2008 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual

65
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Seat belt pretensioners (front seats)
The pretensioner helps the seat
belt to quickly restrain the occu-
pant by retracting the seat belt
when the vehicle is subjected to
certain types of severe frontal
collision.
The pretensioner may not acti-
vate in the event of a minor frontal
impact, a side impact or a rear
impact.
■Adjusting the height of the belt (front seats)
Down
Up
Move the height adjuster up
and down as needed until you
hear a click.

66 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■Emergency locking retractor (ELR)
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on impact. It may also
lock if you lean forward too quickly. A slow, easy motion will allow the belt to
extend, and you can move around fully.
■ Automatic locking retractor (ALR)
When a passenger’s shoulder belt is completely extended and then
retracted even slightly, the belt is locked in that position and cannot be
extended. This feature is used to hold the child restraint system (CRS) firmly.
To free the belt again, fully retract the belt and then pull the belt out once
more. ( P. 110)
■ Pregnant women
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat
belt in the proper way. ( P. 64)
Women who are pregnant should position
the lap belt as low as possible over the
hips in the same manner as other occu-
pants. Extend the shoulder belt com-
pletely over the shoulder and position the
belt across the chest. Avoid belt contact
over the rounding of the abdominal area.
If the seat belt is not worn properly, not
only a pregnant woman, but also the fetus
could suffer death or serious injury as a
result of sudden braking or a collision.

67
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■People suffering illness
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat belt in the proper way. ( P. 64)
■ Child seat belt usage
The seat belts of your vehicle were principally designed for persons of adult
size.
● Use a child restraint system appropriately for the child, until the child
become large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 107)
● When the child becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s
seat belt, follow the instructions on P. 64 regarding seat belt usage.
■ Replacing the belt after the pretensioner has been activated
If the vehicle is involved in multiple collisions, the pretensioner will active for
the first collision, but will not active for the second or subsequent collisions.
■ Seat belt extender
If your seat belts cannot be fastened
securely because they are not long
enough, a personalized seat belt
extender is available from your Toyota
dealer free of charge.

68 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury in the event of
sudden braking or an accident. Failing to do so may cause death or serious
injury.
■Wearing a seat belt
● Ensure that all passengers wear a seat belt.
● Always wear a seat belt properly.
● Each seat belt should be used by one person only. Do not use a seat belt
for more than one person at the same time, including children.
● Children should be seated in the rear seat and always use a seat belt and/
or an appropriate child restraint system.
● Do not recline the seat any more than necessary to achieve a proper seat-
ing position. The seat belt is most effective when the occupants are sitting
up straight and well back in the seats.
● Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm.
● Always wear your seat belt low and snug across your hips.
■ Seat belt damage and wear
● Do not damage the seat belts by allowing the belt, plate or buckle to be
jammed in the door.
● Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Do not use a damaged seat belt until it is replaced. Damaged seat
belts cannot protect an occupant from injury.
● Ensure that the belt and tab are locked and the belt is not twisted. If the
seat belt does not function correctly, immediately contact your Toyota
dealer.
● Replace the seat assembly, including the belts, if your vehicle has been
involved in a serious accident, even if there is no obvious damage.
● Do not attempt to install, remove, modify, disassemble or dispose of a seat
belt. Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Toyota dealer. Inap-
propriate handling of the pretensioner may cause it to activate or operate
improperly and may cause death or serious injury.

69
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■Seat belt pretensioners
● Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger’s seat.
Doing so will disperse the passenger’s weight, which prevents the sensor
from detecting the passenger’s weight properly. As a result, the seat belt
pretensioner for the front passenger’s seat may not activate in the event of
a collision.
● If the pretensioner has activated, the seat belt becomes locked: it cannot
be further extended, nor will it return to the stowed position. The seat belt
cannot be used again and must be replaced at your Toyota dealer.
■ Using a seat belt extender
● Do not wear the seat belt extender, if you can fasten the seat belt without
the extender.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system,
because the belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, increas-
ing the risk of death or injury in the event of a collision.
● The personalized extender may not be safe on another vehicle, when
used by another person, or at a different seating position other than the
one originally intended.
NOTICE
■When using a seat belt extender
When releasing the seat belt, press on the buckle release button on the
extender, not on the seat belt.
This helps prevent damage to the vehicle interior and the extender itself.

70
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Steering wheel
CAUTION
■While driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Doing so may cause the driver to mishandle the vehicle and an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
■ After adjusting the steering wheel
Make sure that the steering wheel is securely locked.
Otherwise, the steering wheel may move suddenly, possibly causing an
accident and resulting in death or serious injury.
The steering wheel can be adjusted to a comfortable position while
the “POWER” switch is in ACCESSORY or ON mode.
Hold the steering
wheel and press the
lever down.
Adjust to the ideal
position by moving the
steering wheel verti-
cally.STEP1
STEP2

71
1
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Anti- glare inside rear view mirror
Manual anti-glare inside rear view mirror
Normal position
Anti-glare position
Auto anti-glare inside rear view mirror
In the “AUTO” mode, sensors are used to detect the headlights of
vehicles behind and automatically reduces the reflected light.
ON
OFF
The indicator comes on when
automatic mode is turned ON.
The anti-glare mirror default
mode is automatic mode. The
anti-glare mirror is automati-
cally set to automatic mode
whenever the “POWER” switch
is turned ON.

72 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■To prevent sensor error (vehicles with auto anti-glare inside rear view
mirror)
CAUTION
■ While driving
Do not adjust the position of the mirror while driving.
Doing so may lead to mishandling of the vehicle and an accident, or result-
ing in death or serious injury.
To ensure correct functioning of the sen-
sors, do not touch or cover the sensors.