2021 TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV check engine

1783-1. Instrument cluster
changed suddenly (at the
entrance/exit of a garage, tunnel, etc.)
●When “--” or “E” is displayed, the sys -
tem may be malfunctioning. Take your vehicle to any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
●Displays the outsi de temperature
within the range o f -40°C (-40°F) to 50°C (122°F).
●When the outside temperature is
approximately 3°C (37°F) or lower,
the indicator will flash for approxi-
mately 10 seconds, then stay on.
■Liquid crystal display
→ P.180
■Customization
Settings (e. g. mete r display) can be
changed on the scre en of the multi-
information display. ( →P.186)
Switches the items of the odome-
ter, trip meter A, trip meter B and
the brightness of the instrument
cluster lights by pressing the “ODO
TRIP” switch.
 When the trip meter is displayed,
pressing and holding the switch
will reset the tr ip meter.
 When the instrument cluster light
control display is displayed,
pressing and holding the switch
will adjust the brightness of the
instrument cluster lights.
■Instrument cluster brightness
adjustment
The instrument cluster brightness levels when the tail lights are on and off can be
WARNING
■The information display at low
temperatures
Allow the interior o f the vehicle to
warm up before usin g the liquid crys-
tal information display. At extremely low temperatures, the display moni -
tor may respond slowly, and display
changes may be delayed.
For example, there is a lag between
the driver’s shifting and the new shift
range appearing on the display. This lag could cause the driver to down -
shift again, causing rapid and exces -
sive engine braking and possibly an accident resulting in death or injury.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the engine
and its components
●The engine may be overheating if “Engine Coolant Temp High Stop in
a Safe Place See Owner’s Manual”
is shown on the multi-information display. In this case, immediately
stop the vehicle in a safe place, and
check the engine after it has cooled
completely. ( →P.611)
Using the “ODO TRIP”
switch

195
3
3-1. Instrument cluster
Vehicle status information and indicators
■Hybrid System Indicator
Charge area
Hybrid Eco area
Eco area
Power area
Displayed content is the same as that
displayed on the multi-information dis -
play (Hybrid System Indicator).
For details, refer to P.177.
■Tachometer
Displays the engine speed in revo -
lutions per minute. Audio system screen (if
equipped)
Multi-information display
Meter control switches
( →P.180)
The energy monitor can be used to
check the vehicl e drive status,
hybrid system operation status and
energy regeneration status.
■Display
Multi-information display
Press or of the meter con -
trol switches on the steering wheel
A
B
C
D
Energy monitor/con-
sumption screen
You can view the status of
your vehicle on the multi-infor-
mation display and the audio
system screen* (if equipped).
*: For navigation system or multime -
dia system
System components
Energy monitor
A
B
C

303
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●Always check that all passengers’
arms, head or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.
■When driving on slippery road
surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and
steering may cause tire slippage
and reduce your ability to control
the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine brak -
ing due to shifting, or changes in engine speed could cause the vehi -
cle to skid.
●After driving through a puddle,
lightly depress the brake pedal to
make sure that the brakes are func - tioning properly. Wet brake pads
may prevent the brakes from func -
tioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not func-
tioning properly, steering control
may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehi cle roll backward while a forward driving position is
selected, or roll forward while the
shift lever is in R. Doing so may result in an accident
or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmis - sion and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while
the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmis - sion and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Do not shift the sh ift lever to a driv- ing position while the vehicle is
moving backward.
Doing so can dama ge the transmis- sion and may resu lt in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Moving the shift lever to N while the
vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system. Engine braking is not available with the hybrid system
disengaged.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever
with the accelerator pedal
depressed. Shifting the shift lever to a gear
other than P or N may lead to unex -
pected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident
and result in death or serious injury.
Doing so can dama ge the transmis- sion and may resu lt in a loss of
vehicle control.
■If you hear a squealing or scrap -
ing noise (brake pad wear indica -
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and
replaced by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota a uthorized repairer, or any reliable repairer as soon as
possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle
when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those of the brake discs
are exceeded.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not depress the accelerator
pedal unnecessarily.
If the vehicle is i n any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accel -
erate suddenly an d unexpectedly,
causing an accident.

3065-1. Before driving
NOTICE
In the event that you drive on a
flooded road and the vehicle is
flooded, be sure t o have any autho- rized Toyota retailer or Toyota autho -
rized repairer, or any reliable repairer
check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of
oil and fluid used for the engine, hybrid transaxle (front and rear),
etc.
●Lubricant condition for the bearings
and suspension joints (where possi -
ble), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the park ing brake, and
shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do
so may cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
if the accelerator pedal is accidentally
depressed.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following
information about storage pre -
cautions, cargo capacity and
load.
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried
in the luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compartment:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so m ay prevent the ped-
als from being depressed properly, may block the driver’s vision, or may
result in items hitting the driver or
passengers, possibly causing an acci - dent.
●Stow cargo and l uggage in the lug-
gage compartment whenever pos - sible.
●Do not stack anything in the lug - gage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
●When you fold down the rear seats,
long items should not be placed
directly behind the front seats.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the
luggage compartment. It is not designed for passengers. They
should ride in their seats with their
seat belts properl y fastened. Other- wise, they are much more likely to
suffer death or serious bodily injury,
in the event of sudden braking, sud - den swerving or an accident.

315
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
■Sudden acceleration/steering
input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing
may result in the trailer colliding
with your vehicle. D ecelerate well in
advance when approaching turns
and take them slowly and carefully
to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding
turning
The wheels of the tr ailer will travel
closer to the inside of the curve
than the wheels of the vehicle. To
make allowance for this, take the
turns wider than you would nor -
mally do.
■Important points regarding
stability
Vehicle movement resulting from
uneven road surfaces and strong
crosswinds will affect handling. The
vehicle may also be rocked by
passing buses or large trucks. Fre -
quently check behind when moving
alongside such vehicles. As soon
as such vehicle movement occurs,
immediately start to decelerate
smoothly by slowly applying the
brakes. Always steer the vehicle
straight ahead while braking.
■Passing other vehicles
Consider the total combined length
of your vehicle and trailer and
ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance is sufficient before execut -
ing lane changes.
■Transmission information
To maintain engine braking effi -
ciency, when using engine braking,
do not use the transmission in D.
( →P.321)
■If the hybrid system overheats
Towing a loaded trailer up a long,
steep incline in temperatures
exceeding 30°C (85°F) may result
in the hybrid system overheating. If
the high coolant temperature warn -
ing light indicates that the hybrid
system is overheating, turn the air
conditioning off immediately, leave
the road and stop the vehicle in a
safe place. ( →P.611)
■When parking the vehicle
Always place wheel chocks under
the wheels of both the vehicle and
trailer. Firmly set the parking brake
and shift the shift lever to P.
■Break-in schedule
Toyota recommends that vehicles fitted
with new power train components
should not be used for towing trailers for the first 800 km (500 miles).
■Maintenance
●Maintenance must be performed more frequently when using the vehicle for
towing due to the greater weight bur -
den placed on the vehicle compared to normal driving.
●Retighten all bolts securing the hitch - ing ball and bracket after towing for
approximately 1000 km (600 miles).
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factor s (crosswinds, pass- ing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing instability.

321
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
If the hybrid system is stopped with
the shift lever in a position other
than P, the power switch will not be
turned to OFF but instead be turned
to ACC. Perform the following pro -
cedure to turn the switch to OFF:
1 Check that the parking brake is
set.
2 Shift the shift lever to P.
3 Check that “IGNITION ON” is
displayed on the multi-informa -
tion display and press the power
switch shortly and firmly.
4 Check that “ACCESSORY” or
“IGNITION ON” on the multi-
information display is off.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and
reduce noise, shift the shift lever to
D for normal driving.
*2: Vehicles with paddle shift switches
only: Selecting shift ranges in the D
position allows suitable use of
engine braking. ( →P.323)
*3: By selecting shift ranges using S
mode, you can control accelerating
force and engine braking force.
■When driving with dynamic radar
cruise control with full-speed range or cruise control activated (if
equipped)
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling
engine braking, engine braking will not
activate because dyn amic radar cruise control with full-speed range, or cruise
control will not be canceled.
●While driving in D or S mode, down-
When stopping the hybrid
system with the shift lever in
a position other than P
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery dis -
charge
Do not stop the hybrid system when the shift lever is i n a position other
than P. If the hy brid system is
stopped in another shift lever position, the power switch will not be turned to
OFF but instead remain ON. If the
vehicle is left in ON , 12-volt battery discharge may occur.
Hybrid transmission
Select the shift position
depending on your purpose
and situation.
Shift position purpose and
functions
Shift
positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/start -
ing the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1, 2
SS mode driving*3

325
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
■S mode
●You can choose from 6 levels of
accelerating force and engine braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide greater accelerating force and engine braking
force than a higher shift range, and
the engine revolutions will also increase.
●To prevent the eng ine from over-rev- ving, upshifting may automatically
occur when the shif t range is 3 or
lower.
●When the shift range is 4 or lower,
holding the shift le ver toward “+” sets the shift range to 6.
■Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safe ty and driving per- formance, downshifting operation may
sometimes be restricted. In some cir -
cumstances, downshifting may not be possible even when the shift lever or
paddle shift switches (if equipped) is
operated. (A buzze r will sound twice.)
■If the “S” indicator does not come on or the “D” indicator is displayed
even after shifting t he shift lever to
S
This may indicate a malfunction in the transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer immediately. (In
this situation, the transmission will oper -
ate in the same manner as when the shift lever is in D.)
1 Right turn
2 Lane change to the right (move
the lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
3 Lane change to the left (move
the lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
4 Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when
The power switch is in ON.
■If the indicator flashes faster than
usual
Check that a light b ulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned
out.
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions

449
5
5-6. Driving tips
Driving
cautions to ensure your driving
enjoyment and to help prevent the
closure of areas to off-road vehi -
cles:
 Drive your vehicle only in areas
where off-road vehicles are per -
mitted to travel.
 Respect private property. Get
owner’s permission before enter -
ing private property.
 Do not enter areas that are
closed. Honor gates, barriers
and signs that restrict travel.
 Stay on established roads. When
conditions are wet, driving tech -
niques should be changed or
travel delayed to prevent dam -
age to roads.
WARNING
■Off-road drivin g precautions
Always observe the following precau -
tions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury or damage to your vehi -
cle:
●Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by
driving in dangerous places.
●Do not grip the steering wheel
spokes when driving off-road. A
bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands
and especially your thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
●Always check your b rakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in sand, mud, water or snow.
●After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, ri vers, etc., check
that there is no g rass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the underbody. Clear off
any such matter from the under -
body. If the vehi cle is used with these materials trapped or adhering
to the underbody, a breakdown or
fire could occur.
●When driving off-road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE
■To prevent the water damage
Take all necessary safety measures
to ensure that wat er damage to the hybrid battery (tr action battery),
hybrid system or other components
does not occur.
●Water entering the engine compart -
ment may cause severe damage to
the hybrid system.
●Water entering the hybrid transmis -
sion will cause deterioration in transmission quality. The malfunc -
tion indicator may come on, and the
vehicle may no t be drivable.
●Water can wash the grease from
wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature fa ilure, and may
also enter the h ybrid transaxle
case, reducing the gear oil’s lubri - cating qualities.