2021 TOYOTA RAV4 check engine light

565
7
7
Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 566
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ........... 569
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements.................................. 572
General maintenance.. 573
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M) pro-
grams ........................ 576
7-3. Do-it-yourself mainte- nance
Do-it-yourself service pre- cautions ..................... 577
Hood ........................... 579
Positioning a floor jack 580
Engine compartment ... 582
Tires ............................ 589
Tire inflation pressure . 604
Wheels ......... ...............606
Air conditioning filter .... 608
Wiper insert replacement .................................. 610
Wireless remote con- trol/electronic key battery.................................. 613
Checking and replacing fuses.......................... 616
Light bulbs................... 619

5737-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
■Resetting the message indicat-
ing maintenance is required
After the required maintenance is
performed according to the mainte-
nance schedule, please reset the
reminder light or message.
To reset the reminder light or mes-
sage, follow the procedure
described below:
1 Press or of the meter
control switches and select
on the multi-information display.
2 Press or of the meter
control switches and select
“Vehicle Settings”. Then press
and hold .
3 Press or of the meter
control switches and select
“Scheduled Maintenance”. Then
press .
4 Select “Yes” and press .
You can perform some mainte-
nance procedures by yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-your-
self maintenance may affect
warranty coverage.
The use of Toyota Repair Manuals
is recommended.
For details about warranty cover-
age, refer to the separate “Owner’s
Warranty Information Booklet” or
“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.
Do-it-yourself mainte-
nance
General maintenance
Listed below are the general
maintenance items that
should be performed at the
intervals specified in the
“Owner’s Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet” or “Owner’s
Manual Supplement/Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide”. It
is recommended that any
problem you notice should
be brought to the attention
of your Toyota dealer or
qualified service shop for
advice.
WARNING
■If the engine is running
Turn the engine o ff and ensure
that there is adequate ventilation
before performing maintenance
checks.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
BatteryCheck the connec-
tions. ( P.587)
Brake fluid
Is the brake fluid at
the correct level?
( P.585)
Engine coolant
Is the engine cool-
ant at the correct
level? ( P.584)
Engine oil
Is the engine oil at
the correct level?
( P.582)

5877-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
Check the battery as follows.
■Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery termi-
nals are not corroded and that
there are no loose connections,
cracks, or loose clamps.
Terminals
Hold-down clamp
■Before recharging
When recharging, t he battery pro-
duces hydrogen ga s which is flam-
mable and explosive. Therefore,
observe the following precautions
before recharging:
●If recharging wi th the battery
installed on the vehicle, be sure to
disconnect the ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on
the charger is off when connecting
and disconnecting the charger cables to the battery.
■After recharging/reconnecting
the battery (vehicles with smart
key system)
The engine may not start. Follow the
procedure below to initialize the sys-
tem.
1 Shift the shift lever to P.
2 Open and close any of the doors.
3 Restart the engine.
●Unlocking the doors using the
smart key system may not be pos-
sible immediately after reconnect-
ing the battery. If this happens,
use the wireless remote control or
the mechanical key to lock/unlock
the doors.
●Start the engine with the engine
switch in ACC. T he engine may
not start with th e engine switch
turned off. However, the engine
will operate normally from the sec-
ond attempt.
●The engine switch mode is
recorded by the vehicle. If the bat-
tery is disconnected and recon-
nected, the vehi cle will return the
engine switch mode to the status
it was in before t he battery was
disconnected. Make sure to turn
off the engine switch before dis-
connecting the battery. Take extra
care when connecting the battery
if the engine switch mode prior to
the battery being disconnected is
unknown.
If the engine will no t start even after
multiple attempts, contact your
Toyota dealer.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level
to go down slightly as the brake
pads wear out or when the fluid
level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent
refilling, there ma y be a serious
problem.
Checking the battery
A
B

