2021 TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID coolant temperature

1703-1. Instrument cluster
Warning lights inform the driver of
malfunctions in the indicated vehi -
cle’s systems.
*1: These lights turn on when the power
switch is turned to ON to indicate
that a system check is being per -
formed. They will turn off after the
hybrid system is on , or after a few
seconds. There may be a malfunc-
tion in a system if the light does not
come on, or turn off. Have the vehi -
cle inspected by any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
Warning lights
(Red)
Brake system warning
light*1 ( →P.568)
(Yellow)
Brake system warning
light*1 ( →P.568)
Charging system warn -
ing light*1 ( →P.569)
High coolant temperature
warning light*2 ( →P.569)
Hybrid system overheat
warning light*2 ( →P.569)
Low engine oil pressure
warning light*2 ( →P.569)
Malfunction indicator
lamp*1 ( →P.570)
SRS warning light*1
( →P.570)
ABS warning light*1
( →P.570)
(Red/yellow)
Electric power steering
system warning light*1
( →P.570)
(Flashes or illu- minates)
PCS warning light*1 (if
equipped) ( →P.571)
(Orange)
LTA indicator (if
equipped) ( →P.571)
Toyota parking assist-
sensor OFF indicator*3 ( i f
equipped) ( →P.572)
PKSB OFF indicator*1 (if
equipped) ( →P.572)
BSM OFF indicator*1 (if
equipped) ( →P.573)
RCTA OFF indicator*1 (if
equipped)
( →P.573)
Slip indicator light*1
( →P.573)
Brake Override Sys -
tem/Drive-Start Con -
trol/PKSB (if equipped)
warning light*2 ( →P.574)
(Flashes)
Brake hold operated indi-
cator*1 ( →P.574)
(Flashes)
Parking brake indicator
( →P.574)
Tire pressure warning
light*1 ( →P.575)
Low fuel level warning
light ( →P.575)
Driver’s and front pas -
senger’s seat belt
reminder light ( →P.575)
Rear passengers’ seat
belt reminder lights
( →P.576)

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

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.

4546-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
switch to outside air mode if the recircu -
lated air mode is us ed. (It may switch
automatically.)
To defog the winds hield and the side
windows quickly, turn the air flow and
temperature up.
To return to the p revious mode, press
the windshield defogger switch again
when the windshi eld is defogged.
When the windshield defogger switch is
on, the indicator illuminates on the
windshield defogger switch.
■Defogging the rear window
and outside rear view mirrors
Defoggers are us ed to defog the
rear window, and to remove rain -
drops, dew and frost from the out -
side rear view mirrors.
Press the rear window defogger
and outside rear view mirror defog -
gers switch.
The defoggers will automatically turn off
after 15 minutes.
When the rear window defogger and
outside rear view mirror defoggers
switch is on, the indicator illuminates on
the rear window defogger and outside
rear view mirror defoggers switch.
■Blower customization
The fan speed can be adjusted
according to your preference.
1 Press the automatic mode or
airflow mode control switch.
2 Press the blower customization
switch.
3 Each time the blower customi-
zation switch is pressed, the fan
speed changes as follows.
Normal → “ECO” → “FAST”
■Heating
●In HV mode, the gasoline engine may
operate in order to extract heat from the engine coolant via the heater.
●In EV mode, heating is done by a heat pump system.
• When the outside t emperature is low
or it is snowing, compared to conven - tional vehicles, heating may be less
effective and warm air may not come
out. • When the outside heat exchanger is
frosted over, fan speed declines and it
may become harder to heat the inte- rior. However, it is not a malfunction.
In this situat ion, the air temperature
from the outlets may not change even though the set tem perature is raised.
• If frost has formed of the outside heat
exchanger, the heating performance will decline. The frost can be removed
from the outside heat exchanger by
operating the Remote Air Conditioning System before driving ( →P.460).
When frosted over, the heating opera -
tion of the Remote Air Conditioning System starts after defrosting.
• When “AUTO” switch is turned on, the
heating is controlle d optimally. There- fore, the set heating performance may
not be achieved even if the fan speed
setting is increased.
Outside heat exchanger
●In the following situations the gasoline
engine may operate in order to extract heat from the engine coolant via the
heater even in EV mode.
• The outside temperature is approxi -
mately -10°C (14°F) or low
A

495
7
7-2. Maintenance
Maintenance and care
request that a record of maintenance
be kept.
■Does your vehicle need repairs?
Be on the alert for changes in perfor - mance and sounds, a nd visual tip-offs
that indicate service is needed. Some
important clues are:
●Engine missing, stumbling or pinging
●Appreciable loss of power
●Strange engine noises
●A fluid leak under the vehicle (How-
ever, water dripping from the air con - ditioning system after use is normal.)
●Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous carbon monox -
ide leak. Drive with the windows open
and have the exhau st system checked immediately.)
●Flat-looking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering, uneven tire
wear
●Vehicle pulls to one side when driven
straight on a level road
●Strange noises related to suspension
movement
●Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy
feeling brake pedal, pedal almost
touches the floor, vehicle pulls to one
side when braking
●Engine coolant temperature continu -
ally higher than normal ( →P.174)
If you notice any of these clues, take
your vehicle to any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repair er as soon as possi-
ble.
Your vehicle may need adjustment or repair.

497
7
7-3. Do-it-yours elf maintenance
Maintenance and care
WARNING
■When working on the engine
compartment
●Make sure that “IGNITION ON” on the multi-information display and
the “READY” indicat or are both off.
●Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from the moving fan.
●Be careful not to touch the engine, power control unit, radiator, exhaust
manifold, etc. right after driving as
they may be hot. Oil and other flu - ids may also be hot.
●Do not leave anyt hing that may burn easily, such as paper and
rags, in the engi ne compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or
expose an open flame to fuel or the
12-volt battery. Fu el and 12-volt battery fumes are flammable.
●Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and dam -
age painted surfac es. If fluid gets
on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean water
immediately. If you still experience
discomfort, consult a doctor.
■When working near the electric
cooling fan or radiator grille
Be sure the power switch is off.
With the power swi tch in ON, the
electric cooling fan may automatically start to run if the air conditioning is on
and/or the coolant temperature is
high. ( →P.504)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc.,
from getting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove th e air cleaner fil-
ter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive
engine wear due to dirt in the air.
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the br ake fluid level to
go down slightly as the brake pads
wear or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refill -
ing, it may indicate a serious problem.

5047-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL” line.
( →P.611)
■Power control unit coolant
reservoir
Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL” line.
( →P.613)
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coo - lant” or a similar hig h quality ethylene
glycol based non-si licate, non-amine,
non-nitrite, and non- borate coolant with long-life hybrid org anic acid technology.
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a
mixture of 50% coolant and 50% deion - ized water. (Minimu m temperature: -
35°C [-31°F])
For more details about coolant, contact any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer.
■If the coolant level drops within a short time of replenishing
Visually check the radiators, hoses,
engine/power control unit coolant reser - voir caps, drain cock and water pump.
If you cannot find a leak, have any
authorized Toyota r etailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer, test the cap and check for
leaks in the cooling system.
Check the radiator and condenser,
and clear away any foreign objects.
If either of the above parts is
extremely dirty or you are not sure
of their condition, have your vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
C
A
B
C
WARNING
■When the hybrid system is hot
Do not remove the engine/power con -
trol unit coolant reservoir caps.
The cooling system may be under
pressure and may spray hot coolant if the cap is removed, causing serious
injuries, such as burns.
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor
straight antifreeze. The correct mix - ture of water and antifreeze must be
used to provide proper lubrication,
corrosion protection and cooling. Be sure to read the anti freeze or coolant
label.
■If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to
prevent it from damaging parts or
paint.
Checking the radiator and
condenser

5668-2. Steps to take in an emergency
5Securely attach cables or chains
to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehicle
body.
6 Enter the vehicle being towed
and start the hybrid system.
Turn off the Parking Support Brake
function. (if equipped): →P.420
If the hybrid system d oes not start, turn
the power switch to ON.
7 Shift the shift lever to N and
release the parking brake.
Turn automatic mode off. ( →P.327)
When the shift lever cannot be shifted:
→ P.323
■While towing
If the hybrid system is not running, the
power assist for the brakes and steering will not function, making steering and
braking more difficult.
■Wheel nut wrench (if equipped)
Wheel nut wrench is installed in the deck under tray. ( →P.583, 594)
Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air con -
ditioning after use is normal.)
 Flat-looking tires or uneven tire
wear
 High coolant temperature warn-
ing light flashes or come on
 Changes in exhaust sound
 Excessive tire squeal when cor-
nering
 Strange noises related to the
suspension system
 Pinging or other noises related to
the hybrid system
 Engine missing, stumbling or
running roughly
 Appreciable loss of power
If you think something is
wrong
If you notice any of the follow -
ing symptoms, your vehicle
probably needs adjustment or
repair. Contact any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reli -
able repairer as soon as possi -
ble.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms