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7Maintenance and care
7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 394
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ........... 398
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 401
General maintenance........ 403
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ......................... 406
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions ..................... 407
Hood ................................. 409
Positioning a floor jack ...... 411
Engine compartment ......... 413
12-volt battery ................... 427
Tires .................................. 431
Tire inflation pressure ....... 440
Wheels .............................. 443
Air conditioning filter.......... 445
Wiper rubber replacement .................... 447
Electronic key battery........ 449
Checking and replacing fuses ............................... 451
Light bulbs......................... 454
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7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
●Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the vehicle
body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any dirt
and dust.
● Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
● For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughly
with water.
● Wipe away any water.
● Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehicle
body is cool.
■Automatic car washes
●Fold the mirrors and remove the antenna before washing the vehicle. Start
washing from the front of the vehicle. Make sure to re-install the antenna
and extend the mirrors before driving.
● Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and
harm your vehicle’s paint.
● Roof antenna and rear spoiler may not be washable in some automatic car
washes. There may also be an increased risk of damage to vehicle.
■ High pressure car washes
●Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity of
the windows.
● Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is
closed properly.
■ Note for a smart key system
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective
range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the fol-
lowing correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
●Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or more separate from the vehicle
while the vehicle is being washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not
stolen.)
● Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart key sys-
tem. ( P. 126)
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in
prime condition:
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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
WARNING
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 “POWER ON” on the multi-information display or the
smart key system indicator, 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 automati-
cally start to run if the air conditioni ng is on and/or the coolant temperature
is high. ( P. 421)
■ 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.
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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Make sure that the 12-volt battery terminals are not corroded and that
there are no loose connections, cracks, or loose clamps.Te r m i n a l s
Hold-down clamp
■Before recharging
When recharging, the 12-volt battery produces hydrogen gas which is flam-
mable and explosive. Therefore, obser ve the following precautions before
recharging:
● If recharging with the 12-volt battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to dis-
connect the ground cable.
● Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and dis-
connecting the charger cables to the 12-volt battery.
■ After recharging/reconnecting the 12-volt battery
●Unlocking the doors using the smart key system may not be possible imme-
diately after reconnecting the 12-volt battery. If this happens, use the wire-
less remote control or the mechanical key to lock/unlock the doors.
● Start the hybrid system with the power switch in ACCESSORY mode. The
hybrid system may not start with the power switch turned off. However, the
hybrid system will operate nor mally from the second attempt.
● The power switch mode is recorded by the vehicle. If the 12-volt battery 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 con-
necting 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.
Exterior
1
2
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PRIUS v_OM_OM47B78U_(U)
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
Electronic key batter y
●Flathead screwdriver
● Lithium battery CR2032
Take out the mechanical key.
Remove the cover.
To prevent damage to the key,
cover the tip of the screwdriver with
a rag.
Remove the depleted battery.
When removing the cover, if the
battery cannot be seen due to the
electronic key module attaching to
the upper cover, remove the elec-
tronic key module from the cover
so that the battery is visible as
shown in the illustration.
Insert a new battery with the “+”
terminal facing up.
When installing, reverse the steps listed.
Replace the battery with a new one if it is depleted.
You will need the following items:
Replacing the battery
1
2
3
4
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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Use a CR2032 lithium battery
●Batteries can be purchased at your Toyota dealer, local electrical appliance
shops or camera stores.
● Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manu-
facturer.
● Dispose of used batteries according to the local laws.
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
The following symptoms may occur:
●The smart key system and wireless remote control will not function properly.
● The operational range will be reduced.
WARNING
■Removed battery and other parts
These parts are small and if swallowed by a child, they can cause choking.
Keep away from children. Failure to do so could result in death or serious
injury.
NOTICE
■For normal operation after replacing the battery
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents:
●Always work with dry hands.
Moisture may cause the battery to rust.
● Do not touch or move any other component inside the remote control.
● Do not bend either of the battery terminals.
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8When trouble arises
8-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers .......... 470
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ...................... 471
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed ......................... 472
If you think something is wrong .............................. 477
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ............................ 478
If a warning message is displayed ......................... 487
If you have a flat tire.......... 506
If the hybrid system will not start ........................... 519
If the electronic key does not operate properly ........ 521
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ...................... 523
If your vehicle overheats ... 528
If the vehicle becomes stuck ............................... 533
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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed
In the following situations, it is not possible to be towed by another
vehicle using cables or chains, as the front wheels may be locked due
to the parking lock. Contact your Toyota dealer or commercial towing
service.
●There is a malfunction in the shift control system. ( P. 171, 489)
● There is a malfunction in the immobilizer system. ( P. 8 3 )
● There is a malfunction in the smart key system. ( P. 521)
● The 12-volt battery is discharged. ( P. 523)
The following may indicate a problem with your hybrid transmission.
Contact your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service before tow-
ing.
● The hybrid system warning light turns on or the hybrid system
warning message is displayed on the multi-information display and
the vehicle does not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle
towed by your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service,
using a wheel-lift type truck or flat bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/
provincial and local laws.
Situations when it is not possible to be towed by another vehicle
Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck