Toyota RAV4 2011 AWD and 2WD Maintenance Schedule

 Engine and Electrical System

Fuel System, Chassis and Body

Body and Chassis Continued

Maintenance Service Times

Toyota RAV4 2011 AWD and 2WD Maintenance Information

Below are the service details of a Toyota RAV4 2011, this is applicable for a two wheel drive ot four wheel drive version.

MAINTENANCE OF YOUR TOYOTA

MAINTENANCE OF YOUR TOYOTA IMPORTANT NOTICE

Things You Can Do When You Refuel.

The best way to ensure years of trouble-free motoring is to develop a habit of regularly checking under the bonnet and around your Toyota. It only takes a few minutes when you're getting petrol, and early detection could save you a lot of money. If you're unsure how to carry out these checks, see your Owner's Manual or ask a Service Advisor at your Toyota Service Centre for a demonstration at your next service.

• Check engine oil, (ensure engine is hot, wait 5 minutes for an accurate reading)
• Check engine coolant, brake, clutch and windscreen washer fluid levels
• Check tyre pressure including spare (when cold)
• You should walk around your vehicle checking that all the lights, indicators and horn are operating correctly.
• Operate the air conditioner for at least 5 minutes per week to keep the system in optimum condition.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

To maintain the protection and efficiency of the cooling system, the Toyota Super long Life Coolant must not be mixed with any other coolant or additive.

Use premixed genuine Toyota Super Long Life Coolant to fill the cooling system. Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water alone.

Regular Toyota Service Centre Checks

In addition to the maintenance items listed for each service, your Toyota Service Centre will regularly check the operation of key systems. To ensure the continued efficiency and reliability of your, vehicle to suit your particular driving conditions, your Toyota Service Centre may recommend additional maintenance such as:

• Replacement of worn wiper blades
• Brake system inspections
• Headlight realignments
• Balance and rotation of wheels for even tyre wear
• Valve clearance adjustments
• Testing and re-gassing air conditioning.

MAINTENANCE OF YOUR TOYOTA

How to Calculate the correct Service Intervals

You'll notice this handbook lists both time and kilometres travelled as recommended service intervals. This is because the service intervals of your vehicle are dependent on your driving habits. Regular vehicle maintenance is vital to maintain optimal performance, safety, longevity and resale value. If you drive average distances (approximately 20,000 km or more per year) you should be servicing your Toyota in accordance with the kilometres travelled recommendations. However, if you consistently travel low kilometres, then servicing must be based on the recommended time intervals.

Talk to your Toyota Service Advisor for further information about the type of service schedule best suited to your day to day driving, and you'll know you’re keeping your Toyota operating at peak performance.

Additional Service Requirements

How and where you drive your Toyota determines the service requirements as much as the time or distance travelled. For example, if you are regularly towing heavy loads or driving in rough conditions, then more frequent maintenance is necessary, refer to Additional Service Requirements in this Section. The Service Advisor at your Toyota Service Centre can best advise you on the maintenance requirements, to suit your driving conditions.

Wheel Alignment

Abnormal or uneven tyre wear may be noted by your Toyota Service Centre during your regular maintenance service. This may be caused by your operating environment. Your Toyota Service Centre will suggest a wheel alignment check (and correction if necessary) to prevent further deterioration to your vehicle's tyres. This will be a chargeable service.

Break-in Period Oil Change

Your new Toyota is manufactured to precision tolerances and rigorously checked and filled with high quality lubricants at the factory, as such the oil and filter does not need to be changed until the first scheduled service.

Oil Thickening

Oil thickening is a phenomenon which occurs when particles of unburnt fuel and combustion by-products cause a build-up of carbon (soot) in the engine oil forming a jelly type substance. It can cause serious engine damage through oil starvation. It is essential that the engine oil is changed according to the Maintenance Schedule in this Section, at either the time or distance specified.

UNDERSTANDING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Here is a guide to the codes defining what type of maintenance needs to be performed at each scheduled service. You'll find these marked on Maintenance Schedule pages.

C = Clean

D = Inspect and drain

I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary

R = Replace

T = Tighten

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Driving Through Deep Water, Mud or Sand

Items such as those following require daily service when you drive through deep water, mud or sand:

• Brake lines and hoses
• Brake linings/drums and brake pads and discs
• Engine air cleaner filter 
• Front and rear differential oil 
• Steering linkage 
• Transfer oil 
• Transmission fluid or oil 
• Wheel bearings 
• Propeller shafts and drive shafts.

Driving Through Water

Avoid driving through water that may enter the engine compartment. Water entering the engine compartment may enter the engine air intake and other components causing serious damage and or the engine to stop and not restart.

Should you need to drive through deep water, first ascertain thar the depth of the water is not above the bottom of the front bumper bar and that the surface of the ground under the water is firm and even with no deep holes, then you can proceed slowly in low gear.

If the water level is deeper than above, it is advisable to wait until the water level has dropped or to find another crossing.

Water Flood

If your Toyota is caught in a flood and is submerged over the engine do not start it or have it towed in a manner that may cause damage or unsafe operation. Water may have entered the engine, transmission. differential and other assemblies. Before your Toyota can be started and driven again, each assembly must be checked and serviced, otherwise, serious damage may occur. For additional information on driving and towing your Toyota, see the vehicle's "Owner's Manual".

Replacing Vanity and Cargo Lights – Toyota RAV4 2011

It seems to be easy to replace the internal lights of your car if you would like to do it your self. Recently I did change my Halogen lights to LED. Following steps are for a 2011 Toyota RAV4, but some of the steps may be applicable to other vehicle models as well.

Vanity Lights

You can remove the vanity light by inserting a flat head screw driver or a panel remover tool from the left side of the light. If you are using a screw driver, you can use a cloth to minimise the damage caused. Be careful not to try from the right side, since the wire connections are there on the right side. So if you try forcing it out from the right side, it will break. You will get the idea from the below images.

Cargo Area Light

Cargo light is the light on the back door of the RAV4, this can be easily removed by inserting a tool from the side where the switch is located. Do not try from the other side since it will break.

Once the light assembly is removed you need to remove the plastic cover to access the light. If you are replacing the globe with a LED, remember to turn the LED to the other side, so the light will emit to the cargo area. You will be able to get a better understanding by the following pictures.

Replacing Dome Lights – Toyota RAV4 2011

Recently I did upgrade the interior lights of my car, since there are not much articles with the steps,  thought this will be helpful to the other readers.

1. Use a car trim remover tool or a flat head screwdriver to gently remove the light cover. If using a screwdriver, it is better use a cloth to reduce the damage to the plastic components.

You just need to insert the tool in the below marked areas to get it undone. Note that we re only removing the lens cover, not the entire dome light assembly. So insert the tool between the lens cover and the plastic.

2. You will be able to pull the existing bulb without much effort.

After replacing the globe, remember to check before fitting the cover.

Replacing Map Lights – Toyota RAV4 2011

Recently I was interested in replacing the Halogen map light bulbs with LEDs, I thought this might be useful for other readers as well if I let you know the steps to do it. Even though I did it on a Toyota RAV4 2011 model, some of the steps may be helpful to do the same on other vehicles. But be careful since if you do it wrong things might break.

It is always better to use a trim panel remover tool to reduce the damage caused by just using a flat head screw driver. If you have to use a screwdriver, use a cloth to minimise the damage.

1. Using a panel remover, flip the top and bottom of the lens covers to remove the lens covers.

Below images will show you the mechanism holding the lens cover, so you just need to insert the tool at the right location and gently tilt the tool to get it removed. For example if you insert the tool from the right or left sides and use force, then the small plastic piece will break, needing you to buy a new one.

2. Once the covers are removed you will see the light globes, here you need to be careful. To remove the globes you just need to pull the globe out from the holder. If you turn the globes then the holder will get detached. If you are not too careful the released holder will fall in.

In case you rotate the holder, very carefully rotate it back to the place, before it falls inside.

3. After taking the globe out you can put the new globe in and fit the lens cover back. remember to check the light before fixing the lens cover.

