Page 449 of 688

449
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■
When raising your vehicle
Make sure to observe the following precautions to reduce the possibility of
death or serious injury:
●When using a floor jack, follow the instructions of the manual provided with
the jack.
● Do not use the jack that was supplied with your vehicle.
● Do not put any part of your body underneath the vehicle when it is sup-
ported only by the floor jack.
● Always use floor jack and/or automotive jack stands on a solid, flat, level
surface.
● Do not start the hybrid system while the vehicle is supported by the floor
jack.
● Stop the vehicle on level, firm ground, firmly set the parking brake and shift
the shift position to P.
● Make sure to set the floor jack properly at the jack point.
Raising the vehicle with an improperly positioned floor jack will damage
the vehicle and may cause the vehicle to fall off the floor jack.
●Lift up the vehicle using a floor jack
such as the one shown in the illustra-
tion. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 525 of 688
When trouble arises5
525
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
5-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers .........  526
If your vehicle needs to be towed ........................  527
If you think something  is wrong .........................  534
5-2. Steps to take in an  emergency
If a warning light turns  on or a warning buzzer 
sounds ...........................  535
If a warning message  is displayed ....................  548
If you have a flat tire.........  569
If the hybrid system will  not start ..........................  591
If you lose your keys ........  593
If the electronic key does  not operate properly.......  594
If the 12-volt battery is  discharged .....................  597
If your vehicle  overheats .......................  603
If the vehicle becomes  stuck ..............................  608
If your vehicle has to be  stopped in an 
emergency .....................  610 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 546 of 688

546 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
CAUTION
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 pressu re telltale (tire pressure 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 handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a sub-
stitute for proper tire main tenance, and 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 tire 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. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 555 of 688
5
When trouble arises
555
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
Warning messageDetailsCorrection 
procedure
(Flashes) The hybrid battery (traction 
battery) is low.
A buzzer also sounds. When stopping the 
vehicle for a long 
period of time, shift 
the shift position to 
P. The hybrid bat-
tery (traction bat-
tery) cannot be 
charged with the 
shift position in N.
(Flashes) The hybrid battery (traction 
battery) power has dropped 
because a long period of time 
has elapsed after shifting the 
shift position to N.
A buzzer also sounds. Restart the hybrid 
system when start-
ing the vehicle.
(Flashes) The transmission is out of P 
when attempting to start the 
hybrid system.
Shift the shift posi-
tion to P before 
pressing the 
“POWER” switch.
 (Flashes) The driver’s door is opened 
when the shift position is in N, 
D or B with the hybrid system 
on.
Shift the shift posi-
tion to P. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 565 of 688

5
When trouble arises
565
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
Charging messages
A message showing the charge results will be displayed if the
“POWER” switch is turned to ON mode after charging has completed
(when the vehicle’s charging indicator has turned off).
If one of the following messages is displayed, follow the correction proce-
dures.
If the message displays again after following the correction procedure,
contact your Toyota dealer.
*: For information about the safety functions, refer to P. 95.
MessageDetailsCorrection procedure
The charging cable has 
been connected to the 
vehicle while the 
“READY” indicator light 
was illuminated. A warning buzzer will 
sound. The hybrid system auto-
matically stopped due to 
operation of the safety 
functions
*. 
Turn the “POWER” 
switch off and perform 
charging according to the 
procedures on P. 84.
An attempt has been 
made to start the hybrid 
system while the charg-
ing cable was connected. A warning buzzer will 
sound. The hybrid system can-
not be started while the 
charging cable is con-
nected due to the safety 
functions
*.
Disconnect the charging 
cable and start the hybrid 
system. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 566 of 688
566 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
MessageDetailsCorrection procedure
Charging has been inter-
rupted because the plug 
has been disconnected 
or some kind of power 
failure has occurred. Charging has not fin-
ished properly. 
Refer to the procedures 
on P. 84 and perform 
charging again. 
The vehicle can be used 
even if charging has not 
finished. However, the 
distance that can be 
driven in EV mode 
decreases.
One of the following situ-
ations has occurred:
• The charging connector  is not properly inserted
• The latch release button  has been pressed and 
held
• The charging connector  has been disconnected Reinsert the charging 
connector to restart 
charging.
Charging has been inter-
rupted by a malfunction 
in the charging system. Stop charging immedi-
ately, and contact your 
Toyota dealer.
Also, driving is possible 
when the hybrid system 
has been started. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 567 of 688
5
When trouble arises
567
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
MessageDetailsCorrection 
procedure
Charging has been 
stopped because of the 
high energy consumption 
of electrical compo-
nents, such as the head-
lights. Switch the electrical 
appliance OFF, and 
restart charging by fol-
lowing the procedure on 
P. 84.
If the message is still 
displayed, the 12-volt 
battery may have a low 
charge.
In this event, turn the 
“POWER” switch OFF 
approximately 15 min-
utes after starting the 
hybrid system, and 
restart charging.
Charging has been 
stopped because of 
extremely low voltage, 
possibly caused by the 
plug not being inserted 
correctly. Check that the plug is 
inserted correctly, and 
restart charging by fol-
lowing the procedure on 
P. 84.
Check that the plug is 
not connected to a 
power strip and that an 
extension cord, multi-
outlet etc. is not being 
used. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 568 of 688
568 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47856U_(U)
MessageDetailsCorrection procedure
Charging has been 
stopped because of a 
problem with the charg-
ing cable. If the charging cable is 
not a genuine Toyota 
product, or if you are 
charging using a charg-
ing station (other than a 
Toyota dealer), try charg-
ing with a genuine Toyota 
charging cable.
If the message is still 
displayed, contact your 
Toyota dealer.
Charging has stopped 
because of the continued 
high temperature of the 
hybrid battery (traction 
battery) (in order to pro-
tect the battery). If the desired charge 
level has not been 
achieved, restart charg-
ing by following the pro-
cedure on P. 84 after the 
hybrid battery (traction 
battery) has cooled 
down.