Maintenance
Inside vehicle
In this manual: Maintenance
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General maintenance
Performing the following maintenance checks on the vehicle is the owner's responsibility. The owner may perform the maintenance or take the vehicle to a service center. Check the parts of the vehicle described below on a daily basis. In most cases, special tools are not required. It is recommended that the owner perform these checks. The procedures for general maintenance are as follows.
- General notes
- Maintenance requirements vary depending on the country.
- Check the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual supplement.
- Following the maintenance schedule is mandatory.
- Determine the appropriate time to service the vehicle using either miles driven or months elapsed, whichever reaches the specification first.
- Maintain similar intervals between periodic maintenance, unless otherwise noted.
- Failing to check each vehicle part could lead to poor engine performance and increase exhaust emissions.
- Lights
- Check that the headlights, stop lights, taillights, turn signal lights, and other lights illuminate or blink properly. Also, check if they have enough brightness.
- Check that the headlights are aimed properly.
- Warning lights and buzzers
- Check that all the warning lights and buzzers are working.
- Horns
- Check that the horn is working.
- Windshield glass
- Check for scratches, pits or abrasions.
- Windshield wipers and washer
- Check that the windshield washers are aimed properly. Also, check that the center stream of washer fluid sprays on the windshield within the operating range of the wipers.
- Check if the wipers streak or not.
- Windshield defroster
- When the heater or air conditioning is on the defroster setting, check if air comes out of the defroster outlet.
- Rear view mirror
- Check that the rear view mirror is securely mounted.
- Sun visors
- Check that the sun visors move freely and are securely mounted.
- Steering wheel
- Check that the steering wheel has the proper amount of free play. Also check for steering difficulty and unusual noises.
- Seats
- Check that the seat adjusters, seatback recliner and other front seat controls operate smoothly.
- Check that all the latches lock securely in all positions.
- Check that the locks hold securely in all latched positions.
- Check that the headrests move up and down smoothly and that the locks hold securely in all latched positions.
- When the rear seatbacks are folded down, check that the latches lock securely.
- Seat belts
- Check that the seat belt system such as the buckles, retractors and anchors operate properly and smoothly.
- Check that the belt webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or damaged. Replace if necessary.
- Accelerator pedal
- Check that the accelerator pedal operates smoothly.
In other words, check that the pedal does not have uneven pedal resistance or become stuck in certain positions.
- Clutch pedal
- Check that the clutch pedal operates smoothly.
- Check that the pedal has the proper free play.
- Brake pedal
- Check that the brake pedal operates smoothly.
- Check that the pedal has the proper reserve distance and free play.
- Start the engine and check the brake booster function.
- Brakes
- In a safe place, check that the vehicle remains straight when applying the brakes.
- Parking brake
- Check that the parking brake lever has the proper amount of travel (see page pb-4).
- On a safe incline, check that the vehicle is held securely with only the parking brake applied.
- Automatic transaxle "park" mechanism
- Check the lock release button of the shift lever for proper and smooth operation.
- When the shift lever is in the p position and all brakes are released on a low incline, check that the vehicle is stable.
Test yourself
A quick Toyota RAV4 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.
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