2003 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual

10
12p019a
Storing electric power
When decreasing speed or applying the
brakes, the turning force of the wheels
makes the electric motor operate as a
generator and additional electricity is
stored in the hybrid vehicle battery (regen-
erative brake).
12p020a
Not in use
When stopping, the gasoline engine auto-
matically shuts off.
12p030
Charging hybrid vehicle battery
When the hybrid vehicle battery power is
insufficient, the gasoline engine charges
the hybrid vehicle battery. The system al-
ways supplies electricity at a constant lev-
el.

11
Turn the ignition key from “ON” to
“START” with the running mode selector
lever in “P” position only. When the
“READY” light flashes and stays on and
a beep sounds after a few seconds, the
hybrid system starts. (If the ambient tem-
perature is low such as during winter con-
ditions, it may take time until the
“READY” light is on.) Being different from
ordinary vehicles, you cannot start your
vehicle with the running mode selector le-
ver in “N” position. (For details, see “How
to start the hybrid system—” on page 164
in Section 4.)Drive your vehicle with a smooth accel-
eration and deceleration.
When driving, energy is effectively re-
covered through the regenerative brake
as the vehicle decelerates. However,
for more efficient use, do not acceler-
ate or decelerate your vehicle more
than necessary.
By avoiding abrupt acceleration and de-
celeration, the remaining capacity of
the hybrid vehicle battery can be pre-
served and it makes it possible to run
the vehicle utilizing the gasoline engine
and the electric power from the hybrid
vehicle battery.
The remaining capacity of the hybrid
vehicle battery can be confirmed on
the energy monitor screen of the multi
information display. See “Information”
on 115 page in Section 26 for details.
As the way in which you drive may
decrease the remaining capacity of the
hybrid vehicle battery and reduce fuel
economy, drive your vehicle without
abrupt acceleration or deceleration.Use the “A/C” mode (with the “A/C”
button only on) when you use the air
conditioning.
As the gasoline engine starts and
stops automatically in this mode, eco-
nomical driving with less emissions is
possible.
In the “MAX” mode (with the “A/C” but-
ton and “MAX” button on), the gasoline
engine is frequently used. Use this
mode only when you need to operate
the air conditioning fully such as when
you should dehumidify or when you are
under a burning sun.
When parking, be sure to put the run-
ning mode selector lever in “P” posi-
tion. While driving, use “D” position.
With the selector lever in “N” position,
the gasoline engine operates but elec-
tricity cannot be generated. The
constant electrical power remaining in
the hybrid vehicle battery becomes in-
sufficient and the battery will be dis-
charged.
8.Starting your vehicle 9.For efficient use of your
vehicle

12
The hybrid system automatically con-
trols the level of electrical power re-
maining in the hybrid vehicle battery.
With the selector lever in a position
other than “N”, electricity is generated
and charging occurs when the level of
electrical power in the hybrid vehicle
battery decreases. It is unnecessary to
charge the hybrid vehicle battery from
outside.
INFORMATION:
The gasoline engine starts and stops
automatically. (It stops during a low
load driving, deceleration or when the
vehicle stopped.)
If the “READY” light remains on, you
can start your vehicle using the electric
motor even with the gasoline engine
stopped.
The gasoline engine may not stop auto-
matically in the following conditions:
 During under gasoline engine warm
up
 During hybrid vehicle battery charg-
ing
 When the air conditioning is used in
the “MAX” mode, the gasoline engine
is frequently used. If the output control warning light ()
comes on in the instrument cluster, the
hybrid vehicle battery temperature is
low or high, or the hybrid vehicle bat-
tery capacity is decreased with the se-
lector lever at “R” during driving. As it
does not indicate the failure of the sys-
tem, you can continue driving but avoid
hard acceleration because the power is
insufficient (which is caused by the bat-
tery power deterioration).
The vehicle runs in combination with
the gasoline and electric power. Pay
special attention to the following items.
Be careful of a high voltage and high
temperature.
Your vehicle is equipped with the orange
colored cables connected to the hybrid
vehicle battery which contain a high volt-
age (about 300 V) and to other high volt-
age parts.
CAUTION
Do not touch or come in contact with
orange cables or battery terminals.
Electric shock may cause serious in-
jury or death. Read all caution labels.
A electric motor, coolant radiator and
some other parts reach high temperature
when you are driving. Caution labels are
applied to these parts. Carefully observe
the instructions on these caution labels.
10.Precautions for use

13
CAUTION
Never remove or disassemble the
high voltage parts, high voltage
cables (orange color) and their con-
nectors. It may cause death or seri-
ous injury.
12p007d
Inverter unitHybrid vehicle battery
Service
plug
High volt-
age cables
Do not touch the service plug.
The service plug is installed in the left
side trim of the trunk. It is provided to
shut out high voltage current of the hybrid
vehicle battery when the vehicle is in
need of repairs at a Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
The shaded parts in the illustration
are subjected to a high voltage.
Inappropriate handling may cause
an electric shock resulting in seri-
ous injury or death. Never touch
any item in shaded area.
Keep your hybrid vehicle’s driving char-
acteristics in mind.
As the vehicle runs with both the gaso-
line engine and electric motor, you may
hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment.
When the ignition switch is turned to
on or off, you may hear a sound com-
ing from the hybrid vehicle battery in
the trunk. However, this does not indi-
cate any trouble.
If the “READY” light is on, you can
start even with the gasoline engine
stopped.
When the hybrid vehicle battery tem-
perature is low or high, or the hybrid
vehicle battery capacity is decreased
with the selector lever at “R” during
driving, the output control warning light
comes on and the output might be lim-
ited for longer battery charge life.
If the output control warning light is on,
drive your vehicle without hard accel-
eration. The output power will be limit-
ed particularly when backing up.

14
When you put the running mode selec-
tor lever in “B” position and release
your foot from the accelerator pedal,
engine braking will be applied. Howev-
er, during the high speed driving you
may feel that deceleration by engine
braking is less than that of ordinary
vehicle.
Drive your vehicle without hard accel-
eration if the output control warning
light
() is on.
The hybrid vehicle battery temperature is
low or high, or the hybrid vehicle battery
capacity is decreased with the selector
lever at “R” during driving. If this occurs,
the output control warning light comes on.
If the output control warning light is on,
the hybrid system output is limited. Drive
your vehicle without hard acceleration.
Vehicle performance might be reduced sig-
nificantly especially when backing up.
Be sure to put the running mode selec-
tor lever in “P” position when parking.
With the selector lever in “N” position, the
hybrid vehicle battery assembly is not
charged, even if the gasoline engine is
operating. You cannot run your vehicle if
the selector lever is left in “N” position for
a long time because the hybrid vehicle
battery assembly will be discharged. When you leave your vehicle, apply the
parking brake with the running mode
selector lever in “P” position and be
sure to remove the key and lock all the
doors.
When you leave the the ignition key in the
“ACC” or “ON” position if the hybrid sys-
tem is not operating, the hybrid system
may not start because the auxiliary bat-
tery will be discharged.
CAUTION
When you leave your vehicle, be
sure to shut off the hybrid system.
Be sure to put the running mode
selector lever in “P” position be-
cause the vehicle can start with the
“READY” light on and the engine
stopped (no engine sound and
vibration). When the “READY” light
is on, if you leave your vehicle with
the running mode selector lever in
a position other than “P” and “N”,
the vehicle will creep and start
abruptly with the accelerator pedal
being depressed by mistake. It may
cause death or serious injury.
12p008a
If the multiinformation display shows
a message, the master warning light
() comes on in the instrument clus-
ter. Read the message and follow the
instruction.
When you leave your vehicle, or stop
or park for a while, put the selector
lever in “P”.
Charging is necessary. With the selec-
tor lever in “N” position, charging will
not be applied. The electric generator
operates in “P”, “D” or “B” position. If
you continue driving, put the selector
lever in “D” or “B” position and depress
the accelerator pedal. Do not leave it
in “N” position. When driving in traffic
jam, run in “D” position.

15
12p009c
Do not put the luggage on the package
tray behind the rear seatback.
An air vent is provided on the package
tray behind the rear seatback to cool
the hybrid vehicle battery. If this vent
is covered with something, the hybrid
vehicle battery will overheat resulting in
a reduction of the output performance
of the hybrid system.
Do not apply water or put foreign ob-
jects over the air vent. Otherwise, it
may affect the hybrid vehicle battery
adversely and cause damage.
You may hear a cooling fan noise from
the air vent.For vehicle repairs or maintenance, be
sure to consult your Toyota dealer.
If your vehicle is beyond repair because
of accident or something, be sure to
consult your Toyota dealer.
As sealed NickelMetal hydride batteries
are used, be sure to consult your Toyota
dealer when disposing of your vehicle.
CAUTION
If you are involved in an accident,
follow these precautions.
Move the vehicle to a safe place
and perform the followings to re-
duce the risk of high voltage elec-
tricity leakage.
 Depress the brake pedal and put the
selector lever in “P” position.
 Apply the parking brake.
 Turn the ignition switch to “LOCK”
and remove the key.
If your vehicle has experienced ma-
jor damage, you may get an electric
shock. To prevent this, never touch
the high voltage parts (hybrid ve-
hicle battery assembly, etc.) or
cables (orange color) connecting
these parts. If some exposed elec-
tric wiring is protruding inside or
outside of the vehicle, an electric
shock may also occur. Never touch
them.
If the fluid leaks or gets in some
part of the vehicle, never touch it
because it may be electrolyte
(strong alkali) from the hybrid ve-
hicle battery. If it gets on your skin
or eyes, wash off immediately with
a large amount of water, if possible,
with boric acid solution, and get
immediate medical attention in or-
der to help avoid serious injury.
If a vehicle fire occurs, extinguish
it using a fire extinguisher for the
exclusive use on electric fires. As
a small amount of water may be
dangerous, use a large amount of
water, for example from a fire hy-
drant, or wait for a firefighting
team arrival.

16
When your vehicle needs to be
towed, do it with the front wheels
or all four wheels raised. If the
front wheels are on the ground
when towing, the electric motor
may continue to generate electricity
which could cause leakage of elec-
tricity and a fire depending on the
degree of damage. See “If your ve-
hicle needs to be towed” on page
182 in Section 5.

17
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
11 .Ke y s and Doors
Keys18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hybrid vehicle immobiliser system 20
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Side doors 22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power windows 28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Trunk lid 31
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hood 33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft deterrent system 34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . .
Fuel tank cap 36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 2– 1