Toyota RAV4: Battery

Toyota RAV4 / Toyota RAV4 Owner's Manual / Maintenanceand care / Do-it-yourself maintenance / Engine compartment / Battery

■ Battery exterior

Make sure that the battery terminals are not corroded and that there are no loose connections, cracks, or loose clamps.

1 Terminals

1 Terminals
2 Hold-down clamp

■Before recharging

When recharging, the battery produces hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. Therefore, before recharging:

●If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and disconnecting the charger cables to the battery.

■After recharging/reconnecting the battery (vehicles with smart key system)

In some cases, the engine may not start. Follow the procedure below to initialize the system.

1 Shift the shift lever to P, and turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch OFF.
2 Open and close any of the doors.
3 Start the engine. (If the engine does not start first time, repeat the procedure.)

CAUTION
■Chemicals in the battery
A battery contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid and may produce hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. To reduce the risk of death or serious injury, take the following precautions while working on or near the battery:

●Do not cause sparks by touching the battery terminals with tools.
●Do not smoke or light a match near the battery.
●Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothes.
●Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.
●Wear protective safety glasses when working near the battery.
●Keep children away from the battery.

■Where to safely charge the battery
Always charge the battery in an open area. Do not charge the battery in a garage or closed room where there is not sufficient ventilation.

■How to recharge the battery
Only perform a slow charge (5 A or less). The battery may explode if charged at a quicker rate.

CAUTION
■Emergency measures regarding electrolyte
●If electrolyte gets in your eyes Flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immediate medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with a sponge or cloth while traveling to the nearest medical facility.
●If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thoroughly. If you feel pain or burning, get medical attention immediately.
●If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to your skin. Immediately take off the clothing and follow the procedure above if necessary.
●If you accidentally swallow electrolyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk. Get emergency medical attention immediately.

NOTICE
■When recharging the battery
Never recharge the battery while the engine is running. Also, be sure all accessories are turned off.

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