Toyota RAV4 Manual 

1 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS Overview of instruments and controls Instrument panel overview 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steering switches overview 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overhead console overview 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instrument cluster overview 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indicator symbols on the instrument panel 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SECTION 1− 1 Information Provided by:

2 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 1. Side defroster outlets 2. Side vents 3. Instrument cluster 4. Center vents 5. Auxiliary box 6. Power door lock switches 7. Power window switches 8. Glove box 9. Automatic transmission selector lever 10. Rear console box 11. A/V input adapter 12. Power outlet (115 VAC) 13. Power outlet (12 VDC) 14. AUX adapter 15. Power rear view mirror control switches 16. Parking brake lever 17. Cup holders 18. Hood lock release lever 19. Window lock switch Instrument panel overview �View A Information Provided by:

3 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 1. Instrument panel light control dial 2. Headlight, turn signal and front fog light switches 3. Wiper and washer switches 4. Four−wheel drive lock switch (four−wheel drive models) or “AUTO LSD” switch (two−wheel drive models) 5. Audio system 6. Emergency flasher switch 7. Front passenger occupant classification indicator light 8. Air conditioning controls 9. Clock display 10. Rear window and outside rear view mirror defogger switch 11. Power outlet 12. Windshield wiper de−icer switch 13. Seat heater switch 14. Downhill assist control switch 15. Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light 16. Engine immobilizer system indicator light �View B (with manual air conditioning system) Information Provided by:

4 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 17. Engine switch 18. Tilt and telescopic steering lock release lever Information Provided by:

5 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 1. Instrument panel light control dial 2. Headlight, turn signal and front fog light switches 3. Wiper and washer switches 4. Four−wheel drive lock switch (four−wheel drive models) or “AUTO LSD” switch (two−wheel drive models) 5. Audio system 6. Emergency flasher switch 7. Front passenger occupant classification indicator light 8. Air conditioning controls 9. Rear window and outside rear view mirror defogger switch 10. Clock and air conditioning display 11. Power outlet 12. Windshield wiper de−icer switch 13. Seat heater switch 14. Downhill assist control switch 15. Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light 16. Engine immobilizer system indicator light �View B (with automatic air conditioning system) Information Provided by:

6 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 17. Engine switch 18. Tilt and telescopic steering lock release lever 19. Power outlet main switch Information Provided by:

7 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 1. Audio remote control switches 2. Telephone switch 3. Speech command switch 4. Cruise control switch Without electric moon roof With electric moon roof 1. Front personal lights 2. Microphone 3. Auxiliary box 4. Electric moon roof switch Steering switches overview Overhead console overview Information Provided by:

8 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 1. Tachometer 2. Service reminder indicators and indicator lights 3. Speedometer 4. Engine coolant temperature gauge 5. Fuel gauge 6. Odometer, two trip meters and outside temperature display 7. Trip meter reset knob Instrument cluster overview Information Provided by:

9 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Brake system warning light∗1 Charging system warning light∗1 Low engine oil pressure warning light∗1 Malfunction indicator lamp∗1 Automatic transmission fluid temperature warning light∗1 Driver’s seat belt reminder light∗1 Open door warning light∗1 Low fuel level warning light∗1 SRS warning light∗1 Anti−lock brake system warning light∗1 or or Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light∗1 or Tire pressure warning light∗1 Enhanced vehicle stability control system/traction control system warning light∗1 “4WD” warning light∗1 Indicator symbols on the instrument panel Information Provided by:

10 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) ∗1: For details, see “Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6. ∗2: If this light flashes, see “Cruise control” on page 168 in Section 1−7. Cruise control indicator light∗2 Four−wheel drive lock indicator light Headlight high beam indicator light Turn signal indicator lights Automatic transmission indicator lights (4−speed) Engine oil replacement reminder light∗1 Slip indicator light Front fog light indicator light Headlight indicator light Tail light indicator light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights Downhill assist control system indicator light “AUTO LSD” indicator light Low windshield washer fluid level warning light∗1 Electric power steering system warning light∗1 Automatic transmission indicator lights (5−speed) Information Provided by:

11 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS Keys and Doors Keys 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Engine immobilizer system 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wireless remote control 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Side doors 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power windows 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back door 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hood 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fuel tank cap 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electric moon roof 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SECTION 1− 2 Information Provided by:

12 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Your vehicle is supplied with two kinds of keys. 1. Master keys—These keys work in ev- ery lock. 2. Sub key—This key will not work in the glove box. To protect items locked in the glove box when using valet parking, leave the sub key with the attendant. Since the side doors can be locked with- out a key, you should always carry a spare 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 writing down the key num- ber and storing it in a safe place. Your vehicle is supplied with two kinds of keys. 1. Master keys—These keys work in ev- ery lock. Your Toyota dealer will need one of them to make a new key with a built−in transponder chip. 2. Sub key—This key will not work in the glove box. A transponder chip for engine immobilizer system has been placed in the head of the master and sub keys. These chips are needed to enable the system to function correctly, so be careful not to lose these keys. If you make your own duplicate key, you will not be able to cancel the system or start the engine. Keys (without engine immobilizer system) Keys (with engine immobilizer system) Information Provided by:

13 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) To protect items locked in the glove box when using valet parking, leave the sub key with the attendant. Since the side doors can be locked with- out a key, you should always carry a spare key in case you accidentally lock your keys inside the vehicle. NOTICE When using a key containing a trans- ponder chip, observe the following precautions: � When starting the engine, do not use the key with a key ring resting on the key grip and do not press the key ring against the key grip. Otherwise the engine may not start, or may stop soon after it starts. � When starting the engine, do not use the key with other transponder keys around (including keys of oth- er vehicles) and do not press other key plates against the key grip. Otherwise the engine may not start, or may stop soon after it starts. If this happens, remove the key once and then insert it again after remov- ing other transponder keys (includ- ing keys of other vehicles) from the ring or while gripping or covering them with your hand to start the engine. Information Provided by:

14 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Do not bend the key grip. � Do not cover the key grip with any material that cuts off electromagnet- ic waves. � Do not knock the key hard against other objects. � Do not leave the key exposed to high temperatures for a long period, such as on the dashboard and hood under direct sunlight. � Do not put the key in water or wash it in an ultrasonic washer. � Do not use the key with electromag- netic materials. 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 writing down the key num- ber and storing it in a safe place. Information Provided by:

15 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) The engine immobilizer system is a theft prevention system. When you in- sert the key in the engine switch, the transponder chip in the key’s head transmits an electronic code to the ve- hicle. The engine will start only when the electronic code in the chip corre- sponds to the registered ID code for the vehicle. Never leave the keys inside the vehicle when you leave the vehicle. The system is automatically set when the key is removed from the engine switch. The indicator light will start flashing to show the system is set. In the following cases, contact your Toyota dealer. � The indicator light stays on. � The indicator light does not start flash- ing when the key is removed from the engine switch. � The indicator light flashes inconsistent- ly. Inserting the registered key in the engine switch automatically cancels the system, which enables the engine to start. The indicator light will go off. The system is maintenance−free. For your Toyota dealer to make you a new key with built−in transponder chip, your dealer will need your key number and master key. However, there is a limit to the number of additional keys your Toyota dealer can make for you. If you make your own duplicate key, you will not be able to cancel the sys- tem or start the engine. NOTICE Do not modify, remove or disas- semble the engine immobilizer sys- tem. If any unauthorized changes or modifications are made, proper opera- tion of the system cannot be guaran- teed. Engine immobilizer system Information Provided by:

16 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) For vehicles sold in U.S.A. FCC ID: MOZRI−20BTY This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, includ- ing interference that may cause unde- sired operation. CAUTION Changes or modifications not ex- pressly approved by the party respon- sible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equip- ment. For vehicles sold in Canada This device complies with RSS−210 of industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause interfer- ence, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. 1. Indicator light 2. Lock switch 3. Alarm switch 4. Unlock switch The wireless remote control system is designed to lock or unlock all the side doors and back door or activate the alarm from a distance within approximately 1 m (3 ft.) of the vehicle. When you operate any switch, push it slowly and securely. At this time, the indi- cator light flashes once. The wireless remote control key is an electronic component. Observe the follow- ing instructions in order not to cause dam- age to the key. Wireless remote control— Information Provided by:

17 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Do not leave the key in places where the temperature becomes high such as on the dashboard. � Do not disassemble it. � Avoid knocking it hard against other objects or dropping it. � Avoid putting it in water. You can use up to 3 wireless remote con- trol keys for the same vehicle. Contact your Toyota dealer for detailed information. If the wireless remote control key does not actuate the side doors and back door or alarm, or operate from a normal dis- tance or the indicator on the key is dimmed or does not come on: � Check for closeness to a radio trans- mitter such as a radio station or an airport which can interfere with normal operation of the key. � The battery may have been consumed. Check the battery in the key. To re- place the battery, see “—Replacing bat- tery” on page 20. If you lose your wireless remote control key, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of theft, or an accident. (See “If you lose your keys” on page 379 in Section 4.) For vehicles sold in U.S.A. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, includ- ing interference that may cause unde- sired operation. NOTICE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protec- tion against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruc- tions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interfer- ence to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is en- couraged to try to correct the interfer- ence by one or more of the following measures: Information Provided by:

18 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Reorient or relocate the receiving an- tenna. � Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. � Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. � Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. FCC WARNING: Changes or modifications not ex- pressly approved by the party respon- sible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equip- ment. For vehicles sold in Canada NOTE Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interfer- ence, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Locking operation Unlocking operation To lock and unlock all the doors, push the switches of the key slowly and se- curely. At this time, the indicator light on the key grip flashes once. To lock: Push the lock switch. All the side doors and back door are locked simulta- neously. At this time one beep will be heard, and the turn signal lights flash once. Check to see that all the side doors and back door are securely locked. The beep and flashing turn signal lights can be disabled. For details, contact your Toyota dealer. If any of the side doors or the back door is not securely closed, locking cannot be performed by the lock switch and a beep will sound continuously for 10 seconds. However, if the key is in the engine switch, a beep will not sound. To stop the beep, close all the side doors and back door securely or push the un- lock switch. The beep can be disabled. For details, contact your Toyota dealer. —Locking and unlocking doors Information Provided by:

19 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) To unlock: Push the unlock switch once to unlock the driver’s door alone. Pushing the switch twice within 3 seconds unlocks all the side doors and back door simulta- neously. Each time the unlock switch is pushed, two beeps will be heard, and the turn signal lights flash twice. This double switch operation to unlock all the side doors and back door can be changed to a single switch operation. For details, contact your Toyota dealer. When you unlock all the doors using the wireless remote control, the illuminated entry function will be activated. (For fur- ther information, see “Illuminated entry system” on page 119 in Section 1−5.) You have 30 seconds to open a door after using the wireless remote unlock feature. If a door is not opened by then, all the side doors and back door will be automati- cally locked again. The time before automatic door lock func- tion can be changed. For details, contact your Toyota dealer. If the lock or unlock switch is kept pressed in, the locking or unlocking opera- tion is not repeated. Release the switch and then push again. Pushing the alarm switch blows the horn intermittently and flashes the headlights, tail lights and turn signal lights and turns on the interior and per- sonal lights. The alarm switch is used to deter vehicle theft when you witness anyone attempting to break into or damage your vehicle. The alarm will last for one minute. To stop alarm midway, push any of the switch on the key. You can also stop the alarm by turning the engine switch from the “LOCK” to the “ON” position. The alarm function does not work when the engine switch is in the “ON” position. This alarm function can be disabled. For details, contact your Toyota dealer. —Activating alarm Information Provided by:

20 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) For replacement, use a CR2016 lithium battery or equivalent. CAUTION Special care should be taken to pre- vent small children from swallowing the removed battery or components. NOTICE � When replacing the battery, be care- ful not to lose the components. � Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by a Toyota dealer. � Dispose of used batteries according to the local laws. Replace the battery by following these procedures: 1. Open the cover using a flathead screw- driver wrapped with plastic tape. 2. Remove the module from the key frame. —Replacing battery Information Provided by:

21 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 3. Open and remove the battery case cover using a coin. 4. Take out the discharged battery and put in a new battery with the positive (+) side up. 5. Install the battery case cover and then install the module into the key frame. Close the cover. 6. When pushing either switch on the wireless key, make sure the indicator light comes on. NOTICE � Do not bend the terminals. � Make sure the positive side and negative side of the battery are faced correctly. � Do not replace the battery with wet hands. Water may cause unexpected rust. � Do not touch or move any compo- nents inside the transmitter, or it may interfere with proper operation. � Be careful not to bend the electrode when inserting the battery and that dust or oils do not adhere to the battery case. � Close the battery case securely. After replacing the battery, check that the key operates properly. If the key still does not operate properly, contact your Toyota dealer. Information Provided by:

22 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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. All the side doors and back door lock and unlock simultaneously with driver’s 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 and back door simultaneously. When the driver’s door is unlocked using the key, the illuminated entry system will be activated. (For further information, see “Illuminated entry system” on page 119 in Section 1−5.) LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH INSIDE LOCK KNOB Move the lock knob. To lock: Push the knob forward. To unlock: Pull the knob backward. The front doors can be opened by pulling the inside handle even if the lock knobs are in the locked position. CAUTION Do not pull the inside handle of the doors while driving. The doors will open and an accident may occur. Toyota strongly recommends that all children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle. 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 ve- hicle. Doors cannot be locked if you leave the key in the engine switch. Side doors Information Provided by:

23 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Driver’s side Front passenger’s side LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WITH POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH Push the switch. To lock: Push the switch down on the right side. To unlock: Push the switch down on the left side. Operating the switch simultaneously locks or unlocks all the side doors and back door. If you do either of the following, no door can be unlocked with the power door lock switch. � Lock all the doors with the key or wire- less remote control when all the doors are closed. � Open the driver’s door and move the inside lock knobs to the lock position, then close the door. The power door lock switch can be reset in the following ways. � Turn the engine switch to the “ON” position. � Unlock all the doors with the key or wireless remote control. � Unlock the driver’s door with the inside lock knob, and then unlock all the doors with the power door lock switch. REAR DOOR CHILD−PROTECTORS Move the lock lever to the “LOCK” position as shown on the label. When the child−protector is locked, you cannot open the rear door by the inside door handle. We recommend using this feature whenever small children are in the vehicle. Information Provided by:

24 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION Before driving, be sure that the doors are closed and locked, especially when small children are in the ve- hicle. Along with the proper use of seat belts, locking the doors helps prevent the driver and passengers from being thrown out from the ve- hicle in an accident. It also helps pre- vent the doors from being opened unintentionally. The windows can be operated with the switch on each door. The passengers’ windows can also be controlled by the switches on the driver’s door. The power windows work when the engine switch is in the “ON” position. Key off operation: If the either front door is closed, they work for 45 seconds even after the engine switch is turned off. They stop working when the either front 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 part- way, lightly move the switch in the oppo- site direction and then release it. Jam protection function: During automat- ic closing operation, the window stops and opens half way if something gets caught between the window and window frame. If the window receives a strong impact, this function may work even if nothing is caught. Power windows Information Provided by:

25 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) If the power window does not operate automatically or the jam protection function does not operate correctly, you should normalize the power window. To normalize the power window: 1. Push down the power window switch and lower the windows fully. 2. Pull up the switch until the windows close and hold the switch for a second. Make sure that the window open and close automatically. If the power windows cannot be operated properly, have it checked by your Toyota dealer. CAUTION � Never try jamming any part of your body to activate the jam protection function intentionally, as it could re- sult in a death or serious injury. � The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just before the window is fully closed. Window lock switch OPERATING THE PASSENGERS’ WINDOWS Use the switch on each passenger’s door or the switches on the driver’s door that control each passenger’s win- dow. 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 switch on the driver’s door, the passengers’ windows cannot be operated. Information Provided by:

26 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION To avoid death or serious personal injury, you must do the following. � Before you close the power win- dows, always make sure there is nobody around the power windows. You must also make sure the heads, hands and other parts of the bodies of all occupants are kept completely inside the vehicle. If someone’s neck, head or hands get caught in a closing window, it could result in death or serious in- jury. When anyone closes the power windows, make sure he or she op- erates the windows safely. � When small children are in the ve- hicle, never let them use the power window switches without supervi- sion. Use the window lock switch to prevent them from making unex- pected use of the switches. � Be sure to remove the key when you leave your vehicle. � Never leave anyone (particularly a small child) alone in your vehicle, especially with the key still in- serted. Otherwise, he/she could use the power window switches and get trapped in a window. Unattended person (particularly a small child) can be involved in a serious acci- dent. To open the back door, pull the handle. All the side doors and back door lock and unlock simultaneously with the driver’s door. Operating the power door lock switch or wireless remote control key simultaneously locks or unlocks the back door. (See “—Locking and unlocking doors” on page 18 and “Side doors” on page 22 in this Section.) When closing the back door, make sure it is fully closed. See “—Stowage precautions” on page 336 in Section 2 for precautions when loading luggage. Back door Information Provided by:

27 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION � Keep the back door 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 hides the stop, tail or rear turn signal lights while you are parked, other road users must be warned of the pres- ence of your vehicle by a warning triangle or other device. To open the hood: 1. Pull the hood lock release lever. The hood will spring up slightly. CAUTION Before driving, be sure that the hood is closed and securely locked. Other- wise, the hood may open unexpected- ly while driving and an accident may occur. 2. In front of the vehicle, pull up the auxiliary catch lever and lift the hood. Hood Information Provided by:

28 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 3. Hold the hood open by inserting the support rod into the slot. To insert the support rod into the slot, move it straight up. If it is moved to the side or toward the inside of the vehicle, it may become detached. Before closing the hood, check to see that you have not forgotten any tools, rags, etc. and return the support rod to its clip—this prevents rattles. Then lower the hood and make sure it locks into place. If necessary, press down gently on the front edge to lock it. CAUTION After inserting the support rod into the slot, make sure the rod supports the hood securely from falling down on to your head or body. NOTICE Be sure to return the support rod to its clip before closing the hood. Clos- ing the hood with the support rod up could cause the hood to bend. This indicates that the fuel filler door is on the left side of your vehicle. Fuel tank cap Information Provided by:

29 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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 weath- er, fuel under pressure could cause injury by spraying out of the filler neck if the cap is suddenly re- moved. 2. To remove the fuel tank cap, turn the cap counterclockwise. Pause slightly before removing it. It is not unusual to hear a slight swoosh when the cap is opened. 3. The removed cap can be hanged on the cap hanger. When installing the cap, turn it clock- wise until one click is heard, in order to fully close it. The cap returns slight- ly when your hand is released from the cap after closure, however this does not cause any problems. 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. Information Provided by:

30 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION � Make sure the cap is tightened se- curely to prevent fuel spillage in the event of an accident. � Use only a genuine Toyota fuel tank cap for replacement. It is designed to regulate fuel tank pressure. NOTICE To prevent damage to the cap, apply force only in the turning direction to the cap. Do not pull or pry it. Sliding operation Tilting operation To operate the moon roof, use the switch on the overhead console. The engine switch must be in the “ON” position. The sun shade can be opened or closed by hand. Automatic sliding operation— To open: Push the switch on the “SLIDE OPEN” side. The roof will open and stop partway 50 mm (2.0 in.) from the fully opened posi- tion. When you push the “SLIDE OPEN” side again, the moon roof will open fully. To stop the roof partway, push the switch on either the “SLIDE OPEN” or “TILT UP” side briefly. As driving with the moon roof opened fully will cause wind throbs, we recommend you to drive with the moon roof partway 50 mm (2.0 in.) from the fully opened position. The sun shade will be opened together with the roof. To close: Push the switch on the “TILT UP” side. The roof will fully close automatically. To stop the roof partway, push the switch on either the “SLIDE OPEN” or “TILT UP” side briefly. Electric moon roof Information Provided by:

31 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Manual sliding operation— To open the moon roof slightly, quickly push and release the switch on the “SLIDE OPEN” side. To close the moon roof slightly, quickly push and release the switch on the “TILT UP” side. Automatic tilting operation— To tilt up: Push the switch on the “TILT UP” side. To tilt down: Push the switch on the “SLIDE OPEN” side. The roof will fully tilt up or down automati- cally. To stop the roof partway, push the switch on either the “SLIDE OPEN” or “TILT UP” side briefly. Manual tilting operation— To tilt up the moon roof slightly, quickly push and release the switch on the “TILT UP” side. To tilt down the moon roof slightly, quickly push and release the switch on the “SLIDE OPEN” side. Key off operation: The moon roof works for 45 seconds even after the engine switch is turned off. It stops working when either front door is opened. Jam protection function: If something gets caught between the moon roof and frame during closing operation, the moon roof stops and opens half way. If the moon roof receives a strong impact, this function may work even if nothing is caught. If the moon roof does not operate auto- matically or the jam protection function does not operate correctly, you should normalize the moon roof. To normalize the moon roof, push and hold the moon roof switch on the “TILT UP” side until the roof fully tilts up. Then release the switch. Push and hold the switch on the “TILT UP” side until the moon roof tilts up, tilts down, slides open and then closes automatically. Make sure that the moon roof opens and closes automatically. If the moon roof can- not be operated properly, have it checked by your Toyota dealer. CAUTION To avoid death or serious personal injury, you must do the following: � While the vehicle is moving, always keep the heads, hands and other parts of the bodies of all occupants away from the roof opening. Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury if the vehicle stops suddenly or if the vehicle is in- volved in an accident. � Before you close the moon roof, always make sure there is nobody around the moon roof. You must also make sure nobody places his or her head, hands and other parts of the body in the roof opening. If someone’s neck, head or hands get caught in the closing roof, it could result in death or serious injury. When anyone closes the moon roof, first make sure it is safe to do so. Information Provided by:

32 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Be sure to remove the key when you leave your vehicle. � Never leave anyone (particularly a small child) alone in your vehicle, especially with the key still in- serted. Otherwise, he/she could use the moon roof switch and get trapped in the roof opening. Unat- tended person (particularly a small child) can be involved in a serious accident. � Never sit on top of the vehicle around the roof opening. � Never try jamming any part of your body to activate the jam protection function intentionally, as it could re- sult in a death or serious injury. � The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just before the moon roof is fully closed. Information Provided by:

33 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS Occupant restraint systems Seats 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front seats 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flattening front seatbacks 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rear seats 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Armrest 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head restraints 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seat heaters 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seat belts 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SRS airbags 65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Child restraint 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SECTION 1− 3 Information Provided by:

34 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) While the vehicle is being driven, all ve- hicle occupants should have the seatback upright, sit well back in the seat and prop- erly wear the seat belts provided. CAUTION � Do not drive the vehicle unless the occupants are properly seated. Do not allow any passengers to sit on top of a folded−down seatback, or in the luggage compartment or car- go area. Persons not properly seated and/or not properly re- strained by seat belts can be killed or severely injured in the event of emergency braking or a collision. � During driving, do not allow any passengers to stand up or move around between seats. Otherwise, death or severe injuries can occur in the event of emergency braking or a collision. Driver seat CAUTION The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) advises: Since the risk zone for driver airbag is the first 50—75 mm (2—3 in.) of inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10 in.) from your driver airbag provides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 250 mm (10 in.) away now, you can change your driving position in sever- al ways: � Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals comfortably. � Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 250 mm (10 in.) distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, sim- ply by reclining the back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a firm, non−slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle has that feature. � If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air- bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck. The seat should be adjusted as rec- ommended by NHTSA above, while still maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument panel controls. Seats Front seats— —Front seat precautions Information Provided by:

35 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Front passenger seat CAUTION The SRS front passenger airbag also deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or serious injury es- pecially if the front passenger is very close to the airbag. The front passen- ger seat should be as far from the airbag as possible with the seatback adjusted, so the front passenger sits upright. Front seats (with SRS side airbags) CAUTION The SRS side airbags are installed in the driver and front passenger seats. Observe the following precautions. � Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle is in use, since the side airbag inflates with consid- erable speed and force. Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously in- jured. � Do not use seat accessories which cover the area where the side air- bags inflate. Such accessories may prevent the side airbags from acti- vating correctly, causing death or serious injury. � Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of the seats with side airbags. Such change may prevent the side airbag system from activat- ing correctly, disable the system or cause the side airbags to inflate ac- cidentally, resulting in death or seri- ous injury. CAUTION � Do not adjust the seat while the vehicle is moving as the seat may unexpectedly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. � Be careful that the seat does not hit a passenger or luggage. � After adjusting the seat position, try sliding it forward and backward to make sure it is locked in posi- tion. � After adjusting the seatback, push your body back against the seat to make sure the seat is locked in position. � Do not put objects under the seats. Otherwise, the objects may interfere with the seat−lock mechanism or unexpectedly push up the seat posi- tion adjusting lever and the seat may suddenly move, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. � While adjusting the seat, do not put your hands under the seat or near the moving parts. Otherwise, your hands or fingers may be caught and injured. —Seat adjustment precautions Information Provided by:

36 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Driver’s seat Passenger’s seat 1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the seat to the desired position with slight body pressure and release the lever. 2. SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER Pull up or push down the lever. 3. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING LEVER Lean forward and pull the lever up. Then lean back to the desired angle and release the lever. —Adjusting front seats (manual seat) Information Provided by:

37 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION Avoid reclining the seatback any more than needed. The seat belts pro- vide maximum protection in a frontal or rear collision when the driver and the front 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 re- straint forces directly to the abdomen or your neck may contact the shoul- der belt. In the event of a frontal collision, the more the seat is re- clined, the greater the risk of death or serious injury. 1. SEAT POSITION, SEAT CUSHION ANGLE AND SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTING SWITCH Move the control switch in the desired direction. Releasing the switch will stop the seat at that position. Do not place anything under the front seats, as this might interfere with the seat movement. 2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING SWITCH Move the control switch in the desired direction. Releasing the switch will stop the seat- back at that position. —Adjusting front seats (power seat) Information Provided by:

38 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION Avoid reclining the seatback any more than needed. The seat belts pro- vide maximum protection in a frontal or rear collision when the driver and the front 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 re- straint forces directly to the abdomen or your neck may contact the shoul- der belt. In the event of a frontal collision, the more the seat is re- clined, the greater the risk of death or serious injury. 3. SEAT LUMBAR SUPPORT ADJUSTING SWITCH Push the control switch on either side. The amount of lumbar support will change while the switch is pushed. 1. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the rear/second seats fully backward and pull it for- ward slightly until it locks. 2. Remove the front head restraint. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the front seat fur- ther forward than the front−most lock position. Flattening front seatbacks (manual seat) Information Provided by:

39 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 3. Pull the seatback angle adjusting le- ver up to unlock and push down the seatback. When returning the seatback to the up- right position, 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 returning the seat to its origi- nal position, try pushing the seat and seatback forward and rearward to make sure it is secured in place. Be certain to replace head restraint. 1. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the rear/second seats fully backward and pull it for- ward slightly until it locks. —Flattening front seatbacks (power seat) Information Provided by:

40 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 2. Remove the front head restraint. Push the seat position adjusting switch forward to slide the seat to the front−most position. 3. Move the seatback angle adjusting switch backward to flatten the seat- back. 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 for- ward and rearward to make sure it is secured in place. Be certain to replace the head restraint. Information Provided by:

41 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION � Do not adjust the seat while the vehicle is moving. � Be careful that the seat does not hit a passenger or luggage. � Adjust both seat cushions to the same position and align all seat- backs at the same angle when a person sits in the rear center posi- tion. Otherwise, the person cannot wear the seat belt properly and this may cause death or serious injuries in a collision. � After adjusting the seat position, try sliding it forward and backward to make sure it is locked in posi- tion. � After adjusting the seatback, push back your body to make sure the seat is locked in position. � When returning seats to their origi- nal position, observe the following precautions in order to prevent death or serious injury in a colli- sion or sudden stop: Make sure the seat is securely locked by pushing forward and rear- ward on the top of the seatback. Failure to do so will prevent the seat belt from operating properly. 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. Folding down the seats will enlarge the luggage compartment. See “—Stowage precautions” on page 336 in Section 2 for precautions when loading luggage. Without third seat Rear seats— —Rear seat precautions —Adjusting rear/second seats Information Provided by:

