Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2023 year). Manual in english

386

6-1. Maintenance and care

WARNING

■

Precaution regarding the rear

bumper

If the paint of the rear bumper is

chipped or scratched, the follow-

ing systems may not function cor-

rectly. If this occurs, consult your

Toyota dealer.

●

BSM (if equipped)

●

RCTA (if equipped)

●

PKSB (if equipped)

●

Intuitive parking assist (if

equipped)

NOTICE

■

To prevent paint deterioration

and corrosion on the body

and components (aluminum

wheels, etc.)

●

Wash the vehicle immediately in

the following cases:

• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present

on the paint surface

• If dead insects, insect droppings

or bird droppings are present on

the paint surface

• After driving in an area contami-

nated with soot, oily smoke,

mine dust, iron powder or chem-

ical substances

• If the vehicle becomes heavily

soiled with dust or mud

• If liquids such as benzene and

gasoline are spilled on the paint

surface

●

If the paint is chipped or

scratched, have it repaired

immediately.

●

To prevent the wheels from cor-

roding, remove any dirt and

store in a place with low humid-

ity when storing the wheels.

■

Cleaning the exterior lights

●

Wash carefully. Do not use

organic substances or scrub

with a hard brush.

This may damage the surfaces

of the lights.

●

Do not apply wax to the sur-

faces of the lights.

Wax may cause damage to the

lenses.

■

When using an automatic car

wash (vehicles with rain-

sensing windshield wipers)

Set the wiper switch to off posi-

tion.

If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”,

the wipers may operate and the

wiper blades may be damaged.

■

When using a high pressure

car wash

●

When washing the vehicle, do

not let water from the high-pres-

sure washer directly hit the

camera or the area around the

camera. Due to the shock from

the high pressure water, it is

possible that the device may not

operate normally.

●

Do not spray water directly on

the radar which is equipped

behind the radar sensor cover.

Otherwise it may cause the

device to be damaged.

387

6-1. Maintenance and care

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca



Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty
surfaces with a cloth damp-
ened with lukewarm water.



If dirt cannot be removed,
wipe it off with a soft cloth
dampened with neutral deter-
gent diluted to approximately
1%.
Wring out any excess water
from the cloth and thoroughly
wipe off remaining traces of
detergent and water.

■

Shampooing the carpets

There are several commercial foam-

ing-type cleaners available. Use a

sponge or brush to apply the foam.

Rub in overlapping circles. Do not

use water. Wipe dirty surfaces and

let them dry. Excellent results are

obtained by keeping the carpet as

dry as possible.

■

Handling the seat belts

Clean with mild soap and lukewarm

water using a cloth or sponge. Also

check the belts periodically for

excessive wear, fraying or cuts.

NOTICE

●

Do not bring the nozzle tip close

to boots (rubber or resin manu-

factured cover), or connectors

or the following parts.

The parts may be damaged if

they come into contact with

high-pressure water.

• Traction related parts
• Steering parts
• Suspension parts
• Brake parts

●

Keep the cleaning nozzle at

least 11.9 in. (30 cm) away from

the vehicle body. Otherwise

resin section, such as moldings

and bumpers, may be deformed

and damaged. Also, do not con-

tinuously hold the nozzle in the

same place.

●

Do not spray the lower part of

the windshield continuously. If

water enters the air conditioning

system intake located near the

lower part of the windshield, the

air conditioning system may not

operate correctly.

●

Do not wash the underside of

the vehicle using a high pres-

sure car washer.

Cleaning and protect-

ing the vehicle interior

Perform cleaning in a man-
ner appropriate to each
component and its material.

Protecting the vehicle
interior

388

6-1. Maintenance and care

WARNING

■

Water in the vehicle

●

Do not splash or spill liquid in

the vehicle, such as on the floor,

on the rear seats, in the hybrid

battery (traction battery) air

intake vent or in the luggage

compartment. (



P.78)

Doing so may cause the hybrid

battery, electrical components,

etc. to malfunction or catch fire.

