
373
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
3
Interior features
■If air flow from the vents decreases dramatically
The filter may be clogged. Contact your Toyota dealer.
■Operation of the air conditioning system in Eco drive mode
In the Eco drive mode, the air conditioning system is controlled as follows to
prioritize fuel efficiency:
●Engine  speed  and  compressor  operation  controlled  to  restrict  heating/
cooling capacity
●Fan speed restricted when automatic mode is selected
To   i m p r o v e   a i r   c o n d i t i o n i n g   p e r f o r m a n c e ,   p e r f o r m   t h e   f o l l o w i n g   o p e r a t i o n s :
●Adjust the fan speed
●Turn off Eco drive mode ( oP.   2 5 1 )
●Customize the air conditioning control of Eco drive mode. ( oP.   6 4 7 )
■When outside air temperature is below 32°F (0°C)
The  cooling  and  dehumidification  function  may  not  operate  even  when
 is pressed.
■Ve nt i l a t i on   a nd   a i r   c on di t i o ni n g   od o rs
●To   l e t   f r e s h   a i r   i n ,   s e t   t h e   a i r   c o n d i t i o n i n g   s y s t e m   t o   t h e   o u t s i d e   a i r   m o d e .
●During use, various odors from inside and outside the vehicle may enter
into and accumulate in the air conditioning system. This may then cause
odor to be emitted from the vents.
●To   r e d u c e   p o t e n t i a l   o d o r s   f r o m   o c c u r r i n g :
•It is recommended that the air conditioning system be set to outside air
mode prior to turning the vehicle off.
•The start timing of the blower may be delayed for a short period of time
immediately  after  the  air  conditioning  system  is  started  in  automatic
mode.
■Customization
Settings  (e.g.  enable/disable  automatic  operation  of  the  air  conditioning
compressor when the “AUTO” switch ON) can be changed.
(Customizable features  oP.   6 4 7 ) 

381
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
3
Interior features
Rear window and outside rear view mir ror defoggers switch
■Operating conditions
The “POWER” switch is in ON mode.
■The outside rear view mirror defoggers (if equipped)
Turning  the  rear  window  defogger  on  will  turn  the  outside  rear  view  mirror
defoggers on.
CAUTION
■When the outside rear view mirror defoggers are on (if equipped)
Do  not  touch  the  outside  surface  of  the  rear  view  mirrors,  as  they  can
become very hot and burn you.
NOTICE
■To   p r e v e n t   1 2 - v o l t   b a t t e r y   d i s c h a r g e
Do not leave the rear window defogger on longer than necessary when the
hybrid system is off.
Defoggers  are  used  to  defog  the rear  window,  and  to  remove  rain-
drops, dew and frost from the outside rear view mirrors (if equipped).
Turns  the  rear  window  and
outside rear view mirror defog-
gers on/off
The  defoggers  will  automati-
cally  turn  off  after  approxi-
mately 15 minutes. 

408
3-5. Other interior features
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure  to  do  so  may  cause  the  driver’s  floor  mat  to  slip,  possibly  interfering
with the pedals while driving. An unexpectedly high speed may result or it may
become difficult to stop the vehicle, leading to a serious accident.
■When installing the driver’s floor mat 
●Do  not  use  floor  mats  designed  for  other  models  or  different  model  year
vehicles, even if they are Toyota Genuine floor mats.
●Only use floor mats designed for the driver’s seat.
●Always install the  floor mat  securely using  the  retaining  hooks  (clips)  pro-
vided.
●Do not use two or more floor mats on top of each other.
●Do not place the floor mat bottom-side up or upside-down.
■Before driving
●Check  that  the  floor  mat  is  securely
fixed  in  the  correct  place  with  all  the
provided  retaining  hooks  (clips).  Be
especially  careful  to  perform  this  check
after cleaning the floor.
●With the hybrid system stopped and the
shift  position  in  P,  fully  depress  each
pedal  to  the  floor  to  make  sure  it  does
not interfere with the floor mat. 

423
3-5. Other interior features
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
3
Interior features
■Safety Connect Services Information
●Phone calls using the vehicles Bluetooth® technology will not be possible
during Safety Connect.
●Safety Connect is available beginning Fall 2009 on select Toyota models.
Contact with the Safety Connect response center is dependent upon the
telematics  device  being  in  operative  condition,  cellular  connection  avail-
ability,  and  GPS  satellite  signal  reception,  which  can  limit  the  ability  to
reach the response center or receive emergency service support. Enroll-
ment and Telematics Subscription Service Agreement required. A variety
of  subscription  terms  is  available;  charges  vary  by  subscription  term
selected.
●Automatic  Collision  Notification,  Emergency  Assistance,  Stolen  Vehicle
Location, and Enhanced Roadside  Assistance will function in  the  United
States,  including  Hawaii  and  Alask a,  and  in  Canada.  No  Safety  Connect
services will function outside of the United States in countries other than
Canada.
●Safety  Connect  services  are  not  subject  to  section  255  of  the  Telecom-
munications Act and the device is not TTY compatible.
■Languages
The Safety Connect response center will offer support in multiple languages.
The Safety Connect system will offer voice prompts in English and Spanish.
Please indicate your language of choice when enrolling.
■When contacting the response center
Yo u   m a y   b e   u n a b l e   t o   c o n t a c t   t h e   r e s p o n s e   c e n t e r   i f   t h e   n e t w o r k   i s   b u s y.
■Safety Connect backup battery depletion
An exclusive backup battery is built in to assist the Automatic Collision Noti-
fication,  which  is  activated  when  impact  above  a  certain  level  is  applied  to
the  vehicle,  or  when  the  airbags  operate.  This  battery  is  a  primary  battery,
and cannot be  charged.  The  red  LED  indicator  will  flash to  indicate that the
battery should be replaced.
The backup battery will need to be replaced if the Automatic Collision Notifi-
cation operates for 60 seconds or more. For replacement, consult your Toy-
ota dealer. 

424
3-5. Other interior features
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
Safety Connect LED light Indicators
When  the  “POWER”  switch  is  turned  to  ON  mode,  the  red  indicator
light comes on for 2 seconds then turns off. Afterward, the green indi-
cator light comes on, indicating that the service is active.
The  following  indicator  light  patterns  indicate  specific  system  usage
conditions:
●Green indicator light on = Active service
●Green indicator light flashing = Safety Connect call in process
●Red  indicator  light  (except  at  vehicle  start-up)  =  System  malfunc-
tion (contact your Toyota dealer)
●No indicator light (off) = Safety Connect service not active
Safety Connect services
■Automatic Collision Notification
In  case  of  either  airbag  deployment  or  severe  rear-end  collision,
the  system  is  designed  to  automatically  call  the  response  center.
The responding agent receives the vehicle’s location and attempts
to  speak  with  the  vehicle  occupants  to  assess  the  level  of  emer-
gency.  If  the  occupants  are  unable  to  communicate,  the  agent
automatically treats the call as an emergency, contacts the nearest
emergency  services  provider  to describe the situation, and
requests that assistance be sent to the location. 

447
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
The  engine  compartment  contains  many  mechanisms  and  fluids  that  may
move suddenly, become hot, or become electrically energized. To avoid death
or serious injury, observe the following precautions.
■When working on the engine compartment
●Make  sure  that  the  indicator  on  the  “POWER”  switch  and  the  “READY”
indicator are both off.
●Keep hands, clothing and tools away from the moving fan.
●Be  careful  not  to  touch  the  engine,  power  control  unit,  radiator,  exhaust
manifold,  etc.  right  after  driving  as  they  may  be  hot.  Oil  and  other  fluids
may also be hot.
●Do not leave anything that may burn easily, such as paper and rags, in the
engine compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose an open flame to fuel. Fuel fumes
are flammable.
■When working near the electric cooling fans or radiator grille
Be sure the “POWER” switch is off.
With  the  “POWER”  switch  in  ON  mode,  the  electric  cooling  fans  may  auto-
matically start to run if the air conditioning is on and/or the coolant tempera-
ture is high. ( oP.   4 7 1 )
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc. from
getting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive engine wear
due to dirt in the air. 

478
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
■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 tch 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. 

488
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
CAUTION
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to parts of the drive train as well as
dangerous  handling  characteristics,  which  may  lead  to  an  accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
●Do not mix tires of different makes, models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of remarkably different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota.
●Do  not  mix  differently  constructed  tires  (radial,  bias-belted  or  bias-ply
tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season and snow tires.
●Do not use tires that have been used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not know how they were used previously. 
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not operate the tire pressure warning reset switch without first adjust-
ing  the  tire  inflation  pressure  to  the  specified  level.  Otherwise,  the  tire
pressure warning light may not come on even if the tire inflation pressure
is low, or it may come on when the tire inflation pressure is actually nor-
mal.