Toyota RAV4 Prime (2023 year). Manual in english

485

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Maintena

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DC/DC Con-
verter air
intake vent
(



P.515)

• Vacuum cleaner,

etc,

• Phillips screw-

driver

Light bulbs
(



P.528)

• Bulb with same

number and watt-
age rating as origi-
nal

• Phillips-head

screwdriver

• Flathead screw-

driver

• Wrench

Headlight aim
(



P.527)



Phillips-head
screwdriver

Radiator and
condenser
(



P.492)



Tire inflation
pressure
(



P.509)

• Tire pressure

gauge

• Compressed air

source

Washer fluid
(



P.494)

• 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.

●

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.492)

■

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.

486

7-3. 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.

487

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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■

Front

WARNING

■

To prevent burns

Do not touch the pipes when the

compressor is operating or after it

is stopped, because the pipes are

hot.
Touching by hands before the

pipes cool down may cause

burns.

■

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.

■

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

489

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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Fuse boxes (



P.524)

Engine oil filler cap (



P.490)

Engine oil level dipstick (



P.489)

Brake fluid reservoir (



P.493)

Radiator (



P.492)

Electric cooling fan

Condenser (



P.492)

Power control unit coolant reservoir (

Washer fluid tank (

Engine coolant reservoir (



P.491)

■

12-volt battery



P.495

With the engine at operating
temperature and turned off,

Engine compartment

Components

Checking and adding the
engine oil

490

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

check the oil level on the dip-
stick.

■

Checking the engine oil

Park the vehicle on level
ground. After warming up the
engine and turning off the
hybrid system, wait more
than 5 minutes for the oil to
drain back into the bottom of
the engine.

Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out.

Wipe the dipstick clean.

Reinsert the dipstick fully.

Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out and
check the oil level.

Low

Normal

Excessive

The shape of the dipstick may differ

depending on the type of vehicle or

engine.

Wipe the dipstick and reinsert
it fully.

■

Checking the oil type and
preparing the items needed

Make sure to check the oil type
and prepare the items needed
before adding oil.



Engine oil selection



P.582



Oil quantity (Low



Full)

1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp. qt.)



Item

Clean funnel

■

Adding engine oil

If the oil level is below or near
the low level mark, add engine
oil of the same type as that
already in the engine.

Remove the oil filler cap by
turning it counterclockwise.

Add engine oil slowly, check-
ing the dipstick.

Install the oil filler cap by
turning it clockwise.

491

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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■

Engine oil consumption

A certain amount of engine oil will

be consumed while driving. In the

following situations, oil consump-

tion may increase, and engine oil

may need to be refilled in between

oil maintenance intervals.

●

When the engine is new, for

example directly after purchasing

the vehicle or after replacing the

engine

●

If low quality oil or oil of an inap-

propriate viscosity is used

●

When driving at high engine

speeds or with a heavy load,

when towing, or when driving

while accelerating or decelerating

frequently

●

When leaving the engine idling for

a long time, or when driving fre-

quently through heavy traffic

The coolant level is satisfactory
if it is between the “FULL” and
“LOW” lines on the reservoir
when the hybrid system is cold.

■

Engine coolant reservoir

WARNING

■

Used engine oil

●

Used engine oil contains poten-

tially harmful contaminants

which may cause skin disorders

such as inflammation and skin

cancer, so care should be taken

to avoid prolonged and

repeated contact. To remove

used engine oil from your skin,

wash thoroughly with soap and

water.

●

Dispose of used oil and filters

only in a safe and acceptable

manner. Do not dispose of used

oil and filters in household trash,

in sewers or onto the ground.

Call your Toyota dealer, service

station or auto parts store for

information concerning recy-

cling or disposal.

●

Do not leave used engine oil

within the reach of children.

NOTICE

■

To prevent serious engine

damage

Check the oil level on a regular

basis.

■

When replacing the engine oil

●

Be careful not to spill engine oil

on the vehicle components.

●

Avoid overfilling, or the engine

could be damaged.

●

Check the oil level on the dip-

stick every time you refill the

vehicle.

●

Be sure the engine oil filler cap

is properly tightened.

■

If oil is spilled on the engine

cover

To prevent the engine cover from

being damaged, remove any

engine oil from the engine cover

as soon as possible using a neu-

tral detergent. Do not use an

organic solvent such as brake

cleaner.

Checking the coolant

492

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Reservoir cap

“FULL” line

“LOW” line

If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL”
line. (



P.574)

■

Power control unit coolant
reservoir

Reservoir cap

“FULL” line

“LOW” line

If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL”
line. (



P.576)

■

Coolant selection

Only use “Toyota Super Long Life

Coolant” or a similar high quality

ethylene glycol based non-silicate,

non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-

borate coolant with long-life hybrid

organic acid technology.

U.S.A.:

“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is

a mixture of 50% coolant and 50%

deionized water. (Minimum tem-

perature: -31°F [-35°C])

Canada:

“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is

a mixture of 55% coolant and 45%

deionized water. (Minimum tem-

perature: -44°F [-42°C])

For more details about coolant, con-

tact your Toyota dealer.

■

If the coolant level drops within

a short time of replenishing

Visually check the radiators, hoses,

engine/power control unit coolant

reservoir caps, drain cock and water

pump.

If you cannot find a leak, have your

Toyota dealer, test the cap and

check for leaks in the cooling sys-

tem.

Check the radiator and con-
denser, and clear away any for-
eign objects.
If either of the above parts is
extremely dirty or you are not
sure of their condition, have

WARNING

■

When the hybrid system is

hot

Do not remove the engine/power

control unit coolant reservoir

caps.
The cooling system may be under

pressure and may spray hot cool-

ant if the cap is removed, causing

serious injuries, such as burns.

NOTICE

■

When adding coolant

Coolant is neither plain water nor

straight antifreeze. The correct

mixture of water and antifreeze

must be used to provide proper

lubrication, corrosion protection

and cooling. Be sure to read the

antifreeze or coolant label.

■

If you spill coolant

Be sure to wash it off with water to

prevent it from damaging parts or

paint.

Checking the radiator and
condenser

493

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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your vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer.

■

Checking fluid level

The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN”
lines on the tank.

■

Adding fluid

Slide and lift up the rubber
strip to partly remove it as
shown.

Disconnect the claws and
remove the service cover.

Remove the reservoir cap.

Add brake fluid slowly while
checking the fluid level.

Make sure to check the fluid
type and prepare the necessary
item.

WARNING

■

When the hybrid system is

hot

Do not touch the radiator or con-

denser as they may be hot and

cause serious injuries, such as

burns.

■

When the electric cooling fan

is operating

Do not touch the engine compart-

ment.
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. Be sure the

power switch is OFF when work-

ing near the electric cooling fan or

radiator grille.

Checking and adding the
brake fluid

494

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■

Brake fluid can absorb moisture

from the air

Excess moisture in the brake fluid

can cause a dangerous loss of brak-

ing efficiency. Use only newly

opened brake fluid.

If any washer does not work or
the warning message appears
on the multi-information display,
the washer tank may be empty.
Add washer fluid.

Fluid
type

FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or
SAE J1703 brake fluid
FMVSS No.116 DOT 4 or
SAE J1704 brake fluid

Item

Clean funnel

WARNING

■

When filling the reservoir

Take care as brake fluid can harm

your hands and eyes and damage

painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in

your eyes, flush the affected area

with clean water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort,

see a doctor.

NOTICE

■

If the fluid level is low or high

It is normal for the brake fluid level

to go down slightly as the brake

pads wear out or when the fluid

level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent

refilling, there may be a serious

problem.

Adding the washer fluid

WARNING

■

When adding washer fluid

Do not add washer fluid when the

hybrid system is hot or operating

as washer fluid contains alcohol

and may catch fire if spilled on the

hybrid system, etc.

NOTICE

■

Do not use any fluid other

than washer fluid

Do not use soapy water or engine

antifreeze instead of washer fluid.

Doing so may cause streaking on

the vehicle’s painted surfaces, as

well as damaging the pump lead-

ing to problems of the washer

fluid not spraying.

■

Diluting washer fluid

Dilute washer fluid with water as

necessary.

Refer to the freezing tempera-

tures listed on the label of the

washer fluid bottle.

495

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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The 12-volt battery is located in
the right-hand side of luggage
compartment.

■

Before recharging

When recharging, the 12-volt bat-

tery produces hydrogen gas which

is flammable and explosive. There-

fore, observe the following precau-

tions before recharging:

●

If recharging with the 12-volt bat-

tery installed on the vehicle, be

sure to disconnect the ground

cable.

●

Make sure the power switch on

the charger is off when connecting

and disconnecting the charger

cables to the 12-volt battery.

■

After recharging/reconnecting

the 12-volt battery

●

Unlocking the doors using the

smart key system may not be pos-

sible immediately after reconnect-

ing the 12-volt battery. If this

happens, use the wireless remote

control or the mechanical key to

lock/unlock the doors.

●

Start the hybrid system with the

power switch in ACC. The hybrid

system may not start with the

power switch turned off. How-

ever, the hybrid system will oper-

ate normally from the second

attempt.

●

The power switch mode is

recorded by the vehicle. If the 12-

volt battery is reconnected, the

vehicle will return the power

switch mode to the status it was in

before the 12-volt battery was dis-

connected. Make sure to turn off

the power switch before discon-

nect the 12-volt battery. Take

extra care when connecting the

12-volt battery if the power switch

mode prior to discharge is

unknown.

If the hybrid system will not start

even after multiple attempts at all

methods above, contact your

Toyota dealer.

12-volt battery

Location

WARNING

■

Chemicals in the 12-volt bat-

tery

The 12-volt battery contains poi-

sonous and corrosive sulfuric acid

and may produce hydrogen gas

which is flammable and explosive.

To reduce the risk of death or

serious injury, take the following

precautions while working on or

near the 12-volt battery:

●

Do not cause sparks by touch-

ing the 12-volt battery terminals

with tools.

●

Do not smoke or light a match

near the 12-volt battery.

●

Avoid contact with eyes, skin

and clothes.

●

Never inhale or swallow electro-

lyte.

●

Wear protective safety glasses

when working near the 12-volt

battery.

●

Keep children away from the

12-volt battery.

496

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Open the deck board
(



P.442)

Disengage the 13 claws and
pull the luggage side cover to
remove it.

When installing the luggage side

cover, make sure that the claws are

installed securely.

Make sure that the 12-volt bat-
tery terminals are not corroded
and that there are no loose con-
nections, cracks, or loose
clamps.

WARNING

■

Where to safely charge the

12-volt battery

Always charge the 12-volt battery

in an open area. Do not charge

the 12-volt battery in a garage or

closed room where there is insuf-

ficient ventilation.

■

Emergency measures regard-

ing electrolyte

●

If electrolyte gets in your eyes

Flush your eyes with clean water
for at least 15 minutes and get
immediate medical attention. If
possible, continue to apply water
with a sponge or cloth while trav-
eling to the nearest medical facil-
ity.

●

If electrolyte gets on your skin

Wash the affected area thor-
oughly. If you feel pain or burning,
get medical attention immediately.

●

If electrolyte gets on your

clothes

It can soak through clothing on to
your skin. Immediately take off the
clothing and follow the procedure
above if necessary.

●

If you accidentally swallow elec-

trolyte

Drink a large quantity of water or
milk. Get emergency medical
attention immediately.

■

When there is insufficient 12-

volt battery fluid

Do not use if there is insufficient

fluid in the 12-volt battery. There

is a possible danger that the 12-

volt battery may explode.

NOTICE

■

When recharging the 12-volt

battery

Never recharge the 12-volt bat-

tery while the hybrid system is

operating. Also, be sure all acces-

sories are turned off.

Removing the 12-volt bat-
tery cover

Exterior

497

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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Terminals

Hold-down clamp

Check the battery condition by
indicator color.

Blue: Good condition

Red: Charging is necessary.

Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer.

Clear: Not working properly.

Add distilled water or replace the
battery.
Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer.

Check if the treadwear indica-
tors are showing on the tires.
Also check the tires for uneven
wear, such as excessive wear
on one side of the tread.
Check the spare tire condition
and pressure if not rotated.

New tread

Worn tread

Treadwear indicator

The location of treadwear indicators
is shown by a “TWI” or “

” mark,

Checking the 12-volt bat-
tery condition

Tires

Replace or rotate tires in
accordance with mainte-
nance schedules and tread-
wear.

Checking tires

498

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

etc., molded into the sidewall of
each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear
indicators are showing on a tire.

■

When to replace your vehicle’s

tires

Tires should be replaced if:

●

The treadwear indicators are

showing on a tire.

●

You have tire damage such as

cuts, splits, cracks deep enough

to expose the fabric, and bulges

indicating internal damage.

●

A tire goes flat repeatedly or can-

not be properly repaired due to

the size or location of a cut or

other damage.

If you are not sure, consult with your

Toyota dealer.

■

Tire life

Any tire over 6 years old must be

checked by a qualified technician

even if it has seldom or never been

used or damage is not obvious.

■

Maximum load of tire

Check that the number given by

dividing the maximum load by 1.10

of the replacement tire is greater

than 1/2 of the Gross Axle Weight

Ratings (GAWR) of either the front

axle or the rear axle, whichever is

greater.
For the GAWR, see the Certification

Regulation Label. For the maximum

load of the tire, see the load limit at

maximum cold tire inflation pressure

mentioned on the sidewall of the

tire. (



P.589)

■

Tire types

●

Summer tires

Summer tires are high-speed perfor-
mance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Since
summer tires do not have the same
traction performance as snow tires,
summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy
roads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow
tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all
four tires.

●

All season tires

All season tires are designed to pro-
vide better traction in snow and to
be adequate for driving in most win-
ter conditions as well as for use
year-round. All season tires, how-
ever, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow
tires in heavy or loose snow. Also,
all season tires fall short in accelera-
tion and handling performance com-
pared with summer tires in highway
driving.

●

Snow tires

For driving on snow-covered roads
or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires,
select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load capacity as the
originally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original
equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction.
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels.
(



P.413)

499

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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■

If the tread on snow tires wears

down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)

The effectiveness of the tires as

snow tires is lost.

Rotate the tires in the order
shown.

To equalize tire wear and extend
tire life, Toyota recommends that
tire rotation is carried out at the
same interval as tire inspection.
Vehicles with tire pressure warning
system: Do not fail to initialize the
tire pressure warning system after
tire rotation.

Front

WARNING

■

When inspecting or replacing

tires

Observe the following precautions

to prevent accidents.

Failure to do so may cause dam-

age to parts of the drive train as

well as dangerous handling char-

acteristics, which may lead to an

accident resulting in death or seri-

ous injury.

●

Do not mix tires of different

makes, models or tread pat-

terns.

Also, do not mix tires of remark-

ably different treadwear.

●

Do not use tire sizes other than

those recommended by Toyota.

●

Do not mix differently con-

structed tires (radial, bias-belted

or bias-ply tires).

●

Do not mix summer, all season

and snow tires.

●

Do not use tires that have been

used on another vehicle.

Do not use tires if you do not

know how they were used previ-

ously.

●

Do not tow if your vehicle has a

compact spare tire installed.

NOTICE

■

Driving on rough roads

Take particular care when driving

on roads with loose surfaces or

potholes.

These conditions may cause

losses in tire inflation pressure,

reducing the cushioning ability of

the tires. In addition, driving on

rough roads may cause damage

to the tires themselves, as well as

the vehicle’s wheels and body.

■

If tire inflation pressure of

each tire becomes low while

driving

Do not continue driving, or your

tires and/or wheels may be

ruined.

Tire rotation

500

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■

When rotating the tires (vehi-

cles with tire pressure warning

system)

Make sure that the power switch is

OFF. If the tires are rotated while

the power switch is in ON, the tire

position information will not be

updated. If this accidentally occurs,

either turn the power switch to OFF

and then to ON, or initialize the sys-

tem after checking that the tire pres-

sure is properly adjusted.

Your vehicle is equipped with a
tire pressure warning system
that uses tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters to detect
low tire inflation pressure before
serious problems arise.
The tire pressure warning sys-
tem of this vehicle adopts a 2-
type warning system



When “Adjust Pressure” is
displayed (Normal Warning)

The tire pressure warning light
comes on and a buzzer sounds
when the tire inflation pressure
becomes low due to natural air
leakage or outside temperature.
(Ways of coping:



P.547, 585)



When “Immediately Check
tire when Safe” is displayed
(Emergency Warning)

The tire pressure warning light
comes on and a buzzer sounds
when the tire inflation pressure
becomes low suddenly due to a
blowout. (Ways of coping:



P.547,

557) However, the system may not

be able to detect sudden tire rup-
tures (bursting, etc.).

The tire pressure detected by
the tire pressure warning sys-
tem can be displayed on the
multi-information display.

The unit can be changed.

With 7-inch display: