2021 TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV brake

305
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
■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 pa rking 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
braking.
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 yo ur brakes fixed
immediately.
●The brake system c onsists of 2 or
more individual hydraulic systems;
if one of the system s fails, the other will still operate. I n this case, the
brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual and the braking distance 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
components or propel the vehicle for - ward or backward, causing an acci -
dent.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time
during driving, as t his may restrain
the hybrid system output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle
parts
●Do not turn the ste ering wheel fully
in either directio n and hold it there
for an extended period of time. Doing so may damage the power
steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the
road, drive as slowly as possible to
avoid damaging the wheels, under - side of the vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged t ire may cause the
following situations.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Hold the steering wheel firmly and
gradually depress t he brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
Information on what to do in case of a
flat tire ( →P.582, 593)
■When encountering flooded
roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain, etc. Doing so
may cause the following serious dam -
age to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water
immersion

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.

309
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
Check the allowable towing capac -
ity, GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass),
MPAC (Maximum Permissible Axle
Capacity), and permissible drawbar
load before towing. ( →P.618)
Toyota recommends the use of the
Toyota hitch/bracke t for your vehi-
cle. Other products of a suitable
nature and comparable quality may
also be used.
For vehicles where the towing
device blocks any of the lights or
license plate, the fo llowing shall be
observed:
 Do not use towing device that
cannot be easily removed or
repositioned.
 Towing devices must be
removed or repositioned when
not in use.
Please consult a ny authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer
when installing tra iler lights, as
incorrect installa tion may cause
damage to the vehicle’s lights.
Please take care to comply with
your state’s laws when installing
trailer lights.
■Total trailer weight and per -
missible drawbar load
Total trailer weight
WARNING
●Do not use dynamic radar cruise
control with full- speed range (if
equipped) or cruise control (if equipped) when trailer towing.
■Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds
for trailer towing.
■Before descending hills or long declines
Reduce speed and downshift. How -
ever, never downshift suddenly while descending steep or long downhill
grades.
■Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal
depressed often or for long periods of time.
Doing so may result in the brake over -
heating or reduce braking effects.
Weight limits
Towing hitch/bracket
Connecting trailer lights
NOTICE
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may
damage your vehicle’s electrical sys - tem and cause a malfunction.
Important points regarding
trailer loads
A

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.

3165-1. Before driving
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by
turning the steering wheel. • Begin releasing the accelerator pedal
immediately but very gradually to
reduce speed. Do not increase speed. Do not apply
vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with
the steering or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer should stabilize (if enabled, Trailer
Sway Control can also help to stabilize
the vehicle and trailer.).
●After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants
out of the vehicle. • Check the tires of t he vehicle and the
trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer. Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appro -
priate, if possible. • Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded
after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the
speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular
vehicle-trailer combination. Drive at a
lower speed to pre vent instability.
Remember that swaying of the towing
vehicle-trailer increases as speed
increases.

317
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
5-2.Driving procedures
1 Check that the AC charging
cable is disconnected. ( →P.135)
2 Pull the parking brake switch to
check that the parking brake is
set. ( →P.326)
The parking brake indicator will come
on.
3 Check that the shift lever is set
in P.
4 Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be dis-
played on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed , the hybrid system
cannot be started.
5 Press the power switch shortly
and firmly.
When operating the power switch, one
short, firm press is enough. It is not necessary to press an d hold the switch.
If the “READY” indicator turns on, the
hybrid system will operate normally.
Continue depressing the brake pedal
until the “READY” i ndicator is illumi-
nated.
The hybrid system c an be started from
any power switch mode.
6 Check that the “READY” indica-
tor is illuminated.
The vehicle will not move when the
“READY” indicator is off.
■Power switch illumination
According to the sit uation, the power
switch illumination operates as follows.
●When driver’s door or front passen -
ger’s door is opened, the power
switch illumination illuminates.
●When depressing the brake pedal with
carrying the electr onic key on your person, the power switch illumination
blinks.
●When the power switch is in ACC or
ON, the power switch illumination illu -
minates.
●When the power switch mode is
changed from ACC or ON to OFF, the power switch illumination illuminates
for a certain amo unt of time. After-
wards, the power switch illumination turns off.
■If the hybrid syste m does not start
●The immobilizer system may not have
been deactivated. ( →P.76) Contact any authorized Toyota retailer
or Toyota authorized repairer, or any
reliable repairer.
●If a message relate d to start-up is
shown on the multi-information dis - play, read the message and follow the
instructions.
Power (ignition) switch
Performing the following oper-
ations when carrying the elec -
tronic key on your person
starts the hybrid system or
changes power switch modes.
Starting the hybrid system

319
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
power switch to OF F, the hybrid sys-
tem may not start in some cases. After turning the power switch to OFF,
please wait a few seconds before
restarting the hybrid system.
■Customization
If the smart entry & start system has
been deactivated in a customized set -
ting, refer to P.605.
1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, set the parking brake.
( →P.326)
Check the parking brake indicator is
illuminated.
3 Shift the shift lever to P.
4 Press the power switch shortly
and firmly.
The hybrid system w ill stop, and the meter display will be extinguished.
Release the shift lever when pressing
the power switch.
5 Release the brake pedal and
check that “ACCESSORY” or
“IGNITION ON” is not shown on
the multi-inform ation display.
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hyb rid system while
sitting in the drive r’s seat. Do not
depress the accelerator pedal while starting the hybri d system under any
circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If hybrid system fai lure occurs while
the vehicle is moving, do not lock or
open the doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop.
Activation of the steering lock in this
circumstance may lead to an acci - dent, resulting in death or serious
injury.
NOTICE
■When starting the hybrid system
If the hybrid system becomes difficult
to start, have your vehicle checked by
any authorized Toyo ta retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any
reliable repairer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunc -
tion with the power switch
If the power switch seems to be oper - ating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly,
there may be a malfunction. Contact any authorized Toyo ta retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any
reliable repairer immediately.
Stopping the hybrid system
WARNING
■Stopping the hybrid system in an
emergency
●If you want to sto p the hybrid sys- tem in an emergency while driving
the vehicle, press and hold the
power switch for more than 2 sec- onds, or press it b riefly 3 times or
more in succession. ( →P.560)
However, do not touch the power switch while driving except in an
emergency. Turning the hybrid sys -
tem off while driving will not cause a loss of steering or braking control.
However, power assist for the
steering wheel may be lost making it difficult to st eer smoothly before
stopping the vehi cle depending on
the remaining charge in the 12-volt battery or usage co nditions. In this
situation, you should pull over and
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

3205-2. Driving procedures
Modes can be changed by pressing
the power switch with the brake
pedal released. (The mode
changes each time the switch is
pressed.)
1 OFF*
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACC
Some electrical components such as
the audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
3 ON
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other
than P when turning off the hybrid
system, the power s witch will remain
ON, will not turn to OFF.
■Auto power off function
●If the vehicle is le ft in ACC or ON (the hybrid system is no t operating) for
more than 20 minutes with the shift
lever in P, the power switch will auto - matically turn to OFF.
●If the 12-volt batte ry is low with the shift lever is in P and the power switch
is in ACC or ON (t he hybrid system is
not operating), a buzzer sounds and a message will be displayed on the
multi-information dis play. If this con-
tinues, the power switch is automati - cally turn to OFF.
However, this functi on cannot entirely
prevent the 12-volt battery discharge. Do not leave the vehicle with the power
switch in ACC or ON for long periods of
time when the hybrid system is not oper - ating.
WARNING
●If the power switch is operated
while the vehicle is running, a warn -
ing message will be shown on the multi-information display and a
buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the hybrid system
after an emergency shutdown, shift
the shift lever to N and press the
power switch shortly and firmly.
Changing power switch
modes
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery dis -
charge
●Do not leave the power switch in ACC or ON for long periods of time
without the hybr id system on.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the multi-infor -
mation display, the power switch is not in OFF. Exit the vehicle after
turning the power switch to OFF.