2023 TOYOTA RAV4 transmission

3TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle......... 179
Cargo and luggage ....... 185
Vehicle load limits ......... 188
Trailer towing ................ 189
Dinghy towing ............... 201
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart key
system)........................ 203
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart key
system)........................ 204
Automatic transmission . 209
Turn signal lever ........... 212
Parking brake ................ 213
Brake Hold .................... 217
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ............ 219
AHB (Automatic High Beam) .................................... 222
Fog light switch ............. 226
Windshield wipers and washer......................... 226
Rear window wiper and washer......................... 229
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap.................................... 231
4-5. Using the driving support
systems
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 234PCS (Pre-Collision System)
.................................... 239
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) .................................... 250
RSA (Road Sign Assist) 261
Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range ... 264
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) .................................... 275
Intuitive parking assist ... 280
RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) function .............. 289
PKSB (Parking Support Brake) .......................... 294
Parking Support Brake func- tion (static objects) ...... 299
Parking Support Brake func- tion (rear-crossing vehicles)
.................................... 302
Stop & Start system....... 304
Driving mode s elect switch
.................................... 310
Multi-terrain Select (AWD vehicles) ...................... 312
Snow mode switch (AWD vehicles) ...................... 315
Downhill assist control sys- tem .............................. 316
Driving assist systems ... 318
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips .......... 325
Utility vehicle precautions .... ...

............................. 328
4Driving

7
it may work in situations where it
should not be working.
Installing electronic devices and
radios increases the risk of
cyber attacks through the
installed parts, which may lead
to unexpected accidents and
leakage of personal informa-
tion. Toyota does not make any
guarantees for problems caused
by installing non-genuine Toyota
products.
The installation of a mobile two-
way radio system in your vehicle
could affect electronic systems
such as:
Multiport fuel injection sys-
tem/sequential multiport fuel
injection system
 Toyota Safety Sense 2.5
 Anti-lock brake system
 SRS airbag system
 Seat belt pretensioner system
Be sure to check with your
Toyota dealer for precautionary
measures or special instructions
regarding installation of a mobile
two-way radio system. The vehicle is equipped with
sophisticated computers that will
record certain data, such as:
• Engine speed/ Electric motor
speed (traction motor speed)
• Accelerator status
• Brake status
• Vehicle speed
• Operation status of the driving assist systems
• Images from the cameras Your vehicle is equipped with
cameras.
Contact your Toyota dealer
for the location of recording
cameras.
The recorded data varies
according to the vehicle grade
level and options with which it is
equipped.
These computers do not record
conversations or sounds, and
only record images outside of
the vehicle in certain situations.
 Data Transmission
Your vehicle may transmit the data
recorded in these computers to
Toyota without notification to you.
Data usage
Toyota may use the data recorded
in this computer to diagnose mal-
functions, conduct research and
development, and improve quality.
Toyota will not disclose the
recorded data to a third party
except:
• With the consen t of the vehicle
Cyber Attack Risk
Installation of a mobile
two-way radio system
Vehicle data recording

177
4
4
Driving
Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle....... 179
Cargo and luggage ..... 185
Vehicle load limits ....... 188
Trailer towing .............. 189
Dinghy towing ............. 201
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without smart
key system) ............... 203
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with smart key
system)...................... 204
Automatic transmission 209
Turn signal lever ......... 212
Parking brake .............. 213
Brake Hold .................. 217
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch .......... 219
AHB (Automatic High Beam)........................ 222
Fog light switch ........... 226
Windshield wipers and washer....................... 226
Rear window wiper and washer....................... 229
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap.................................. 2314-5. Using the dr
iving support
systems
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 .................................. 234
PCS (Pre-Collision System) .................................. 239
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) .................................. 250
RSA (Road Sign Assist) .................................. 261
Dynamic radar cruise con- trol with full-speed range
.................................. 264
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) .................................. 275
Intuitive parking assist . 280
RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) function ............ 289
PKSB (Parking Support Brake) ........................ 294
Parking Support Brake func- tion (static objects)
.................................. 299
Parking Support Brake function (rear-crossing
vehicles) .................... 302
Stop & Start system .... 304
Driving mode select switch .................................. 310
Multi-terrain Select (AWD vehicles) .................... 312
Snow mode switch (AWD vehicles) .................... 315

1824-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Moving the shift lever to N while
the vehicle is moving will disen-
gage the engine from the trans-
mission. Engine braking is not
available when N is selected.
●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
unexpected rapid acceleration
of the vehicle that may cause an
accident and result in death or
serious injury. Doing so can
damage the transmission and
may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
■If you hear a squealing or
scraping noise (brake pad
wear limit indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and
replaced by your Toyota dealer 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 race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other
than P or N, the vehicle may
accelerate suddenly and unex-
pectedly, causing an accident.
●In order to prev ent accidents
due to the vehicle rolling away,
always keep depressing the
brake pedal while the engine is
running, and apply the parking
brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an
incline, in order to prevent acci-
dents caused by the vehicle roll-
ing 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 overheat, which could
result in a fire if combustible
material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette
lighters, spray cans, or soft
drink cans in the vehicle when it
is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the fol-
lowing:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, 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, causing the contents to spray
over the interior of the vehicle,
and may also cause a short cir-
cuit 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 se at is adjusted,
causing a fire.

1994-1. Before driving
4
Driving
vehicle control. This is espe-
cially true on wet or slippery
surfaces.
 Avoid jerky starts or sudden
acceleration.
 Avoid jerky steering and
sharp turns, and slow down
before making turn.
 Note that when making a turn,
the trailer wheels will be
closer than the vehicle wheels
to the inside of the turn. Com-
pensate by making a wider
than normal turning radius.
 Slow down before making a
turn, in cross winds, on wet or
slippery surfaces, etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can
destabilize the trailer.
Take care when passing other
vehicles. Passing requires
considerable distance. After
passing a vehicle, do not for-
get the length of your trailer,
and be sure you have plenty
of room before changing
lanes.
 To maintain engine braking
efficiency and charging sys-
tem performance when using
engine braking, do not put the
transmission in D. If in the S
mode, the transmission shift
range position must be in 6 or
lower.
 Instability happens more fre-
quently when descending
steep or long downhill grades. Before descending, slow
down and downshift. Do not
make sudden downshifts
while descending steep or
long downhill grades.
 Avoid holding the brake pedal
down too long or applying the
brakes too frequently. This
could cause the brakes to
overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
 Due to the added load of the
trailer, your vehicle’s engine
may overheat on hot days (at
temperatures over 85°F
[30°C]) when driving up a long
or steep grade. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge
indicates overheating, imme-
diately turn off the air condi-
tioning (if in use), pull your
vehicle off the road and stop
in a safe spot. ( P.480)
 Always place wheel blocks
under both the vehicle’s and
the trailer’s wheels when
parking. Apply the parking
brake firmly, and put the
transmission in P. Avoid park-
ing on a slope, but if unavoid-
able, do so only after
performing the following:
1 Apply the brakes and keep
them applied.
2 Have someone place wheel
blocks under both the vehi-
cle’s and trailer’s wheels.

2004-1. Before driving
3When the wheel blocks are in
place, release the brakes
slowly until the blocks absorb
the load.
4 Apply the parking brake
firmly.
5 Shift into P and turn off the
engine.
 When restarting after parking
on a slope:
1 With the transmission in P,
start the engine. Be sure to
keep the brake pedal
depressed.
2 Shift into a forward gear. If
reversing, shift into R.
3 If the parking brake is in man-
ual mode, release the park-
ing brake. ( P.213)
4 Release the brake pedal, and
slowly pull or back away from
the wheel blocks. Stop and
apply the brakes.
5 Have someone retrieve the
blocks.
■Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped
with any new power train compo-
nents (such as an engine, transmis-
sion, differential or wheel bearing),
Toyota recommends that you do not
tow a trailer unt il the vehicle has
been driven for over 500 miles (800
km).
After the vehicle has been driven for
over 500 miles (800 km), you can
start towing. However, for the next
500 miles (800 km), drive the vehi-
cle at a speed of less than 45 mph
(72 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full throttle acceleration.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a traile
r, your vehicle
will require more fr equent mainte-
nance due to the additional load.
(See “Scheduled Maintenance
Guide” or “Owner ’s Manual Sup-
plement”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the
towing ball and bracket after
approximately 600 miles (1000
km) of tra iler towing.
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds,
passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.)
can adversely affect handling of
your vehicle and t railer, causing
instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to contr ol trailer sway-
ing by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal immediately but very gradu-
ally 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 occu- pants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not
shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is
appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is not over-
loaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the

2014-1. Before driving
4
Driving
speed at which trailer swaying
occurred is beyond the limit of your
particular vehicle-trailer combina-
tion. Drive at a lower speed to pre-
vent instability . Remember that
swaying of the towing vehicle-trailer
increases as speed increases.Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed
to be dinghy towed (with 4
wheels on the ground)
behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to
your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with 4
wheels on the ground.
■To prevent causing serious
damage to the transmission
and AWD system (AWD mod-
els)
2WD models: Never tow this vehi-
cle from the rear with the front
wheels on the ground. This may
cause serious damage to the
transmission.

2024-1. Before driving
NOTICE
AWD models: Never tow this vehi-
cle with any of the wheels on the
ground. This may cause serious
damage to the transmission and
AWD system.