5927-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■When rotating the tires (vehi-
cles with tire pressure warning
system)
Make sure that the engine switch is
OFF. If the tires are rotated while
the engine switch i s in ON, the tire
position informa tion will not be
updated. If this accidentally occurs,
either turn the engine switch to OFF
and then to ON, or initialize the sys-
tem after checking that the tire pres-
sure is properly adjusted.
Your vehicle is equipped with a
tire pressure warning system
that uses tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters to detect
low tire inflation pressure before
serious problems arise.
 If the tire pressure drops
below a predetermined level,
the driver is warned a screen
display
* and by a warning
light. ( P.644)
*: Vehicles with tire inflation pres-
sure display function only
 Vehicles with tire inflation
pressure display function
only: The tire pressure
detected by the tire pressure
warning system can be dis-
played on the multi-informa-
tion display. ( P.85)
The illustration used is intended
as an example, and may differ
from the image that is actually
displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display.
■Routine tire inflation pressure
checks
The tire pressure warning system
does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks . Make sure to
check tire inflation pressure as part
of your routine o f daily vehicle
checks.
■Tire inflation pressure*
*
: Vehicles with tire inflation pres-
sure display function only
●It may take a few minutes to dis-
play the tire inflation pressure
after the engine switch is turned to
ON. It may also take a few min-
utes to display the tire inflation
pressure after infl ation pressure
has been adjusted.
●Tire inflation pressure changes
with temperature. The displayed
values may also be different from
the values measured using a tire
pressure gauge.
■Situations in which the tire
pressure warning system may
not operate properly (if
equipped)
●In the following cases, the tire
pressure warning system may not
operate properly.
• If non-genuine Toyota wheels are
used.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not an OE (Original
Equipment) tire.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not of the specified size.
• Tire chains, etc. are equipped.
Tire pressure warning
system (if equipped)

6468-2. Steps to take in an emergency
the warning light to flash and the
warning buzzer to sound even if a
passenger is not sitting in the
seat.
●If a cushion is placed on the seat,
the sensor may not detect a pas-
senger, and the warning light may
not operate properly.
■SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors
the airbag sensor assembly, front
impact sensors, side impact sensors
(front door), side impact sensors
(front), driver’s seat position sen-
sor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch,
front passenger occupant classifica-
tion system (ECU and sensors),
“AIR BAG ON” indicator light, “AIR
BAG OFF” indicator light, front pas-
senger’s seat belt buckle switch,
driver’s seat belt p retensioner, front
passenger’s seat be lt pretensioner
and force limiter, airbags, intercon-
necting wiring and power sources.
(  P.34)
■If the malfunction indicator
lamp comes on while driving
First check the following:
●Is the fuel t ank empty?
If it is, fill the fuel tank immediately.
●Is the fuel tank cap loose?
If it is, tighten it securely.
The light will go o ff after several
driving trips.
If the light does not go off even after
several trips, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible.
■Electric power steering system
warning light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes
insufficient or the voltage temporar-
ily drops, the electric power steering
system warning light may come on
and the warning buzzer may sound.
■When the tire pressure warning
light comes on ( vehicles with
tire pressure warning system)
Inspect the tires to check if a tire is
punctured.
If a tire is punctured: P.653
If none of the tires are punctured:
Turn the engine switch to OFF then
turn it to ON. Check if the tire pres-
sure warning light comes on or
blinks.
If the tire pressur e warning light
blinks for approximately 1 minute
then stays on
There may be a malfunction in the
tire pressure warning system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
If the tire pressur e warning light
comes on
1 After the temperature of the tires
has lowered sufficiently, check
the inflation pressure of each tire
and adjust them to the specified
level.
2 If the warning light does not turn
off even after several minutes
have elapsed, check that the
inflation pressure of each tire is
at the specified level and perform
initialization. ( P.599)
■The tire pressure warning light
may come on due to natural
causes (vehicles with tire pres-
sure warning system)
The tire pressure warning light may
come on due to natural causes such
as natural air leaks and tire inflation
pressure changes caused by tem-
perature. In this ca se, adjusting the
tire inflation pressure will turn off the
warning ligh t (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with a
compact spare tire (vehicles
with tire pressure warning sys-
tem)
The compact spare tire is not
equipped with a tire pressure warn-

6518-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
battery.
■If “Engine Oil Level Low Add or
Replace” is displayed
The engine oil level may be low.
Check the level of the engine oil,
and add engine oil if necessary.
This message may be displayed if
the vehicle is sto pped on a slope.
Move the vehicle to a level surface
and check if the message disap-
pears.
■If “Maintenance Required
Soon” is shown
Indicates that all maintenance
according to the dr iven distance on
the maintenance schedule
* should
be performed soon.
Comes on approximately 4500
miles (7200 km) after the message
has been reset.
If necessary, perf orm maintenance.
Please reset the message after the
maintenance is performed.
(  P.573)
*: Refer to the separate “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’
Manual Supplement” for the main-
tenance interval applicable to your
vehicle.
■If “Maintenance Required Visit
Your Dealer” is shown
Indicates that all maintenance is
required to correspond to the driven
distance on the maintenance sched-
ule
*.
Comes on approximately 5000
miles (8000 km) after the message
has been reset. (The indicator will
not work properly unless the mes-
sage has been reset.)
Perform the necessary mainte-
nance. Please reset the message
after the maintenance is performed.
(  P.573)
*: Refer to the separate “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’
Manual Supplement” for the main- tenance interval applicable to your
vehicle.
■If a message that indicates the
malfunction of front camera is
displayed
The following systems may be sus-
pended until the problem shown in
the message is resolved. (P.449,
640)
●PCS (Pre-Collision System)
●LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
●Automatic High Beam
●RSA (Road Sign Assist)*
●Dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range
*: If equipped
■If “Radar Cruise Control
Unavailable See Owner’s Man-
ual” is shown
The dynamic radar cruise control
with full-speed range system is sus-
pended temporarily or until the prob-
lem shown in the message is
resolved. (causes and coping meth-
ods: P.449)
■If “Radar Cruise Control
Unavailable” is shown
The dynamic radar cruise control
with full-speed range system cannot
be used temporarily. Use the sys-
tem when it becomes available
again.
■Warning buzzer
 P.645
WARNING
■If a warning light comes on or
a warning buzzer sounds
when a warning message is
shown on the multi-informa-
tion display
 P.647

6638-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
The battery terminal connec-
tions may be loose or cor-
roded.
The engine starting system may
be malfunctioning due to an
electrical problem such as elec-
tronic key battery depletion or a
blown fuse. However, an interim
measure is available to start the
engine. ( P.663)
One of the following may be the
cause of the problem:
 The battery may be dis-
charged. ( P.666)
 One or both of the battery ter-
minals may be disconnected.
 There may be a malfunction
in the steering lock system
(vehicles with smart key sys-
tem).
Contact your Toyota dealer if
the problem cannot be repaired,
or if repair procedures are
unknown. When the engine does not start,
the following steps can be used
as an interim measure to start
the engine if the engine switch is
functioning normally:
1
Pull the parking brake switch
to check that the parking
brake is set. ( P.205)
Parking brake indicator will come
on.
2 Shift the shift lever to P.
3 Turn the engine switch to
ACC.
4 Press and hold the engine
switch for about 15 seconds
while depressing the brake
pedal firmly.
Even if the engine can be
started using the above steps,
the system may be malfunction-
ing. Have the vehicle inspected
by your Toyota dealer.
The starter motor does
not turn over (vehicles
with smart key system)
The starter motor does
not turn over, the interior
lights and headlights do
not turn on, or the horn
does not sound
Emergency start function
(vehicles with smart key
system)

728What to do if... (Troubleshooting)
may also sound. (P.638, 649)
 Did anyone inside the vehicle
open a door during setting the
alarm?
The sensor detects it and the
alarm sounds. ( P.73)
To stop the alarm, turn the engine
switch to ON or start the engine.
 Is the message displayed on
the multi-information display?
Check the message on the
multi-information display.
( P.649)
 When a warning light turns on
or a warning message is dis-
played, refer to P.638, 649.
 Stop the vehicle in a safe
place and replace the flat tire
with the spare tire. ( P.653)
Try the procedure for when
the vehicle becomes stuck in
mud, dirt, or snow. ( P.672)
An alarm is activated and
the horn sounds (if
equipped)
A warning buzzer sounds
when leaving the vehicle
A warning light turns on
or a warning message is
displayed
When a problem has
occurred
If you have a flat tire
The vehicle becomes
stuck