●

Do not get any of the SRS com-

ponents or wiring in the vehicle

interior wet.

(



P.34)

An electrical malfunction may

cause the airbags to deploy or

not function properly, resulting

in death or serious injury.

●

Vehicles with wireless charger:

Do not let the wireless charger

(



P.366) get wet. Failure to do

so may cause the charger to

become hot and cause burns or

could cause electric shock

resulting in death or serious

injury.

■

Cleaning the interior (espe-

cially instrument panel)

Do not use a polish wax or polish

cleaner. The instrument panel

may reflect off the windshield,

obstructing the driver’s view and

leading to an accident, resulting in

death or serious injury.

NOTICE

■

Cleaning detergents

●

Do not use the following types

of detergent, as they may dis-

color the vehicle interior or

cause streaks or damage to

painted surfaces:

• Non-seat portions: Organic sub-

stances such as benzene or

gasoline, alkaline or acidic solu-

tions, dye, and bleach

• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solu-

tions, such as thinner, benzene,

and alcohol

●

Do not use a polish wax or pol-

ish cleaner. The instrument

panel’s or other interior part’s

painted surface may be dam-

aged.

■

Preventing damage to leather

surfaces

Observe the following precautions

to avoid damage to and deteriora-

tion of leather surfaces:

●

Remove any dust or dirt from

leather surfaces immediately.

●

Do not expose the vehicle to

direct sunlight for extended peri-

ods of time. Park the vehicle in

the shade, especially during

summer.

●

Do not place items made of

vinyl, plastic, or containing wax

on the upholstery, as they may

stick to the leather surface if the

vehicle interior heats up signifi-

cantly.

389

6-1. Maintenance and care

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca



Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner.



Wipe off any excess dirt and
dust with a soft cloth damp-
ened with diluted detergent.

Use a diluted water solution of
approximately 5% neutral wool
detergent.



Wring out any excess water
from the cloth and thoroughly
wipe off all remaining traces

of detergent.



Wipe the surface with a dry,
soft cloth to remove any
remaining moisture. Allow the
leather to dry in a shaded and
ventilated area.

■

Caring for leather areas

Toyota recommends cleaning the

interior of the vehicle at least twice a

year to maintain the quality of the

vehicle’s interior.



Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner.



Wipe it off with a soft cloth
dampened with neutral deter-
gent diluted to approximately
1%.



Wring out any excess water
from the cloth and thoroughly
wipe off remaining traces of
detergent and water.

NOTICE

■

Water on the floor

Do not wash the vehicle floor with

water.

Vehicle systems such as the

audio system may be damaged if

water comes into contact with

electrical components such as the

audio system above or under the

floor of the vehicle. Water may

also cause the body to rust.

■

When cleaning the inside of

the windshield

Do not allow glass cleaner to con-

tact the lens. Also, do not touch

the lens. (



P.252)

■

Cleaning the inside of the rear

window

●

Do not use a glass cleaner to

clean the rear window, as this

may cause damage to the rear

window defogger heater wires.

Use a cloth dampened with

lukewarm water to gently wipe

the window clean. Wipe the win-

dow in strokes running parallel

to the heater wires.

●

Be careful not to scratch or

damage the heater wires.

Cleaning the leather areas

Cleaning the synthetic
leather areas

390

6-2. Maintenance

6-2.Maintenance

■

Repair and replacement

It is recommended that genuine

Toyota parts be used for repairs to

ensure performance of each sys-

tem. If non-Toyota parts are used in

replacement or if a repair shop other

than a Toyota dealer performs

repairs, confirm the warranty cover-

age.

■

Allow inspection and repairs to

be performed by a Toyota

dealer

●

Toyota technicians are well-

trained specialists and are kept up

to date with the latest service

information. They are well

informed about the operations of

all systems on your vehicle.

●

Keep a copy of the repair order. It

proves that the maintenance that

has been performed is under war-

ranty coverage. If any problem

should arise while your vehicle is

under warranty, your Toyota

dealer will promptly take care of it.

General maintenance should be
performed on a daily basis. This
can be done by yourself or by a
Toyota dealer.

Scheduled maintenance should
be performed at specified inter-
vals according to the mainte-
nance schedule.

For details about maintenance
items and schedules, refer to the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

Maintenance require-

ments

To ensure safe and econom-
ical driving, day-to-day care
and regular maintenance
are essential. It is the
owner’s responsibility to
perform regular checks.
Toyota recommends the fol-
lowing maintenance:

WARNING

■

If your vehicle is not properly

maintained

Improper maintenance could

result in serious damage to the

vehicle and possible death or seri-

ous injury.

■

Handling of the 12-volt bat-

tery

●

Engine exhaust, some of its

constituents, and a wide variety

of automobile components con-

tain or emit chemicals known to

the State of California to cause

cancer and birth defects and

other reproductive harm. Work

in a well ventilated area.

●

Oils, fuels and fluids contained

in vehicles as well as waste pro-

duced by component wear con-

tain or emit chemicals known to

the State of California to cause

cancer and birth defects or

other reproductive harm. Avoid

exposure and wash any

affected area immediately.

●

12-volt battery posts, terminals

and related accessories con-

tain lead and lead compounds

which are known to cause brain

damage. Wash your hands after

handling. (



P.407)

General maintenance

Scheduled maintenance

391

6-2. Maintenance

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca

■

Resetting the message indicat-

ing maintenance is required

(with 7-inch display)

After the required maintenance is

performed according to the mainte-

nance schedule, please reset the

reminder light or message.

To reset the reminder light or mes-

sage, follow the procedure

described below:

Press

of the meter

control switches and select

on the multi-information display.

Press

of the meter

control switches and select
“Vehicle Settings”. Then press
and hold

Press

of the meter

control switches and select
“Scheduled Maintenance”. Then
press

Select “Yes” and press

A message will be displayed when

the reset procedure has been com-

pleted.

■

Resetting the message indicat-

ing maintenance is required

(with 12.3-inch display)

After the required maintenance is

performed according to the mainte-

nance schedule, please reset the

reminder light or message.

To reset the reminder light or mes-

sage, follow the procedure

described below:

Press and hold

to display the

cursor on the content display
area (center) of the multi-infor-
mation display.

Press

of the meter

control switches to select

and then press

Press

of the meter

control switches and select
“

Vehicle Settings”. Then

press and hold

Press

of the meter

control switches and select
“Scheduled Maintenance”. Then
press

Select “Yes” and press

A message will be displayed when

the reset procedure has been com-

pleted.

You can perform some mainte-
nance procedures by yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-your-
self maintenance may affect
warranty coverage.

The use of Toyota Repair Manuals
is recommended.
For details about warranty cover-
age, refer to the separate “Owner’s
Warranty Information Booklet” or
“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

Do-it-yourself mainte-
nance

392

6-2. Maintenance

General maintenance

Listed below are the general
maintenance items that
should be performed at the
intervals specified in the
“Owner’s Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet” or “Owner’s
Manual Supplement/Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide”. It
is recommended that any
problem you notice should
be brought to the attention
of your Toyota dealer or
qualified service shop for
advice.

WARNING

■

If the hybrid system is run-

ning

Turn the hybrid system off and

ensure that there is adequate

ventilation before performing

maintenance checks.

Engine compartment

Items

Check points

Brake fluid

Is the brake fluid at
the correct level?
(



P.405)

Engine/power
control unit
coolant

Is the
engine/power con-
trol unit coolant at
the correct level?
(



P.403)

Engine oil

Is the engine oil at
the correct level?
(



P.401)

Exhaust sys-
tem

There should not
be any fumes or
strange sounds.

Radiator/con-
denser

The radiator and
condenser should
be free from for-
eign objects.
(



P.404)

Washer fluid

Is there sufficient
washer fluid?
(



P.406)

Luggage compartment

Items

Check points

12-volt battery

Check the connec-
tions. (



P.407)

Vehicle interior

Items

Check points

Accelerator
pedal

• The accelerator

pedal should
move smoothly
(without uneven
pedal effort or
catching).

Hybrid trans-
mission “Park”
mechanism

• When parked on

a slope and the
shift position is in
P, is the vehicle
securely
stopped?

Items

Check points

393

6-2. Maintenance

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca

Brake pedal

• Does the brake

pedal move
smoothly?

• Does the brake

pedal have
appropriate
clearance from
the floor?

• Does the brake

pedal have the
correct amount
of free play?

Brakes

• The vehicle

should not pull to
one side when
the brakes are
applied.

• The brakes

should work
effectively.

• The brake pedal

should not feel
spongy.

• The brake pedal

should not get
too close to the
floor when the
brakes are
applied.

Head
restraints

• Do the head

restraints move
smoothly and
lock securely?

Indica-
tors/buzzers

• Do the indica-

tors and buzzers
function prop-
erly?

Items

Check points

Lights

• Do all the lights

come on?

• Are the head-

lights aimed cor-
rectly?

Parking brake

• Does the park-

ing brake oper-
ate normally?

• When parked on

a slope and the
parking brake is
on, is the vehicle
securely
stopped?

Seat belts

• Do the seat belts

operate
smoothly?

• The seat belts

should not be
damaged.

Seats

• Do the seat con-

trols operate
properly?

Steering wheel

• Does the steer-

ing wheel rotate
smoothly?

• Does the steer-

ing wheel have
the correct
amount of free
play?

• There should not

be any strange
sounds coming
from the steer-
ing wheel.

Items

Check points

394

6-2. Maintenance

The OBD system determines
that a problem exists some-
where in the emission control
system. Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test and may need
to be repaired. Contact your
Toyota dealer to service the
vehicle.



When the 12-volt battery is
disconnected or discharged
Readiness codes that are set
during ordinary driving are
erased.
Also, depending on your driv-
ing habits, the readiness
codes may not be completely
set.



When the fuel tank cap is

Vehicle exterior

Items

Check points

Doors

• Do the doors

operate
smoothly?

Engine hood

• Does the engine

hood lock system
work properly?

Fluid leaks

• There should not

be any signs of
fluid leakage
after the vehicle
has been parked.

Tires

• Is the tire infla-

tion pressure
correct?

• The tires should

not be damaged
or excessively
worn.

• Have the tires

been rotated
according to the
maintenance
schedule?

• The wheel nuts

should not be
loose.

Windshield
wipers/rear
window wiper

• The wiper blades

should not show
any signs of
cracking, split-
ting, wear, con-
tamination or
deformation.

• The wiper blades

should clear the
windshield/rear
window without
streaking or skip-
ping.

Emission inspection

and maintenance (I/M)

programs

Some states have vehicle
emission inspection pro-
grams which include OBD
(On Board Diagnostics)
checks. The OBD system
monitors the operation of
the emission control sys-
tem.

If the malfunction indica-
tor lamp comes on

Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test in the fol-
lowing situations:

396

6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

6-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance

Do-it-yourself service

precautions

If you perform maintenance
by yourself, be sure to fol-
low the correct procedure
as given in these sections.

Maintenance

Items

Parts and tools

12-volt bat-
tery condi-
tion
(



P.407)

• Grease
• Conventional

wrench (for termi-
nal clamp bolts)

Brake fluid
level
(



P.405)

• FMVSS No.116

DOT 3 or SAE
J1703 brake fluid

• FMVSS No.116

DOT 4 or SAE
J1704 brake fluid

• Rag or paper

towel

• Funnel (used only

for adding brake
fluid)

Engine/power
control unit
coolant level
(



P.403)

• “Toyota Super

Long Life Cool-
ant” or a similar
high quality eth-
ylene glycol-based
non-silicate, non-
amine, non-nitrite
and non-borate
coolant with long-
life hybrid organic
acid technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed
with 50% coolant
and 50% deion-
ized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed
with 55% coolant
and 45% deion-
ized water.

• Funnel (used only

for adding coolant)

Engine oil
level
(



P.401)

• “Toyota Genuine

Motor Oil” or
equivalent

• Rag or paper

towel

• Funnel (used only

for adding engine
oil)

Fuses
(



P.436)

• Fuse with same

amperage rating
as original

Items

Parts and tools

397

6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca

Hybrid bat-
tery (traction
battery) air
intake vent
(



P.426)

• Vacuum cleaner,

etc,

• Phillips screw-

driver

Light bulbs
(



P.439)

• Bulb with same

number and watt-
age rating as origi-
nal

• Phillips-head

screwdriver

• Flathead screw-

driver

• Wrench

Headlight aim
(



P.438)

• Phillips-head

screwdriver

Radiator and
condenser
(



P.404)



Tire inflation
pressure
(



P.420)

• Tire pressure

gauge

• Compressed air

source

Washer fluid
(



P.406)

• Water or washer

fluid containing
antifreeze (for win-
ter use)

• Funnel (used only

for adding water or
washer fluid)

WARNING

The engine compartment contains

many mechanisms and fluids that

may move suddenly, become hot,

or become electrically energized.

To avoid death or serious injury,

observe the following precautions.

Items

Parts and tools

■

When working on the engine

compartment

●

Make sure that “IGNITION ON”

on the multi-information display

and the “READY” indicator are

both off.

●

Keep hands, clothing and tools

away from the moving fan.

●

Be careful not to touch the

engine, power control unit, radi-

ator, exhaust manifold, etc. right

after driving as they may be hot.

Oil and other fluids may also be

hot.

●

Do not leave anything that may

burn easily, such as paper and

rags, in the engine compart-

ment.

●

Do not smoke, cause sparks or

expose an open flame to fuel.

Fuel fumes are flammable.

■

When working near the elec-

tric cooling fan or radiator

grille

Be sure the power switch is OFF.
With the power switch in ON, the

electric cooling fan may automati-

cally start to run if the air condi-

tioning is on and/or the coolant

temperature is high. (



P.404)

■

Safety glasses

Wear safety glasses to prevent

flying or falling material, fluid

spray, etc., from getting in your

eyes.

NOTICE

■

If you remove the air cleaner

filter

Driving with the air cleaner filter

removed may cause excessive

engine wear due to dirt in the air.

398

6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Pull the hood lock release
lever.

The hood will pop up slightly.

Push the auxiliary catch lever
to the left and lift the hood.

Hold the hood open by insert-
ing the supporting rod into
the slot.

Hood

Release the lock from the
inside of the vehicle to open
the hood.

Opening the hood

WARNING

■

Pre-driving check

Check that the hood is fully closed

and locked.

If the hood is not locked properly,

it may open while the vehicle is in

motion and cause an accident,

which may result in death or seri-

ous injury.

■

To prevent injuries

The support rod may be hot after

driving the vehicle. Touching the

hot support rod may lead to burns

or other serious injuries.

■

After installing the support

rod into the slot

Make sure the rod supports the

hood securely from falling down

on to your head or body.

399

6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca

■

Front

WARNING

■

When closing the hood

When closing the hood, take extra

care to prevent your fingers etc.

from being caught.

NOTICE

■

When closing the hood

Be sure to return the support rod

to its clip before closing the hood.

Closing the hood without return-

ing the support rod properly could

cause the hood to bend.

Positioning a floor

jack

When using a floor jack, fol-
low the instructions in the
manual provided with the
jack and perform the opera-
tion safely.
When raising your vehicle
with a floor jack, position
the jack correctly.
Improper placement may
damage your vehicle or
cause injury.

Location of the jack point