2021 TOYOTA RAV4 service

5767-2. Maintenance
The OBD system determines
that a problem exists some-
where in the emission control
system. Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test and may need
to be repaired. Contact your
Toyota dealer to service the
vehicle.
When the battery is discon-
nected or discharged
Readiness codes that are set
during ordinary driving are
erased.
Also, depending on your driv-
ing habits, the readiness
codes may not be completely
set.
 When the fuel tank cap is loose
The malfunction indicator
lamp comes on indicating a
temporary malfunction and
your vehicle may not pass the
I/M test.
The error code in the OBD sys-
tem will not be cleared unless
the vehicle is driven 40 or more
times.
Contact your Toyota dealer to
prepare the vehicle for re-test-
ing.
Emission inspection
and maintenance (I/M)
programs
Some states have vehicle
emission inspection pro-
grams which include OBD
(On Board Diagnostics)
checks. The OBD system
monitors the operation of
the emission control sys-
tem.
If the malfunc tion indica-
tor lamp comes on
Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test in the fol-
lowing situations:
When the malfunction
indicator lamp still
remains on after several
driving trips
If your vehicle does not
pass the I/M test

5777-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
7-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions
If you perform maintenance
by yourself, be sure to fol-
low the correct procedure as
given in these sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
Battery con-
dition
( P.587)•Grease
• Conventional
wrench (for termi-
nal clamp bolts)
Brake fluid
level
( P.585)
• FMVSS No.116
DOT 3 or SAE
J1703 brake fluid
• FMVSS No.116 DOT 4 or SAE
J1704
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake
fluid)
Engine cool-
ant level
( P.584)
• “Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” or a similar
high quality eth-
ylene glycol-based
non-silicate, non-
amine, non-nitrite
and non-borate
coolant with long-
life hybrid organic
acid technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed
with 50% coolant
and 50% deion-
ized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed
with 55% coolant
and 45% deion-
ized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding coolant)
Engine oil
level
( P.582)
• “Toyota Genuine
Motor Oil” or
equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine
oil)
Fuses
( P.616)• Fuse with same
amperage rating
as original
ItemsParts and tools

5847-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
tion may increase, and engine oil
may need to be refilled in between
oil maintenance intervals.
●When the engine is new, for
example directly after purchasing
the vehicle or after replacing the
engine
●If low quality oil or oil of an inap-
propriate viscosity is used
●When driving at high engine
speeds or with a heavy load,
when towing, or when driving
while accelerating o r decelerating
frequently
●When leaving the engine idling for
a long time, or wh en driving fre-
quently through heavy traffic
The coolant level is satisfactory
if it is between the “FULL” and
“LOW” lines on the reservoir
when the engine is cold.
Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL”
line. ( P.670)
WARNING
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains poten-
tially harmful contaminants
which may cause skin disorders
such as inflammation and skin
cancer, so care should be taken
to avoid prolonged and
repeated contact. To remove
used engine oil from your skin,
wash thoroughly with soap and
water.
●Dispose of used oil and filters
only in a safe an d acceptable
manner. Do not dispose of used
oil and filters in household trash,
in sewers or onto the ground.
Call your Toyota dealer, service
station or auto parts store for
information concerning recy-
cling or disposal.
●Do not leave used engine oil
within the rea ch of children.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious engine
damage
Check the oil level on a regular
basis.
■When replacing the engine oil
●Be careful not to spill engine oil
on the vehicle components.
●Avoid overfilling, or the engine
could be damaged.
●Check the oil level on the dip-
stick every time you refill the
vehicle.
●Be sure the engin e oil filler cap
is properly tightened.
■If oil is spilled on the engine
cover
To prevent the engine cover from
being damaged, remove any
engine oil from the engine cover
as soon as possi ble using a neu-
tral detergent. Do not use an
organic solvent such as brake
cleaner.
Checking the coolant
A
B
C

5867-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Adding fluid
1 Slide and lift up the rubber
strip to partly remove it as
shown.
2 Disconnect the claws and
remove the service cover. 3
Remove the reservoir cap.
4 Add brake fluid slowly while
checking the fluid level.
Make sure to check the fluid
type and prepare the necessary
item.
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture
from the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid
can cause a dangerous loss of brak-
ing efficiency. Use only newly
opened brake fluid.
Fluid
type
F MV S S No .1 16 D OT 3 or
SAE J1703 bra ke fluid
F MV S S No .1 16 D OT 4 or
SAE J1704 bra ke fluid
ItemClean funnel
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm
your hands and eyes and damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in
your eyes, flush t he affected area
with clean water immediately.
If you still experi ence discomfort,
see a doctor.

6077-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
Use only Toyota wheel nuts
and wrenches designed for
use with your aluminum
wheels.
 When rotating, repairing or
changing your tires, check
that the wheel nuts are still
tight after driving 1000 miles
(1600 km).
 Be careful not to damage the
aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
 Use only Toyota genuine bal-
ance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber ham-
mer when balancing your
wheels.
WARNING
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a dif-
ferent size from those recom-
mended in the Owner’s Manual,
as this may result in a loss of
handling control.
●Never use an i nner tube in a
leaking wheel which is designed
for a tubeless tire. Doing so may
result in an accident, causing
death or serious injury.
■When installing the wheel
nuts
●Be sure to install the wheel nuts
with the tapered ends facing
inward. ( P.658) Ins talling the
nuts with the tapered ends fac-
ing outward can cause the
wheel to break a nd eventually
cause the whee l to come off
while driving, which could lead
to an accident res ulting in death
or serious injury.
●Never use oil or grease on the
wheel bolts or wheel nuts. Oil
and grease may cause the
wheel nuts to be excessively
tightened, leading to bolt or disc
wheel damage. In addition, the
oil or grease can cause the
wheel nuts to loosen and the
wheel may fall off, causing an
accident and resulting in death
or serious injury. Remove any
oil or grease from the wheel
bolts or wheel nuts.
■Use of defective wheels pro-
hibited
Do not use cracked or deformed
wheels.
Doing so could cau se the tire to
leak air during driving, possibly
causing an accident.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters
(vehicles with tire pressure
warning system)
●Because tire repair or replace-
ment may affect the tire pres-
sure warning valves and
transmitters, make sure to have
tires serviced by your Toyota
dealer or other qualified service
shop. In additio n, make sure to
purchase your tire pressure
warning valves and transmit-
ters at your To yota dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine
Toyota wheels are used on your
vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves
and transmitters may not work
properly with non-genuine
wheels.
Aluminum wheel precau-
tions

6318-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
8-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs
to be towed
If towing is necessary, we
recommend having your
vehicle towed by your
Toyota dealer or commer-
cial towing service, using a
wheel-lift type truck or flat-
bed 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 con-
ditions. (P.631, 633)
If they are damaged, use a
towing dolly or flatbed
truck.
AWD models: If towing your
vehicle with a wheel-lift type
truck, use a towing dolly.
( P.631, 633)
WARNING
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may result
in death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
Be sure to transp ort 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 transp ort the vehicle
with all four wheels raised off the
ground. If the vehicle is towed
with the tires co ntacting the
ground, the drivetrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehi-
cle may fly off the truck.

6328-2. Steps to take in an emergency
The following may indicate a
problem with your transmission.
Contact your Toyota dealer or
commercial towing service
WARNING
■While towing (vehicles with
towing eyelet)
●When towing using cables or
chains, avoid sudden starts, etc.
which place excessive stress on
the towing eyelets, cables or
chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become
damaged, broken debris may hit
people, and cause serious dam-
age.
●Do not turn the engine switch to
OFF.
There is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and
cannot be operated.
■Installing towing eyelets to
the vehicle (vehicles with
towing eyelets)
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely. If not securely
installed, towing eyelets may
come loose during towing.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing using a
wheel-lift type truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the
rear when the engine switch is
off or the key is removed (vehi-
cles without smart key system).
The steering lock mechanism is
not strong enough to hold the
front wheels straight.
●When raising the vehicle,
ensure adequate ground clear-
ance for towing at the opposite
end of the raised vehicle. With-
out adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while
being towed.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing with a
sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck,
either from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle during emergency
towing (vehicles with towing
eyelet)
Do not secure cables or chains to
the suspension components.
■When towing the vehicle
(vehicles with Stop & Start
system)
If it is necessary to tow the vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground,
perform the following procedure
before towing the vehicle, in order
to protect the system.
Turn the engine switch to OFF
and then start the engine or turn
the engine switch to ON.
■Recreational towing (behind
motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to
prevent causing serious damage
to the AWD system (AWD mod-
els) and transmission. ( P.193)
Situations when it is nec-
essary to contact dealers
before towing

6899-1. Specifications
9
Vehicle specifications
emission control system may be
adversely affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp on
the instrument cluster may come on.
If this happens, contact your Toyota
dealer for service.
■If your engine knocks
●Consult your Toyota dealer.
●You may occasionally notice light
knocking for a short time while
accelerating or driving uphill. This
is normal and there is no need for
concern.
NOTICE
■Notice on fuel quality
●Do not use impro per fuels. If
improper fuels are used, the
engine will be damaged.
●Do not use leaded gasoline.
Leaded gasoline can cause
damage to your vehicle’s three-
way catalytic converters caus-
ing the emission control system
to malfunction.
●Do not use gasohol other than
the type previously stated.
Other gasohol may cause fuel
system damage or vehicle per-
formance problems.
●Using unleaded gasoline with
an octane number or rating
lower than the l evel previously
stated will cause persistent
heavy knocking.
At worst, this will lead to engine
damage.
■Fuel-related poor driveability
If poor driveability (poor hot start-
ing, vaporization, engine knock-
ing, etc.) is encountered after
using a different type of fuel, dis-
continue the use of that type of
fuel.
■When refueling with gasohol
Take care not to s pill gasohol. It
can damage your vehicle’s paint.