42 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) With third seat 1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVERS Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the seat to the desired position with slight body pressure and release the lever. When a person sits in the rear center position, adjust both seat cushions to the same position. 2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING LEVERS Pull down the lever. Then lean back to the desired angle and release the lever. When a person sits in the rear center position, align all seatbacks at the same angle. CAUTION � Adjustments should not be made while the vehicle is moving. � Adjust both seat cushions to the same position and align all seat- backs at the same angle when a person sits in the rear center posi- tion. Otherwise, the person cannot wear the seat belt properly and this may cause death or serious injuries in 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 or your neck may contact the shoulder belt. In the event of a frontal colli- sion, the more the seat is reclined, the greater the risk of death or ser- ious injury. Information Provided by:

43 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � After adjusting the seatback, push back your body to make sure it is locked in position. � After adjusting the seat position, try sliding it forward and backward to make sure it is locked in posi- tion. For easy access to the third seat from right side, do this. Pull down the lever and fold the seat- back. The seat will slide forward. After passengers are in, lift up the seat- back and return the seat to the original position. CAUTION After putting back the seat, try push- ing the seat forward and rearward to make sure it is secured in place. BEFORE FOLDING DOWN REAR/SECOND SEATS 1. If the center seat belt is connected, release it to prevent damage. Insert the key into the hole on the buckle to release the tab, and allow the belt to retract. —Moving second seat for third seat entry —Fold−down rear/second seats Information Provided by:

44 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 2. Insert the tabs of the center seat belt into the cover. Make sure the tabs are securely locked in the cov- er. NOTICE The seat belt tabs must be stowed before you fold the seatback. 3. Make sure the outer seat belt passes through the hanger when folding the rear/second seat. This prevents the shoulder belt from being damaged. CAUTION The seat belt must be removed from the hanger when the seat belt is in use. 4. Stow the rear/second seat belt buckles as shown in the illustration. This prevents the buckles from falling out when you fold down the rear/second seat. CAUTION Before using the seat belt, pull out the buckle and make sure the belt is not twisted. NOTICE The seat belt buckles must be stowed before you fold the seatback. Information Provided by:

45 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) FOLDING DOWN REAR/SECOND SEATS 1. Hold the center of the lever and pull it up. Then slide the rear seat fully backward and pull it forward slightly until it locks. 2. Lower the head restraint to the low- est position. 3. Raise the armrest until it locks. Information Provided by:

46 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 4. Pull down the seatback angle adjust- ing lever and fold down the seat- back. Left side Right side Without third seats— The rear seat can be folded down for the luggage compartment. Open the back door and pull the lock release le- ver to fold down the rear seat. Before folding down the rear seat, slide the rear seat fully backward and pull it forward slightly until it locks. Then raise the armrest until it locks. Folding down the seats will enlarge the luggage compartment. See “—Stowage precautions” on page 336 in Section 2 for precautions when loading luggage. Information Provided by:

47 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION Do not fold the rear seatback when the rear passengers sit on the rear seats or the luggage is placed on the seat. Make sure that no passengers or luggage are on the rear seats. RETURNING SEATBACKS Raise the seatback until it locks. CAUTION Do not allow passengers to ride on the folded seat or in the luggage compartment while driving; use the seat in its normal position. When returning the seatback to the upright position, observe the follow- ing precautions in order to prevent serious injury in a collision or sud- den stop: � Make sure the seatback is securely locked by pushing forward and rear- ward on the top of the seatback. Failure to do so will prevent the seat belt from operating properly. � Make sure the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seatback and are arranged in their proper position and are ready to use. BEFORE FOLDING DOWN THIRD SEATS 1. Stow the third seat belt buckles as shown in the illustration. NOTICE To prevent damage to the seat belt buckles, they must be stowed before you fold down the seatback. —Stowing third seats for luggage space Information Provided by:

48 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 2. Pass the third seat belts through the hangers. This prevents the shoulder belt from being damaged. CAUTION The seat belt must be removed from the hanger when the seat belt is in use. STOWING THIRD SEATS 1. Lower the head restraint to the low- est position. 2. Pull the seatback lock release strap to fold down the seatback. Make sure it is locked securely. Information Provided by:

49 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 3. Pull and hold the seat lock release strap and lift up the seat rearward. Then push the seat down. If the seat does not lift up when the seat lock release strap is pulled, lift the seat- back by pulling the seatback lock release strap, and push the seatback down again. 4. Push the seat on the front side against the floor and push the seat on rear side against the floor. Make sure it is locked securely. Information Provided by:

50 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) RETURNING THIRD SEATS 1. Pull and hold the seat lock release strap, then lift up the seat forward. Push the seat down. Push the seat on the rear side against the floor and push the seat on the front side. Make sure it is locked securely. If the seat does not lift up when the seat lock release strap is pulled, lock the seat- back again. To lock the seatback, lift the seatback by pulling the seatback lock release strap and push the seatback down. 2. Pull the seatback lock release strap and raise the seatback. CAUTION When stowing or returning the seat, observe the following precautions in order to prevent death or serious in- jury: � Make sure the seat is free of people or luggage. Then, hold the seat and slowly move it. Otherwise, people may be injured or luggage may be damaged if the seat hits them. � Be careful not to get your hands or feet pinched in the seat. � Do not stow and return the seats when you are inside the vehicle in order to prevent pinching your hands or feet in the seat. Be sure to stow and return the seats from outside the vehicle. Information Provided by:

51 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) When returning seats to their original position, observe the following pre- cautions in order to prevent death or serious injury in a collision or sud- den stop: � Make sure the seat is securely locked by pushing forward and rear- ward on the top of the seatback or by trying to pull up the edge of the bottom cushion. Failure to do so will prevent the seat belt from oper- ating properly. � Make sure the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seatback and are arranged in their proper position and are ready to use. To use the armrest, lower the center head restraint. Pull the strap and pull the armrest down. NOTICE To prevent damage to the armrest, avoid putting heavy loads on it. Front seats Rear/second seats Armrest Head restraints Information Provided by:

52 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Third seats 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 rear/second seats and third seats head restraints—When an occupant sits on the rear seats, always pull up the head restraint to the lock position. The head restraint is most effective when it is close to your head. Therefore, using a cushion on the seatback is not recom- mended. 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. To turn on the seat heater, push the switches (“L” switch for driver’s seat and “R” switch for passenger’s seat). At this time, the indicator light will illu- minate to indicate the seat heater is operating. To turn off the seat heater, push the switch once again. The engine switch must be in the “ON” position to operate seat heaters. Seat heaters Information Provided by:

53 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION Occupants must use caution when op- erating the seat heater because it may make them feel too hot or cause burns at low temperatures (erythema, varicella). Use extra caution for; � Babies, small children, elderly per- sons, sick persons or persons with physical disabilities � Persons who have sensitive skin � Persons who are exhausted � Persons who have taken alcohol or drugs which induce sleep (sleeping drug, cold remedy, etc.) To prevent the seat overheating, do not use the seat heater with a blan- ket, cushion, or other insulating ob- jects which cover the seat. NOTICE � Do not put unevenly weighed ob- jects on the seat and do not stick sharp objects (needles, nails, etc.) into the seat. � When cleaning the seats, do not use organic substances (paint thin- ner, benzine, alcohol, gasoline, etc.). They may damage the heater and seat surface. � To prevent the battery from being discharged, turn the switch off when the engine is not running. Toyota strongly urges that the driver and passengers in the vehicle be properly re- strained 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. The seat belts provided for your vehicle are designed for people of adult size, large enough to properly wear them. Child. Use a child restraint system ap- propriate for the child until the child be- comes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belts. See “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Section 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 infla- tion of the airbag may cause death or serious injury to the child. Seat belts— —Seat belt precautions Information Provided by:

54 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Do not allow any children to stand up or kneel on either rear or front seats. An unrestrained child could suffer serious in- jury or death during emergency braking or a collision. Also, do not let the child sit on your lap. Holding a child in your arms 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 inju- ry, 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 death or serious bodily inju- ry, 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 seatback any more than needed. The seat belts provide maximum protection in a frontal or rear collision when the driver and the front 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 or your neck may contact the shoulder belt. In the event of a frontal collision, the more the seat is reclined, the great- er the risk of death or serious inju- ry. � 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 re- placed. 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 clean- ers, or allow them to come into contact with the belts—they may severely weaken the belts. (See “Cleaning the interior” on page 386 in Section 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. Information Provided by:

55 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Tab Buckle Adjust the seat as needed and sit up straight and well back in the seat. To fasten your belt, pull it out of the re- tractor 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. When a passenger’s shoulder belt is com- pletely extended and is then retracted even slightly, the belt is locked in that position and cannot be extended. This fea- ture is used to hold the child restraint system securely. (For details, see “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Section.) To free the belt again, fully retract the belt and then pull the belt out once more. 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. 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, because it cannot protect an adult occupant or your child from death or serious injury. 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 ad- just it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder portion upward through the latch plate. —Fastening front and rear seat belts Information Provided by:

56 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION � Both high−positioned lap belts and loose−fitting belts could cause death or serious injuries due to sliding under the lap belt during a collision or other unintended event. Keep the lap belt positioned as low on hips as possible. � Do not place the shoulder belt un- der your arm. Seat belts with an adjustable shoulder anchor— Adjust the shoulder anchor position to your size. To raise: Slide the anchor up. To lower: Push in the lock release button and slide the anchor down. After adjustment, make sure the anchor is locked in position. 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 death or serious injuries in a colli- sion. Information Provided by:

57 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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 re- tracts. REAR/SECOND CENTER SEAT BELT The rear/second center seat belt is a 3−point type restraint with 2 buckles. Both seat belt buckles must be correctly lo- cated and securely latched for proper op- eration. Make sure that buckle 1 is securely latched for ready use of the center seat belt. Two buckles and tabs for rear/second center seat belt The two tabs have different shape for its end so that the belt is not buckled in the wrong place. Buckle 1—Properly matches with hook end tab Buckle 2—Properly matches with round end tab Information Provided by:

58 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION Make sure the both buckles are cor- rectly located and securely latched. Failure to properly match the buckle and tab may cause death or severe injury in case of an accident or a collision. To release the hook end tab, insert the key into the hole on the buckle and allow the belt to retract. CAUTION Do not use the rear/second center seat belt with either buckle released. Fastening only the shoulder belt or lap belt may cause death or severe personal injury in case of sudden braking or a collision. Information Provided by:

59 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Rear/second seat belt buckles Third seat belt buckles The rear seat belt buckles can be stowed when not in use. The seat belt buckles must be stowed before you fold the seatback. CAUTION Before using the seat belt, pull out the buckle and make sure the belt is not twisted. STOWING THE REAR/SECOND CENTER SEAT BELT Insert the tabs of the center seat belt into the cover as shown above. Make sure the tabs are securely locked in the cover. The seat belt must be stowed before you fold the seatback. NOTICE Stow the rear/second center seat belt when not in use. —Stowing the rear seat belt buckles —Stowing the rear/second center seat belt Information Provided by:

60 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) If your seat belts cannot be fastened se- curely because they are not long enough, a personalized seat belt extender is avail- able from your Toyota dealer free of charge. Please contact your local Toyota dealer to order the proper required length for the extender. Bring the heaviest coat you ex- pect to wear for proper measurement and selection of length. Additional ordering in- formation is available at your Toyota deal- er. CAUTION When using the seat belt extender, observe the following precautions. Failure to follow these instructions could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt restraint system in case of an accident, increasing the chance of death or serious injury. � Remember that the extender pro- vided for you may not be safe when used on a different vehicle, for another person, or at a different seating position than the one origi- nally intended. � If the seat belt extender has been connected to the driver’s seat belt buckle without wearing the seat belt when using the extender in the driver’s seat, the SRS driver’s air- bag system will judge that the driv- er wears the seat belt even if not wearing it. In this case, the driver’s airbag may not activate correctly, causing death or serious injury in the event of collision. Be sure to wear the seat belt with the seat belt extender. � Make sure the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated when using the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue from the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender after making sure the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated. If you use the seat belt extender while the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, the front passenger airbag and side airbag on the front passenger side may not activate correctly, causing death or serious injury in the event of collision. � Be sure to wear the seat belt with- out the seat belt extender if you can fasten the seat belt without the extender. —Seat belt extender Information Provided by:

61 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system on the front or rear passen- ger seat. If installing a child re- straint system with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of collision. 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 ex- tender 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 extend- er itself. As far as the seat belt extender on the front passenger side is concerned, do not fail to disconnect the extender from the seat belt after the above operation in or- der to activate the front passenger airbag correctly when getting into the vehicle next time. When not in use, remove the extender and store in the vehicle for future use. CAUTION � After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and buckle are locked and that the lap and shoulder portions of the belt and the seat belt extend- er 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, immediately contact your Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat until the seat belt is fixed, because it cannot protect an adult occupant or your child from death or serious injury. Information Provided by:

62 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Vehicles without curtain shield air- bags—The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners are designed to be activated in response to a severe frontal impact. Vehicles with curtain shield airbags— The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners are designed to be activated in response to a severe fron- tal impact or a vehicle roll over. Vehicles without curtain shield airbags— When the sensor detects a severe frontal impact, the front seat belts are quickly drawn back by the retractors so that the belts snugly restrain the occupants. Vehicles with curtain shield airbags—When the sensor detects a severe frontal impact or a vehicle roll over, the front seat belts are quickly drawn back by the retractors so that the belts snugly restrain the occu- pants. The front passenger’s seat belt pretension- er will not activate if no passenger is detected in the front passenger seat by the front passenger occupant classification system. However, the front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner may activate if lug- gage is put on the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up regardless of the presence of an occupant in the seat. (As for the front passenger occupant classification system, see “—Front passenger occupant classification system” on page 81 in this Section.) The seat belt pretensioners and SRS air- bags may not operate together in all colli- sions. The seat belt pretensioner system con- sists mainly of the following components and their locations are shown in the il- lustration. 1. Front airbag sensors 2. SRS warning light 3. “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights 4. Front passenger occupant classification system (ECU and sensors) 5. Seat belt pretensioner assemblies 6. Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch 7. Airbag sensor assembly —Seat belt pretensioners Information Provided by:

63 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) The seat belt pretensioners are controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sen- sor and airbag sensor. When the seat belt pretensioners are acti- vated, an operating noise may be heard and a small amount of non−toxic gas may be released. This does not indicate that a fire is occurring. This gas is normally harmless. Once the seat belt pretensioners have been activated, the seat belt retractors remain locked. If the vehicle is involved in multiple colli- sions, the pretensioner will activate for the first collision, but will not activate for the second or subsequent collisions. CAUTION Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury in the event of sudden braking or an accident. Failure to do so may cause death or severe injury. � If the pretensioner has activated, the seat belt becomes locked: it cannot be further extended, nor will it return to the stowed position. The seat belt cannot be used again and must be replaced at your Toyota dealer. � Do not modify, remove, strike or open the seat belt pretensioner as- semblies, airbag sensor or sur- rounding area or wiring. Consult your Toyota dealer about any repair and modification. 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 devices 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 sys- tem � Modification of the front end struc- ture � 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 con- sole Information Provided by:

64 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) This indicator comes on when the en- gine switch is turned to the “ON” posi- tion. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This means the seat belt pretensioners are operating properly. This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen- sors, side and curtain shield airbag sen- sors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driv- er’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch, “AIR BAG ON” indicator light, “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, in- terconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indica- tors and warning buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6.) If any of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the airbags or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible. � The light does not come on when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position or remains on for more than 6 seconds. � The light comes on while driving. � If any seat belt does not retract or cannot be pulled out due to a malfunc- tion or activation of the relevant seat belt pretensioner. � The seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding area has been damaged. In the following cases, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible: � The front of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause the seat belt pretensioners to operate. � Either seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding area is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged. Information Provided by:

65 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys- tem) front airbags are designed to pro- vide further protection for the driver and front passenger in addition to the primary safety protection provided by the seat belts. Your vehicle is equipped with “ADVANCED AIRBAGS” designed based on US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag system controls airbag deployment power for the driver and front passenger. The driver airbag system consists of the driver seat’s position sensor etc. The front passenger’s airbag system consists of the front passenger occupant classification sensor etc. In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS front airbags work with the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The SRS front airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or front passenger’s head or chest caused by hitting the ve- hicle interior. The SRS front passenger airbag will not activate if there is no passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the front passenger airbag may deploy if lug- gage is put in the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up, regardless of the presence of an occupant in the seat. (As for the front passenger occupant classification system, see “—Front passenger occupant classification system” on page 81 in this Section.) Always wear your seat belt properly. CAUTION � The SRS front airbag system is de- signed only as a supplement to the primary protection of the driver and front passenger seat belt systems. The driver and front passenger can be killed or seriously injured by the inflating airbags if they do not wear the available seat belts properly. During sudden braking just before a collision, an unrestrained driver or front passenger can move for- ward into direct contact with or close proximity to the airbag which may then deploy during the colli- sion. To ensure maximum protection in an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly. Wear- ing a seat belt properly during an accident reduces the chances of death or serious injury or being thrown out of the vehicle. For in- structions and precautions concern- ing the seat belt system, see “Seat belts” on page 53 in this Section. SRS airbags— —SRS driver airbag and front passenger airbag Information Provided by:

66 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children can be killed or seriously injured by the deploy- ing airbags. 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 in- fants and children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and proper- ly restrained. The rear seat is the safest for infants and children. For instructions concerning the installa- tion of a child restraint system, see “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Section. The SRS front airbags are designed to deploy in severe (usually frontal) colli- sions where the magnitude and duration of the forward deceleration of the ve- hicle exceeds the designed threshold level. The SRS front airbags will deploy if the severity of the impact is above the de- signed threshold level, comparable to an approximate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision when the vehicle has the impact straight into a fixed barrier that does not move or deform. 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 the vehicle is involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.). It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the ve- hicle is very close to the designed thresh- old level, the SRS front airbags and the seat belt pretensioners may not activate together. Always wear your seat belts properly. Collision from the rear Collision from the side Vehicle rollover The SRS front airbags are not generally designed to inflate if the vehicle is in- volved in a side or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in a low− speed frontal collision. But, whenever a collision of any type causes sufficient forward deceleration of the vehicle, de- ployment of the SRS front airbags may occur. Information Provided by:

67 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard surface Falling into or jumping over a deep hole Landing hard or vehicle falling The SRS front airbags may also deploy if a serious impact occurs to the under- side of your vehicle. Some examples are shown in the illustration. The SRS front airbag system consists mainly of the following components, and their locations are shown in the illustra- tion. 1. Front airbag sensors 2. SRS warning light 3. “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights 4. Airbag module for front passenger (airbag and inflator) 5. Front passenger occupant classification system (ECU and sensors) 6. Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch 7. Driver’s seat belt buckle switch 8. Driver’s seat position sensor 9. Airbag sensor assembly 10. Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator) The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and airbag sensor. The front airbag sensors constantly moni- tor the forward deceleration of the vehicle. If an impact results in a forward decelera- tion beyond the designed threshold level, the system triggers the airbag inflators. At this time a chemical reaction in the infla- tors very quickly fills the airbags with non−toxic gas to help restrain the forward motion of the occupants. The front airbags then quickly deflate, so that there is no obstruction of the driver’s vision should it be necessary to continue driving. When the airbags inflate, they produce a loud noise and release some smoke and residue along with non−toxic gas. This does not indicate a fire. This smoke may remain inside the vehicle for some time, and may cause some minor irritation to the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent any potential skin irritation with soap and water. If you can safely exit from the vehicle, you should do so imme- diately. Information Provided by:

68 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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 inju- ries, primarily to the head and chest, it may also cause other, less severe injuries to the face, chest, arms and hands. These are usually in the nature of minor burns or abrasions and swelling, but the force of a deploying airbag can cause more seri- ous injuries, especially if an occupant’s hands, arms, chest or head is in close proximity to the airbag module at the time of deployment. This is why it is important for the occupant to: avoid placing any object or part of the body between the occupant and the airbag module; sit straight and well back into the seat; wear the available seat belt properly; and sit as far as possible from the airbag module, while still maintaining control of the ve- hicle. Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) may be hot for several minutes after deployment, so do not touch! The airbags inflate only once. The windshield may be damaged by absorbing some of the force of the inflat- ing airbag. CAUTION The driver or front passenger who is 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 ve- hicle. � The front passenger sit as far back as possible from the dashboard. � All vehicle occupants be properly restrained using the available seat belts. For instructions and precautions con- cerning the seating position, see “—Front seat precautions” on page 34 in this Section. � Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean against the dashboard when the vehicle is in use, since the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Anyone who is up against, or very close to, an airbag when it inflates, can be killed or seriously injured. Sit up straight and well back in the seat, and always use your seat belt properly. Information Provided by:

69 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Toyota strongly recommends that all infants and children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and be properly restrained. � Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms. Use a child restraint system in the rear seat. For instruc- tions concerning the installation of a child restraint system, see “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Sec- tion. � Do not put anything or any part of your body on or in front of the dashboard or steering wheel pad that houses the front airbag sys- tem. They might restrict inflation or cause death or serious injury as they are projected rearward by the force of the deploying airbags. Like- wise, the driver and front passenger should not hold objects 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, dashboard near the front passenger airbag, front passenger airbag or airbag sensor assembly. Doing so may pre- vent the front airbag system from activating correctly, cause sudden activation of the system or disable the system, which could result in death or serious injury. Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or serious injury. Consult your Toyota dealer about any repair and modification. If you wish to modify your vehicle for a person with physical disability, con- sult your Toyota dealer. It may dan- gerously interfere with the SRS front airbags operation. Information Provided by:

70 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) NOTICE Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting your Toyota dealer. Such changes can interfere with proper operation of the SRS front airbag system in some cases. � Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile two−way radio, cassette tape player or compact disc player � Modification of the suspension sys- tem � Modification of the front end struc- ture � 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, con- sole, steering column, steering wheel or dashboard near the front passenger airbag This indicator comes on when the en- gine switch is turned to the “ON” posi- tion. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This means the SRS front airbags are operating properly. This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen- sors, side and curtain shield airbag sen- sors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driv- er’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch, “AIR BAG ON” indicator light, “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, in- terconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indica- tors and warning buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6.) If any of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the airbags or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible. � The light does not come on when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position or remains on for more than 6 seconds. � The light comes on while driving. The SRS warning light and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light will come on if there is a malfunction in the front passenger occupant classification system. Information Provided by:

71 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) In the following cases, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible: � The SRS front airbags have been in- flated. � The front of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause the SRS front airbags to inflate. � The pad section of the steering wheel or dashboard (shaded in the illustra- tion) is scratched, cracked, or other- wise damaged. NOTICE Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting your Toyota dealer. The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys- tem) side airbags and curtain shield air- bags are designed to provide further protection for the driver, front passen- ger and rear/second passengers in addi- tion to the primary safety protection provided by the seat belts. In response to a severe side impact, the SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbags in the impacted side work with the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The SRS side airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or front passenger’s chest. The SRS curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s, front passenger’s or rear/second passen- ger’s head and help prevent them from being thrown out of the vehicle. The SRS side airbag on the passenger seat will not activate if there is no pas- senger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the side airbag on the passen- ger seat may deploy if luggage is put in the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up regardless of the presence of the occu- pant in the seat. (As for the front passen- ger occupant classification system, see “—Front passenger occupant classification system” on page 81 in this Section.) The SRS curtain shield airbag on the pas- senger side are activated even with no passenger in the front seat or rear/second outside seat. —SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags Information Provided by:

72 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Roll sensing function: In response to a vehicle rollover, the cur- tain shield airbags on both sides work with the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s, front passenger’s or rear/second passen- ger’s head and help prevent them from being thrown out of the vehicle. The SRS curtain shield airbags may acti- vate even when the side airbags are not activated. Always wear your seat belt properly. CAUTION � The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system is designed only as a supplement to the prima- ry protection of the driver, front passenger and rear/second outside passenger seat belt systems. To en- sure maximum protection in an ac- cident, the driver and all passen- gers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly. Wearing a seat belt properly during an accident re- duces the chances of death or seri- ous injury or being thrown out of the vehicle. For instructions and precautions concerning the seat belt system, see “Seat belts” on page 53 in this Section. � Do not allow anyone to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body against the door or the area of the seat, front pillar, rear pillar or roof side rails from which the SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag deploy even if he/she is a child seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if the SRS side air- bag and curtain shield airbag in- flate, and the impact of the deploy- ing airbag could cause death or se- rious injury to the occupant. Information Provided by:

73 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children can be killed or seriously injured by the deploy- ing airbags. 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 in- fants and children be placed in the rear seats of the vehicle and prop- erly restrained. The rear seats are the safest for infants and children. For instructions concerning the installation of a child restraint sys- tem, see “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Section. The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system may not activate if the vehicle is subjected to a collision from the side at certain angles, or a collision to the side of the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment as shown in the illustration. The SRS side airbags are designed to inflate when the passenger compartment area suffers a severe impact from the side. Always wear your seat belts properly. Collision from the rear Collision from the front Vehicle rollover The SRS side airbags are not generally designed to inflate if the vehicle is in- volved in a front or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in a low− speed side collision. Information Provided by:

74 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) The curtain shield airbags may not acti- vate if the vehicle is subjected to a collision from the side at certain angles, or a collision to the side of the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment as shown in the illustra- tion. The curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate when the passenger compartment area suffers a severe impact from the side or vehicle rollover. Always wear your seat belts properly. The angle of vehicle tip−up is marginal Skidding vehicle hitting a curb stone The curtain shield airbags may inflate if the angle of vehicle tip−up is margin- al or if the skidding vehicle’s tires hit a curb stone laterally as shown in the illustration. Collision from the front Collision from the rear Pitch end over end The curtain shield airbags are not gen- erally designed to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a front or rear collision, if it pitches end over end, or if it is involved in a low−speed side collision. Information Provided by:

75 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard surface Falling into or jumping over a deep hole Landing hard or vehicle falling The SRS side and curtain shield airbags may deploy if a serious impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples are shown in the illustration. The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system consists mainly of the fol- lowing components, and their locations are shown in the illustration. 1. SRS warning light 2. “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights 3. Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflator) 4. Front passenger occupant classification system (ECU and sensors) 5. Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator) 6. Curtain shield airbag sensors 7. Side and curtain shield airbag sensors 8. Airbag sensor assembly 9. Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sensor as- sembly consists of a safing sensor and airbag sensor. In a severe side impact, the side and curtain shield airbag sensor and/or the curtain shield airbag sensor trigger(s) the side airbag inflators and/or the curtain shield airbag inflators. At this time a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non−toxic gas to help restrain the lateral motion of the occu- pants. In a vehicle rollover, the airbag sensor assembly triggers the curtain shield airbag inflator. At this time, a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non−toxic gas to help restrain the lateral motion of the occupants. Information Provided by:

