2021 TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID engine overheat

13Pictorial index
Precautions against winter season ................................................. P.445
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer)*1............................. P.457
Precautions against car wash ................................... ...................... P.489
Replacing the wiper insert..................................... .......................... P.539
Fuel filler door ............................................... ................................ P.342
Refueling method ............................................... ............................. P.342
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity ................................... ......................... P.620
Charging port .................................................. .............................. P.105
Charging method ................................................ ............................ P.127
Tires .......................................................... ..................................... P.509
Tire size/inflation pressure .............................................................. P.624
Winter tires/tire chain ........................................ .............................. P.445
Checking/rotation/tire pressu re warning system ............................. P.509
Coping with flat tires......................................... ....................... P.582, 593
Hood ........................................................... .................................... P.498
Opening ........................................................ .................................. P.498
Engine oil ..................................................... ................................... P.621
Coping with overheat ........................................... ........................... P.611
Warning messages ............................................... .......................... P.578
Headlights/front position lights/daytime running lights ........ ... P.332
Turn signal lights ............................................. ............................. P.325
Front fog lights............................................... ............................... P.337
Tail lights .................................................... ................................... P.332
Tail lights .................................................... ................................... P.332
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R .................................. ............................ P.321
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P.548, Watts: P.626)
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M

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

3025-1. Before driving
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign
country
Comply with the rele vant vehicle regis-
tration laws and confi rm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( →P.620)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your f oot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the “READY” indicator is illuminated. This
prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar
with the location of the brake and accelerator pe dals to avoid
depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accel - erator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden accelera -
tion that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist
your body around, leading to a diffi -
culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate th e pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving
posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly. This allows
you to depress the brake and accel -
erator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your
right foot. Depressing the brake
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result -
ing in an accident.
●The driver should pay extra atten - tion to pedestrians when the vehicle
is powered only b y the electric
motor (traction motor). As there is no engine noise, the pedestrians
may misjudge the vehicle’s move-
ment. Even though the vehicle is equipped with the Acoustic Vehicle
Alerting System, drive with care as
pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice the ve hicle if the sur-
rounding area is noisy.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or
stop the vehicle near flammable
materials such as leaves, paper or rags.
The exhaust system and exhaust
gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may cause a fire if there is
any flammable material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn
off the hybrid system. Turning the
hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or brak -
ing control, however, power assist
to the steering will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer
smoothly, so you should pull over
and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, such
as if it becomes impossible to stop the vehicle in the normal way:
→ P.560
●Use engine braking (downshift) to
maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill. Using the brakes continuously may
cause the brakes to overheat and
lose effectiveness. ( →P.321)
●Do not adjust the position of the
steering wheel, t he seat, or the
inside or outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of
vehicle control.

3045-1. Before driving
WARNING
●In order to prevent accidents due to
the vehicle rolling away, always
keep depressing the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY”
indicator is illuminated, and apply
the parking brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an
incline, in order to prevent acci -
dents caused by t he vehicle rolling forward or backward, always
depress the brake pedal and
securely apply the parking brake as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine.Running the engine at high speed
while the vehicle is stopped may
cause the exhaust system to over- heat, which could result in a fire if
combustible material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette
lighters, spray can s, or soft drink cans in the vehicle when it is in the
sun.
Doing so may result in the follow - ing:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette
lighter or spray c an, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle
may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to
deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, caus - ing the contents to spray over the
interior of the vehicle, and may also
cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on
the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the seat
is adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not
place containers such as air fresh -
eners on the instrument panel or dashboard. Adhesive discs or con -
tainers may act as lenses, causing
a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window
open if the curved glass is coated with a metallized fi lm such as a sil-
ver-colored one. Reflected sunlight
may cause the gl ass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lev er to P, stop the
hybrid system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unat - tended while the “READY” indicator
is illuminated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the parking brake is
not set, the vehicl e may start to
move, possibly leading to an acci - dent.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the “READY” indicator is illu -
minated or immediately after turn -
ing the hybrid system off. Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off.
Otherwise, if you accidentally move
the shift lever or depress the acceler - ator pedal, this could cause an acci -
dent or fire due to hybrid system
overheating. Additionally, if the vehi - cle is parked in a poorly ventilated
area, exhaust gases may collect and
enter the vehi cle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.

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.

569
8
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
■Charging system warning light*
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display.
■High coolant temperature warning light* (warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display with a message.
■Hybrid system overheat warning light* (warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display with a message.
■Low engine oil pressure warning light* (warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display with a message.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging sys-
tem
→ Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place
and contact any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that the engine is overheating
→ Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Handling method ( →P.611)
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that the hybrid system has overheated
→ Stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Handling method ( →P.611)
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low
→ Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place
and contact any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer.

5808-2. Steps to take in an emergency
vehicle.
• “Hybrid System Stopped” • “Engine Stopped”
●If “Maintenance required for DCDC converter cooling parts See Owner’s
Manual” is shown, the filter may be
clogged, the air intake vent may be blocked, or there may be a gap in the
duct. Therefore, perform the following
correction procedure. • If the air intake v ent or filter of the
DC/DC converter are dirty, perform
the procedures on P.536 to clean them.
• If the warning message is shown
when the air intake vent and filter of the DC/DC converter are not dirty,
have the vehicle inspected at any
authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer.
●If “12-Volt Battery Charging System
Malfunction Stop in a Safe Place See
Owner’s Manual” is shown
Indicates a malfunct ion in the vehicle’s
charging system. Pull over and stop the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
While the message is displayed, the
functions of the air conditioning, etc.
may be partially limited in order to
reduce the power consumption of the
12-volt battery.
■If “Hybrid System Overheated Out - put Power Reduced” is shown
The message may be shown when driv -
ing under severe ope rating conditions. (For example, when driving up a long
steep hill or drivi ng up a steep hill in
reverse.)
Coping method: →P.611
■If “Traction Battery Needs to be Protected Refrain from the Use of N
Position” is shown
This message may be displayed when the shift lever is in N.
As the hybrid battery (traction battery)
cannot be charged when the shift lever
is in N, shift the shift lever to P when the
vehicle is stopped.
■If “Traction Battery Needs to be Protected Shift into P to Restart” is
shown
This message is displayed when the hybrid battery (trac tion battery) charge
has become extremely low because the
shift lever has been left in N for a certain amount of time.
When operating the vehicle, shift to P
and restart the hybrid system.
■If “Shift to P when Parked” is shown
Message is displayed when the driver’s
door is opened without turning the power switch to OFF with the shift lever
in any position other than P.
Shift the shif t lever to P.
■If “Shift is in N Release Accelerator Before Shifting” is shown
Message is displaye d when the acceler-
ator pedal has been depressed and the shift lever is in N. Release the accelera -
tor pedal and shift the shift lever to D or
R.
■If “Press Brake when Vehicle is Stopped Hybrid System may Over -
heat” is shown
Message is displaye d when the acceler- ator pedal is depressed to maintain the
vehicle position when stopped on a
upward slope, etc.
If this continues, the hybrid system may
overheat.
Release the accelerator pedal and depress the brake pedal.
■If “Auto Power OFF to Conserve
Battery” is shown
Power was turned off due to the auto -
matic power o ff function.
Next time when starting the hybrid sys -
tem, operate the hybrid system for
approximately 5 minutes to recharge the 12-volt battery.