Page 195 of 496

1954-1. Before driving
4
Driving
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a
fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s
electrical components.
● Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
● Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not place
containers such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard.
Adhesive discs or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehi-
cle.
● Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a
metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause
the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
● Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift position to P, stop the hybrid
system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the “READY” indicator is illumi-
nated.
● Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the “READY” indicator is illuminated
or immediately after turning the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.
Page 196 of 496

1964-1. Before driving
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ 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 electronically controlled assist function does not operate, do not fol-
low other vehicles closely and avoid downhill 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.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
● The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems; if
one of the systems fails, the other(s) will still operate. In this case, the
brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking
distance will increase. Have y our brakes fixed immediately.
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 position to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to
move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is
accidentally depressed.
Page 201 of 496

201
4
4-2. Driving procedures
Driving
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)
Power (ignition) switch
Check that the parking brake is set.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
Check that the power switch indicator turns green. If the indicator does not
turn green, the hybrid system cannot be started.
When the shift position is N, the hybrid system cannot start. Shift the shift
position to P when starting the hybrid system. (→P. 209)
Press the power switch.
If the “READY” indicator turns on,
the hybrid system will operate nor-
mally.
Continue depressing the brake
pedal until the “READY” indicator
is illuminated.
The hybrid system can be started
from any power switch mode.
Check that the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
If the “READY” indicator changes from a flashing light to a solid light and
the buzzer sounds, the hybrid system is starting normally.
The vehicle will not move when the “READY” indicator is off.
The vehicle can move when the “READY” indicator is on even if the engine
is stopped. (The gasoline engine starts or stops automatically in accor-
dance with the state of the vehicle.)
Performing the following operations when carrying the elec-
tronic key on your person starts the hybrid system or changes
power switch modes.
Starting the hybrid system
1
2
3
4
Page 202 of 496
2024-2. Driving procedures
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)
Stop the vehicle completely.
Set the parking brake. (→P. 214)
Shift the shift position to P.
( → P. 209)
Check that the shift position indica-
tor shows P. ( →P. 208)
Press the power switch.
The hybrid system will stop, and the meter display will be extinguished.
Slowly release the brake pedal and check that the indicator on the
power switch is off.
Stopping the hybrid system
1
2
3
4
5
Page 204 of 496

2044-2. Driving procedures
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)■
When the ambient temperature is low, such as during winter driving con-
ditions
When starting the hybrid system, the fl ashing time of the “READY” indicator
may be long. Leave the vehicle as it is until the “READY” indicator is steady
on, as steady means the vehicle is able to move.
■ Conditions affecting operation
→ P. 154
■ Note for the entry function
→ P. 155
■ If the hybrid system does not start
The immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. ( →P. 91)
Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified
and equipped professional.
■ When the power switch indicator flashes in amber
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by any autho-
rized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-
sional immediately.
■ If the “READY” indicator does not come on
In the event that the “READY” indicator does not come on even after perform-
ing the proper procedures for starting the vehicle, contact any authorized
Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional
immediately.
■ If the hybrid system is malfunctioning
→ P. 390
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
→ P. 351
■ Operation of the power switch
●When operating the power switch, one short, firm press is enough. If the
switch is pressed improperly, the hybr id system may not start or the power
switch mode may not change. It is not necessary to press and hold the
switch.
● If attempting to restart the hybrid system immediately after turning the power
switch off, the hybrid system may not start in some cases. After turning the
power switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the hybrid sys-
tem.
■ Automatically P position selection function
→ P. 2 11
■ When the shift control system malfunctions
The power switch will not be able to be turned off. In such a case, the switch
can be turned off after applying the parking brake.
Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional immediately.
Page 209 of 496

2094-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)
*: For good fuel economy and noise reduction, the D position should usuallybe used.
→ P. 2 4 7
■When shifting the shift position to P
Fully stop the vehicle and set
the parking brake, and then
press the P position switch.
When the shift position is
changed to P, the switch indica-
tor comes on.
Check that the P position is illu-
minated on the shift position
indicator.
■
Shifting the shift position from P to other positions
● While depressing the brake pedal firmly, operate the shift lever. If
the shift lever is operated without depressing the brake pedal, the
buzzer will sound and the shifting operation will be disabled.
● When selecting the shift position, make sure that the shift posi-
tion has been changed to the desired position by checking the
shift position indicator provided on the instrument cluster.
● The shift position cannot be changed from P to B directly.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
(Condition in which the power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*
B
Applying engine braking or strong braking when
the accelerator pedal has been released on steep downward slopes etc.
Selecting a driving mode
P position switch
Page 212 of 496

2124-2. Driving procedures
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)NOTICE
■
Hybrid battery (tract ion battery) charge
If the shift position is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery) will not be
charged. To help prevent the battery from discharging, avoid leaving the N
position selected for an extended period of time.
■ Situations where shift control system malfunctions are possible
If any of the following situations occurs, shift control system malfunctions
are possible.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place on level ground, apply the park-
ing brake, and then contact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.
● Vehicles without multi-information display:
When the “WHEN PARKING, APPLY PARKING BRAKE SECURELY”
warning message appears on the instrument cluster. ( →P. 379)
● Vehicles without multi-information display:
When the parking lock system warning light is illuminated.
● Vehicles with multi-information display:
When the warning message indicating the shift control system appears on
the multi-information display. ( →P. 390)
● When everything except the shift position indicator selection frame is illu-
minated.
● When the shift position indicator remains off.
■ Notes regarding shift lever and P position switch operation
Avoid repeatedly operating the shift lever and P position switch in quick suc-
cession.
The system protection function may activate and it will not be temporarily
possible to shift the shift position other than P. If this happens, please wait
for approximately 20 seconds before attempting to change the shift position
again.
Page 214 of 496
2144-2. Driving procedures
PRIUS +_OM_OM47888E_(EE)
Parking brake
To set the parking brake, fully
depress the parking brake pedal
with your left foot while depress-
ing the brake pedal with your right
foot.
(Depressing the pedal again
releases the parking brake.)
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
→ P. 382
■ Usage in winter time
→ P. 265
Operating instructions
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.