2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C heating

34 1-1. Hybrid system
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery air vent
●Do not place foreign objects over or in front of the air vent. The hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) may overheat and be damaged.
● Clean the air vent regularly to prevent the hybrid battery (traction battery)
from overheating.
● Do not wet the air vent as this may cause a short circuit and damage the
hybrid battery (traction battery).
● Do not carry large amounts of water such as water cooler bottles in the
vehicle. If water spills onto the hybrid battery (traction battery), the battery
may be damaged.

156 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the
shift lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or
fire due to hybrid system overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in
a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle,
leading to death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause
one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the brake system warning light (yellow indicator) comes on, maintain a
larger than usual distance between you and the vehicle ahead, and avoid
hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.
● If the brake system warning light (red indicator) comes on, there may be a
malfunction with the brake’s hydraulic system. Immediately stop the vehi-
cle in a safe place and contact your Toyota dealer.
In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual
and the braking distance will increase. Do not continue to drive the vehicle
in this condition.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during
driving, as this may restrain driving torque.
● Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.
■ When parking the vehicle
Always shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to
move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed.

166 2-1. Driving procedures
■Notes for the entry function
P. 5 6
■ If the hybrid system does not start
●The immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. ( P. 110)
Contact your Toyota dealer.
■ Steering lock
After turning the “POWER” switch off and opening and closing the doors, the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
“POWER” switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
■ When the steering lock cannot be released
■ Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, the motor may be sus-
pended if the hybrid system is turned on and off repeatedly in a short period
of time. In this case, refrain from operating the hybrid system. After about 10
seconds, the steering lock motor will resume functioning.
● Check that the shift lever is securely set
in P. The hybrid system may not start if
the shift lever is not securely in the P
position. “SHIFT TO P POSITION TO
START” will be displayed on the multi-
information display.
“STEERING LOCK ACTIVE” will be dis-
played on the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press
the “POWER” switch while turning the
steering wheel left and right.

174 2-1. Driving procedures
■Shift position purpose
*: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in the D
position for normal driving.
■ Selecting Eco drive mode
Suitable for enhancing the fuel economy, because the torque
corresponding to the accelerator pedal depression amount can
be generated more smoothly than it is in normal conditions and
the operation of the air condition ing system (heating/cooling) will
be minimized.
Eco drive mode
When Eco drive mode is
turned on, the “ECO MODE”
indicator will come on.
Pressing the “ECO MODE”
switch again turns Eco drive
mode off.
Shift positionFunction
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*
BPosition for engine braking

175
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
■
Operation of the air conditio ning system in Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode controls the heating/cooling operations and fan speed of the
air conditioning system to enhance fuel efficiency. ( P. 242) To improve air
conditioning performance, adjust the temperature setting or fan speed, or
turn off Eco drive mode.
■ When in heavy traffic
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery) will not be
charged. To help prevent the battery from discharging, avoid putting the shift
lever in N for an extended period of time.
■ If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
P. 471
CAUTION
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause the vehicle to spin or skid,
resulting in an accident.

177
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Parking brake
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven at a speed of approximately 3
mph (5 km/h) or more with the parking brake engaged. ( P. 444)
■ Usage in winter time
P. 229
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake
wear.
To set the parking brake,
fully pull the parking brake
lever while depressing the
brake pedal.
To release the parking
brake, slightly raise the
lever and lower it com-
pletely while pressing the
button.
U.S.A. Canada

181
2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
NOTICE
■
To prevent damage to the engine and its components
This vehicle is not installed with an engine coolant temperature gauge.
Instead, is shown on the multi-information display. The engine may
be overheating if is shown on the multi-information display. In this
case, immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place. ( P. 480)

220 2-4. Using other driving systems
When the TRAC/VSC/ABS/hill-start assist control systems are
operatingThe slip indicator light will flash
while the TRAC/VSC/ABS/hill-
start assist control systems are
operating.
The stop lights and high mounted
stoplight turn on when the hill-
start assist control system is
operating.
■Sounds and vibrations caused by the ABS, brake assist, TRAC and
VSC systems
●A sound may be heard from the engine compartment when the hybrid
system is started or just after the vehicle begins to move, if the brake
pedal is depressed forcefully or repeatedly, or 1 - 2 minuets after the
hybrid system is stopped. This sound does not indicate that a malfunc-
tion has occurred in any of these systems.
● Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are
operating. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■ EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may
be heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■ Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system is reduced to prevent the system from
overheating when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of
time. The steering wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur,
refrain from excessive steering input or stop the vehicle and turn the hybrid
system off. The EPS system should return to normal within 10 minutes.