that have been removed from a disposed vehicle are col-
lected through Toyota dealer. Do not dispose of the battery yourself.
Unless the battery is properly collected, the following may occur, resulting
in death or serious injury:
• The hybrid battery may be illegally disposed of or dumped, and it is haz-
ardous to the environment or someone may touch a high voltage part,
resulting in an electric shock.
• The hybrid battery is intended to be used exclusively with your hybrid
vehicle. If the hybrid battery is used outside of your vehicle or modified
in any way, accidents such as electric shock, heat generation, smoke
generation, an explosion and electrolyte leakage may occur.
When reselling or handing over your vehicle, the possibility of an accident
is extremely high because the person receiving the vehicle may not be
aware of these dangers.
● If your vehicle is disposed of without the hybrid battery having been
removed, there is a danger of serious electric shock if high voltage parts,
cables and their connectors are touched. In the event that your vehicle
must be disposed of, the hybrid battery must be disposed of by your
Toyota dealer or a qualified service shop. If the hybrid battery is not dis-
posed of properly, it may cause electric shock that can result in death or
serious injury.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery) air intake vents
● Do not place objects that will block the air intake vents. The hybrid battery
(traction battery) may overheat and be damaged.
● Clean the air intake vents regularly to prevent the hybrid battery (traction
battery) from overheating.
● Do not get water or foreign materials in the air intake vents as this may
cause a short circuit and damage the hybrid battery (traction battery).
● Do not carry large amounts of water such as water cooler bottles in the
vehicle. If water spills onto the hybrid battery (traction battery), the battery
may be damaged. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.

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2. Instrument cluster
WARNING
■The information display at low temperatures
Allow the interior of the vehicle to warm up before using the liquid crystal
information display. At extremely low temperatures, the information display
monitor may respond slowly, and display changes may be delayed.
For example, there is a lag between the driver’s shifting and the new gear
number appearing on the display. This lag could cause the driver to down-
shift again, causing rapid and excessive engine braking and possibly an
accident resulting in personal death or injury.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the engine and its components
The engine may be overheating if the engine coolant temperature gauge is
in the red zone (“H”). In this case, immediately stop the vehicle in a safe
place, and check the engine after it has cooled completely. ( →P. 602)

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1774-1. Before driving
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Driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the
shift lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or
fire due to hybrid system overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in
a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle,
leading to death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking
● When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause
one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the electronically controlled brake system does not operate, do not fol-
low other vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require brak-
ing.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
● The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems; if
one of the systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake
pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking dis-
tance will increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
■ If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or
the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline com-
ponents or propel the vehicle forward or backward, causing an accident.

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1954-1. Before driving
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Driving
●Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may over-
heat on hot days (at temperatures over 85 °F [30°C]) when driving
up a long or steep grade. If t he engine coolant temperature gauge
indicates overheating, immediately turn off the air conditioning (if in
use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
( → P. 602)
● Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s
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’s and
trailer’s 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 hybrid system.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P, start the hybrid system. 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 bloc ks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
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4-2. Driving procedures
■Steering lock
After turning the power switch off and opening and closing the doors, the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
power switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
■ When the steering lock cannot be released
■ Steering lock motor o verheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, the motor may be sus-
pended if the hybrid system is turned on and off repeatedly in a short period
of time. In this case, refrain from operating the hybrid system. After about 10
seconds, the steering lock motor will resume functioning.
■ When “Check Access System with Elec. Key” is displayed on the multi-
information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toy-
ota dealer immediately.
■ If the “READY” indicator does not come on
In the event that the “READY” indicator does not come on even after perform-
ing the proper procedures for starting the vehicle, contact your Toyota dealer.
■ If the hybrid system is malfunctioning
→P. 560
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
→P. 522
■ Operation of the power switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the power switch mode may
not change or the hybrid system may not start.
● If attempting to restart the hybrid system immediately after turning the power
switch off, the hybrid system may not start in some cases. After turning the
power switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the hybrid sys-
tem.
■ If the smart key system has been deactivated in a customized setting
→P. 595 A message will be displayed on the multi-
information display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press
the power switch while turning the steer-
ing wheel left and right.

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4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Parking brake
Sets the parking brake
Fully pull the parking brake while
depressing the brake pedal.
Releases the parking brake
Slightly raise the lever and lower it
completely while pressing the but-
ton.
■Parking the vehicle
→P. 170
■ Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
→P. 551
■ Usage in winter time
→P. 322
U.S.A. Canada
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NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake
wear.

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3154-5. Using the driving support systems
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Driving
■Sounds and vibrations cau sed by the ABS, brake assist, VSC, Trailer
Sway Control, TRAC and the hill-start assist control systems
Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are oper-
ating. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
● Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
● A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
● The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after the ABS is activated.
● The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■ ECB operating sound
ECB operating sound may be heard in the following cases, but it does not
indicate that a malfunction has occurred.
●Operating sound heard from the engine compartment when the brake pedal
is operated.
● Motor sound of the brake system heard from the front part of the vehicle
when the driver’s door is opened.
● Operating sound heard from the engine compartment when 1 or 2 minutes
passed after the stop of the hybrid system.
■ EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■ Automatic reactivation of TRAC, VS C and Trailer Sway Control systems
After turning the TRAC, VSC and Trailer Sway Control systems off, the sys-
tems will be automatically re-enabled in the following situations:
● When the power switch is turned off.
● If only the TRAC system is turned off, the TRAC will turn on when vehicle
speed increases
If the TRAC, VSC and Trailer Sway Control systems are turned off, auto-
matic re-enabling will not occur when vehicle speed increases.
■ Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system is reduced to prevent the system from
overheating when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of
time. The steering wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur, refrain
from excessive steering input or stop the vehicle and turn the hybrid system
off. The EPS system should return to normal within 10 minutes.
■ Operating conditions of hill-start assist control
When the following four conditions are met, the hill-start assist control will
operate:
● The shift lever is in a position other than P or N (when starting off forward/
backward on an upward incline).
● The vehicle is stopped.
● The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
● The parking brake is not engaged.

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6-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Heated steering wheel∗/seat heaters∗
∗: If equipped
Heated steering wheel and seat heaters heat the side grips of the
steering wheel and seats, respectively.
WARNING
●Care should be taken to prevent injury if anyone in the following categories
comes in contact with the steering wheel and seats when the heater is on\
:
• Babies, small children, the elderly, the sick and the physically chal-
lenged
• Persons with sensitive skin
• Persons who are fatigued
• Persons who have taken alcohol or drugs that induce sleep (sleeping drugs, cold remedies, etc.)
● Observe the following precautions to prevent minor burns or overheating:
• Do not cover the seat with a blanket or cushion when using the seat heater.
• Do not use seat heater more than necessary.
NOTICE
● Do not put heavy objects that have an uneven surface on the seat and do
not stick sharp objects (needles, nails, etc.) into the seat.
● To prevent 12-volt battery discharge, do not use the functions when the
hybrid system is not operating.