2003 Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual - Page 149

Trailer towing How to save electric power and make your vehicle last longer, too Improving fuel economy is easy-just take it easy. It will help make your vehicle last longer, too. Here are some specific tips on how to save money on both power and repairs: D Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams whenever possible. D Do not rest your foot on brake pedal. This causes premature wear, overheating and poor power saving. D Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes power. See "Checking tire pressure" on page 183 in Section 8-2 for instructions. D Maintain a moderate speed on highways. The faster you drive, the greater the electric power consumption. By reducing your speed, you will cut down on power consumption. D Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess weight puts a heavier load on the traction motor, causing greater electric power consumption. D Keep the front wheels in proper alignment. Avoid hitting the curb and slow down on rough roads. Improper alignment not only causes faster tire wear but also puts an extra load on the traction motor, which, in turn, wastes power. Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your Toyota. It is not designed for trailer towing. D Accelerate slowly and Avoid jackrabbit starts. slowing down. wastes power. smoothly. D Avoid continuous speeding up and Stop-and-go driving D Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud, etc. This not only lessens weight but also helps prevent corrosion. D Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a steady pace. Try to time the traffic signals so you only need to stop as little as possible or take advantage of through streets to avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper distance from other vehicles to avoid sudden braking. This will also reduce wear on your brakes. 140