2023 TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID stop start

307
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
29 mm (1.1 in.)
34 mm (1.3 in.)
412 mm (16.2 in.)
348 mm (13.7 in.)
386 mm (15.2 in.)
586 mm (23.1 in.)
617 mm (24.3 in.)
1089 mm (42.9 in.)
Your vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer. In order to
avoid accident, death or serious
injury, keep the following in mind
when towing:
■Checking connections
between trailer and lights
Stop the vehicle and check the
operation of the connection
between the trailer and lights after
driving for a brief period as well as
before starting off.
■Practicing driving with a cou-
pled trailer
 Get the feel for turning, stopping
and reversing with the trailer
coupled by practicing in an area
with no or light traffic.
 When reversing with a coupled
trailer, hold the section of the
steering wheel nearest to you
and rotate clockwise to turn the
trailer left or counterclockwise to
turn it right. Always rotate a little
at a time to prevent steering
error. Have someone guide you
when reversing to lessen the risk
of an accident.
■Increasing vehicle-to-vehicle
distance
At a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph), the
distance to the vehicle running
ahead of you should be equivalent
to or greater than the combined
length of your vehicle and trailer.
Avoid sudden braking that may
cause skidding. Otherwise, the
vehicle may spin out of control. This
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NOTICE
■When the rear bumper strength-
ening material is aluminum
Ensure the steel bracket part does not come directly in contact with that
area.
When steel and aluminum come into contact, there is a reaction similar to
corrosion, which will weaken the sec- tion concerned and may result in damage. Apply a rust inhibitor to parts
that will come in contact when attach- ing a steel bracket.
Guidance

3085-1. Before driving
is especially true when driving on
wet or slippery road surfaces.
■Sudden acceleration/steering
input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing
may result in the trailer colliding
with your vehicle. Decelerate well in
advance when approaching turns
and take them slowly and carefully
to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding
turning
The wheels of the trailer 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.315)
■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.578)
■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 factors (crosswinds, pass-
ing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can

3125-2. Driving procedures
tem immediately after turning the
power switch to OFF, 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.572.
1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, set the parking brake.
( P.320)
Check the parking brake indicator is illuminated.
3 Shift the shift lever to P.
Do not press the shift lever button after shifting the shift lever to P.
4 Press the power switch shortly
and firmly.
The hybrid system will 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-information display.
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hybrid system while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the accelerator pedal while
starting the hybrid system under any circumstances. Doing so may cause an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving (vehicles
with steering lock function)
If hybrid system failure 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 Toyota 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 Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer immediately.
Stopping the hybrid system

313
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
Modes can be changed by pressing
the power switch with the brake
pedal released. (The mode
changes each time the switch is
pressed.)
“ACCESSORY”
“IGNITION ON”
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 or the shift lever button is
pressed when turning off the hybrid
system, the power switch will remain
ON, will not turn to OFF.
■Auto power off function
●If the vehicle is left in ACC or ON (the hybrid system is not operating) for more than 20 minutes with the shift
lever is in P or the shift lever button is not pressed, the power switch will automatically turn to OFF.
●If the 12-volt battery is low with the
WARNING
■Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
●If you want to stop 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 briefly 3 times or more in succession. ( P.526)
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 steer smoothly before stopping the vehicle depending on
the remaining charge in the 12-volt battery or usage conditions. In this situation, you should pull over and
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
●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
A
B

3165-2. Driving procedures
While the power switch is
in ON and the brake pedal
depressed
*, shift the shift lever
while pushing the shift release but-
ton on the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever while
pushing the shift release button on
the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever nor-
mally.
When shifting the shift lever between P
and D, make sure that the vehicle is
completely stopped and the brake
pedal is depressed.
*: For the vehicle to be able to be shifted from P, the brake pedal must
be depressed before the shift release
button is pushed. If the shift release
button is pushed first, the shift lock
will not be released.
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to pre-
vent accidental operation of the shift
lever in starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P
only when the power switch is in ON, the
brake pedal is depressed and the shift
release button is pushed.
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted
from P
First, check whether the brake pedal is
being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted even
though the brake pedal is depressed
and the shift release button is pushed,
there may be a problem with the shift
lock system. Have the vehicle inspected
by any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reli-
able repairer immediately.
The following steps may be used as an
emergency measure to ensure that the
shift lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1Pull the parking brake switch to
check that the parking brake is set.
(P.320)
2Turn the power switch off.
3Depress the brake pedal.
4Pry the cover up with a flathead
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover,
cover the tip of the screwdriver with
a rag.
Shifting the shift lever

317
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
5 Press and hold the shift lock override
button and then push the button on the shift knob.The shift lever can be shifted while
both buttons are pressed.
 P.411
To drive using temporary shift
range selection, operate the “-”
paddle shift switch. The shift range
can then be selected by operating
the “-” and “+” paddle shift
switches. Changing the shift range
allows restriction of the highest
gear, preventing upshifting and
enabling the level of engine braking
force to be selected.
1 Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from D1 to
D6, will be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display.
■Shift ranges and their functions
●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.
■Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving per- formance, downshifting operation may
sometimes be restricted. In some cir- cumstances, downshifting may not be possible even when the paddle shift
switch is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■Automatic deactivation of shift
range selection in the D position
Shift range selection in the D position will be deactivated in the following situa-
tions:
●When the vehicle comes to a stop
●If the accelerator pedal is depressed for more than a certain period of time
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override button, make sure to set the parking brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of the brake pedal when the shift lock override button is
pressed and the shift lever is shifted out of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, possibly leading to an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving mode
Selecting shift ranges in the
D position (vehicles with
paddle shift switches)

323
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
Turn the brake hold system on
The brake hold standby indicator
(green) comes on. While the sys-
tem is holding the brake, the brake hold
operated indicator (yellow) comes
on.
■Brake hold system operating con- ditions
The brake hold system cannot be turned
on in the following conditions:
●The driver’s door is not closed.
●The driver is not wearing the seat belt.
●The parking brake is engaged.
If any of the conditions above are detected when the brake hold system is
WARNING
■Parking brake automatic lock function
Never use the automatic parking brake engagement function in place of normal parking brake operation.
This function is designed to reduce the risk of a collision due to the driver forgetting to engage the parking
brake. Over-reliance on this function to park the vehicle safely may lead to an accident resulting in death or seri-
ous injury. ( P.321)
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
Before you leave the vehicle, shift the
shift lever to P, set the parking brake and make sure that the vehicle does not move.
■When the system malfunctions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
check the warning messages.
■When the vehicle 12-volt battery is discharged
The parking brake system cannot be
activated. ( P.573)
■When the parking brake cannot
be released due to a malfunction
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake compo-
nents overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake wear. Have the vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer immediately if
this occurs.
Brake Hold
The brake hold system keeps
the brake applied when the
shift lever is in D, S or N with
the system on and the brake
pedal has been depressed to
stop the vehicle. The system
releases the brake when the
accelerator pedal is depressed
with the shift lever in D or S to
allow smooth start off.
Enabling the system
A
B

3725-5. Using the driving support systems
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of you, the system automatically deceler-
ates your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the sys-
tem applies the brakes (the stop lights will come on at this time). The system will
respond to changes in the speed of the vehicle ahead in order to maintain the vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance set by the driver. Approach warning warns you when the sys-
tem cannot decelerate sufficiently to prevent your vehicle from closing in on the
vehicle ahead.
When the vehicle ahead of you stops, your vehicle will also stop (vehicle is stopped
by system control). After the vehicle ahead starts off, pressing the “+RES” switch or
depressing the accelerator pedal (start-off operation) will resume follow-up cruising.
If the start-off operation is not performed, system control continues to keep your
vehicle stopped.
When the turn signal lever is operated and your vehicle moves to an overtaking lane
while driving at 80 km/h (50 mph) or more, the vehicle will accelerate to help to over-
take a passing vehicle.
The system’s identification of what is an overtaking lane may be determined solely
based on the location of the steering wheel in the vehicle (left side driver position
versus right side driver position.) If the vehicle is driven to a region where the over-
taking lane is on a different side from where the vehicle is normally driven, the vehi-
cle may accelerate when the turn signal lever is operated in the opposite direction to
the overtaking lane (e.g., if the driver normally operates the vehicle in a region
where the overtaking lane is to the right but then drives to a region where the over-
taking lane is to the left, the vehicle may accelerate when the right turn signal is acti-
vated).
Example of acceleration
When there are no longer any preceding vehicles driving slower than the
set speed
The system accelerates until the set speed is reached. The system then returns to
constant speed cruising.
1Press the cruise control main
switch to activate the cruise con-
trol.
Dynamic radar cruise control indicator
will come on and a message will be dis-
played on the multi-information display.
Press the switch again to deactivate the
cruise control.If the cruise control main switch is
pressed and held for 1.5 seconds or
more, the system turns on in constant
speed control mode. (P.377)
C
Setting the vehicle speed
(vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode)