2004 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual

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12p016c
Electric power
in use
When starting or backing up, etc., the
vehicle runs on electric power from hybrid
vehicle battery, because the gasoline en-
gine efficiency is low.
12p017c
Gasoline power
in use
During normal driving, the vehicle runs
mainly on gasoline power. However, the
electric motor, using electric power gener-
ated by the gasoline engine, can supple-
ment the gasoline engine power.
The vehicle controls the optimum ratio of
the gasoline and electric power to help
use energy more efficiently.
12p018c
Electric and gasoline
power in use
When driving at full throttle, additional
electric power is applied from the hybrid
vehicle battery. Vehicle performance impro-
ves.

10
12p019c
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).
12p020c
Not in use
When stopping, the gasoline engine auto-
matically shuts off.
12p030b
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
Your vehicle is equipped with push but-
ton start. The hybrid system will start
automatically by pressing the “POWER”
switch briefly with the brake pedal de-
pressed.
Without smart function1. Insert the key.
2. Press the “POWER” switch briefly with the brake pedal depressed.
With smart function
1. Carry the key with you.
2. Press the “POWER” switch briefly with the brake pedal depressed.
The “READY” light flashes and stays on.
A beep sounds after a few seconds, and
the hybrid system will start. (If the ambi-
ent temperature is low such as during
winter, it may take time until the “READY”
light comes on.) You cannot start your
vehicle when the brake pedal is not de-
pressed. (For details, see “How to start
the hybrid system—” on page 230.)
The engine may not start even with the
“READY” light on. Drive your vehicle with a smooth accel-
eration and deceleration.
While driving, energy is recovered
through the regenerative brake as the
vehicle decelerates. However, for more
efficient use, do not accelerate or de-
celerate your vehicle more than neces-
sary.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and decelera-
tion.
The remaining capacity of the hybrid
vehicle battery can be confirmed on
the energy monitor screen of the multi
−
information display. See “Information”
on page 150 for details. Gradual or
non− abrupt acceleration or deceleration
will more effectively use the benefits of
an electric motor without having to use
gasoline engine power. When parking, be sure to put the hy-
brid transaxle in “P”. While driving, use
the hybrid transaxle in “D”.
In “N”, the gasoline engine operates
but electricity cannot be generated. The
battery will be discharged requiring un-
necessary engine power to recharge.
The hybrid system automatically re-
charges the hybrid vehicle battery
when the remaining battery power is
reduced. However, the charging is not
available if the hybrid transaxle is “N”.
Starting your vehicle
For efficient use of your
vehicle

12
INFORMATION:
The gasoline engine starts and stops
automatically. (It stops during a low
load driving, deceleration or when the
vehicle is 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 gasoline engine warmup
 During hybrid vehicle battery charg-
ing
 During low or high hybrid vehicle
battery temperature The vehicle runs in combination with
the gasoline and electric power. Pay
special attention to the following items.
Be careful of high voltage and high
temperature.
Your vehicle is equipped with the orange
colored cables connected to the hybrid
vehicle battery (about 200 V) and to other
components that are all high voltage.
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.
An electric motor, coolant radiator and
some other parts reach high temperature
while driving. Caution labels are applied to
these parts. Carefully observe the instruc-
tions on these caution labels.
CAUTION
Never remove or disassemble any
high voltage part, high voltage cables
(orange color) and their connectors.
It may cause death or serious injury.
12p007d
Inverter unit
Hybrid vehicle battery
Service
plug
High volt-
age cables
Air conditioning
compressor
High voltage
cables
Do not touch the service plug.
The service plug is installed in the left
side trim of the luggage compartment. It
is provided to disable high voltage current
from 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 high voltage.
Inappropriate handling may cause
an electric shock resulting in seri-
ous injury or death. Never touch
any item in shaded area.
Precautions for use

13
These high voltage parts or cables
consisting of an electromagnetic
shielding structure produce relatively
the same amount of electromagnetic
waves as conventional gasoline
fueled vehicles or home electric ap-
pliances.
As unwanted noise may occur in the
reception of mobile radios, contact
your Toyota dealer for installation or
removal.
Always keep your hybrid vehicle’s driv-
ing characteristics in mind.
CAUTION
The driver should pay full attention
around the vehicle especially when it
is driven only by the electric motor
(with the gasoline engine stopped).
People in the immediate area might
misjudge the hybrid vehicle move-
ment based on the absence of the
regular engine noise.
When the hybrid system is started or
stopped, you may hear a sound coming
from the hybrid vehicle battery in the
luggage compartment. However, this
does not indicate any trouble.
As the vehicle runs with both the gaso-
line engine and electric motor, you may
hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment.
If the “READY” light is on, you can
start even though the gasoline engine
may be off.
When you shift the shift lever to “B”
and release it to its original position
and your foot from the accelerator ped-
al, engine braking will be applied. How-
ever, during high speed driving you
may feel that deceleration by engine
braking is less than that of ordinary
vehicle.
Be sure to put the hybrid transaxle in
“P” when parking.
In “N”, the hybrid vehicle battery assembly
is not charged, even if the gasoline en-
gine is operating. You cannot run your
vehicle if the hybrid transaxle is left in “N”
for a long time because the hybrid vehicle
battery assembly will be discharged. When you leave your vehicle, apply the
parking brake to put the hybrid trans-
axle in “P” and be sure to carry the
key with you and lock all the doors.
If you leave the hybrid system in “ACC”
or “IG
−ON”, the hybrid system may not
start because the auxiliary battery will be
discharged.
CAUTION
When you leave your vehicle, be
sure to shut off the hybrid system.
Be sure to put the hybrid transaxle
in “P” because 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 ve-
hicle in shift position other than
“P” and “N”, the vehicle will creep
and start abruptly with the accelera-
tor pedal being depressed by mis-
take. This may cause death or seri-
ous injury.

14
12p008d
When the multiinformation display
shows this message, the master warn-
ing light
() comes on in the instru-
ment cluster. Read the message and
follow the instruction.
When you leave your vehicle, or stop
or park for a while, put the hybrid
transaxle in “P”.
Charging is necessary. In “N”, charging
will not be applied. The electric genera-
tor operates in “P”, “D” or “B”. If you
continue driving, put the hybrid trans-
axle in “D” or “B” and depress the
accelerator pedal. Do not leave the hy-
brid transaxle in “N”. When driving in
traffic jam, operate in “D”.
12P009c
Do not allow anyone to lean against the
side of the rear right seatback, nor put
any luggage or other obstructions on it.
An air vent is provided on the side of
the rear right seatback to cool the hy-
brid vehicle battery. If this vent is cov-
ered, the hybrid vehicle battery will
overheat resulting in a reduction of the
output performance of the hybrid sys-
tem.
The seat belt not properly set in the
guide on the top of the rear seat may
block the air vent. Be sure to pass the
seat belt through the guide properly.
Do not wet or put foreign objects over
the air vent. Otherwise, the hybrid ve-
hicle battery may be adversely affected
and be damaged.
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 Nickel −Metal hydride batteries
are used, be sure to consult your Toyota
dealer when disposing of your vehicle.

15
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 apply
the parking brake.
 Press the “P” position switch and
stop the hybrid system.
 If the key is inserted into key slot,
remove it.
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 wires are 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.
If 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 con-
tinue to generate electricity which
could leak electricity. A fire could
occur depending on the degree of
damage. See “If your vehicle needs
to be towed” on page 254.

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