Haynes launches the RAV4 Owners Workshop Manual

The Toyota RAV4 (Recreational Activity Vehicle with 4 wheel drive) was introduced in 1994 to widespread acclaim, attracting comments such as “the hottest thing in Japan since Sony invented the walkman” and “the most civilised, car-like machine yet in its segment”. Was it a car or a sport utility vehicle? Reviewers couldn’t make up their minds, but whatever it was other manufactures hurried to imitate it. Toyota keeping one step ahead brought out a revised range in 2001 which proved equally as popular, and became the best-selling compact SUV worldwide in 2004. By 2005 over 123,000 RAV4s had been sold in the UK alone.

Toyotas have an enviable reputation for reliability, but just like all vehicles they require regular maintenance to keep them that way. So it's good news for owners that Haynes has just published the RAV4 Owners Workshop Manual.

When it comes to maintenance Haynes manuals can help you get the best value from your RAV4 - and can do in several ways. It can help you decide what work must be done (even should you choose to get it done by a garage). It will also provide information on routine maintenance and servicing, and gives a logical course of action and diagnosis when random faults occur, it can also help deal with common roadside emergencies and breakdowns.

It is hoped that you will use the manual by tackling the work yourself. On simpler jobs it may even be quicker than booking the car into a garage. Perhaps most importantly though, a lot of money can be saved by avoiding the costs a garage must charge to cover its labour and overheads.

Rightly, Haynes manuals have an enviable reputation worldwide for precise, extensively illustrated instructions. Each manual has drawings and descriptions to show the function of the various components, so that their layout can be understood. The tasks are described and photographed in a clear step-by-step sequence. There are sections on daily, weekly and routine maintenance plus instructions for straightforward jobs such as wiper blade and bulb replacements. Also included is advice on preparing for the MOT test, fault-finding charts and useful guidance for driving economically.

The new RAV4 Owners Workshop manual was written and illustrated following the complete stripdown and re-assembly of a car. Covered in this manual (1994 – to Jan 2006) are the two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models including special/limited editions. It does not include the RAV4 range introduced in February 2006. Petrol: 1.8litre (1794cc) & 2.0litre (1998cc). Diesel: 2.0litre (1995cc).

There are sections on:

Maintenance – simple weekly checks to keep you on the road
Servicing – complete, fully illustrated step-by-step guides
Overhaul – everything from fitting a new oil seal to rebuilding the engine
Fault-finding – information helping you to pinpoint specific problems easily
Brakes – safety checks and repairs for the home mechanic
Haynes Tips – valuable short cuts to make many tasks easier.
Difficulty ratings – every task is graded from ‘beginner’ to ‘expert’
Details of tools required

Haynes Manuals retail at £19.99 (hardback) and are available from haynes.co.uk or from all good automotive accessory retailers and bookshops including Halfords and Motor World.