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2021 Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual - Driving tips



Owner’s Manuals 2021 Driving tips

Driving tips

Pre-winter preparations
    Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tem- peratures.
    Engine oil
    Engine coolant
    Power control unit coolant
    Washer fluid
    Have a service technician inspect the condition of the 12-volt battery.
    Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire chains for the front tires.*

Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match the size of the tires.

*: Tire chains cannot be mounted on vehicles with 235/55R19 tires.

When driving the vehicle

Perform the following according to the driving conditions:

    Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe away the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.
    To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan, remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in front of the wind- shield.
    Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassis, around the tires or on the brakes.
    Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before getting in the vehicle.
    Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to P without set- ting the parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from being released. If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, make sure to block the wheels.

Failure to do so may be dan- gerous because it may cause the vehicle to move unexpect- edly, possibly leading to an accident.

When the parking brake is in automatic mode, release the parking brake after shifting the shift lever to P. (P.290)

    If the vehicle is left parked with the brakes damp in cold temperatures, there is a pos- sibility of the brakes freezing.
    If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, confirm that the shift lever cannot be moved out of P*.

*: The shift lever will be locked if it is attempted to be shifted from P to any other position without

depressing the brake pedal. If the shift lever can be shifted from P, there may be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the vehi- cle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.

Use the correct tire chain size when mounting the tire chains. Chain size is regulated for each tire size.

Side chain:

0.12 in. (3 mm) in diameter

0.39 in. (10 mm) in width

1.18 in. (30 mm) in length Cross chain:

0.16 in. (4 mm) in diameter

0.55 in. (14 mm) in width

0.98 in. (25 mm) in length

Vehicles with 235/55R19 tires Tire chains cannot be mounted.

Snow tires should be used instead.

Regulations on the use of tire chains (except 235/55R19 tires)

Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on location and type of road.

Always check local regulations before installing chains.

    Tire chain installation

Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains:

    Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
    Install tire chains on the front tires only. Do not install tire chains on the rear tires.
    Install tire chains on front tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after driving 1/4 - 1/2 mile (0.5 - 1.0 km).
    Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.
    Consumption of fuel and elec- tricity

In cold temperatures, resistance of the parts of a vehicle (transmission, tires, etc.) generally increases, resulting in increase of energy con- sumption. As a result, fuel economy is likely to decrease.

Consumption of fuel and electricity of this vehicle is also likely to become worse in cold temperatures.

NOTICE
    Fitting tire chains

The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly when tire chains are fit- ted.

Utility vehicle feature
    Specific design characteris- tics give it a higher center of gravity than ordinary passen- ger cars. This vehicle design feature causes this type of vehicle to be more likely to rollover. And, utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
    An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the road allowing you to anticipate problems.
    It is not designed for corner- ing at the same speeds as ordinary passenger cars any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. Therefore, sharp turns at excessive speeds may cause the vehicle to roll- over.

WARNING
    Utility vehicle precautions

Always observe the following pre- cautions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury or damage to your vehicle:

    In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wear- ing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers should always fasten their seat belts.
    Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, if at all possible. Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover caus- ing death or serious injury.
    Loading cargo on the roof lug- gage carrier (if equipped) will make the center of the vehicle gravity higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehi- cle rollover due to failure to operate this vehicle correctly.
    Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. Because of its pro- file and higher center of gravity, your vehicle is more sensitive to side winds than an ordinary passenger car. Slowing down will allow you to have better control.
    Do not drive horizontally across steep slopes. Driving straight up or straight down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any similar off- road vehicle) can tip over side- ways much more easily than forward or backward.

When driving your vehicle off-

road, please observe the follow- ing precautions to ensure your driving enjoyment and to help prevent the closure of areas to off-road vehicles:

    Drive your vehicle only in areas where off-road vehicles are permitted to travel.
    Respect private property. Get owner’s permission before entering private property.
    Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers and signs that restrict travel.
    Stay on established roads. When conditions are wet, driving techniques should be changed or travel delayed to prevent damage to roads.

    Additional information for off- road driving

For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Puerto Rico:

To obtain additional information per- taining to driving your vehicle off- road, consult the following organiza- tions:

    State and Local Parks and Recre- ation Departments
    State Motor Vehicle Bureau
    Recreational Vehicle Clubs
    U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management

NOTICE
    Inspection after off-road driv- ing
    Sand and mud that has accu- mulated around brake discs may affect braking efficiency and may damage brake system components.
    Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off- road driving that has taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance information, refer to the “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

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