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.