2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C Owners Manual

5
When trouble arises
433
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Follow the correction procedures.
After taking the specified steps to correct the suspected problem,
check that the warning light goes off.
Electric power steering syst em warning light (warn-
ing buzzer) Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power
Steering) system
(Comes on) Slip indicator light
Indicates a malfunction in:
• Vehicle stability control;
• Traction control; or
• Hill-start assist control
Brake system warning light in yellow Indicates a malfunction in:
• The regenerative brake system; or
• The electronically controlled brake system
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
(Flashes) Low fuel level warning
light
Remaining fuel is low
When the remaining fuel
is approximately 1.2 gal.
(4.7 L, 1.0 Imp. gal.) or
less, a buzzer sounds
and the lowest segment
of the fuel gauge flashes Refuel the vehicle.
Warning lightWarning light/Details

434 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Seat belt reminder light
(warning buzzer)
*
Warns the driver and front
passenger to fasten their
seat beltFasten the seat belt.
If the front passenger’s
seat is occupied, the
front passenger’s seat
belt also needs to be
fastened to make the
reminder light (warning
buzzer) go off.
Master warning light A buzzer sounds and the
warning light comes on
and flashes to indicate
that the master warning
system has detected a
malfunction 
P. 441
Tire pressure warning light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pres-
sure such as
• Natural causes ( P. 436)
• Flat tire ( P. 457) Adjust the tire inflation
pressure to the speci-
fied level.
The light will turn off
after a few minutes. In
case the light does not
turn off even if the tire
inflation pressure is
adjusted, have the
system checked by
your Toyota dealer.
When the light comes on
after blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire
pressure warning system
(  P. 437) Have the system
checked by your Toyota
dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure

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When trouble arises
435
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
*: Driver's and front passen
ger's seat belt buzzer:
The driver's and front passenger's seat belt buzzer sounds to alert the driver
and front passenger that his or her seat belt is not fastened. Once the engine
switch is turned to the “ON” or “START” position (vehicles without a smart
key system) or the “POWER” switch is turned to ON mode (vehicles with a
smart key system), the buzzer sounds for 6 seconds. If the vehicle reaches a
speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer sounds once. If the seat belt is still
unfastened after 30 seconds, the buzzer will sound intermittently for 10 sec-
onds. Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer will sound in a dif-
ferent tone for 20 more seconds.
■ SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front impact
sensors, side impact sensors, driver's seat belt buckle switch, front passen-
ger occupant classification system (ECU and sensors), “AIR BAG ON” indi-
cator light, “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger's seat belt buckle
switch, seat belt pretensioner assemblies, airbags, interconnecting wiring
and power sources. ( P. 432)
■ Front passenger detection sensor, passenger seat belt reminder and
warning buzzer
● If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger
detection sensor may cause the warning light to flash and the warning
buzzer to sound even if a passenger is not sitting in the seat.
● If a cushion is placed on the seat, the sensor may not detect a passen-
ger, and the warning light may not operate properly.
■ Electric power steering system wa rning light (warning buzzer)
When the 12-volt battery charge becomes insufficient or the voltage tempo-
rarily drops, the electric power st eering system warning light may come on
and the warning buzzer may sound.

436 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving
The malfunction indicator lamp will come on if the fuel tank cap becomes
loose. If the fuel tank cap is loose, tighten it securely. The malfunction indica-
tor lamp will go off after several trips.
If the malfunction indicator lamp does not go off even after several trips, con-
tact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
■
When the tire pressure warning light comes on
Check the tire inflation pressure and adjust to the appropriate level.
Pushing the tire pressure warning reset switch will not turn off the tire
pressure warning light.
■The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes such
as natural air leaks and tire inflat ion pressure changes caused by tem-
perature. In this case, adjusting the tire inflation pressure will turn off the
warning light (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with a spare tire
The compact spare tire is not equipped with a tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will
not turn off even though the flat tire has been replaced with the spare
tire. Replace the spare tire with the re paired tire and adjust the tire infla-
tion pressure. The tire pressure wa rning light will go off after a few min-
utes.

5
When trouble arises
437
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■If the tire pressure warning system is not functioning
The tire pressure warning system will be disabled in the following condi-
tions:
(When the condition be
comes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters are used
●If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is
not registered in the tire pressure warning computer
●If the tire inflation pressure is 73 psi (500 kPa, 5.1 kgf/cm2 or bar) or
higher
The tire pressure warning system may be disabled in the following condi-
tions:
(When the condition be comes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If electronic devices or facilities using similar radio wave frequencies
are nearby
●If a radio set at a similar frequency is in use in the vehicle
●If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is installed
●If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, particularly around the
wheels or wheel housings
●If non-genuine Toyota wheels are used (Even if you use Toyota
wheels, the tire pressure warning system may not work properly with
some types of tires.)
●If tire chains are used
■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking
for 1 minute
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1
minute when the engine switch is tu rned to the “ON” position (vehicles
without a smart key system) or the “POWER” switch is turned to ON
mode (vehicles with a smart key syst em), have it checked by your
Toyota dealer.
■ Customization that can be co nfigured at Toyota dealer
The vehicle speed linked seat belt reminder buzzer can be disabled. (Cus-
tomizable features P. 516) However, Toyota recommends that the seat
belt reminder buzzer be operational to alert the driver and front passenger
when seat belts are not fastened.

438 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■When the electric power steerin g system warning light comes on
The steering wheel may become extremely heavy.
If the steering wheel becomes heavier than usual when operating, hold
firmly and operate using more force than usual.
■
If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause a loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment, it is pr obable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.
If a tire is flat, change it with th e spare tire and have the flat tire
repaired by the nearest Toyota dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning syste m may not activate immediately.

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When trouble arises
439
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a differ-
ent size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pr essure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS-ti re pressure warning system) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltal e (tire pressure warning light) when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pre ssure warning light) illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi ciency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle's hand ling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a sub-
stitute for proper ti re maintenance, an d it is the driver's responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the
level to trigger illu mination of the TPMS low ti re pressure telltale (tire
pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warning
system) malfunction indicator to indi cate when the system is not operat-
ing properly. The TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction indi-
cator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure
warning light). When the system det ects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately one minute an d then remain continuously illumi-
nated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as
long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indi cator is illumi-
nated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended.

440 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a vari-
ety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning
system) from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pres-
sure warning system) malfunction te lltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alter-
nate tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) to
continue to function properly.
NOTICE
■Precaution when installing a different tire
When a tire of a different specification or maker is installed, the tire pres-
sure warning system may not operate properly.