TABLE OF CONTENTS6
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 400
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ........... 403
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 406
General maintenance ........ 409
Emission inspection and maintenance
(I/M) programs ................ 412
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions ..................... 413
Hood.................................. 416
Positioning a floor jack ...... 418
Engine compartment ......... 419
12-volt battery ................... 428
Tires .................................. 432
Tire inflation pressure........ 441
Wheels .............................. 444
Air conditioning filter .......... 446
Wireless remote control/ electronic key battery ...... 448
Checking and replacing fuses ............................... 451
Light bulbs ......................... 455 8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 466
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency....................... 467
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed ...................... 469
If you think something is wrong ........................... 476
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ............................. 477
If a warning message is displayed...................... 486
If you have a flat tire .......... 501
If the hybrid system will not start ..................... 514
If the electronic key does not operate
properly ........................... 516
If the vehicle 12-volt battery is discharged ....... 518
If your vehicle overheats......................... 524
If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................ 528
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises
17Pictorial index
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)Windshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 210
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 273
Fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 217
Refueling method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 217
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 534
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 432
Tire size/inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 539
Winter tires/tire chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 273
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system . . . . . . . . . P. 432
Coping with flat tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 501
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 416
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 416
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 535
Coping with overheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 524
Headlights/daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 204
Front fog lights
*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 208
Front turn signal/parking lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 204
Front side marker lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 204
Turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 202
Stop/tail lights/rear side marker lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 204
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 198
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 204
4
5
6
7
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P. 455, Watts: P. 540)
*: If equipped
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1764-1. Before driving
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)
NOTICE
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
● Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for
an extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
● When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
■ If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehi-
cle.
● It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
● The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
● The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( →P. 501)
■ When encounterin g flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle:
● Engine stalling
● Short in electrical components
● Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be
sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following:
● Brake function
● Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, hybrid
transmission, etc.
● Lubricant condition of the bearings and suspension joints (where possi-
ble), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.
2384-5. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)• If the wheels are misaligned
• If a wiper blade is blocking the front sensor
• The vehicle is wobbling.
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely high speeds.
• When driving on roads with sharp bends or uneven surfaces
• When a preceding vehicle is a poor reflector of laser
● In some situations such as the following, sufficient braking force may not be
obtained, preventing the system from performing properly:
• If the braking functions cannot operate to their full extent, such as when
the brake parts are extremely cold, extremely hot, or wet
• If the vehicle is not properly maintained (brakes or tires are excessively worn, improper tire inflation pressure, etc.)
• When the vehicle is being driven on a gravel road or other slippery sur- face
• If your vehicle is skidding
• When the front part of the vehicle is
raised or lowered
• When the sensor is misaligned due to a strong impact being applied to the
sensor, etc.
2484-5. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)●
In the situations shown below, the system may not be able to accurately
detect surrounding brightness levels. This may cause the low beams to
remain on or the high beams to cause problems for pedestrians, vehicles
ahead or other parties. In these cases, manually switch between the high
and low beams.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms, etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt, etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The front sensor is deformed or dirty.
• The front sensor temperature is extremely high.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those of headlights, tail lights
or fog lights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights that are either switched off,
dirty, are changing color, or are not aimed properly.
• When driving through an area of in termittently changing brightness and
darkness.
• When frequently and repeatedly driving ascending/descending roads, or roads with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved
roads, gravel tracks, etc.).
• When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road.
• There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or
a mirror.
• The back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty, or are not aimed properly.
• The vehicle is listing or titling due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• The high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched between in an abnormal manner.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or dis-
tress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby.
2624-6. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)
WARNING
■When using the rear view monitor system
The rear view monitor system is a supplemental device intended to assist
the driver when backing up. When backing up, be sure to visually check all
around the vehicle both directly and using the mirrors before proceeding. If
you do not, you may hit another vehicle, and could possibly cause an acci-
dent.
Pay attention to the following precautions when using the rear view moni\
tor
system.
● Never depend on the rear view monitor system entirely when backing up.
The image and the position of the guide lines displayed on the screen may
differ from the actual state.
Use caution, just as you would when backing up any vehicle.
● Be sure to back up slowly, depressing the brake pedal to control vehicle
speed.
● The instructions given are only guidelines.
When and how much to turn the steering wheel will vary according to traf-
fic conditions, road surface conditions, vehicle condition, etc. when park-
ing. It is necessary to be fully aware of this before using the rear view
monitor system.
● When parking, be sure to check that the parking space will accommodate
your vehicle before maneuvering into it.
● Do not use the rear view monitor system in the following cases:
• On icy or slick road surfaces, or in snow
• When using tire chains or the compact spare tire
• When the back door is not closed completely
• On roads that are not flat or straight, such as curves or slopes.
● In low temperatures, the screen may darken or the image may become
faint. The image could distort when the vehicle is moving, or you may
become unable to see the image on the screen. Be sure to visually check
all around the vehicle both directly and using the mirrors before proceed-
ing.
● If the tire sizes are changed, the position of the fixed guide lines displayed
on the screen may change.
● The camera uses a special lens. The distances between objects and
pedestrians that appear in the image displayed on the screen will differ
from the actual distances. ( →P. 257)
2694-6. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)
WARNING
■When the TRAC/VSC /ABS are activated
The slip indicator light flashes. Always drive carefully. Reckless driving may
cause an accident. Exercise particular care when the indicator light flashes.
■ When the TRAC/VSC syst ems are turned off
Be especially careful and drive at a speed appropriate to the road condi-
tions. As these are the systems to help ensure vehicle stability and driving
force, do not turn the TRAC/VSC systems off unless necessary.
■ Replacing tires
Make sure that all tires are of the specified size, brand, tread pattern and
total load capacity. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated to the
recommended tire inflation pressure level.
The ABS, TRAC and VSC systems will not function correctly if different tires
are installed on the vehicle.
Contact your Toyota dealer for further information when replacing tires or
wheels.
■ Handling of tires and the suspension
Using tires with any kind of problem or modifying the suspension will affect
the driving assist systems, and may cause a system to malfunction.
2714-7. Driving tips
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U (OM52J11U)
◆When braking
Make sure to operate the brakes gently and in a timely manner. A
greater amount of electrical energy can be regenerated when slow-
ing down.
◆Delays
Repeated acceleration and deceleration, as well as long waits at
traffic lights, will lead to bad fuel economy. Check traffic reports
before leaving and avoid delays as much as possible. When driving
in a traffic jam, gently release the brake pedal to allow the vehicle to
move forward slightly while avoi ding overuse of the accelerator
pedal. Doing so can help control excessive gasoline consumption.
◆Highway driving
Control and maintain the vehicle at a constant speed. Before stop-
ping at a toll booth or similar, allow plenty of time to release the
accelerator and gently apply the br akes. A greater amount of elec-
trical energy can be regenerated when slowing down.
◆Air conditioning
Use the air conditioning only when necessary. Doing so can help
reduce excessive gasoline consumption.
In summer: When the ambient temperature is high, use the recircu-
lated air mode. Doing so will help to reduce the burden on the air
conditioning system and reduce fuel consumption as well.
In winter: Because the gasoline eng ine will not automatically cut out
until it and the interior of the vehi cle are warm, it will consume fuel.
Also, fuel consumption can be improved by avoiding overuse of the
heater.
◆Checking tire inflation pressure
Make sure to check the tire infl ation pressure frequently. Improper
tire inflation pressure can cause poor fuel economy.
Also, as snow tires can cause larg e amounts of friction, their use on
dry roads can lead to poor fuel economy. Use tires that are appro-
priate for the season.