Instrument panel overview
Instrument cluster overview
Indicator symbols on the
instrument panel
’99 Rav4.U
1
Instrument panel overview
’99 Rav4.U
1. Side vents
2. Instrument cluster
3. Center vents
4. Electric moon roof switch and personal
lights
5. Glove box
6. Power door lock switches
(with power windows)
7. Power window switches
8. Parking brake lever
9. Automatic transmission selector lever
or manual transmission gear shift lever
10. Ashtray
11. Lower vent
12. Hood lock release lever
2
’99 Rav4.U
1. Instrument panel light control knob
2. Headlight and turn signal switch
3. Wiper and washer switches
4. Clock
5. Center differential lock button or driving
pattern selector button
6. Air conditioning controls
7. Emergency flasher switch
8. Rear window defogger switch
9. Car audio
10. Cigarette lighter
11. Ignition switch
12. Cruise control switch
13. Tilt steering lock release lever
14. Power door lock switch
(without power windows)
15. Power rear view mirror control switch
3
Instrument cluster overview
’99 Rav4.U
1. Speedometer
2. Fuel gauge
3. Service reminder indicators and
indicator lights
4
4. Engine coolant temperature gauge
5. Tachometer
6. Trip meter reset knob
7. Odometer and two trip meters
Indicator symbols on the instrument panel
’99 Rav4.U
(type A)
(type B)
(type A)
(type B)
∗
Brake system warning light
Seat belt reminder light
Discharge warning light
1
∗
1
∗
1
Low oil pressure warning light
∗
Malfunction indicator lamp
Low fuel level warning light
1
∗
(type A)
Anti-lock brake system warning light
∗
1
(type B)
∗
Open door warning light
SRS airbag warning light
∗
1
Automatic transmission fluid temperature warning
∗
1
light
Low windshield washer fluid level warning light
1
∗
1
∗
1
Turn signal indicator lights
1
Headlight high beam indicator light
5
Automatic transmission indicator light
Overdrive- off indicator light
Driving pattern indicator light
Center differential lock indicator light
∗
Cruise control indicator light
∗
1
: For details, see ”Service reminder indicators and warning
2
buzzers” in Chapter 1- 5.
∗
2
: If this light flashes, see ”Cruise control” in Chapter 1- 6.
’99 Rav4.U
6
’99 Rav4.U
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS—
Chapter 1-2
Keys and Doors
Keys
Side doors
Power windows
Quarter window
Back door and tailgate
Hood
Fuel tank cap
Electric moon roof
Detachable sun roof
Soft-top
Keys
Your vehicle is supplied with two kinds
of key.
1. Master key—This key works in every
lock.
2. Sub key—This key will not work in the
glove box.
To protect things locked in the glove box
when you have your vehicle parked, leave
the sub key with the attendant.
Since the side doors, back door (hardtop)
and tailgate (soft-top) can be locked without a key, you should always carry a
spare master key in case you accidentally
lock your keys inside the vehicle.
KEY NUMBER PLATE
Your key number is shown on the plate.
Keep the plate in a safe place such as
your wallet, not in the vehicle.
If you should lose your keys or if you
need additional keys, duplicates can be
made by a Toyota dealer using the key
number.
We recommend you to write down the key
number and keep it in safe place.
7
Side doors
’99 Rav4.U
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH KEY
Insert the key into the keyhole and turn
it.
To lock: Turn the key forward.
To unlock: Turn the key backward.
Vehicles with power door lock system—All
the side doors, back door (hardtop) and
tailgate (soft-top) lock and unlock simultaneously with either front door. In the driver’s door lock, turning the key once will
unlock the driver’s door and twice in succession will unlock all the side doors,
back door (hardtop) and tailgate (soft- top)
simultaneously.
8
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH
INSIDE LOCK KNOB
Move the lock knob.
To lock: Push the knob forward.
To unlock: Pull the knob backward.
Closing the door with the lock knob in the
lock position will also lock the door. Be
careful not to lock your keys in the vehicle.
With power windows (Driver’s side)
With power windows (Passenger’s side)
Operating the switch simultaneously locks
or unlocks all the side doors, back door
(hardtop) and tailgate (soft- top).
’99 Rav4.U
Without power windows
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH
POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
Push the switch.
With power windows—
To lock: Push the switch on the front side.
To unlock: Push the switch on the rear
side.
Without power windows—
To lock: Push the switch on the ”LOCK”
side.
To unlock: Push the switch on the
”UNLOCK” side.
REAR DOOR CHILD- PROTECTORS
Move the lock lever to the ”LOCK”
position as shown on the label.
This feature allows you to lock a rear
door so it can be opened from the outside
only, not from inside. We recommend using this feature whenever small children
are in the vehicle.
9
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the doors
are closed and locked, especially
when small children are in the vehicle. Along with the proper use of
seat belts, locking the doors helps
prevent the driver and passengers
from being thrown out from the vehicle during an accident. It also helps
prevent the doors from being opened
unintentionally.
’99 Rav4.U
Power windows
10
The windows can be operated with the
switch on each side door.
The power windows work when the ignition
switch is in the ”ON” position.
Key off operation: If the driver’s door is
closed, they work for 45 seconds even
after the ignition switch is turned off. They
stop working when the driver’s door is
opened.
OPERATING THE DRIVER’S WINDOW
Use the switch on the driver’s door.
Normal operation: The window moves as
long as you hold the switch.
To open: Lightly push down the switch.
To close: Lightly pull up the switch.
Automatic operation: Push the switch
completely down or pull it completely up,
and then release it. The window will fully
open or close. To stop the window partway, lightly move the switch in the opposite direction and then release it.
Jam protection function: During automatic closing operation, the window stops and
opens half way if something gets caught
between the window and window frame.
If an impact is given to the window, this
function may work without anything
caught.
CAUTION
Never try jamming any part of your
body to make the jam protection
function work intentionally.
The jam protection function may
not work when something gets
caught just before the window is
fully closed.
’99 Rav4.U
Window lock
button
OPERATING THE PASSENGERS’
WINDOWS
Use the switch on each passengers’
door or the switches on the driver’s
door that control each passengers’ window.
The window moves as long as you hold
the switch.
To open: Push down the switch.
To close: Pull up the switch.
If you push in the window lock button on
the driver’s door, the passengers’ windows
cannot be operated.
11
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CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
Always make sure the head, hands
and other parts of the body of all
occupants are kept completely inside the vehicle before you close
the power windows. If someone’s
neck, head or hands gets caught in
a closing window, it could result in
a serious injury. When anyone
closes the power windows, be sure
that they operate the windows safely.
When small children are in the ve-
hicle, never let them use the power
window switches without supervision. Use the window lock button to
prevent them from making unexpected use of the switches.
Never leave small children alone in
the vehicle, especially with the ignition key still inserted. They could
use the power window switches and
get trapped in a window. Unattended children can become involved in serious accidents.
Quarter window
(2-door hardtop)
To open the quarter window, pull the
latch handle toward you and swing it
fully out.
When closing the window, make sure it is
completely closed.
CAUTION
When the quarter windows are
opened, observe the following:
Depending on driving conditions,
e.g. driving the vehicle with the
front windows slightly open, you
may smell exhaust fumes in the vehicle. If so, close the quarter windows.
Back door (hardtop) and
tailgate (soft- top)
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH KEY
Insert the key into the keyhole and turn
it.
To lock: Turn the key counterclockwise.
To unlock: Turn the key clockwise.
When closing the back door (hardtop) or
tailgate (soft-top), make sure it is fully
closed.
See ”Luggage stowage precautions” in
Part 2 for precautions to observe in loading luggage.
12
CAUTION
Keep the back door (hardtop) or
tailgate (soft- top) closed while driving. This not only keeps the luggage from being thrown out but
also prevents exhaust gases from
entering the vehicle.
If the open back door (hardtop) or
tailgate (soft-top) hides the rear
stop and tail lights or rear turn signal lights while you are parked, other road users must be warned of
the presence of your vehicle by a
warning triangle or other device.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood lock release lever. The
hood will spring up slightly.
CAUTION
’99 Rav4.U
2. In front of the vehicle, pull up the
auxiliary catch lever and lift the
hood.
Before driving, be sure that the hood
is closed and securely locked. Otherwise, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving and an accident may
occur.
13
3. Hold the hood open by inserting the
support rod into the slot.
Before closing the hood, check that you
have not forgotten any tools, rags, etc.
and return the support rod to its clip—this
prevents rattles. Then lower the hood until
it is about 20 cm (8 in.) above the engine
compartment and release it. If the hood is
still not fully closed, lift and release the
hood again. After closing the hood, make
sure it is securely locked.
If you notice while driving that the hood
is not securely locked, stop the vehicle at
once and close the hood.
CAUTION
Right after driving the support rod
may be hot, so only touch the part
coated with nylon.
After inserting the 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, be careful
not to get your hands caught between the hood and the vehicle
body.
NOTICE
Do not press on the hood, or you
may deform the hood.
’99 Rav4.U
Fuel tank cap
1. To open the fuel filler door, pull the
lever up.
When refueling, turn off the engine.
CAUTION
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames when refueling.
The fumes are flammable.
When opening the cap, do not re-
move the cap quickly. In hot weather, fuel under pressure could cause
injury by spraying out of the filler
neck if the cap is suddenly removed.
14
CAUTION
Make sure the cap is tightened se-
curely to prevent fuel spillage in
case of an accident.
Use only a genuine Toyota fuel tank
cap for replacement. It has a builtin check valve to reduce fuel tank
vacuum.
’99 Rav4.U
Electric moon roof
2. To remove the fuel tank cap, turn
the cap slowly counterclockwise,
then pause slightly before removing
it. After removing the cap, hang it
on the cap hanger.
It is not unusual to hear a slight swoosh
when the cap is opened. When installing,
turn the cap clockwise till you hear a
click.
If the cap is not tightened securely, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on.
Make sure the cap is tightened securely.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Sliding operation
Tilting operation
15
To operate the moon roof, use the
switches beside the personal light.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
Sun shade operation—
The sun shade can be opened or closed
by hand.
Sliding operation—
To open: Push the switch on the ”SLIDE”
side.
The sun shade will be opened together
with the roof.
To close: Push the switch on the opposite
side of the ”SLIDE” side.
As a precaution when closing, the roof
stops at the three- quarters closed position
before fully closing. Therefore, release the
switch and then push it again to close it
completely.
Tilting operation—
To tilt up: Push the switch on the ”UP”
side.
To lower: Push the switch on the opposite
side of the ”UP” side.
You may stop the moon roof at any desired position. The roof will move while
the switch is being pushed and stop when
released.
CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
While the vehicle is moving, always
keep the head, hands and other
parts of the body of all occupants
away from the roof opening. Otherwise, you could be seriously injured
if the vehicle stops suddenly or if
the vehicle is involved in an accident.
Always make sure nobody places
his/her head, hands and other parts
of the body in the roof opening before you close the roof. If someone’s neck, head or hands gets
caught in the closing roof, it could
result in a serious injury. When
anyone close the roof, first make
sure it is safe to do so.
Never leave small children alone in
the vehicle, especially with the ignition key still inserted. They could
use the moon roof switches and get
trapped in the roof opening. Unattended children can become involved in serious accidents.
Never sit on top of the vehicle
around the roof opening.
’99 Rav4.U
Detachable sun roof—
—Sun roof precautions
CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
While the vehicle is moving, always
keep the head, hands and other
parts of the body of all occupants
away from the roof opening. Otherwise, you could be seriously injured
if the vehicle stops suddenly or if
the vehicle is involved in an accident.
Never sit on top of the vehicle
around the roof opening.
Never attempt to remove the sun
roof panel while driving. Otherwise,
the panel may become a hazard by
falling into or flying off the vehicle.
After installing the sun roof panel,
make sure they are firmly secured
by pushing up on the underside of
each panel.
Never put your hands between the
sun roof panel and the surrounding
roof.
16
’99 Rav4.U
—Tilting up and closing
To tilt up the sun roof, first pull down
on the handle while pushing in one of
the lock buttons. Then push up the sun
roof until it locks.
After tilting up the sun roof, make sure
the handle is securely in place.
When closing the sun roof, slowly pull
down the handle while supporting the roof
with your hand. Close and lock the sun
roof by pushing the handle until it clicks.
Be sure to use your palm to push the
handle. After closing the sun roof, make
sure it is securely locked.
—Removing
1. Pull the handle down while pushing
in one of the lock buttons.
2. Push in the retaining spring arms as
shown and push up the sun roof.
17
—Stowing
’99 Rav4.U
3. Push back the auxiliary catch to release it from the hook. Then lift the
sun roof panel and pull it out.
18
Install the removed sun roof panel on
the tailgate as follows.
NOTICE
If the rear seats are reclined, return
them to the upright position before
closing the tailgate. Otherwise, they
will interfere with the installed sun
roof panel, possibly damaging the
panel.
1. Remove the holder from the tailgate
by turning the bolts counterclockwise.
’99 Rav4.U
2. Set the front edge of the sun roof
panel into the holders.
3. Place the removed holder over the
sun roof handle.
4. Secure the holder by turning the
bolts clockwise.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle without
checking that the roof panel is securely attached to the tailgate.
19
—Installing
1. Insert the flat hinges of the sun roof
panel into the hinge cases on the
body. Then slowly lower it while
holding the roof with your hands.
Make sure both flat hinges are inserted
into the hinge cases.
2. Press in the retaining spring arms
and insert them into the holes. Then
lock the sun roof by pushing the
handle up with the palm of your
hand until the handle clicks.
’99 Rav4.U
Soft-top—
—Soft- top precautions
CAUTION
To avoid serious personal injury, you
must do the following.
While the vehicle is moving, always
keep the head, hands and other
parts of the body of all occupants
away from the soft- top opening.
Otherwise, you could be seriously
injured if the vehicle stops suddenly or if the vehicle is involved in an
accident.
Do not lower or raise the soft-top
while the vehicle is moving. You
may lose control and it may cause
an accident.
The vehicle should never be driven
with the soft- top partially lowered.
Make sure the top has been either
fully latched to the roof or fully
lowered before driving.
When raising or lowering the soft-
top, keep hands clear from any
parts of the top linkage.
20
’99 Rav4.U
—Lowering the soft-top
Do not drive the vehicle only with
the rear window removed because
serious injury or death can result.
The removed rear window may let
the exhaust gases enter the vehicle.
If you must drive with the rear window removed, broken or not fully
sealed, you should immediately remove the quarter windows also to
avoid exhaust gas filled up and as
necessary have the window fixed
immediately.
Make sure no object overhangs the
vehicle. The overhanging objects
may cause an accident.
NOTICE
Make sure there are no items or
packages between the rear seatback
and the soft-top storage area when
raising or lowering the soft-top.
Even small items may interfere with
soft-top operation and can cause
damage.
Do not sit or place excessive
weight on the soft-top; when the
top is up or down, damage may
result.
Do not raise or lower the soft-top
when the temperature is below 0
°
F), or damage may result to the
(32
top material, rear window or quarter
windows. If necessary to do so,
warm the vehicle in a heated garage
prior to operating the soft-top
mechanism.
Do not lower the soft-top if the top
is damp or wet. Interior water damage, water stains or mildew of the
top material may result.
Do not bend the removed quarter
and rear windows or hit them on a
hard object. It may damage the removed windows.
°
Before lowering the soft- top, make sure
C
the soft-top is securely closed.
REMOVING THE QUARTER WINDOWS
1. Remove the Velcros on the top of
the quarter window from the inside
of the vehicle.
21
’99 Rav4.U
2. Remove the Velcros on the quarter
window from the outside of the vehicle.
22
3. Unfasten the zippers.4. Remove the retainers on the bottom
of the quarter windows from the
groove.
’99 Rav4.U
5. Slide down the window along the
side groove.
NOTICE
Do not bend the removed quarter window or hit it on a hard object. It may
damage the quarter window.
REMOVING THE REAR WINDOW
1. Open the tailgate, and remove the
Velcros on the rear window.
2. Unfasten the zippers and slide down
the rear window.
NOTICE
Do not bend the removed rear window
or hit it on a hard object. It may
damage the rear window.
23
’99 Rav4.U
LOWERING THE SOFT- TOP
Before lowering the soft- top, make sure
the quarter windows and rear window
are already removed.
NOTICE
Lowering the soft- top without removing the quarter and rear window may
cause damage to the soft- top.
1. While pressing the lock release button, pull down the latch handle.
24
2. Lock the latch handle and hook.3. Fold the soft-top. Make sure to
place the soft-top between the rear
seat backs and tailgate.
CAUTION
With the soft-top opened, when the
rear seat is in the reclined position
or when reclining the rear seat, be
careful not to damage the soft- top
and not to get your head hit or injured by the latch handles.
—Raising the soft-top
’99 Rav4.U
4. Take the latch handle cover out of
the glove box, put it over the latch
handle and fasten it securely with
Velcros.
RAISING THE SOFT- TOP
1. Remove the latch handle cover.
Store the removed cover in the glove
box.
2. Raise the soft-top.
CAUTION
When raising the soft-top, keep
hands clear from any parts of the top
linkage.
25
’99 Rav4.U
3. Separate the latch handle and hook
while pressing the lock release button.
26
4. Set the hook, push up the latch handle to securely lock it.
CAUTION
Try pushing and pulling the latch
handle to make sure it is securely
locked.
Try pushing the soft-top forward
and rearward to make sure it is securely locked.
INSTALLING THE REAR WINDOW
1. Open the tailgate and engage the
zipper approximately 25 mm (1.0 in.).
CAUTION
The rear window must be securely
sealed to prevent exhaust gases from
coming into the occupant compartment and causing serious personal
injury or death.
’99 Rav4.U
2. Align the retainer on the bottom of
the window with the groove.
CAUTION
Make sure the retainer on the rear
window is securely inserted into the
groove.
3. Fasten the zippers securely and
align the Velcros to secure the rear
window.
INSTALLING THE QUARTER WINDOWS
1. Engage the zipper approximately 25
mm (1.0 in.).
27
’99 Rav4.U
2. Insert the retainer on the side of the
window into the groove on the vehicle side.
28
3. Insert the retainer on the bottom of
the window into the groove.
CAUTION
Make sure the retainers on the side
and bottom of the quarter window are
securely inserted into the grooves.
4. Fasten the zipper securely and align
the Velcros to secure the quarter
windows.
5. Align the Velcros from the inside of
the vehicles.
’99 Rav4.U
29
’99 Rav4.U
30
’99 Rav4.U
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS—
Chapter 1-3
Seats, Seat belts, Steering
wheel and Mirrors
Seats
Front seats
Rear seats
Flattening seatbacks
Head restraints
Seat belts
SRS driver and front passenger
While the vehicle is being driven, all vehicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and properly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow sitting on top of a
folded- down seatback, or in the
luggage compartment. Persons not
properly seated and not properly restrained by seat belts can be severely injured in the event of emergency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow pas-
sengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Severe injuries can occur in the event of emergency braking or a collision.
31
Front seats—
—Seat adjustment precautions
Adjust the driver’s seat so that the foot
pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel controls are within easy reach of
the driver.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving, as the
seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When adjusting the seat, be careful
not to hit the seat against a passenger or luggage.
After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is locked in position.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
Do not put objects under the seats.
The objects may interfere with the
seat- lock mechanism or unexpectedly push up the seat position adjusting lever; the seat may suddenly
move, causing the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
’99 Rav4.U
—Adjusting front seats
While adjusting the seat, do not put
your hands under the seat or near
the moving parts. You may catch
and injure your hands or fingers.
32
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Pull the lever up. Then slide the seat
to the desired position with slight body
pressure and release the lever.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maximum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the passenger are sitting up straight and
well back in the seats. If you are
reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. Therefore, in
the event of a frontal collision, the
risk of personal injury may increase
with increasing recline of the seatback.
’99 Rav4.U
—Moving passenger’s seat for
rear seat entry
(2-door hardtop and soft-top)
CAUTION
After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat forward and rearward to make sure it is secured in
place.
Never allow anyone to rest their
foot on the release pedal while the
vehicle is moving.
For easy access to the rear seat, do
this.
1. Lift the seatback angle adjusting lever
or press the pedal behind the seatback.
The seat will slide forward.
2. Move the seat to the front-most position.
After passengers are in, lift up the seatback and return the seat until it locks.
33
’99 Rav4.U
Rear seats—
—Adjusting seatback angle
Lean forward and pull the lock release
lever. Then lean back to the desired
angle and release the lever.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you
are reclined, the lap belt may slide
past your hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen.
Therefore, in the event of a frontal
collision, the risk of personal injury
may increase with increasing recline
of the seatback.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
—Folding up rear seats
(2-door hardtop and soft-top)
1. Remove the head restraint. Unlock
the seatback and fold it down.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See ”Luggage stowage precautions” in Part 2 for precautions
to observe for loading luggage.
34
’99 Rav4.U
2. Unlock the seat cushion. Swing the
whole seat up and forward.
3. Lock the raised bottom cushion in
place by attaching the support rod
onto the hook. Then store the head
restraint in the head restraint retaining holes in the bottom cushion.
When returning the rear seat to its
original position, first remove the head
restraint. Unlock the seat and return it.
Be certain to replace the head restraint.
35
CAUTION
When returning seats to their original
position:
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rearward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent seat belt from proper
operation.
—Folding up rear seats
(4-door hardtop)
BEFORE FOLDING REAR SEAT
Stow the rear seat belt and buckles as
shown in the illustration.
This prevents the belt and buckles from
falling out when you fold the seatback.
NOTICE
The seat belt and buckles must be
stowed before you fold the seatback.
’99 Rav4.U
FOLDING REAR SEAT
1. Remove the head restraint. Unlock
the seatback and fold it down.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See ”Luggage stowage precautions” in Part 2 for precautions
to observe for loading luggage.
36
’99 Rav4.U
2. Unlock the seat cushion. Swing the
whole seat up and forward.
3. Lock the raised bottom cushion in
place by clipping the strap to the
hook. Then store the head restraint
in the head restraint retaining holes
in the bottom cushion.
When returning the rear seat to its
original position, first remove the head
restraint. Unlock the seat and return it.
Be certain to replace head restraint.
37
CAUTION
When returning seats to their original
position:
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rearward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent seat belt from proper
operation.
Flattening seatbacks
(2-door hardtop and soft-top)
Rear seats
’99 Rav4.U
Rear seats: Remove the head restraint.
Then pull out the strap to unlock the
seatback, and push down the seatback.
Front seats: Remove the head restraint
and slide the seat to the front-most
position. Push the seat further forward
to release the slide- lock, and unlock
and push down the seatback.
When returning the seatback upright, be
careful not to make yourself hit by the
seatback which will bound with considerable spring force.
After returning the seat to its original
position, be certain to replace the head
restraint.
CAUTION
Do not allow passengers to ride on
the flattened seat while driving; use
the seat in the normal position.
After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat and seatback forward and rearward to make sure it
is secured in place. Be certain to
replace head restraint.
38
Front seats
NOTICE
Before closing the back door, make
sure the rear headrests are removed
from the flattened seats.
Flattening seatbacks
(4-door hardtop)
Rear seats
’99 Rav4.U
Rear seats: Pull out the strap to unlock
the seatback, and push down the seatback.
Front seats: Remove the head restraint
and slide the seat to the front-most
position. Push the seat further forward
to release the slide- lock, and unlock
and push down the seatback.
When returning the seatback upright, be
careful not to make yourself hit by the
seatback which will bound with considerable spring force.
After returning the seat to its original
position, be certain to replace the head
restraint.
CAUTION
Do not allow passengers to ride on
the flattened seat while driving; use
the seat in the normal position.
After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat and seatback forward and rearward to make sure it
is secured in place. Be certain to
replace head restraint.
Front seats
39
Head restraints
For your safety and comfort, adjust the
head restraint before driving.
To raise: Pull it up.
To lower: Push it down while pressing the
lock release button.
The head restraint is most effective when
it is close to your head. Therefore, using
a cushion on the seatback is not recommended.
CAUTION
Adjust the center of the head re-
straint so that it is closest to the
top of your ears.
After adjusting the head restraint,
make sure it is locked in position.
Do not drive with the head re-
straints removed.
’99 Rav4.U
Seat belts—
—Seat belt precautions
Toyota strongly urges that the driver and
passengers in the vehicle be properly restrained at all times with the seat belts
provided. Failure to do so could increase
the chance of injury and/or the severity of
injury in accidents.
Child. Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child becomes large enough to properly wear the
vehicle’s seat belts. See ”Child restraint”
for details.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when properly
restrained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
If a child must sit in the front seat, the
seat belts should be worn properly. If an
accident occurs and seat belts are not
worn properly, the force of the rapid inflation of the airbag may cause death or
serious injury to the child.
40
’99 Rav4.U
Do not allow the child to stand up or
kneel on either rear or front seats. An
unrestrained child could suffer serious injury or death during emergency braking or
a collision. Also, do not let the child sit
on your lap. It does not provide sufficient
restraint.
Pregnant woman. Toyota recommends the
use of a seat belt. Ask your doctor for
specific recommendations. The lap belt
should be worn securely and as low as
possible over the hips and not on the
waist.
Injured person. Toyota recommends the
use of a seat belt. Depending on the injury, first check with your doctor for specific
recommendations.
CAUTION
Persons should ride in their seats
properly wearing their seat belts
whenever the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise, they are much more likely
to suffer serious bodily injury or
death in the event of sudden braking
or a collision.
When using the seat belts, observe
the following:
Use the belt for only one person at
a time. Do not use a single belt for
two or more people—even children.
Avoid reclining the seatbacks too
much. The seat belts provide maximum protection when the seatbacks
are in the upright position. (Refer
to the seat adjustment instructions.)
Be careful not to damage the belt
webbing or hardware. Take care that
they do not get caught or pinched
in the seat or side doors.
Inspect the belt system periodically.
Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Damaged parts should be replaced. Do not disassemble or
modify the system.
Keep the belts clean and dry. If
they need cleaning, use a mild soap
solution or lukewarm water. Never
use bleach, dye, or abrasive cleaners—they may severely weaken the
belts. (See ”Cleaning the interior”
in Part 5.)
Replace the belt assembly (includ-
ing bolts) if it has been used in a
severe impact. The entire assembly
should be replaced even if damage
is not obvious.
41
—Front seat belts and rear
outside seat belts
’99 Rav4.U
If the seat belt cannot be pulled out of the
retractor, firmly pull the belt and release
it. You will then be able to smoothly pull
the belt out of the retractor.
When a passenger’s shoulder belt is completely extended and is then retracted
even slightly, the belt is locked in that
position and cannot be extended. This feature is used to hold the child restraint
system securely. (For details, see ”Child
restraint” in this chapter.) To free the belt
again, fully retract the belt and then pull
the belt out once more.
Adjust the seat as needed and sit up
straight and well back in the seat. To
fasten your belt, pull it out of the retractor and insert the tab into the
buckle.
You will hear a click when the tab locks
into the buckle.
The seat belt length automatically adjusts
to your size and the seat position.
The retractor will lock the belt during a
sudden stop or on impact. It also may
lock if you lean forward too quickly. A
slow, easy motion will allow the belt to
extend, and you can move around freely.
42
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your
child from injury.
Seat belts with an adjustable shoulder
anchor—
Adjust the shoulder anchor position to
your size.
To adjust the anchor position, pull the
knob out and slide it up or down. Release
the knob and make sure the anchor is
locked in position.
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Always make sure the shoulder belt
is positioned across the center of
your shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from your neck, but not
falling off your shoulder. Failure to
do so could reduce the amount of
protection in an accident and cause
serious injuries in a collision.
Take up
slack
Too high
Keep as low on hips as possible
Adjust the position of the lap and
shoulder belts.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips—not on your waist, then adjust it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder
portion upward through the latch plate.
CAUTION
High- positioned lap belts and
loose- fitting belts both could cause
serious injuries due to sliding under the lap belt during a collision
or other unintended result. Keep
the lap belt positioned as low on
hips as possible.
For your safety, do not place the
shoulder belt under your arm.
43
—Rear center seat belt
(4-door hardtop)
’99 Rav4.U
To release the belt, press the buckle- release button and allow the belt to retract.
If the belt does not retract smoothly, pull
it out and check for kinks or twists. Then
make sure it remains untwisted as it retracts.
Lengthen
Sit up straight and well back in the
seat. To fasten your belt, insert the tab
into the buckle.
You will hear a click when the tab locks
into the buckle.
If the belt is not long enough for you, hold
the tab at a right angle to the belt and
pull on the tab.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your
child from injury.
44
To o h i g h
Adjust to a snug fit
Keep as low on hips as possible
’99 Rav4.U
—Stowing the rear seat belt
and buckles (4-door hardtop)
Remove excess length of the belt and
adjust the belt position.
To shorten the belt, pull the free end of
the belt.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips—not on your waist, then adjust it to a snug fit.
CAUTION
High- positioned and loose- fitting lap
belts could cause serious injuries due
to sliding under the lap belt during a
collision or other unintended result.
Keep the lap belt positioned as low
on hips as possible.
To release the belt, press the buckle- release button.
The rear seat belt and buckles can be
stowed when not in use.
Seat belt and buckles must be stowed
before you fold the seatback. (See ”Rear
seats—Folding up rear seats” in this chapter.)
45
—Seat belt extender
If your seat belt cannot be fastened securely because it is not long enough, a
personalized seat belt extender is available from your Toyota dealer free of
charge.
Please contact your local Toyota dealer so
that the dealer can order the proper required length for the extender. Bring the
heaviest coat you expect to wear for proper measurement and selection of length.
Additional ordering information is available
at your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
When using the seat belt extender,
observe the following. Failure to follow these instructions could result in
less effectiveness of the seat belt restraint system in case of vehicle accident, increasing the chance of personal injury.
Never use the seat belt extender if
you can fasten the seat belt without
it.
Remember that the extender pro-
vided for you may not be safe when
used on a different vehicle, or for
another person or at a different
seating position than the one originally intended for.
’99 Rav4.U
To connect the extender to the seat
belt, insert the tab into the seat belt
buckle so that the ”PRESS” signs on
the buckle- release buttons of the extender and the seat belt are both facing
outward as shown.
You will hear a click when the tab locks
into the buckle.
When releasing the seat belt, press on
the buckle- release button on the extender,
not on the seat belt. This helps prevent
damage to the vehicle interior and extender itself.
When not in use, remove the extender
and store in the vehicle for future use.
46
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the seat belt extender is not
twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your
child from injury.
—Front seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger’s seat
belt pretensioners are designed to be
activated in response to a severe frontal impact.
When the airbag sensor detects the shock
of a severe frontal impact, the front seat
belt is quickly drawn back in by the retractor so that the belt snugly restrains
the front seat occupants.
The seat belt pretensioners are activated
even with no passenger in the front seat.
’99 Rav4.U
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the front seat
belt pretensioners are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sensors, seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
warning light, interconnecting wiring and
power sources. (For details, see ”Service
reminder indicators and warning buzzers”
in Chapter 1- 5.)
47
’99 Rav4.U
The seat belt pretensioner system mainly
consists of the following components and
their locations are shown in the illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS airbag warning light
3. Seat belt pretensioner assemblies
4. Airbag sensor assembly
The seat belt pretensioner is controlled by
the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag
sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and airbag sensor.
When a seat belt pretensioner is activated, an operating noise may be heard
and a small amount of smoke- like gas
may be released. This gas is harmless
and does not indicate that a fire is occurring.
Once the seat belt pretensioner has been
activated, the seat belt retractor remains
locked.
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open
the front seat belt pretensioner assemblies, airbag sensor or surrounding area or wiring. Doing any of
these may cause sudden operation of
the front seat belt pretensioners or
disable the system, which could result in serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in serious injuries.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
seat belt pretensioners in some
cases.
Installation of electronic items such
as a mobile two- way radio, cassette
tape player or compact disc player
Repairs on or near the front seat
belt retractor assemblies
Modification of the suspension system
Modification of the front end structure
Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure or console
48
The front seat belt pretensioner assem-
bly or surrounding area has been damaged.
The front part of the vehicle (shaded
in the illustration) was involved in an
accident not of the extent to cause the
seat belt pretensioners to operate.
The front seat belt pretensioner assem-
bly is scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.
’99 Rav4.U
SRS driver and front
passenger airbags
This front seat belt pretensioner system
has a service reminder indicator to inform
the driver of operating problems. If either
of the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction of the airbags or
pretensioners. Contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible to service the
vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position, or remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving.
If either front seat belt does not retract
or can not be pulled out due to a
malfunction or activation of the pretensioner.
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are designed to provide
further protection for the driver and
front passenger when added to the primary protection provided by the seat
belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact,
the SRS airbags work together with the
seat belts to help prevent or reduce injury
by inflating, in order to decrease the likelihood of the driver’s or front passenger’s
head or chest directly hitting the steering
wheel or dashboard. The passenger airbag
is activated even with no passenger in the
front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.
49
CAUTION
A driver or front passenger too close
to the steering wheel or dashboard
during airbag deployment can be
killed or seriously injured. Toyota
strongly recommends that:
The driver sit as far back as pos-
sible from the steering wheel while
still maintaining control of the vehicle.
The front passenger sit as far back
as possible from the dashboard.
All vehicle occupants be properly
restrained using the available seat
belts.
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the SRS airbags
are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sensors, inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details,
see ”Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzers” in Chapter 1- 5.)
’99 Rav4.U
The SRS airbag system is designed to
activate in response to a severe frontal
impact within the shaded area between
the arrows in the illustration.
There may be the case that the SRS airbags will not activate with such an impact
in which the occupant wearing the seat
belt correctly would not get serious injury.
The SRS airbags will deploy if the severity of the impact is above the designed
threshold level, comparable to an approximate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision in the
U.S.A. and 30 km/h (18 mph) collision in
Canada when impacting straight into a
fixed barrier that does not move or deform.
50
If the severity of the impact is below the
above threshold level, the SRS airbags
may not deploy.
However, this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or
sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if it is involved in an underride
collision (e.g. a collision in which the nose
of the vehicle ”underrides”, or goes under,
the bed of a truck, etc.).
It is possible with collision severity at the
marginal level of airbag sensor detection
and activation that only one of your vehicle’s two airbags will deploy.
For the safety of all occupants, be sure
to always wear seat belts.
Collision from the rear
Collision from the side
Vehicle rollover
The SRS airbags are not designed to
inflate if the vehicle is subjected to a
side or rear impact, if it rolls over, or
if it is involved in a low-speed frontal
collision.
’99 Rav4.U
Hitting a curb, edge
of pavement or
hard material
Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS airbags may deploy if a serious impact occurs to the underside of
your vehicle. Some examples are shown
in the illustration.
Falling into or
jumping over a
deep hole
51
’99 Rav4.U
The SRS airbag system mainly consists of
the following components and their locations are shown in the illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS airbag warning light
3. Airbag module for passenger (airbag
and inflator)
4. Airbag sensor assembly
5. Airbag module for driver (airbag and
inflator)
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect
deceleration and the system triggers the
airbag inflators. Then a chemical reaction
in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with non- toxic gas to help restrain
the forward motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a
fairly loud noise and release some smoke
and residue along with non- toxic gas. This
does not indicate a fire. This gas is normally harmless, however, for those who
have delicate skin, it may cause minor
skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent
minor skin irritation.
Deployment of the airbags happens in a
fraction of a second, so the airbags must
inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also cause minor burns or
abrasions and swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel
hub, dashboard) may be hot for several
minutes, but the airbags themselves will
not be hot. The airbags are designed to
inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may break the windshield as the
vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a passenger airbag the windshield may also be
damaged by absorbing some of the force
of the inflating airbag.
52
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
The SRS airbag system is designed
only as a supplement to the primary protection of the driver side and
front passenger side seat belt systems. The front seat occupants can
be killed or seriously injured by an
inflating airbag if they do not wear
the available seat belts. During sudden braking just before a collision,
an unrestrained driver or front passenger can move forward into direct
contact with or close proximity to
the airbag which may then deploy
during the collision. To obtain maximum protection in an accident, the
driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt during an accident reduces the chances of death
or serious injuries or being thrown
out of the vehicle. For instructions
and precautions concerning the seat
belt system, see ”Seat belts” in this
chapter.
Improperly seated and/or restrained
infants and children can be killed
or seriously injured by a deploying
airbag. An infant or child who is
too small to use a seat belt should
be properly secured using a child
restraint system. Toyota strongly
recommends that all infants and
children be placed in the rear seat
of the vehicle and properly restrained. The rear seat is the safest
for infants and children. For instructions concerning the installation of a child restraint system, see
”Child restraint” in this chapter.
Never put a rear- facing child re-
straint system on the front seat because the force of the rapid inflation of the passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
53
Move seat fully back
’99 Rav4.U
A forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to put on
the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible because the
force of a deploying airbag could
cause death or serious injury to the
child. For instructions concerning
the installation of a child restraint
system, see ”Child restraint” in this
chapter.
54
Do not sit on the edge of the seat
or lean over the dashboard when
the vehicle is in use. The airbags
inflate with considerable speed and
force; you may be killed or seriously injured. Sit up straight and well
back in the seat, and always use
your seat belt.
Do not allow a child to stand up,
or to kneel on the front passenger
seat. The airbag inflates with considerable speed and force; the child
may be killed or seriously injured.
Do not hold a child on your lap or
in your arms. Use a child restraint
system in the rear seat. For instructions concerning the installation of
a child restraint system, see ”Child
restraint” in this chapter.
’99 Rav4.U
Do not put objects or your pets on
or in front of the dashboard or
steering wheel pad that houses the
airbag system. They might restrict
inflation or cause death or serious
injury as they are projected rearward by the force of the deploying
airbags. Likewise, the driver and
front passenger should not hold
things in their arms or on their
knees.
Do not modify or remove any wir-
ing. Do not modify, remove, strike
or open any components, such as
the steering wheel pad, steering
wheel, column cover, front passenger airbag cover, front passenger
airbag or airbag sensor assembly.
Doing any of these may cause sudden SRS airbag inflation or disable
the system, which could result in
death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious injuries.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
SRS airbag system in some cases.
Installation of electronic items such
as a mobile two- way radio, cassette
tape player or compact disc player
Modification of the suspension system
Modification of the front end structure
Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure, console, steering column, steering
wheel or dashboard near the front
passenger airbag
55
’99 Rav4.U
Child restraint—
—Child restraint precautions
Toyota strongly urges the use of child
restraint systems for children small
enough to use them.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A.
and Canada now require the use of a
child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAEJ1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. See ”Seat belts” for
details.
This SRS airbag system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of
operating problems. If either of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the airbags. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
56
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
The SRS airbags have been inflated.
The front part of the vehicle (shaded
in the illustration) was involved in an
accident not of the extent to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel
or front passenger airbag cover
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables
before contacting your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
For effective protection in automo-
bile accidents and sudden stops,
children must be properly restrained using a seat belt or child
restraint system depending on the
age and size of the child. Holding
a child in your arms is not a substitute for a child restraint system.
In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle’s interior.
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system which
conforms to the size of the child,
and is put on the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the child
is safer when properly restrained in
the rear seat than in the front seat.
Never put a rear- facing child re-
straint system on the front seat. In
the event of an accident, the force
of the rapid inflation of the airbag
can cause death or serious injury if
a rear- facing child restraint system
is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put
a forward- facing child restraint system on the front seat.
A forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to put on
the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of a deploying airbag could
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
Make sure that you have complied
with all installation instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is
properly secured.
’99 Rav4.U
—Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small
child or baby must itself be properly
restrained on the seat with either the
lap belt or the lap portion of the lap/
shoulder belt. You must carefully consult the manufacturer’s instructions
which accompany your child restraint
system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child
restraint system following the manufacturer’s instructions about the appropriate age
and size of the child for the child restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer of the system. General
directions are also provided under the following illustrations.
The child restraint system should be
installed on the rear seat. According to
accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than
in the front seat.
57
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Never put a rear- facing child re-
straint system on the front seat. In
the event of an accident, the force
of the rapid inflation of the airbag
can cause death or serious injury if
a rear- facing child restraint system
is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put
a forward- facing child restraint system on the front seat.
A forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to put on
the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of a deploying airbag could
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
After installing the child restraint
system, make sure it is secured in
place following the manufacturer’s
instructions. If it is not restrained
securely, it may cause death or serious injury to the child in the
event of a sudden stop or accident.
When not using the child restraint system,
keep it secured with the seat belt or place
it somewhere other than the passenger
compartment. This will prevent it from injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
Your vehicle has anchors for securing the
top strap of a child restraint system. The
anchor nuts are welded beneath the sheet
metal to permit installation of an anchor
bracket for a child restraint system.
To install an anchor bracket, use an 8 mm
x 30 mm x 1.25 mm coarse thread metric
bolt and a 10 mm (0.4 in.) spacer. Note
that the bolts accompanying many child
restraint systems are not metric. You can
damage the anchor nuts on your vehicle
if you force bolts with different thread into
the anchor nuts.
For instructions about how to install the
anchor bracket, see ”Top strap anchors
and locations”.
If your child restraint system does not
provide any of the necessary parts, you
can purchase the following items from
your Toyota dealer.
CRS installation kit
(Part No. 04731- 22012)
—contains 1 bolt, 3 types of spacers
and 1 locking clip.
Bolt (Part No. 91511- 60830)
58
—Types of child restraint system
Child restraint systems are classified into
the following 3 types depending on the
child’s age and size.
Install the child restraint system following
the instructions provided by its manufacturer.
’99 Rav4.U
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
59
—Installation with 2- point
type seat belt
’99 Rav4.U
(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An infant seat is used in rear- facing
position only.
60
CAUTION
Do not put a rear-facing child restraint system on the rear seat if it
interferes with the lock mechanism of
the f ront seats. This can cause s evere
injury to the child and front passenger in case of sudden braking or a
collision.
1. Run the center lap belt through or
around the infant seat following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer and insert the tab into the buckle
taking care not to twist the lap belt.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
2. While pressing the infant seat firmly
against the seat cushion and seatback,
tighten the lap belt by pulling its free
end to hold the infant seat securely.
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
61
’99 Rav4.U
3. To remove the infant seat, press the
buckle- release button.
62
(B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLATION
A convertible seat is used in forward-
facing and rear- facing position depending on the child’s age and size. When
installing, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions about the applicable age
and size of the child as well as direction for installing of a child restraint
system.
CAUTION
Do not put a rear-facing child restraint system on the rear seat if it
interferes with the lock mechanism of
the f ront seats. This can cause s evere
injury to the child and front passenger in case of sudden braking or a
collision.
1. Run the center lap belt through or
around the convertible seat following
the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the
lap belt.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
’99 Rav4.U
2. While pressing the convertible seat
firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, tighten the lap belt by pulling
its free end to hold the convertible seat
securely.
63
’99 Rav4.U
—Installation with 3- point
type seat belt
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
64
3. To remove the convertible seat, press
the buckle- release button.
(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An infant seat is used in rear- facing
position only.
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Never put a rear- facing child re-
straint system on the front seat because the force of the rapid inflation of the passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
Do not put a rear-facing child re-
straint system on the rear seat if it
interferes with the lock mechanism
of the front seats. This can cause
severe injury to the child and front
passenger in case of sudden braking or a collision.
1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through
or around the infant seat following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer and insert the tab into the buckle
taking care not to twist the belt. Keep
the lap portion of the belt tight.
65
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it
in the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted even slightly, it cannot
be extended.
To hold the infant seat securely, make
sure the belt is in the lock mode before
letting the belt retract.
’99 Rav4.U
3. While pressing the infant seat firmly
against the seat cushion and seatback,
let the shoulder belt retract as far as
it will go to hold the infant seat securely.
66
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
4. To remove the infant seat, press the
buckle- release button and allow the
belt to retract completely. The belt will
move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or older child passenger.
(B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLATION
A convertible seat is used in forward-
facing and rear- facing position depending on the child’s age and size. When
installing, follow the manufacturer’s
instruction about the applicable age and
size of the child as well as directions
for installing a child restraint system.
67
Move seat fully back
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Never put a rear- facing child re-
straint system on the front seat because the force of the rapid inflation of the passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
68
A forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to put on
the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of a deploying airbag could
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
Do not put a rear-facing child re-
straint system on the rear seat if it
interferes with the lock mechanism
of the front seats. This can cause
severe injury to the child and front
passenger in case of sudden braking or a collision.
1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through
or around the convertible seat following
the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the
belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt
tight.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
’99 Rav4.U
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it
in the lock mode. When the belt is
then retracted slightly, it cannot be extended.
To hold the convertible seat securely,
make sure the belt is in the lock mode
before letting the belt retract.
69
’99 Rav4.U
3. While pressing the convertible seat
firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, let the shoulder belt retract
as far as it will go to hold the convertible seat securely.
70
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
4. To remove the convertible seat, press
the buckle- release button and allow the
belt to retract completely. The belt will
move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or older child passenger.
Move seat
fully back
’99 Rav4.U
(C) BOOSTER SEAT INSTALLATION
A booster seat is used in forward-fac-
ing position only.
CAUTION
A forward- facing child restraint system should be allowed to put on the
front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far
back as possible, because the force
of a deploying airbag could cause
death or serious injury to the child.
1. Sit the child on a booster seat. Run
the lap and shoulder belt through or
around the booster seat and child following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the
belt.
Make sure the shoulder belt is correctly
across the child’s shoulder and that the
lap belt is positioned as low as possible
on child’s hips. See ”Seat belts” for details.
71
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Always make sure the shoulder belt
is positioned across the center of
child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from child’s neck, but
not falling off child’s shoulder. Failure to do so could reduce the
amount of protection in an accident
and cause serious injuries in a collision.
High- positioned lap belts and
loose- fitting belts both could cause
serious injuries due to sliding under the lap belt during a collision.
Keep the lap belt positioned as low
on hips as possible.
For child’s safety, do not place the
shoulder belt under child’s arm.
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and shoulder portions
of the belt are not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
2. To remove the child restraint system,
press the buckle- release button and allow the belt to retract.
72
—Top strap anchors and
locations
If your child restraint system requires
the use of a top strap, latch the hook
onto the anchor bracket and tighten the
top strap.
See the following instructions to install the
anchor bracket.
52.8 mm
(2.1 in.)
216.1 mm
(8.5 in.)
2- door hardtop and soft- top
335.0 mm
(13.2 in.)
216.1 mm
(8.5 in.)
Bolt
127.4 mm
(5.0 in.)
335.0 mm
(13.2 in.)
Bolt
Anchor
bracket
Spacer
Anchor
bracket
Spacer
’99 Rav4.U
On the luggage compartment floor
a. Using the illustration as a guide, run
your fingers across the luggage compartment floor itself to locate the position of
the bolts underneath.
b. Remove the bolt.
c. Insert a 10 mm (0.4 in.) spacer and
tighten down the anchor bracket for your
child restraint system with a bolt. Torque
the bolt to 16.5—24.7 N⋅m (1.68—2.52
kgf⋅m, 12.2—18.2 ft⋅lbf).
To comply with Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards, this model sold in Canada is provided with a bracket set in the
glove box, designed for use with any of
the 2 anchor locations shown in the illustration.
If your child restraint system does not
provide any of the necessary parts, ask
your Toyota dealer. (See ”—Child restraint
system”.)
If you remove the anchor brackets when
the child restraint system is necessary no
longer, replace the bolts in the holes to
prevent entry of exhaust emissions, water
or dirt.
4- door hardtop
73
’99 Rav4.U
Tilt steering wheel
Type A
Outside rear view mirrors—
To change the steering wheel angle,
hold the steering wheel, push down the
lock release lever, tilt the steering
wheel to the desired angle and release
the lever.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while the vehicle is moving.
After adjusting the steering wheel,
try moving it up and down to make
sure it is locked in position.
Adjust the mirror so that you can just
see the side of your vehicle in the mirror.
Be careful when judging the size or distance of any object seen in the outside
rear view mirror on the passenger’s side.
It is a convex mirror with a curved surface. Any object seen in a convex mirror
will look smaller and farther away than
when seen in a flat mirror.
Type B
74
—Power rear view mirror
control
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
Do not adjust the mirror while the
vehicle is moving. It may cause the
driver to mishandle the vehicle and
an accident may occur resulting in
personal injuries.
NOTICE
If ice should jam the mirror, do not
operate the control or scrape the mirror face. Use a spray de- icer to free
the mirror.
To adjust a mirror, use the switches.
1. Master switch—To select the mirror to
be adjusted
Place the switch at ”L” (left) or ”R”
(right).
2. Control switch—To move the mirror
Push the switch in the desired direction.
Mirror can be adjusted when key is in the
”ACC” or ”ON” position.
75
—Folding rear view mirrors
’99 Rav4.U
Anti- glare inside rear view
mirror
CAUTION
Do not adjust the mirror while the
vehicle is moving. It may cause the
driver to mishandle the vehicle and
an accident may occur resulting in
personal injuries.
To fold the rear view mirror, push backward.
The rear view mirrors can be folded backward for parking in restricted areas.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the mirrors folded
backward. Both the driver and passenger side rear view mirrors must
be extended and properly adjusted
before driving.
76
Adjust the mirror so that you can just
see the rear of your vehicle in the mirror.
To reduce glare from the headlights of
the vehicle behind you during night
driving, operate the lever on the lower
edge of the mirror.
Daylight driving—Lever at position 1
The reflection in the mirror has greater
clarity at this position.
Night driving—Lever at position 2
Remember that by reducing glare you also
lose some rear view clarity.
’99 Rav4.U
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS—
Chapter 1-4
Lights, Wipers and
Defogger
Headlights and turn signals
Emergency flashers
Instrument panel light control
Interior light
Personal lights
Windshield wipers and washer
Rear window wiper and washer
Rear window defogger
Headlights and turn signals
HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.
Position 1—Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights
Position 2—Headlights and all of the
above
If you remove the key with the headlights
left on, a buzzer reminds you to turn the
lights off when you open the driver’s door.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not leave the lights on
for a long period when the engine is
not running.
Daytime running light system (on some
models)
The headlights turn on when the parking
brake is released with the engine started,
even with the light switch in the ”OFF”
position. They will not go off until the
ignition switch is turned off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and
instrument panel lights, twist the knob to
the position 1.
Under the daytime running light system,
the headlights turn on at reduced intensity.
Twist the knob to the position 2 to turn
to full intensity for driving at night.
77
’99 Rav4.U
Emergency flashers
High- Low beams—For high beams, turn
the headlights on and push the lever away
from you (position 1). Pull the lever toward you (position 2) for low beams.
The headlight high beam indicator light
(blue light) on the instrument panel will
tell you that the high beams are on.
Flashing the high beam headlights
(position 3)—Pull the lever all the way
back. The high beam headlights turn off
when you release the lever.
You can flash the high beam headlights
with the knob turned to ”OFF”.
78
TURN SIGNALS
To signal a turn, push the headlight/
turn signal lever up or down to position
1.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
The lever automatically returns after you
make a turn, but you may have to return
it by hand after you change lanes.
To signal a lane change, move the lever
up or down to the pressure point (position
2) and hold it.
If the turn signal indicator lights (green
lights) on the instrument panel flash faster
than normal, a front or rear turn signal
bulb is burned out. See ”Replacing light
bulbs” in Chapter 7- 3.
To turn on the emergency flashers,
push the switch.
All the turn signal lights will flash. To turn
them off, push the switch once again.
Turn on the emergency flashers to warn
other drivers if your vehicle must be
stopped where it might be a traffic hazard.
Always pull as far off the road as possible.
The turn signal light switch will not work
when the emergency flashers are operating.
’99 Rav4.U
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not leave the switch on
longer than necessary when the engine is not running.
Instrument panel light control
To adjust the brightness of the instrument panel lights, turn the knob.
Interior light
To turn on the interior light, slide the
switch.
The interior light switch has the following
positions:
”ON”—Keeps the light on all the time.
”OFF”—Turns the light off.
”DOOR”—
2- door hardtop and soft- top: Turns the
light on when the back door (hardtop) or
tailgate (soft- top) is opened. The light
goes off when the back door is closed.
4- door hardtop: Turns the light on when
either rear door or back door is opened.
The light goes off when both rear doors
and back door are closed.
79
Personal light (with moon roof)
Personal lights
(without moon roof)
’99 Rav4.U
Windshield wipers and washer
To turn on the personal light, push the
switch. To turn the light off, slightly
push the switch on the opposite side.
The personal light switch has the following
positions:
”ON”—Keeps the light on all the time.
”DOOR”—Turns the light on when either
front door is opened. The light goes off
when both front doors are closed.
80
The personal lights operate separately
with each outer switch.
To turn on the light, push the switch on
your side. To turn the light off, push the
switch once again.
The center switch has the following positions:
”DOOR”—Turns both lights on when either
front door is opened. The light goes off
when both front doors are closed.
”OFF”—The lights are off unless you operate either outer switch.
To turn on the windshield wipers, move
the lever to the desired setting.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
Lever position
Positi on 1Intermittent
Positi on 2Slow
Positi on 3Fast
To squirt washer fluid, pull the lever
toward you and release it.
If the windshield wipers are off, they will
operate a couple of times after the washer
squirts.
Speed setting
For instructions on adding washer fluid,
see ”Adding washer fluid” in Chapter 7- 3.
In freezing weather, warm the windshield
with the defroster before using the washer.
This will help prevent the washer fluid
from freezing on your windshield, which
can block your vision.
NOTICE
Do not operate the wipers if the windshield is dry. It may scratch the
glass.
’99 Rav4.U
Rear window wiper and washer
NOTICE
Do not operate the rear wiper if the
rear window is dry. It may scratch the
glass.
To turn on the rear window wiper, twist
the lever knob upward.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
Lever position
Positi on 1Intermittent
Positi on 2Normal
To squirt washer fluid on the rear window,
twist the knob upward or downward as far
as it will go (position 3 or 4). The knob
automatically returns from these positions
after you release it.
For instructions on adding washer fluid,
see ”Adding washer fluid” in Chapter 7- 3.
Speed setting
81
Rear window defogger
To defog or defrost the rear window,
push the switch.
The key must be in the ”ON” position.
The thin heater wires on the inside of the
rear window will quickly clear the surface.
An indicator light will illuminate to indicate
the defogger is operating.
Push the switch once again to turn the
defogger off.
With timer: The system will automatically
shut off after the defogger has operated
about 15 minutes.
Make sure you turn the defogger off when
the window is clear. Leaving the defogger
on for a long time could cause the battery
to discharge, especially during stop- andgo driving. The defogger is not designed
for drying rain water or for melting snow.
NOTICE
Without timer: To prevent the battery from being discharged, turn the
switch on when the engine is running.
When cleaning the inside of the
rear window, be careful not to
scratch or damage the heater wires.
’99 Rav4.U
82
’99 Rav4.U
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS—
Chapter 1-5
Gauges, Meters and
Service reminder
indicators
Fuel gauge
Engine coolant temperature
gauge
Tachom eter
Odometer and two trip meters
Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzers
Fuel gauge
On inclines or curves, due to the movement of fuel in the tank, the fuel gauge
needle may fluctuate or the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual.
If the fuel tank is completely empty, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Fill
the fuel tank immediately.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
The gauge works when the ignition
switch is on and indicates the approximate quantity of fuel remaining in the
tank.
Nearly full—Needle at ”F”
Nearly empty—Needle at ”E”
It is a good idea to keep the tank over
1/4 full.
This fuel gauge has a non- return type
needle which remains at the last indicated
position when the ignition switch is turned
off.
If the fuel level approaches ”E” or the low
fuel level warning light comes on, fill the
fuel tank as soon as possible.
83
Engine coolant temperature
gauge
The gauge indicates the engine coolant
temperature when the ignition switch is
on. The engine operating temperature
will vary with changes in weather and
engine load.
If the needle moves into the red zone,
your engine is too hot. If your vehicle
overheats, stop your vehicle and allow the
engine to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe
operating conditions, such as:
Driving up a long hill on a hot day.
Reducing speed or stopping after high
speed driving.
Idling for a long period with the air
conditioning on in stop- and- go traffic.
Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to control the flow of coolant to keep the
temperature of the engine within
the specified operating range.
Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See ”If your vehicle overheats” in Part 4.
’99 Rav4.U
Tachometer
The tachometer indicates engine speed
in thousands of rpm
minute). Use it while driving to select
correct shift points and to prevent engine lugging and overrevving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
(revolutions per
84
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get
into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Odometer and two trip meters
This meter displays the odometer and
two trip meters.
1. Odometer—It shows the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
2. Two trip meters—They show two different distances independently driven
since the last time each trip meter was
set to zero.
You can use one trip meter to calculate
the fuel economy and the other to
measure the distance on each trip. All
trip meter data is cancelled if the electrical power source is disconnected.
3. Trip meter reset knob—It can reset the
two trip meters to zero, and also
change the meter display.
To change the meter display, quickly
push and release the knob. The meter
display changes in the order from the
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter
B, then back to the odometer each
time you push.
To reset the trip meter A to zero, display the meter A reading, then push
and hold the knob until the meter is
set to zero. The same process can be
applied for resetting the trip meter B.
’99 Rav4.U
Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
(a)If parking brake
(type A)
(type B)
(b)Fasten seat belts.
(Indicator and buzzer)
(c)Stop and check.
(d)Stop and check.
Do this.
is off, stop and
check.
85
’99 Rav4.U
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
(e)Take vehicle to
(type A)
(type B)
(f)Fill up tank.
(g)Take vehicle to
(type A)
(type B)
Do this.
Toy ota dealer.
Toy ota dealer.
If the indicator or
buzzer comes on...
(h)Close all side
(i)Stop and chec k.
(j)Take vehicle to
(k)Add was her fl uid.
Light reminder
(l)Turn off light.
buzzer
Key reminder
(m)Remove key.
buzzer
Do this.
doors, back door
(hardtop) and
tailgate (soft- top).
Toy ota dealer
immediately.
(a) Brake System Warning Light
This light has the following functions:
Parking brake reminder
If this light is on, make sure the parking
brake is fully released. The light should
go off.
Low brake fluid level warning
If this light comes on and stays on while
you are driving, slowdown and pull off the
road. Then stop the vehicle carefully. Remember that stopping distance and pedal
effort may be increased. There maybe a
problem somewhere in the brake system.
Check the fluid level of the see- through
reservoir.
To make sure the parking brake has not
caused the warning light to come on,
check to see that the parking brake is
fully released.
If the brake fluid level is low...
At a safe place, test your brakes by starting and stopping.
If you judge that the brakes still work
adequately, drive cautiously to your
nearest dealer or shop for repairs.
If the brakes are not working, have the
vehicle towed in for repairs. (For towing information, see Part 4.)
86
’99 Rav4.U
CAUTION
It is dangerous to continue driving
normally when the brake fluid level is
low.
If the brake fluid level is correct...
Have the warning system checked by your
Toyota dealer.
(b) Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzz-
er
The light and buzzer remind you to buckle
up the driver’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to ”ON” or
”START”, the reminder light flashes and
buzzer sounds if the driver’s seat belt is
not pulled out. Unless the driver starts to
pull the shoulder belt out of the retractor,
the light keeps flashing and the buzzer
stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Discharge Warning Light
This light warns that the battery is being
discharged.
If it comes on while you are driving, there
is a problem somewhere in the charging
system.
The engine ignition will continue to operate, however, until the battery is discharged. Turn off the air conditioning,
blower, radio,etc., and drive directly to the
nearest Toyota dealer or repair shop.
NOTICE
Do not continue driving if the engine
drive belt is broken or loose.
(d) Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light warns that the engine oil pressure is too low.
If it flickers or stays on while you are
driving, pull off the road to a safe place
and stop the engine immediately. Call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
The light may occasionally flicker when
the engine is idling or it may come on
briefly after a hard stop. There is no
cause for concern if it then goes out when
the engine is accelerated slightly.
The light may come on when the oil level
is extremely low. It is not designed to
indicate low oil level, and the oil level
must be checked using the level dipstick.
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with the
warning light on—even for one block.
It may ruin the engine.
(e) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See
”Fuel gauge” in Chapter 1- 5 for instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened securely. (See ”Fuel tank cap” in Chapter
1- 2 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in your
engine or automatic transmission electrical
system.
If it comes on while you are driving in
case c, have your vehicle checked/repaired by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
87
’99 Rav4.U
(f) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel level
in the tank becomes nearly empty. Fill up
the tank as soon as possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the movement of fuel in the tank, the low fuel level
warning light may come on earlier than
usual.
(g) ”ABS” Warning Light
This light warns that there is a problem
somewhere in your anti- lock brake system.
If the light comes on while you are driving, have your vehicle checked by your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
The light will come on when the ignition
key is turned to the ”ON” position. After
a few seconds, the light will go off.
When the ”ABS” warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is off), the
brake system operates conventionally but
anti-lock brake system is not assisting
brake performance so that the wheels can
lock- up during sudden braking or braking
on slippery road surfaces.
(h) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the doors,
back door (hardtop) and tailgate (soft- top)
are completely closed.
(i) Automatic Transmission Fluid Tem-
perature Warning Light (four- wheel
drive models)
This light warns that the automatic transmission fluid temperature is too high.
If this light comes on while you are driving, slow down and pull off the road. Stop
the vehicle at a safe place and put the
selector lever in ”P”. With the engine idling, wait until the light goes off. If the
light goes off, you can start the vehicle
again. If the light does not go off, call a
Toyota dealer or qualified repair shop for
assistance.
NOTICE
Continued driving with the warning
light on may damage the automatic
transmission.
(j) SRS Airbag Warning Light
This light will come on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position. After about 6 seconds,
the light will go off. This means the
system of the airbag and front seat belt
pretensioners are operating properly.
The warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sensors, seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring and power sources.
If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction somewhere in
the parts monitored by the warning light
system. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position or remains on.
The light comes on or flashes while
driving.
(k) Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level
Warning Light (Canada)
The light warns that the windshield washer
fluid level is too low. Add washer fluid at
your earliest opportunity. (For instructions,
see ”Adding washer fluid” in Chapter 7- 3.)
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’99 Rav4.U
(l) Light Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer will sound if the headlight
switch is left on and the driver’s door is
opened with the key removed from the
ignition switch.
(m) Key Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer reminds you to remove the
key when you open the driver’s door with
the ignition key in the ”ACC” or ”LOCK”
position.
CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS (except the low fuel level warning
light and low windshield washer fluid
level warning light)
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Open one of the doors or tailgate
(soft-top).
The open door warning light should
come on.
3. Close the door or tailgate (soft- top).
The open door warning light should go
off.
4. Turn the ignition key to ”ACC”.
The SRS airbag warning light should
come on. It goes off after about 6 seconds.
5. Turn the ignition key to ”ON”, but do
not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators except the open door warning light, SRS
airbag warning light and automatic
transmission fluid temperature warning
light should come on. The ”ABS” warning light goes off after a few seconds.
6. Turn the ignition key to ”START”. The
automatic transmission fluid temperature warning light should come on.
If any service reminder indicator or warning buzzer does not function as described
above, either the bulb is burned out or the
circuit is in need of repair. Have it
checked by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
89
’99 Rav4.U
90
Part 1
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS—
Chapter 1-6
Ignition switch,
Transmission and
Parking brake
Ignition switch with steering lock
Automatic transmission
Manual transmission
Center differential lock system
Parking brake
Cruise control
Ignition switch with steering
lock
”START”—Starter motor on. The key
will return to the ”ON” position when
released.
For starting tips, see Part 3.
”ON”—Engine on and all accessories
on.
This is the normal driving position.
”ACC”—Accessories such as the radio
operate, but the engine is off.
If you leave the key in the ”ACC” or
”LOCK” position and open the driver’s
door, a buzzer will remind you to remove
the key.
”LOCK”—Engine is off and the steering
wheel is locked. The key can be removed only at this position.
’99 Rav4.U
You must push in the key to turn the key
from ”ACC” to the ”LOCK” position. On
vehicles with an automatic transmission,
the selector lever must be in the ”P” position before pushing the key.
When starting the engine, the key may
seem stuck at the ”LOCK” position. To
free it, first be sure the key is pushed all
the way in, and then rock the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key gently.
CAUTION
For manual transmission:
Never remove the key when the ve-
hicle is moving, as this will lock the
steering wheel and result in loss of
steering control.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ”ON”
position if the engine is not running.
The battery will discharge and the
ignition could be damaged.
91
Automatic transmission
Lock release button
To prevent misshift ing
Parking, engine
starting and k ey
removal position
Reverse position
Neutral position
Normal driving position
Position for engine
braking
Position for s tronger
engine braking than
that in ”2” position
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock release
button in. (The ignition switch must
be in ”ON” position.)
’99 Rav4.U
Driving pattern selector button
For s electin g a drivin g pattern
suited to exist ing driving conditions
”NORMAL” (Normal)
mode for general
driving conditions
Overdriv e switchFor selecting either a three- s peed or
”POWER” (Pow er)
mode for powerful
acceleration
four- s peed transmission
”POWER” mode indicator
light on the instrument
panel shows the driving
pattern selector button is
in the ”POWER” mode
Shift while holding the lock
relea se butto n in
Shift normally
ON position
(Shifting into
overdrive pos sible)
OFF position
(Shifting into
overdrive not
possible)
”O/D OFF” indicator light
(Shows the overdrive
switch is in OFF
position)
Vehicles with cruise controlWhen the cruise control is being used, even if you downshift the transmission by turning off the overdrive
switch, engine braking will not be applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For ways to decrease the vehicle speed, see
”Cruise control” in this chapter.
92
’99 Rav4.U
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of ”P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in ”ON” position and the lock release button depressed).
(a) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in ”How
to start the engine” in Part 3. The
transmission must be in ”P” or ”N”.
2. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, shift the selector lever to ”D”.
In ”D” position, the automatic transmission
system will select the most suitable gear
for running conditions such as normal
cruising, hill climbing, hard towing, etc.
Always turn the overdrive switch on for
better fuel economy and quieter driving. If
the engine coolant temperature is low, the
transmission will not shift into the overdrive gear even with the overdrive switch
on.
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(b) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Turn off the overdrive switch. The ”O/D
OFF” indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to the
third gear.
Shift into the ”2” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to the second
gear when the vehicle speed drops
down to or lower than the following
speed, and more powerful engine braking will be obtained.
Two-wheel drive models
110 km/h (68 mph)
Four- wheel drive models
215/70R16 tires
100 km/h (62 mph)
235/60R16 tires
97 km/h (60 mph)
Shift into the ”L” position. The trans-
mission will downshift to the first gear
when the vehicle speed drops down to
or lower than the following speed, and
maximum engine braking will be applied.
Two-wheel drive models
50 km/h (31 mph)
Four- wheel drive models
215/70R16 tires
44 km/h (27 mph)
235/60R16 tires
42 km/h (26 mph)
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
(c) Using the ”2” and ”L” positions
The ”2” and ”L” positions are used for
strong engine braking as described previously.
With the selector lever in ”2” or ”L”, you
can start the vehicle in motion as with the
lever in ”D”.
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’99 Rav4.U
With the selector lever in ”2”, the vehicle
will start in the first gear and automatically shift to the second gear.
With the selector lever in ”L”, the transmission is engaged in the first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the engine. Watch the tachometer to keep
engine rpm from going into the red
zone. The approximate maximum allowable speed for each position is
given below for your reference:
Two- wheel drive models
”2”130 km/h (80 mph). . . . . . . . .
”L”72 km/h (44 mph). . . . . . . . .
Four- wheel drive models
215/70R16 tires
”2”121 km/h (75 mph). . . . . . .
”L”67 km/h (41 mph). . . . . . .
235/60R16 tires
”2”118 km/h (73 mph). . . . . . .
”L”65 km/h (40 mph). . . . . . .
Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
”2” or ”L” position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission damage from overheating. To prevent
such damage, ”D” position should
be used in hill climbing or hard
towing.
(d) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with
your foot, shift the selector lever to the
”R” position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle is moving.
(e) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever up fully to
securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down,
shift the selector lever to the ”P” position.
CAUTION
While the vehicle is moving, never
attempt to move the selector lever
into ”P” position under any circumstances. Serious mechanical damage
and loss of vehicle control may result.
(f) Good driving practice
If the transmission is repeatedly up-
shifted and downshifted between third
gear and overdrive when climbing a
gentle slope, the overdrive switch
should be turned off. Be sure to turn
the switch on immediately afterward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use overdrive.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping.
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’99 Rav4.U
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an upgrade with the accelerator pedal. It
can cause the transmission to overheat. Always use the brake pedal or
parking brake.
(g) Rocking your vehicle if stuck
CAUTION
If your vehicle becomes stuck in
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you may
attempt to rock the vehicle free by
moving it forward and backward. Do
not attempt this procedure if people
or objects are anywhere near the vehicle. During the rocking operation
the vehicle may suddenly move forward or backward as it becomes unstuck, causing injury or damage to
nearby people or objects.
NOTICE
If you rock your vehicle, observe the
following precautions to prevent damage to the transmission and other
parts.
Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting the selector lever
or before the transmission is completely shifted to forward or reverse
gear.
Do not race the engine and avoid
spinning the wheels.
If your vehicle remains stuck after
rocking the vehicle several times,
consider other ways such as towing.
(h) Driving in ”POWER” mode
In the ”POWER” mode, the transmission
is shifted up and down at a higher vehicle
speed than in the ”NORMAL” mode and a
more powerful acceleration is achieved. To
set the ”POWER” mode, push in the driving pattern selector button. The ”POWER”
mode indicator light comes on.
For ordinary driving, Toyota recommends
using the ”NORMAL” mode to improve fuel
economy.
(i) If you cannot shift the selector lever
out of ”P” position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the ”P” position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see ”If
you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector lever” in Part 4.
95
Manual transmission
The shift pattern is as shown above.
Press the clutch pedal down fully while
shifting, and then release it slowly. Do not
rest your foot on the pedal while driving,
because it will cause clutch trouble. And
do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle
when stopped on an uphill grade–use the
parking brake.
Recommended shifting speeds
The transmission is fully synchronized and
upshifting or downshifting is easy.
For the best compromise between fuel
economy and vehicle performance, you
should upshift or downshift at the following
speeds:
gearkm/h (mph)
1 to 2 or 2 to 124 (15)
2 to 3 or 3 to 240 (25)
3 to 4 or 4 to 364 (40)
4 to 5 or 5 to 472 (45)
Downshift to the appropriate gear if accel-
eration is needed when you are cruising
below the above downshifting speeds.
Upshifting too soon or downshifting too
late will cause lugging and, possibly, pinging. Regularly revving the engine to maximum speed in each gear will cause excessive engine wear and high fuel
consumption.
Maximum allowable speeds
To get on a highway or to pass slower
traffic, maximum acceleration may be necessary. Make sure you observe the following maximum allowable speeds in each
gear:
Two- wheel drive models
gearkm/h (mph)
1 47 ( 29)
2 95 ( 59)
3144 ( 89)
4198 (114)
’99 Rav4.U
Four- wheel drive models
215/60R16 tires
gearkm/h (mph)
1 44 ( 27)
2 88 ( 53)
3133 ( 83)
4183 (114)
235/60R16 tires
gearkm/h (mph)
1 43 ( 26)
2 86 ( 53)
3121 ( 75)
4165 (102)
NOTICE
Do not downshift if you are going
faster than the maximum allowable
speed for the next lower gear.
Good driving practice
If it is difficult to shift into reverse, put
the transmission in neutral, release the
clutch pedal momentarily, and then try
again.
96
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use the fifth gear.
CAUTION
Be careful when downshifting on a
slippery surface. Abrupt shifting
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.
NOTICE
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before shifting into reverse.
Center differential lock system
(four- wheel drive models
with manual transmission)
The center differential lock system is provided for use only when the vehicle does
not have enough traction to move itself
out of the following situations.
All front wheels or rear wheels are off
the ground or on a slippery surface.
One of the four wheels is off the
ground or on a slippery surface.
Operating precautions
If the front wheels and rear wheels are
worn unevenly, the center differential
may not lock or unlock smoothly.
Before locking the center differential,
make sure the wheels have stopped
spinning.
’99 Rav4.U
Unlock the center differential immedi-
ately after you finish using the center
differential lock system. An indicator
buzzer will sound while the center differential is being unlocked.
After you have pushed the center dif-
ferential lock switch to lock and moved
the vehicle a short distance, the indicator light in the instrument panel stays
on. If the light either fails to come on
or goes out, ask your Toyota dealer to
check the electrical system and the
locking mechanism.
CAUTION
The center differential must be unlocked in normal driving. Locking the
center differential will result in difficult cornering control.
NOTICE
Do not drive on a dry paved surface
with the center differential locked.
This may damage the locking mechanism and the drive system.
97
’99 Rav4.U
If unlocking of the center differential is not
completed, check the area around you for
safety, then accelerate or decelerate, or
move the vehicle backward.
NOTICE
While the indicator buzzer is sounding, do not make turns, and do not
put the vehicle into a garage. This
may damage the locking mechanism
and the drive system.
To lock the center differential:
1. Press the brake pedal and stop the
wheel spinning.
2. Put the front wheels in as straightahead a position as possible.
3. Push the center differential lock switch
and check that the indicator light in the
instrument panel comes on.
98
To unlock the center differential:
1. Put the front wheels in as straightahead a position as possible.
2. Push the center differential lock switch
once again and check that the indicator
light in the instrument panel goes out
and that the indicator buzzer stops
sounding.
The indicator buzzer will sound while the
center differential is being unlocked. It
stops sounding when unlocking is completed.
Sometimes complete unlocking of the center differential may take longer.
’99 Rav4.U
Parking brake
Type A
When parking, firmly apply the parking
brake to avoid inadvertent creeping.
To set: Pull up the lever. For better holding power, first depress the brake pedal
and hold it while setting the brake.
To release: Pull up the lever slightly,
press the thumb button, and lower.
To remind you that the parking brake is
set, the parking brake reminder light in
the instrument panel remains on until you
release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure the parking
brake is fully released and the parking brake reminder light is off.
Cruise control
The cruise control allows you to cruise
the vehicle at a desired speed over 40
km/h (25 mph) even with your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained up
or down grades within the limits of engine
performance, although a slight speed
change may occur when driving up or
down the grades. On steeper hills, a
greater speed change will occur so it is
better to drive without the cruise control.
CAUTION
To help maintain maximum control
of your vehicle, do not use the
cruise control when driving in
heavy or varying traffic, or on slippery (rainy, icy or snow- covered) or
winding roads.
Avoid vehicle speed increases when
driving downhill. If the vehicle
speed is too fast in relation to the
cruise control set speed, cancel the
cruise control then downshift the
transmission to use engine braking
to slow down.
Type B
99
TURNING ON THE SYSTEM
To operate the cruise control, push the
”CRUISE ON·OFF” switch. This turns the
system on. The indicator light in the
instrument panel shows that you can now
set the vehicle at a desired cruising
speed. Another push will turn the system
completely off.
CAUTION
To avoid accidental cruise control engagement, keep the ”CRUISE ON·OFF”
switch off when not using the cruise
control.
100
SETTING AT A DESIRED SPEED
On vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission must be in ”D” before
you set the cruise control speed.
Bring your vehicle to the desired speed,
push the lever down in the ”SET/COAST”
direction and release it. This sets the vehicle at that speed. If the speed is not
satisfactory, tap the lever up for a faster
speed, or tap it down for a slower speed.
Each tap changes the set speed by 1.6
km/h (1.0 mph). You can now take your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
’99 Rav4.U
If you need acceleration—for example,
when passing—depress the accelerator
pedal enough for the vehicle to exceed
the set speed. When you release it, the
vehicle will return to the speed set prior
to the acceleration.
CAUTION
For manual transmission:
While driving with the cruise control
on, do not shift to neutral without
depressing the clutch pedal, as this
may cause engine racing or overrevving.
CANCELLING THE PRESET SPEED
You can cancel the preset speed by:
a. Pulling the lever in the ”CANCEL”
direction and releasing it.
b. Depressing the brake pedal.
c. Depressing the clutch pedal (manual
transmission).
If the vehicle speed falls below about 40
km/h (25 mph), the preset speed will automatically cancel out.
If the vehicle speed drops 16 km/h (10
mph) below the preset speed, the preset
speed will also automatically cancel out.
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