In case your holder fell inside, then you can try few ways to get the holder back.

a. Use a magnet to try to get it out.

b. Carefully use a cable to get it.

c. Remove the entire map light assembly.

Since both a. and b. will have less percentage of success, I will explain how to remove the entire assembly. Since most Toyota’s do not use screws many components are held in place by clips. Mostly they will be plastic. So you need to know where to pull / push so you are not going to break any.

To remove the map light assembly you just need to pull hard to detach the 4 plastic clips see below. It may be really hard so some tools might help.

There is a small black connector which connects the lights to the vehicle’s electricity system. This can be removed by pressing the lock and pulling.

Hope this helps you to stay out of trouble or save some hours while replacing your globes.

Ruston’s Roses – Renmark South Australia

If you like to enjoy visiting the Australia’s largest Rose garden then you need to travel to Renmark in South Australia. The place is named Ruston’s Roses, they maintain a Rose garden of 50000 bushes in 4000 varieties. I have been there in off peak season but there were few flowers blooming so I expect it will be full of flowers in season.

To make it an interesting place for everyone Ruston’s got a small car museum as well. Till the ladies enjoy the garden gents can enjoy the cars on display. Not to mention the gift / souvenir shopping possibilities at the place. When you are tired after all that you can enjoy a light meal from the restaurant.

You will find plenty of places to park your car freely. The place is pram and disabled friendly and in off peak season admittance is free. In peak season I think they charge $5 for an adult entry. Visiting them wont be a big issue since they are open everyday of the year from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Find out more by contacting them.

Address: Ruston's Roses, Moorna Street, Renmark SA 5341.
Phone: 08 8586 6191
EMail: anne@rustonsroses.com
Web: www.rustonsroses.com

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Samsung Galaxy S4 not Connecting to Car Audio Fix

Few months back suddenly my Toyota refused to connect to my Samsung Galaxy S4 without any reason. Earlier I could listen to music, dial calls and answer calls without issues.

But suddenly the connection between the car and the phone broke and the worst thing is I lost entire Bluetooth screen from the car audio system (Normally I have FM1, FM2, Bluetooth and AM). I thought my audio system is malfunctioning so I went to Toyota, but they said it is a known error and Galaxy S4 is having new Bluetooth version and it is not compatible with most of the car audio systems and I will not be able to use the phone with the car. This was very disappointing to me so I asked for them for the audio system update but they said no updates are available.

Then I thought to try out few things and get it fixed by myself, good news for anyone having the same issue is I solved the issue. But it is not always reliable but 95% of times it will work.

To get your S4 (or any other new device) connected into your car audio follow the steps below, they might help you.

1. First we need to get the missing Bluetooth mode (screen) back in the car audio, for this I removed all the registered devices I had in the car audio.
2. Then I registered my old Windows Mobile phone to the audio system using the settings screen (since the Bluetooth mode is not available). Any old phone like an iPhone 4G or below, Samsung Galaxy S2, Windows Mobile phones will be ok. If you get the device properly registered you will get the Bluetooth screen back when you restart the car audio system.
3. Then register your Galaxy S4 with the car audio system, and change the connection behaviour immediately. Normally the car audio will try to connect to the phone, but since the phone is having new version of Bluetooth car audio will not recognise the commands transmitted by the phone. So the system will think there is no device.

To over come the issue you need to configure the phone to make the connection. In my Toyota this is done by selecting the connection settings after the Bluetooth connection is made using the Bluetooth mode (screen). Because latest phones are intelligent they will detect that the car audio is having older version of Bluetooth and it will change the instruction set accordingly and start communicating with an instruction set which is recognised by the car audio, making everything back to normal again.

After making my phone to connect to the car, I could play my music, answer calls and dial calls without any issues.

Hope this will help you to get your car audio connected to your latest phone.

How to Set the Clock in Car Audio

After disconnecting the battery for a maintenance job, I had some clueless days while trying to reset the clock in a car audio system. Even though there should be a way to set the clock in audio systems it is bit difficult to find it without the manual of the system.

My in my scenario I found it after sometime, so thought to share it since it might help someone with the same problem.

Car audio system in which I had the issue was JVC KD-S5055.

To start the resetting you need to press and hold the “Select” button for about 5 seconds. Then a message similar to “Hour-h” will be shown in the display. Once this appears use the + and – buttons located on the left to set the hour value of the time.

Then to set the minute value you need to press the mode change buttons located on the right side. Once you press the mode change button while on the hour changing mode you will see a message similar to “Minute-m”. Then again you can use the + and – buttons to set the minutes portion of the time.

After successfully setting both hour portion and minute portion you can press the Select button again to save the changes made to he clock.

Additionally if you need the system to show the time when the device is switched on you can press the Display button located below the Select button. This will show the current time instead of the Radio/CD/Track information.

Hope this helps.

Planning to Buy a Vehicle?

Thought to share some expensive and valuable information that might help you if you are planning to buy a vehicle. Lookout for two main things.
1. Quality of the Vehicle
2. Legal Side of the Vehicle

Although most of the things I mention in this are specific to Sri Lanka I definitely know there are similar things to check in other countries as well.

1. Quality of the Car
If you are buying a brand new vehicle this is not required because the company will give you the details technical overview and will also give you a warranty.
But if you are going for a used vehicle then you have to check for its quality. Anyway I am not that good in the technical side so you have to rely on the knowledge that you have or someone who knows better.

2. Legal Side of the Vehicle
This is one area most people are not paying that much interest. But this is the most important side, imagine a vehicle that you buy having problems with its documents, If that happens you wont be able to transfer it to your name with ease. Sometimes you even might need to go to courts. If that happens you face the difficulty when selling as well because no one would buy a vehicle from you that you don't own. Further more I advice you to check the vehicle documents because if you buy a technically unfit vehicle you can go to a mechanic and get the vehicle repaired after spending some time and money. But if documents are not good then it will be a big issue.
So what are these documents that you have to look for?

1. Certificate of Registration (CR)
This certificate will have all the details of the vehicle such as Make, Model, Year of Manufacture, Registration Number, Chassis Number, Engine Number, Present Owner, Absolute Owner, Previous Owners, Etc.
All of these are important to check, but for a successful legal transfer of ownership to you present and absolute owners are important. Always it is better to buy a vehicle from the person mentioned in the present owner field. Because the vehicle is owned by him. There are cases which people will keep vehicles with open papers.
Open Papers means that the owner will not get the vehicle transferred to his name, but he will get a set of forms filled from the seller and keep with him.
For example if Mr. ABC is buying a vehicle from Mr. STUV (Mr. STUV is the current owner in the CR). Mr. ABC will keep the transfer documents signed by Mr. STUV after doing the payments to Mr. STUV, but he will not fill them or submit them to the Department of Motor Vehicles for registration.
One advantage of open papers is the number of owners will be lesser.
One disadvantage of this is, if buyer needs to transfer the vehicle to his name he will not be guaranteed that the transfer will happen smoothly since his transferee will be an unknown person. For example in the above case if Mr. ABC is going to sell the vehicle to Mr. XYZ and if Mr. XYZ is needing to get the vehicle transferred to his name the legal transferee will be Mr. STUV who is unknown by Mr. XYZ. In which case while the transfer process is happening problems might arise.
Absolute owner - In normal case this field should be empty. If this is filled with some name that means the vehicle is on a finance or lease. In this case you cannot buy directly from the current owner. That is because when the absolute owner is superior to the current owner. So you will be needing a no objection letter from the absolute owner.
Also note in either case a company is printed under Current Owner or Absolute Owner you will be needing a no objection letter from the company in a company letter head, with the emboss seal and signed by a rightful director of the company.

2. Vehicle Identity Card (VID)
All the English number registered (HE, KA, KC, ...) vehicles will have a VID. you will be requiring this VID to carry out any legal things on the vehicle (Transferring the vehicle to you).
This is only applicable to English numbered vehicles since it is issued new.

If you follow these I think you would be able to buy a vehicle and live peacefully.