2010 TOYOTA PRIUS service

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PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
4-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting 
the vehicle’s exterior ......... 404
Cleaning and protecting 
the vehicle’s interior .......... 407
4-2. Maintenance Maintenance 
requirements ..................... 410
General maintenance.......... 412
Emission inspection 
and maintenance (I/M) 
programs........................... 415
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service 
precautions ....................... 416
Hood ................................... 420
Positioning a floor jack ........ 423
Engine compartment ........... 425
12 volt battery ..................... 436
Tires .................................... 441
Tire inflation pressure ......... 451
Wheels ................................ 455
Air conditioning filter............ 457
Electronic key battery.......... 460
Checking and replacing 
fuses ................................. 462
Light bulbs........................... 472 5-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers............ 486
If your vehicle needs 
to be towed....................... 487
If you think something is  wrong ............................... 493
Event data recorder ............ 494
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency If a warning light turns 
on or a warning buzzer 
sounds.............................. 496
If a warning message is 
displayed .......................... 508
If you have a flat tire ........... 524
If the hybrid system 
will not start ...................... 538
If you lose your keys........... 540
If the electronic key does 
not operate properly ......... 541
If the 12 volt battery is 
discharged........................ 543
If your vehicle overheats .... 548
If the vehicle becomes 
stuck ................................. 553
4Maintenance and care5When trouble arises

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PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Installation of a mobile two-way radio system
As the installation of a mobile two-way radio system in your vehicle could
affect electronic systems such as the multiport fuel injection system/sequen-
tial multiport fuel injection system, cruise control system, anti-lock brake sys-
tem, vehicle stability control system, SRS airbag system, seat belt
pretensioner system or hybrid system, be sure to check with your Toyota
dealer for precautionary measures or special instructions regarding installa-
tion.
High voltage parts and cables on the hybrid vehicles emit approximately the
same amount of electromagnetic waves as the conventional gasoline pow-
ered vehicles or home electronic appliances despite of their electromagnetic
shielding.
Unwanted noise may occur in the reception of the mobile two-way radio.
Scrapping of your Toyota
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your Toyota contain
explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbags and seat belt
pretensioners left as they are, this may cause an accident such as fire. Be
sure to have the systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner
removed and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your Toyota
dealer before you scrap your vehicle.
Perchlorate Material
Special handling may apply, 
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Your vehicle has components that may contain perchlorate. These compo-
nents may include airbag, seat belt pretensioners, and wireless remote con-
trol batteries.

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PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■General precautions while driving
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehi-
cle. Alcohol and certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and
reduce coordination, which could lead to an accident that could result in
death or serious injury.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other
drivers or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full attention to driving. Anything that dis-
tracts the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a cellular phone or
reading can result in a collision with resulting death or serious injury to you,
your occupants or others.
■ General precaution regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to
have or use the key.
Children may be able to start the vehicle or shift the vehicle into neutral.
There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing with
the windows, the moon roof, or other features of the vehicle. In addition, heat
build-up or extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can be fatal to
children.
■ Dispose of the hybrid battery (traction battery)
If your vehicle is disposed of without the hybrid battery having been
removed, there is a danger of serious electric shock if high voltage parts,
cables and their connectors are touched. In the event of that your vehicle
must be disposed of, the hybrid battery must be disposed of your Toyota
dealer or a qualified service shop. If the hybrid battery is not disposed of
properly, they may cause electric shock that can result in death or serious
injury.

32 1-1. Hybrid system
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
High voltage componentsTake care when handling the hybrid sy stem, as it contains a high volt-
age system (about 650 V at maximum) as well as parts that become
extremely hot when the hybrid system is operating. Obey the caution
labels attached to the vehicle. Air conditioning compressor
High voltage cables (orange
color)
Power control unit and DC/
DC converter
Caution label
Service plug
Hybrid battery (Traction bat-
tery)
Electric motor (Traction
motor)
ITO11P104

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1-1. Hybrid system
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Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Hybrid warning message
A message is automatically displaye d when a malfunction occurs in
the hybrid system or an impr oper operation is attempted.
If a warning message is shown on the multi-information display, read
the message and follow the instructions. ( P. 508)
■If a warning light comes on or a wa rning message is displayed, or the
12 volt battery is disconnected
The hybrid system may not start. In that case, try to start the system again. If
the “READY” indicator does not come on, contact your Toyota dealer.
■ Running out of fuel
When the vehicle has run out of fuel and the hybrid system cannot be
started, refuel the vehicle with at least enough gasoline to make the low fuel
level warning light go off (
P. 499). If there is only a small amount of fuel,
the hybrid system may not be able to start. (The minimum amount of fuel to
add to make the low fuel level warning light go out is about 1.6 gal. [6.0 L,
1.3 Imp.gal.], when the vehicle is on a level surface. This value may vary
when the vehicle is on a slope.)
■ Hybrid battery (traction battery)
The hybrid battery (traction battery) has a limited service life. The lifespan of
the hybrid battery (traction battery) can change in accordance with driving
style and driving conditions.

38 1-1. Hybrid system
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■High voltage precautions
The vehicle has high voltage DC and AC systems as well as a 12 volt sys-
tem. DC and AC high voltage is very dangerous and can cause severe burns
and electric shock that may result in death or serious injury.
● Never touch, disassemble, remove or replace the high voltage parts,
cables and their connectors.
● The hybrid system will become hot after starting as the system uses high
voltage. Be careful of both the high voltage and the high temperature, and
always obey the caution labels attached to the vehicle.
■ Hybrid battery (traction battery)
Your vehicle contains a sealed nickel- metal hydride battery. If disposed of
improperly, it is hazardous to the environment and there is a risk of severe
burns and electrical shock that may result in death or serious injury.
■ Emergency shut off system
● Carefully check to see if there are exposed high voltage parts or cables.
Never touch the parts or cables. (
P. 32)
● Carefully inspect the ground under the vehicle. If you find that liquid has
leaked onto the ground, the fuel system may have been damaged. Leave
the vehicle as soon as possible.
●Never try to open the service plug
access hole located in the luggage
compartment. The service plug is used
only when the vehicle is serviced and is
subject to high voltage.
● Do not subject the service plug to
strong impacts. Also, avoid splashing
large amount of water onto the luggage
compartment, for example while in a
high-pressure car wash.

116 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.Your vehicle is equipped with “ADVANCED AIRBAGS” designed
based on US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The air-
bag system controls airbag deploym
ent power for the driver and front
passenger. The driver airbag system consists of the driver seat’s
position sensor etc. The front pass enger’s airbag system consists of
the front passenger occupant classification sensor etc.
The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The
SRS airbag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The
airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and an airbag
sensor.
In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag sys-
tem triggers the airbag inflators. A chemical reaction in the inflators
quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to hel p restrain the motion
of the occupants.
■ If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
● Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying
(inflating) SRS airbag.
● A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
● Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator)
as well as the front seats, and parts of the front and rear pillars and roof
side rail, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be
hot.
● The windshield may crack.
● For Safety Connect subscribers, if the SRS airbags deploy or in the event
of a severe rear-end collision, the system is designed to send an emer-
gency call to the response center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location
(without needing to push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to
speak with the occupants to ascertain the level of emergency and assis-
tance required. If the occupants are unable to communicate, the agent
automatically treats the call as an emergency and helps to dispatch the
necessary emergency services. ( P. 395)

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2-5. Driving information
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When driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving
the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropri-
ate to the prevailing weather conditions.
■ Pre-winter preparations
●Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tem-
peratures.
• Engine oil
• Engine/power control unit coolant
• Washer fluid
● Have a service technician inspect the level and specific grav-
ity of 12 volt battery electrolyte.
● Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set
of tire chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains
match the size of the tires.