1998 Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual - Page 133

How to save electric power and make your vehicle last longer, too Getting more mileage per full charge 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 Do not rest your foot on brake pedal. This causes needless wear, overheating and poor power saving. CAUTION Never turn off the traction motor to coast down hills. Your power steering and brake booster will not function unless the motor switch is at "ON" position. 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 saving. D Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes power. See Chapter 8- 2 for instructions. 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. D Accelerate slowly and Avoid jackrabbit starts. slowing down. wastes power. smoothly. D Keep the bottom of your vehicle free driving from mud, etc. This not only lessens weight but also helps prevent corrosion. D Avoid continuous speeding up and Stop- and- go 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. whenever possible. D Keep your vehicle tuned- up and in top shape. Brakes not adjusted, etc. will lower motor performance and contribute to poor power saving. For longer life of all parts and lower operating costs, keep all maintenance work on schedule, and if you often drive under severe conditions, see that your vehicle receives more frequent maintenance. D Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams 125