2008 TOYOTA PRIUS tow

96 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the airbags. Failure to do so
may cause death or serious injury.
● The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
● The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of
inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the cen-
ter of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in. (250
mm) away now, you can change your driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the back of the seat
somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to see the
road, raise yourself by using a firm, non-slippery cushion, or raise the
seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air- bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still
maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the
instrument panel controls.

98 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
● Do not sit on the edge of the seat or
lean against the dashboard.
● Do not allow a child to stand in front of
the SRS front passenger airbag unit or
sit on the knees of a front passenger.
● Do not drive the vehicle while the driver
or passenger have items resting on
their knees.
● Do not lean against the door, the roof
side rail or the front, side and rear pil-
lars.
● Do not allow anyone to kneel on the
front passenger seat toward the door or
put their head or hands outside the
vehicle.

When driving2
119
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
2-1. Driving procedures ........ 120Driving the vehicle............ 120
Power (ignition) switch ..... 130
Transmission.................... 136
Turn signal lever (Type A) ......................... 140
Turn signal lever (Type B) ......................... 141
Parking brake ................... 142
2-2. Instrument cluster.......... 143 Gauges and meters ......... 143
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 146 2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers ........ 150
Headlight switch (Type A) ......................... 150
Headlight switch (Type B) ......................... 153
Fog light switch ................ 156
Windshield wipers and washer (Type A) ............ 158
Windshield wipers and washer (Type B) ............ 160
Rear window wiper and washer (Type A) ............ 162
Rear window wiper and washer (Type B) ............ 163
2-4. Using other driving systems ........................ 164
Cruise control ................... 164
Rear view monitor system ........................... 167
Driving assist systems ..... 170
2-5. Driving information ........ 173 Cargo and luggage .......... 173
Vehicle load limits ............ 176
Winter driving tips ............ 177
Trailer towing ................... 181
Dinghy towing .................. 182

150
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
Headlight switch (Type A)
Turning on the high beam headlightsWith the headlights on, push
the lever forward to turn on the
high beams.
Pull the lever back to the center
position to turn the high beams
off.
Pull the lever toward you to
turn on the high beams.
Release to turn them off. You can
flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
The side marker, park-
ing, tail, license plate
and instrument panel
lights turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above turn
on.
The headlights and all
the lights listed above
turn on and off auto-
matically.
(When the “POWER”
switch is in ON mode.)
AUTO
ITY23P001
U.S.A.Canada
(if equipped)

153
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
2
When driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Headlight switch (Type B)
Turning on the high beam headlightsWith the headlights on, push
the lever forward to turn on the
high beams.
Pull the lever back to the center
position to turn the high beams
off.
Pull the lever toward you to
turn on the high beams.
Release to turn them off. You can
flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
The side marker, park-
ing, tail, license plate
and instrument panel
lights turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above turn
on.
The headlights and all
the lights listed above
turn on and off auto-
matically.
(When the “POWER”
switch is in ON mode.)
U.S.A.Canada
(if equipped)

159
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
2
When driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■
The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The “POWER” switch is in ON mode.
■ Intermittent windshield wi per interval (“INT”) mode
■ If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked and if there is washer fluid in
the windshield washer fluid reservoir.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■ When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be caused if the lever is pulled
toward you and held continually.
■ When a nozzle becomes block
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
Intermittent windshield wiper interval
adjustment (increase)
Intermittent windshield wiper interval
adjustment (decrease)
REAR
1
2
ITY23P008

161
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
2
When driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■
The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The “POWER” switch is in ON mode.
■ Intermittent windshield wiper interval mode
■ If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked and if there is washer fluid in
the windshield washer fluid reservoir.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■ When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be caused if the lever is pulled
toward you and held continually.
■ When a nozzle becomes block
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
Intermittent windshield wiper interval
adjustment (decrease)
Intermittent windshield wiper interval
adjustment (increase)
1
2
ITY23P014

165
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■Cruise control can be set when
● The shift lever is in the “D” range.
● Vehicle speed is between approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) and 125 mph
(200 km/h).
■ Accelerating
The vehicle can be accelerated normally. After acceleration, the set speed
resumes.
■ Automatic cruise control cancelation
The set speed is automatically canceled in any of the following situations.
● Actual vehicle speed falls more than 10 mph (16 km/h) below the preset
vehicle speed
● Actual vehicle speed is below 25 mph (40 km/h)
● Enhanced VSC is activated
■ If the cruise control indicator light flashes
Turn the “ON-OFF” button off once, and then reactivate the system.
If the cruise control speed cannot be set or if the cruise control cancels
immediately after being activated, there may be a malfunction in the cruise
control system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
■ Canceling and resuming regular acceleration
Cancel
Push the lever towards you to
cancel cruise control.
The setting is also canceled
when the brake pedal is
depressed.
Resume
To resume cruise control and
return to the set speed, push
the lever up.