76 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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 smoke may remain inside the vehicle for some time, and may cause some minor irritation to the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent any potential skin irritation with soap and water. If you can safely exit from the vehicle, you should do so imme- diately. 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 inju- ries, it may also cause minor burns or abrasions and swelling. Front seats as well as parts of the front and rear pillars, front, center and rear garnish and roof interior may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags them- selves will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate only once. CAUTION SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags inflate with considerable force. To reduce the possibility of death or serious injury when they in- flate, the driver, front passenger and rear/second outside passengers must: � Wear their seat belts properly. � Remain properly seated with their backs upright and against the seats at all times. Improper sitting and wearing of the seat belts may not retain you inside the vehicle. � Do not allow anyone to lean against the door when the vehicle is in use, since the side airbag and curtain shield airbag could inflate with con- siderable speed and force. Other- wise, he/she may be killed or seri- ously injured. Special care should be taken especially when you have a small child in the vehicle. � Sit up straight and well back in the seat, distributing your weight evenly in the seat. Do not apply excessive weight to the outer side of the seats with a side airbag, and to the front pillar, rear pillar and roof side rail with a curtain shield airbag. Information Provided by:

77 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Do not allow anyone to get his/her head closer to the area where the side airbag and curtain shield air- bag inflate, since these airbags could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she may be killed or seriously injured. Special care should be taken espe- cially when you have a small child in the vehicle. � Do not allow anyone to kneel on the passenger seat, facing the pas- senger’s side door, since the side airbag and curtain shield airbag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she may be killed or seriously injured. Special care should be taken espe- cially when you have a small child in the vehicle. � Do not allow anyone to get his/her head or hands out of windows since the curtain shield airbags could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she may be killed or seriously injured. Special care should be taken espe- cially when you have a small child in the vehicle. Information Provided by:

78 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Do not attach a cup holder or any other device or object on or around the door. When the side airbag in- flates, the cup holder or any other device or object will be thrown with great force or the side airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death or serious injury. Likewise, the driver and front passenger should not hold objects in their arms or on their knees. � Do not attach a microphone or any other device or object near the area where the curtain shield airbag acti- vates such as on the windshield glass, side door glass, front, center and roof side garnish. When the curtain shield airbag inflates, the microphone or other device or ob- ject will be thrown away with great force or the curtain shield airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death or serious injury. � Do not hook a hanger, heavy or sharp pointed objects on the coat hook. If the curtain shield airbag inflates, those items will be thrown away with great force or the curtain shield airbag may not activate cor- rectly, resulting in death or serious injury. When you hang clothes, hang them on the coat hook direct- ly. � Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts where the side air- bags inflate. Such accessories may prevent the side airbags from acti- vating correctly, causing death or serious injury. � Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of the seats with side airbags. Such changes may prevent the side airbag system from activat- ing correctly, disable the system or cause the side airbags to inflate ac- cidentally, resulting in death or seri- ous injury. Information Provided by:

79 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Do not disassemble or repair the front, center and roof side garnish containing the curtain shield air- bags. Such changes may disable the system or cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate accidental- ly, resulting in death or serious in- jury. � Do not modify or change the sus- pension system. Such changes may cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate accidentally, which could re- sult in death or serious injury. � Do not use tires or wheels other than the manufacturer’s recom- mended size. Such a use may cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate accidentally, which could result in death or serious injury. For details, see “Checking and replacing tires” on page 410 in Section 7−2. � Do not place luggage heavier than specified on the roof luggage carri- er. Such luggage may cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate ac- cidentally, which could result in death or serious injury. For details, see “Roof luggage carrier” on page 303 in Section 1−10. Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or serious injury. Consult your Toyota dealer about any repair and modification. If you wish to modify your vehicle for a person with physical disability, con- sult your Toyota dealer. It may dan- gerously interfere with the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags op- eration. NOTICE Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting your Toyota dealer. Such changes can interfere with proper operation of the SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system in some cases. � Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile two−way radio, cassette tape player or compact disc player � Modification of the suspension sys- tem � Modification of the side structure of the passenger compartment � Repairs made on or near the con- sole or front seat Information Provided by:

80 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) This indicator comes on when the en- gine switch is turned to the “ON” posi- tion. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This means the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are operating properly. This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen- sors, side and curtain shield airbag sen- sors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driv- er’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch, “AIR BAG ON” indicator light, “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, in- terconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indica- tors and warning buzzers” on page 129 in Section 1−6.) If either of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the airbags or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible. � The light does not come on when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position or remains on for more than 6 seconds. � The light comes on while driving. The SRS warning light and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light will come on if there is a malfunction in the front passenger occupant classification system. Information Provided by:

81 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) In the following cases, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible: � Any of the SRS side airbags and cur- tain shield airbags have been inflated. � The portion of the doors (shaded in the illustration) was involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags to inflate. � The surface of the seats with the side airbag (shaded in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam- aged. � The portion of the front, center and roof side garnish containing the curtain shield airbags inside (shaded in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged. NOTICE Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting your Toyota dealer. Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification sys- tem. This system detects the conditions 1—4 in the table on page 83 and based on these conditions activates or deacti- vates the following systems; � Front passenger airbag � Side airbag on the front passenger seat � Front passenger’s seat belt pretension- er The system monitors the weight and load on the front passenger seat, and the seat belt buckle switch to determine conditions 1—4. In order for the system to detect the conditions correctly, do not do any of the following: � Apply a heavy load to the front pas- senger seat or equipment (e.g. seat- back pocket). � Attach a commercial seatback table, etc. to the front passenger seatback. � Put weight on the front passenger seat by putting your hands or feet on the seatback from the rear passenger seat. The “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights indicate the actuation of the front passenger airbag, side airbag on the front passenger seat and front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner. The “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light will be illuminated when the engine switch is in the “ON” position with the condition 2 in the table shown below. —Front passenger occupant classification system Information Provided by:

82 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) If the front passenger occupant classifica- tion system determines that a person of adult size sits in the front passenger seat but the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, one of the following is likely to have occurred: � A rear passenger lifts the front passen- ger seat cushion with their legs. � Objects are placed under the front pas- senger seat. � The front passenger seatback is in contact with the rear/second seat. To ensure the system correctly detects an adult sitting in the front passenger seat, make sure the above do not occur. Make sure that the “AIR BAG ON” indica- tor light is illuminated when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illumina- ted, ask the passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, and with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light still remains illuminated, ei- ther ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or if that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward. The “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights will be illuminated ini- tially when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position. After about four seconds, they will go off. After that, the front passenger occupant classification system operates and judges which indi- cator light be illuminated. The SRS warning light and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light will come on if there is a malfunction in the front pas- senger occupant classification system. Information Provided by:

83 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification system Condition detected by the front passenger occupant classification system Indicator/warning light Devices “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights SRS warning light Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Front passenger airbag Side airbag on the front passenger seat Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger side Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner 1. Adult∗1 “AIR BAG ON” Off Flashing∗4 Activated 2. Child∗2 or child restraint system∗3 “AIR BAG OFF”∗5 Off Flashing∗4 Deactivated Activated Activated 3. Unoccupied Not illuminated Off Off Deactivated Deactivated 4. There is a malfunction in the system “AIR BAG OFF” On Off Deactivated Activated ∗1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and posture. ∗2: When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as an adult depending on his/her physique or posture. ∗3: Never install a rear−facing child restraint system on the front passenger seat. A forward−facing child restraint system should only be installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable. (See “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Section as for installing the child restraint system.) ∗4: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt. ∗5: In case the indicator is not illuminated, see “Child restraint” on page 85 as for installing the child restraint system properly. Information Provided by:

84 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION To avoid potential death or serious injury when the front passenger occu- pant classification system does not detect the conditions correctly, ob- serve the following. � Make sure the “AIR BAG ON” indi- cator light is illuminated when us- ing the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illumi- nated, disconnect the extender tongue from the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat belt. Recon- nect the seat belt extender after making sure the “AIR BAG ON” in- dicator light is illuminated. If you use the seat belt extender while the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, the front passenger air- bag and side airbag on the front passenger side may not activate correctly, which could cause death or serious injury in the event of collision. � Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear/second seat. This may cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator to be illuminated, which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not deploy in the event of a severe accident. If the seatback touches the rear/ second seat, return the seatback to a position where it does not touches the rear/second seat. Keep the front passenger seatback as upright as possible when the ve- hicle is moving. Reclining the seat- back excessively may lessen the ef- fectiveness of the seat belt system. � If an adult sits in the front passen- ger seat, the “AIR BAG ON” indica- tor light should be illuminated. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator is illu- minated, ask the passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator still remains illumi- nated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear/second seat, or if that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward. � Wear the seat belt properly. � Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not been left in- serted into the buckle before some- one sits in the front passenger seat. � Do not apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat or equipment (e.g. seatback pocket). � Do not put weight on the front pas- senger seat by putting your hands or feet on the front passenger seat seatback from the rear/second pas- senger seat. � Do not let a rear/second passenger lift the front passenger seat with their feet or press on the seatback with their legs. � Do not put objects under the front passenger seat. � Child restraint systems installed on the rear/second seat should not contact the front seatbacks. Information Provided by:

85 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � When it is unavoidable to install the forward−facing child restraint sys- tem on the front passenger seat, install the child restraint system on the front passenger seat in the proper order. (As for the installation order, see “—Installation with seat belt” on page 88 in this Section.) � Do not remove the front seats. � Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to severe impact. Otherwise, the SRS warning light may come on to indicate a malfunc- tion of the detection system. In this case, contact your Toyota dealer im- mediately. The “AIR BAG ON” indicator light may be illuminated (the front passenger airbag and side airbag on the front passenger seat may deploy) even if observing the above cautions, when a child sits in, or a for- ward−facing child restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat. Re- fer to all the cautions in “SRS airbags” on page 65 and “Child restraint” on page 85 in this Section. Toyota strongly urges the use of ap- propriate child restraint systems for children. The laws of all 50 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” on page 53 in this Section for details. CAUTION � For effective protection in automo- bile accidents and sudden stops, a child 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 acci- dent, 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, installed on the rear seat. Accord- ing to accident statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat. � Never install a rear−facing child re- straint system on the front passen- ger seat even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front pas- senger airbag can cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear−facing child restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat. Child restraint— —Child restraint precautions Information Provided by:

86 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � A forward−facing child restraint sys- tem should be allowed to be installed on the front passenger seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back as possible even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously in- jured. � On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield airbags, do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body against the door or the area of the seat, front or center and roof side garnish from which the side airbags or cur- tain shield airbags deploy even if the child is seated in the child re- straint system. It is dangerous if the side airbag and/or curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child. � Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system on the front or rear passen- ger seat. If installing a child re- straint system with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of collision. � Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided by the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly se- cured. If it is not secured properly, it may cause death or serious injury to the child in the event of a sud- den stop or accident. A child restraint system for a small child or baby must itself be properly restrained on the seat with the lap por- tion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must carefully consult the manufacturer’s instructions which accompany the child restraint system. To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system following the manufactur- er’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. 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. —Child restraint system Information Provided by:

87 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION When the child restraint system is not in use: � Keep the child restraint system properly secured on the seat even if it is not in use. Do not store the restraint unsecured in the passen- ger compartment. � If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the vehicle or store it securely in the luggage compartment. This will prevent it from injuring passen- gers in the event of a sudden stop or accident. Child restraint systems are classified into the following 3 types depending on the child’s age and size. (A) Infant seat (B) Convertible seat (C) Booster seat Install the child restraint system following the instructions provided by its manufac- turer. Your vehicle has anchor brackets for se- curing the top strap of a child restraint system. For instructions about how to use the an- chor bracket, see “—Using a top strap” on page 100 in this Section. The child restraint lower anchorages ap- proved for your vehicle may also be used. See “—Installation with child restraint low- er anchorages” on page 104 in this Sec- tion. (A) Infant seat (B) Convertible seat —Types of child restraint system Information Provided by:

88 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) (C) Booster seat (A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION An infant seat must be used in rear− facing position only. CAUTION � Never install a rear−facing child re- straint system on the front passen- ger seat even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front pas- senger airbag can cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear−facing child restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat. —Installation with seat belt Information Provided by:

89 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) � Do not install a child restraint sys- tem on the rear/second or third seat if it interferes with the lock mechanism of the front or second seats. Otherwise, the child or front or second seat occupant(s) may be killed or seriously injured in case of sudden braking or a collision. � If the driver’s seat position does not allow sufficient space for safe installation, install the child re- straint system on the rear right seat. Same position Same angle � When installing a child restraint system on the rear/second center position, adjust both seat cushions to the same position and align all seatbacks at the same angle. Other- wise, the child restraint system can- not be securely restrained and this may cause death or serious injuries in a collision. To install the infant seat: 1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the infant seat following the instructions provided by its manufactur- er and insert the tab into the buckle taking care not to twist the belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt tight. Information Provided by:

90 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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 your child from properly latching the tab and buckle. � If the seat belt does not function normally, it cannot protect your child from death or serious injury. Contact your Toyota dealer immedi- ately. Do not install the child restraint system on 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. 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 secure- ly. Information Provided by:

91 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) CAUTION Push and pull the child restraint sys- tem in different directions to be sure it is secure. Follow all the installation instructions provided by its manufac- turer. 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. Rear/second center seat: If the seat in which a child restraint system is installed in the rear most position, release the cen- ter seat belt after removing the child re- straint system. Otherwise, the rear center seat belt may not work properly. Information Provided by:

92 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) (B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLATION A convertible seat must be used in for- ward−facing or rear−facing position de- pending on the age and size of the child. When installing, follow the manufacturer’s instructions about the applicable age and size of the child as well as directions for installing the child restraint system. Install the child restraint system on the front passenger seat only when it is un- avoidable. Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system. In order to activate the occupant classification system correctly, install the forward−facing child restraint system on the front passenger seat in the following order: 1. Turn the engine switch to the “ON” position. 2. Move the front passenger seat to the rearward position. 3. Put the child restraint system on the front passenger seat without putting your weight on the front passenger seat. 4. Insert the seat belt tab into the seat belt buckle. 5. 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 seat securely, make sure the belt is in the lock mode before letting the belt retract. 6. 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 convert- ible seat securely. CAUTION Push and pull the child restraint sys- tem in different directions to be sure it is secure. Follow all the installation instructions provided by its manufac- turer. 7. Put a child on the child restraint sys- tem and secure the child, complying with the instructions provided by the child restraint system manufacturer. Information Provided by:

93 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) The “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light should be illuminated when the engine switch is in the “ON” position and the child is in the child restraint system after following these procedures. The “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light indicates the SRS front passenger airbag and side airbag on the passenger side will not deploy. If the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated, remove the child restraint system and reinstall it with the engine switch in the “ACC” or “LOCK” position. If the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position, then the SRS front passenger airbag and side air- bag on the passenger side may deploy in an accident. Do not drive the vehicle in this condition. Remove the child restraint system and contact your Toyota dealer. CAUTION � Never install a rear−facing child re- straint system on the front passen- ger seat. A forward−facing child re- straint system should only be installed on the front passenger seat when unavoidable. If you must install the child restraint system on the front passenger seat, put the seat in its most rearward position, and install the forward−facing child restraint system in the proper or- der. Otherwise, the front passenger occupant classification system can not detect the presence of the child restraint system and the front pas- senger airbag and side airbag on the front passenger seat could deploy, and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child. � Never install a rear−facing child re- straint system on the front passen- ger seat even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an accident, the impact of the rapid inflation of the front pas- senger airbag could cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear−facing child restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat. Information Provided by:

94 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Move seat fully back � A forward−facing child restraint sys- tem should be allowed to be installed on the front passenger seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back as possible even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously in- jured. � On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield airbags, do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body against the door or the area of the seat, front or center and roof side garnish from which the side airbags or cur- tain shield airbags deploy even if the child is seated in the child re- straint system. It is dangerous if the side airbag and/or curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child. � Do not install a child restraint sys- tem on the rear/second or third seat if it interferes with the lock mechanism of the front or second seats. Otherwise, the child or front or second seat occupant(s) may be killed or seriously injured in case of sudden braking or a collision. � If the driver’s seat position does not allow sufficient space for safe installation, install the child re- straint system on the rear/second right seat. Information Provided by:

95 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Same position Same angle � When installing a child restraint system on the rear/second center position, adjust both seat cushions to the same position and align all seatbacks at the same angle. Other- wise, the child restraint system can- not be securely restrained and this may cause death or serious injuries in a collision. To install the convertible seat: 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 your child from properly latching the tab and buckle. � If the seat belt does not function normally, it cannot protect your child from death or serious injury. Contact your Toyota dealer immedi- ately. Do not install the child restraint system on the seat until the seat belt is fixed. Information Provided by:

96 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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 convertible seat securely, make sure the belt is in the lock mode before letting the belt retract. 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 convert- ible seat securely. CAUTION Push and pull the child restraint sys- tem in different directions to be sure it is secure. Follow all the installation instructions provided by its manufac- turer. Information Provided by:

97 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) 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. Rear/second center seat: If the seat in which a child restraint system is installed in the rear most position, release the cen- ter seat belt after removing the child re- straint system. Otherwise, the rear center seat belt may not work properly. (C) BOOSTER SEAT INSTALLATION A booster seat must be used in for- ward−facing position only. Information Provided by:

98 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) Move seat fully back CAUTION � A forward−facing child restraint sys- tem should be allowed to be installed on the front passenger seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back as possible even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously in- jured. � On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield airbags, do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body against the door or the area of the seat, front or center and roof side garnish from which the side airbags or cur- tain shield airbags deploy even if the child is seated in the child re- straint system. It is dangerous if the side airbag and/or curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child. Same position Same angle � When installing a child restraint system on the rear/second center position, adjust both seat cushions to the same position and align all seatbacks at the same angle. Other- wise, the child restraint system can- not be securely restrained and this may cause death or serious injuries in a collision. Information Provided by:

99 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) To install the booster seat: Sit the child on a booster seat. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the booster seat and across the child fol- lowing 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 the child’s hips. See “Seat belts” on page 53 in this Section for details. 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. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously injured in case of sud- den braking or a collision. � Both high−positioned lap belts and loose−fitting belts could cause death or serious injuries due to sliding under the lap belt during a collision or other unintended event. Keep the lap belt positioned as low on a child’s 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 your child from properly latching the tab and buckle. � If the seat belt does not function normally, it cannot protect your child from death or serious injury. Contact your Toyota dealer immedi- ately. Do not install the child restraint system on the seat until the seat belt is fixed. Information Provided by:

100 2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U) To remove the booster seat: Press the buckle release button and allow the belt to retract. Rear/second center seat: If the seat in which a child restraint system is installed in the rear most position, release the cen- ter seat belt after removing the child re- straint system. Otherwise, the rear center seat belt may not work properly. Outside position Center position —Using a top strap Information Provided by: