Page 489 of 568

5
When trouble arises
489
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
If your vehicle overheats
Correction procedures■ If the high coolant temperatur e warning light comes on or
flashes
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air condition-
ing system, and then stop the hybrid system.
If you see steam: Carefully lift the hood after the steam subsides.
If you do not see steam: Carefully lift the hood.
After the hybrid system has
cooled down sufficiently, inspect
the hoses and radiator core
(radiator) for any leaks.
Radiator
Cooling fans
If a large amount of coolant leaks,
immediately contact your Toyota
dealer.
The following may indicate that your vehicle is overheating.
●The high coolant temperature warning light ( P. 447) comes on
or flashes, or a loss of hybrid system power is experienced. (For
example, the vehicle s peed does not increase.)
● The hybrid system overheat warning light ( P. 451) comes on.
● Steam comes out from under the hood.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
Page 490 of 568
490 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
The coolant level is satisfactory if
it is between the “FULL” and
“LOW” lines on the reservoir.Reservoir
“FULL”
“LOW”
Add coolant if necessary.
Water can be used in an emer-
gency if coolant is unavailable.
Start the hybrid system and turn the air conditioning system
on to check that the radiator cooling fans operate and to
check for coolant leaks from the radiator or hoses.
The fans operate when the air conditioning system is turned on
immediately after a cold start. Confirm that the fans are operating by
checking the fan sound and air flow. If it is difficult to check these,
turn the air conditioning system on and off repeatedly.
(The fans may not operate in freezing temperatures.)
If the fans are not operating: Stop the hybrid system im mediately and contact your
Toyota dealer.
If the fans are operating: Have the vehicle inspected at the nearest Toyota dealer.
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
STEP7
Page 491 of 568
5
When trouble arises
491
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
■
If the hybrid system overheat warning light comes on
Stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Stop the hybrid system and carefully lift the hood.
After the hybrid system has
cooled down, inspect the hoses
and radiator core (radiator) for
any leaks.
Radiator
Cooling fans
If a large amount of coolant leaks,
immediately contact your Toyota
dealer.
The coolant level is satisfactory if
it is between the “F” and “L” lines
on the reservoir.Reservoir
“F”
“L”
Add coolant if necessary.
Water can be used in an emer-
gency if coolant is unavailable.
Start the hybrid system and check for the instrument cluster.
If the hybrid system overheat warning light does not turn off: Stop the hybrid system and c ontact your Toyota dealer.
If the hybrid system overheat warning light does not come on:
Have the vehicle inspected at the nearest Toyota dealer.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
Page 492 of 568

492 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
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 the indicator on the “POWER” switch and the “READY” indica-
tor are off.
● On hybrid vehicles, the gasoline engine may automatically start, or the
cooling fans may suddenly operate even if the gasoline engine stops. Do
not touch or approach rotating parts such as the fans, which may lead to
fingers or clothing (especially a tie, a scarf or a muffler) getting caught,
resulting in serious injury.
● Do not loosen the coolant reservoir cap while the hybrid system and radia-
tor are hot.
Serious injury, such as burns, may result from hot coolant and steam
released under pressure.
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.)
● Do not use any coolant additives other than the Toyota genuine or similar
coolant additives
Page 493 of 568

5
When trouble arises
493
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
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 lu nge back suddenly as it becomes free.
Use extreme caution.
■ When changing the shift position
Be careful not to change the shift position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
Changing the shift position to any positions other than P or N may cause the
vehicle to accelerate abruptly, causing an accident and resulting in death or
serious injury.
Carry out the following procedures if the tires spin or the vehicle
becomes stuck in mud, dirt or snow:
Set the parking brake and shift the shift position to P. 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 position to D or R, release the parking brake
and carefully apply the accelerator to free the vehicle.STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Page 494 of 568
494 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
NOTICE
■To avoid damage to the hybrid 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.
Page 495 of 568

5
When trouble arises
495
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
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 position to N.
If the shift position 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 position cannot be shifted to N Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce
vehicle speed as much as possible.
To stop the hybrid system,
press and hold the “POWER”
switch for 2 consecutive sec-
onds or more, or press it
briefly for 3 times or more in
succession.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 3
STEP 4
Press and hold for 2 seconds or more, or press briefly for 3 times or more
STEP 5
Page 496 of 568
496 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
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.