
TABLE OF CONTENTS6
PRIUS c_U7-1.  Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 400
Cleaning and protecting  the vehicle interior ........... 403
7-2.  Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 409
General maintenance ........ 412
Emission inspection and  maintenance (I/M) 
programs ......................... 415
7-3.  Do-it-yourself  maintenance
Do-it-yourself service  precautions ..................... 416
Hood.................................. 419
Positioning a floor jack ...... 421
Engine compartment ......... 422
12-volt battery ................... 431
Tires .................................. 435
Tire inflation pressure........ 444
Wheels .............................. 447
Air conditioning filter .......... 449
Wireless remote control/ electronic key battery ...... 451
Checking and  replacing fuses ................ 454
Light bulbs ......................... 458 8-1.  Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 468
If your vehicle has to be stopped in 
an emergency.................. 469
If the vehicle is trapped  in rising water .................. 471
8-2.  Steps to take in  an emergency
If your vehicle needs  to be towed ...................... 472
If you think something  is wrong ........................... 479
If a warning light turns  on or a warning buzzer 
sounds ............................. 480
If a warning message  is displayed...................... 488
If you have a flat tire .......... 505
If the hybrid system  will not start ..................... 518
If the electronic key does  not operate properly .......... 520
If the vehicle 12-volt 
battery is discharged ....... 522
If your vehicle overheats.... 529
If the vehicle  becomes stuck ................ 533
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises 

17Pictorial index
PRIUS c_UWindshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 214
Precautions against winter season  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 274
Fuel filler door  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 221
Refueling method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 221
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 538
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 435
Tire size/inflation pressure  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . P. 543
Winter tires/tire chain  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . P. 274
Checking/rotation/tire pressur e warning system . . . . . . . . .P. 435
Coping with flat tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . P. 505
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 419
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 419
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 539
Coping with overheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 529
Headlights/daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 208
Parking lights/front turn signal lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 206, 208
Side turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 206
Front fog lights
*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 212
Front side marker lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 208
Stop lights/tail lights /rear side marker lights/
rear turn signal lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 206, 208
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 202
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 208
4
5
6
7
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving  
(Replacing method: P. 458, Watts: P. 544)
*: If equipped
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 

1804-1. Before driving
PRIUS c_U
NOTICE
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
● Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and ho ld 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 possibl e 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. 505)
■ When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. D oing 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 i s 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 e ngine, hybrid
transmission, etc.
● Lubricant  condition  for  the  bearings  and  suspension  joints  (whe re  possi-
ble), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc. 

2334-5. Toyota Safety Sense C
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
●If the brake pedal is being depressed, the system may determine  that the
driver  is  taking  evasive  action  and  possibly  delay  the  operation  timing  of
the pre-collision braking function.
● While driving, such as when driving through a railway crossing, the system
may determine that the possibility of a collision with an objec t, such as rail-
way crossing barrier, is high and operate the pre-collision bra king function. 
To move the vehicle in an emergency, such as if the system operates in a
railway  crossing,  perform  the  following  operations  and  then  take  the  nec-
essary measures to ensure your safety.
• If the vehicle has been stopped, depress the accelerator pedal.
• If the vehicle is decelerating, fully depress the accelerator pedal. 
(P. 236)
• Disable the pre-collision system. ( P. 234)
■ When to disable the pre-collision system
In  the  following  situations,  disable  the  system,  as  it  may  not  operate  prop-
erly, possibly leading to an accident resulting in death or ser ious injury:
● When the vehicle is being towed
● When your vehicle is towing another vehicle
● When  transporting  the  vehicle  via  truck,  boat,  train  or  similar   means  of
transportation
● When the vehicle is raised on a lift with the hybrid system on  and the tires
are allowed to rotate freely
● When inspecting the vehicle using a drum tester such as a chass is dyna-
mometer  or  speedometer  tester,  or  when  using  an  on  vehicle  whee l  bal-
ancer
● If the vehicle cannot be driven in a stable manner, such as when the vehi-
cle has been in an accident or is malfunctioning
● When the vehicle is driven in a sporty manner or off-road
● When the tires are not properly inflated
● When tires of a size other than specified are installed
● When tire chains are installed
● When a compact spare tire or an emergency tire puncture repair  kit is used 

2404-5. Toyota Safety Sense C
PRIUS c_U• If the wheels are misaligned
• If a wiper blade is blocking the camera sensor
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely high speeds
• When driving on a hill
• When  there  is  a  laser  reflecting  object  (manhole  cover,  reflec
tive  plate,
etc.), steps, or a protrusion in front of your vehicle
• If the radar sensor or camera sensor is misaligned
● In some situations such as the following, sufficient braking fo rce 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  sli ppery  sur-
face
■ If VSC is disabled
●If VSC is disabled ( P. 267), the pre-collision brake assist and pre-collision
braking functions are also disabled.
● The  PCS  warning  light  will  turn  on  and  “VSC  TURNED  OFF  PRE-COLL I-
SION BRAKE SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE” will be displayed on the multi-i nfor-
mation display. • If  the  front  of  the  vehicle  is  raised  or
lowered 

2494-5. Toyota Safety Sense C
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U●
In  the  situations  shown  below,  the  system  may  not  be  able  to  accurately
detect  surrounding  brightness  levels.  This  may  cause  the  low  be ams  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  intermittently  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  w inding
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 co ntainer on a
truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty, or are not aime d properly.
• The vehicle is listing or titling due to a flat tire, a traile r being towed, etc.
• The high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched betwe en in
an abnormal manner.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems  or dis-
tress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby. 

2634-6. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U
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 p roceeding. If
you do not, you may hit another vehicle, and could possibly cau se an acci-
dent.
Pay attention to the following precautions when using the rear  view monitor
system.
● Never depend on the rear view monitor system entirely when back ing 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  contro l  vehicle
speed.
● The instructions given are only guidelines.
When and how much to turn the steering wheel will vary accordin g 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 acco mmodate
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 slop es.
● In  low  temperatures,  the  screen  may  darken  or  the  image  may  bec ome
faint.  The  image  could  distort  when  the  vehicle  is  moving,  or  y ou  may
become unable to see the image on the screen. Be sure to visual ly check
all  around  the  vehicle  both  directly  and  using  the  mirrors  befo re  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  a nd
pedestrians  that  appear  in  the  image  displayed  on  the  screen  will  differ
from the actual distances. ( P. 258) 

2704-6. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■Replacing tires
Make  sure  that  all  tires  are  of  the  specified  size,  brand,  trea d  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 di fferent tires
are installed on the vehicle.
Contact  your  Toyota  dealer  for  further  information  when  replaci ng  tires  or
wheels.
■ Handling of tires and the suspension
Using tires with any kind of problem or modifying the suspensio n will affect
the driving assist systems, and may cause a system to malfuncti on.