2012 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN charging

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4-1. Maintenance and care
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
■Before car washes
Check that the fuel filler door and charging port lid on your vehicle are closed
properly.
■Automatic car washes
●Fold the mirrors and remove the antenna before washing the vehicle.
Start was hing from the front of the vehicle. Mak e sure to re-install the
antenna and extend the mirrors before driving.
●Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface
and harm your vehicle’s paint.
●Roof antenna, rear spoiler may not be washable in some automatic car
washes. There may also be an increased risk of damage to vehicle.
■High pressure car washes (→P. 4 2 7 )
Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity of
the windows.

426
4-1. Maintenance and care
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
■When using a car wash
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effec-
tive range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. Place the key in a posi-
tion 6 ft. (2 m) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being
washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
■Aluminum wheels
●Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use
hard brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical
cleaners.
Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.
●Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after
driving for long distance in the hot weather.
●Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use.
■Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
CAUTION
■When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may
cause the electrical components etc. to catch fire.
■While charging
Do not wash the vehicle.
Doing so may cause the electrical components to malfunction or catch fire
and also you may get an electric shock that may result in death or serious
injury.
■Precautions regarding the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe until it has cooled
sufficiently, as touching a hot exhaust pipe can cause burns.

427
4-1. Maintenance and care
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
NOTICE
■To p r e v e n t pa i n t d e t e r i o r a t i o n a n d corrosion on the body and compo-
nents (aluminum wheels etc.)
●Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
•After driving near the sea coast
•After driving on salted roads
•If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
•If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the
paint surface
•After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust,
iron powder or chemical substances
•If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
•If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
●If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.
●To p r e v e n t t h e w h e e l s f r o m c o r r o d i n g , r e m o v e a n y d i r t a n d s t o r e i n a p l a c e
with low humidity when storing the wheels.
■Cleaning the exterior lights
●Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the lights.
●Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses.
■When using a high pressure car washer
Do not use the washer on the area around the charging port lid. Water could
get into the charging inlet and could damage the vehicle.
■Antenna installation and removal precautions
●Before driving, ensure that the antenna is installed.
●When the antenna is removed, such as before entering an automatic car
wash, make sure to store it in a suitable place so as not to lose it. Also,
before driving, make sure to reinstall the antenna in its original position.

437
4-2. Maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
Ve h i c l e e x t e r i o r
Charging equipment
ItemsCheck points
Doors • Do the doors operate smoothly?
Engine hood•Does the engine hood lock sys-
tem work properly?
Fluid leaks
•There should not be any signs of
fluid leakage after the vehicle has
been parked.
Tires
•Is the tire inflation pressure cor-
rect?
•The tires should not be dam-
aged or excessively worn.
•Have the tires been rotated
according to the maintenance
schedule?
•The wheel nuts should not be
loose.
ItemsCheck points
Charging cable
•Check that the electrical leakage
detection function operates prop-
erly. (→P. 1 0 3 )
CAUTION
■If the hybrid system is operating
Turn the hybrid system off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation
before performing maintenance checks.

472
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
■Before charging
When charging, the 12-volt battery produces hydrogen gas which is flamma-
ble and explosive. Therefore, observe the following precautions before
charging:
●If charging with the 12-volt battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to dis-
connect the ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and
disconnecting the charger cables to the 12-volt battery.
Remove the 12-volt battery
maintenance cover.
■Exterior
Make sure that the 12-volt battery terminals are not corroded
and that there are no loose connections, cracks, or loose
clamps.
Te r m i n a l s
Hold-down clamp
STEP 4

473
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
■After charging/reconnecting the 12-volt battery
●Unlocking the doors using the smart key system may not be possible
immediately after reconnecting the 12-volt battery. If this happens, use
the wireless remote control or the mechanical key to lock/unlock the
doors.
●Start the hybrid system with the “POW ER” swi tc h in ACC ESSORY mode.
The hybrid system may not start with the “POWER” switch turned off.
However, the hybrid system will operate normally from the second
attempt.
●The “POWER” switch mode is recorded by the vehicle. If the 12-volt bat-
tery is reconnected, the vehicle will return the “POWER” switch mode to
the status it was in before the 12-volt battery was disconnected. Make
sure to turn off the power before disconnect the 12-volt battery. Take
extra care when connecting the 12-volt battery if the “POWER” switch
mode prior to discharge is unknown.
●Restart the hybrid system, depress the brake pedal, and confirm that it is
possible to shift into each shift position.
If the system will not start even after multiple attempts at all methods above,
contact your Toyota dealer.

475
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■Emergency measures regarding electrolyte
●If electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immedi-
ate medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with a sponge or
cloth while traveling to the nearest medical facility.
●If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thoroughly. If you feel pain or burning, get medical
attention immediately.
●If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to your skin. Immediately take off the cloth-
ing and follow the procedure above if necessary.
●If you accidentally swallow electrolyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk. Get emergency medical attention
immediately.
■When replacing the 12-volt battery
Use a 12-volt battery designed for this vehicle. Failure to do so may cause
gas (hydrogen) to enter the passenger compartment, causing a fire or explo-
sion.
For replacement of the 12-volt battery, contact your Toyota dealer.
NOTICE
■When charging the 12-volt battery
Never charge the 12-volt battery while the hybrid system is operating. Also,
be sure all accessories are turned off.

534
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
Stop the vehicle immediately.
The following warning indicates the possibility of damage to the vehi-
cle that may lead to an accident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a
safe place and contact your Toyota dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Charging system warning light
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system
High coolant temperature warning light
Indicates that the coolant temperature is too high
Changes from a flashing to a solid light when the engine
coolant temperature increases.