There's a blank plastic plug below the sync/AC knob in the normal place of the s/s defeat button,

 

The dealer said mine was Japanese manufactured as well. But didn’t say they all were in fact he seamed to indicate without saying that only some were. Which pleased my ego immensely until I found out that those rebates people get for the prime are not valid on cars manufactured outside of the US😳. Luckily I only got a regular hybrid. But I feel for those that will get screwed.

 

I'm not seeing any info that the 24 Rav4 hybrid is Japanese built only. Nor that the stop/start of the ICE has been eliminated.

 

Hello. Just to let you know, the Toyota RAV4 model is also built in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. However, the PLUG-IN Hybrid RAV4 does come from Japan exclusively, for some reason. I just bought my 2025 RAV4 XLE Hybrid, and I'm very pleased with it. I like to know what my car's Switch Blanks are for. So far as I can tell, this particular button space is for disabling the Auto Start/Stop function, in the Chinese-market-only Toyota Wildlander (the sister model of the RAV4 there!). Fascinating!

 

Limited's do not have this feature.

 

Your Japanese built Toyota is built for the North American market so the features you get are based on the market area.

 

That blank button under the sync/ac knob is where my start stop button is on my 2024 RAV4 ice xle is which was built in Canada sold in the USA.

 

My 2024 XLE does (Non-hybrid, 4 cylinder, fwd).

 

My 2024 XLE (FWD) does. The button to disable it is under the right-side AC control knob.

 

Not on my AWD Limited nor in 4 other "J' VIN XLE AWDs on the lot...dealer doesn't carry FWD so couldn't compare. Mine and other AWDs on the lot are missing that control switch and disable icon in the cluster. Dealer wasn't even aware of this.

My Rav really does not have the start stop feature. Drove a a few hours today and idled more than 10 mins. at a RR crossing without a single stop. Tach verified constant 700 rpm and never dropped to zero until shutoff when trip was finished.

No disable button under A/C control knob or anywhere else:

 

The limited and TRD trims do not have the start/stop feature.

 

Worth the extra price for this feature alone.

 

2024 Adventure- mine doesn’t have that.

 

Found reference in the '24 Rav4 brochure....... Adventure, TRD and Limited trims do not have the start-stop "feature".

 

What is a start stop feature???🧐

 

When the car is stopped at a red light or stop sign for more than a few seconds, the gas engine is stopped to save fuel and emissions. When you press on the gas pedal again, the gas engine automatically starts and away you go.

 

On my 2024 XLE, when at a stop, it will tell me to press the brake pedal in more to activate the stop/start. So I am in control of when the engine stops at all times (unless I happen push the brake pedal down more than normal by mistake). If I know it’s going to be a short wait for the light to change, I just don’t allow the engine to stop.

 

Please explain. So you only press the brake lightly and it won't activate. I don't like the feature because it causes a slight jolt like feeling every time I am at a light.

 

Is the S/S not like any other car I have driven where you just press the button and it disables it until the next time you start the car? Or do you have to press it repeatedly or something?

 

Mine does also have the button you’re talking about to disable it completely. But you have to push it everytime you drive the car.

 

i do not like the grinding on the starter on any of the cars and trucks at the stop lights...
standard starters have a defined life...

what happened to the idea of the inverter starting the ICE?
they were working on a 300+volt starter that was just a winding.
the reverse of the brake regen system.
they were working on decompression spin up on the ICE.

it may still be in engineering and development stage.
they were thinking 2024 would have it but that was
before the pandemic.
so it maybe be pushed back a few years.

 

what happened to the idea of the inverter starting the ICE?
they were working on a 300+volt starter that was just a winding.
the reverse of the brake regen system.

The start/stop function is only on the ICE vehicles, not the hybrids. Thus this thread is about only the ICE vehicles. There is no inverter, or a high voltage battery (300+) on the ICE vehicles, only the 12 volt battery.

For the hybrids, the gas engine is started by MG1 using power from the HV battery. The DC to DC converter is in involved in that.

MG1 has three functions:
1. Start the gas engine
2. Select the gear rations for the eCVT
3. Generate electricity for storage in the HV battery. The power for that comes from the ICE, not the wheels (i.e. not regeneration)

Only MG2 and MGR (in the back) can generated electricity from the wheels to store in the HV battery. MG1 cannot (regeneration).

 

I find it hilarious that the 2024 LE/XLE have the same MPG ratings as the Limited but the Limited doesn't have start/stop. Such a ridiculous feature that causes nothing but more cost upfront (more expensive battery and starter) and more/higher repair costs in the long run. Not to mention the ensuing damage and liability when you try to turn into busy traffic and that hesitation bites you in the butt because you forgot to turn off the start/stop. Government meddling at its finest.

 

I saw somewhere that if you disconnect a wire by the hood latch it will disable the s/s function, but, it will show an occasional code on the dash. Further research needed.

 

Don't know whether this is a violation of the forum but I saw somewhere that if you disconnect a wire by the hood latch it will disable the s/s function, but, it will show an occasional code on the dash. Further research needed.

Here's what to do on 2019-2021 models. There will be NO DTC code. The MID auto S/S disabled notification can be easily removed with the steering wheel buttons.

 

I just picked up my 2024 Limited two days ago and it has a start stop button. I have only driven it home from the dealer so I'm not sure if it is always in that mode or not. I'll try it out today, it has an ICE engine.

 

The blank switch positions are for options on the higher trim levels that may not on the XLE, such as bird eye view, auto high beams, etc. The owners manual should show what they are.

 

Thank you for that!

 

On the RAV4 Prime XSE it has a switch on the right side near the Synch button to turn the 120 volt power receptacle in the cargo area on and off.