2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C Owners Manual

5
When trouble arises
481
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
After the hybrid system has
cooled down sufficiently, check
the engine coolant level and
inspect the cooling system for
leaks.
Add engine coolant if necessary.
Water can be used in an emer-
gency if engine coolant is unavail-
able. (
P. 494)
Have the vehicle inspected at the nearest Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
STEP4
STEP5

482 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■If the hybrid system overheat warning message is shown on
the multi-information display:
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air condition-
ing system.
Leave the hybrid system operating and carefully lift the hood.
Check if the cooling fans are operating.
If the fans are operating:
Wait until the hybrid overh eat warning message disappears
and then stop the hybrid system.
If the message does not disapp ear, call your Toyota dealer.
If the fans are not operating:
Stop the hybrid system immediately and call your Toyota
dealer.
After the hybrid system has
cooled down, check the power
control unit coolant level and
inspect the cooling system for
leaks.
Add power control unit coolant if
necessary.
Water can be used in an emer-
gency if power control unit cool-
ant is unavailable. (P. 494)
Have the vehicle inspected at the nearest Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5

5
When trouble arises
483
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■
Overheating
The following symptoms may occur when your vehicle is overheating:
●Hybrid system output decreases.
● Steam comes out from the engine area.
CAUTION
■To prevent an accident or injury when inspecting under the hood of
your vehicle
●If steam is seen coming from under the hood, do not open the hood until
the steam has subsided. The engine compartment may be very hot, caus-
ing serious injuries such as burns.
● Check that on the multi-information display and the “READY” indi-
cator are off.
● For vehicles with a hybrid system, there are times when the gasoline
engine automatically starts to run or the cooling fans suddenly start to
operate. Do not touch or approach the rotating parts of the belt or fans.
Doing so may lead to fingers, clothes or tools getting caught, resulting\
in
injury.
● Do not loosen the radiator cap while the hybrid system and radiator are
hot.
Serious injuries, such as burns, may result from hot coolant and steam
released under pressure.

484 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
NOTICE
■When adding engine/power control unit coolant
Wait until the hybrid system has cooled down before adding engine/power
control unit coolant.
When adding coolant, do so slowly. Adding cool coolant to a hot hybrid sys-
tem too quickly can cause damage to the hybrid system.
■ To prevent damage to the cooling system
Observe the following precautions:
●Avoid contaminating the coolant with foreign matter (such as sand or dust
etc.).
● When using coolant additives, use genuine Toyota products or equivalent.

5
When trouble arises
485
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If the vehicle becomes stuck
CAUTION
■When attempting to free a stuck vehicle
If you choose to push the vehicle back and forth to free it, make sure the sur-
rounding area is clear to avoid striki ng other vehicles, objects or people. The
vehicle may also lunge forward or lunge back suddenly as it becomes free.
Use extreme caution.
■ When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■To avoid damage to the transmission and other components
●Avoid spinning the wheels and depressing the accelerator pedal more
than necessary.
● If the vehicle remains stuck even after these procedures are performed,
the vehicle may require towing to be freed.
Carry out the following procedures if the tires spin or the vehicle
becomes stuck in mud, dirt or snow:
Shift the shift lever to P and set the parking brake. Stop the
hybrid system.
Remove the mud, snow or sand from around the stuck tire.
Place wood, stones or some other material under the tires
to help provide traction.
Restart the hybrid system.
Shift the shift lever to the D or R position and carefully apply
the accelerator to free the vehicle.STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5

486
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency
Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way, stop the vehicle using the following pro-
cedure:
Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly
depress it.
Do not pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the
effort required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to N.
If the shift lever is shifted to N After slowing down, stop the vehi cle in a safe place by the
road.
Stop the hybrid system.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted to N Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce
vehicle speed as much as possible.
Vehicles without a smart key
system: Stop the hybrid sys-
tem by turning the engine
switch to the “ACC” position.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP3
STEP4

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When trouble arises
487
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■
If the hybrid system has to be turned off while driving
● Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the
brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the hybrid system.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Never attempt to remove the key, as
doing so will lock the steering wheel.
Vehicles with a smart key sys-
tem: To stop the hybrid sys-
tem, press and hold the
“POWER” switch for 3 consec-
utive seconds or more, or
press it briefly 3 times or more
in succession.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.STEP4
Press and hold for 3 seconds or more,
or press briefly 3 times or more
STEP5

488 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency