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7
Maintenance and care
PRIUS c_U
7-2. Maintenance
General maintenance should be performed on a daily basis. This can
be done by yourself or by a Toyota dealer.
Scheduled  maintenance  should  be  performed  at  specified  intervals
according to the maintenance schedule.
For  details  about  maintenance  items  and  schedules,  refer  to  the   “Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner's Manual Supplement”.
You can perform som e maintenance procedures by yourself. 
Please be aware that do-it-yourse lf maintenance may affect warranty
coverage.
The use of Toyota Repair Manuals is recommended.
For details about warranty coverage, see the separate “Owner's  Warranty
Information Booklet” or “Owner's Manual Supplement”.
Maintenance requirements
To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and reg-
ular maintenance are essential. It is the owner's responsibility to
perform regular checks. Toyota  recommends the following main-
tenance:
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance
Do-it-yourself maintenance 
     
        
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4107-2. Maintenance
PRIUS c_U
■Repair and replacement
It  is  recommended  that  genuine  Toyota  parts  be  used  for  repairs   to  ensure
performance of each system. If non-Toyota parts are used in rep lacement or if
a  repair  shop  other  than  a  Toyota  dealer  performs  repairs,  conf irm  the  war-
ranty coverage.
■ Resetting the message indicating ma intenance is required (U.S.A. only)
After  the  required  maintenance  is  performed  according  to  the  ma intenance
schedule, please reset the message. 
To reset the message, follow the procedures described below:
Vehicles without a smart key system: Turn the power switch to the “LOCK”
position with the trip meter A reading shown.
Vehicles  with  a  smart  key  system:  Turn  the  power  switch  off  wit h  the  trip
meter A reading shown.
Vehicles without  a smart  key system: While pressing the “trip”  switch (P.
100), turn the power switch to the “ON” position (do not start  the hybrid sys-
tem, reset mode will be canceled).
Vehicles  with  a  smart  key  system:  While  pressing  the  trip  meter  reset  but-
ton  ( P.  100),  turn  the  power  switch  to  the  ON  mode  (do  not  start  the
hybrid system, otherwise the reset mode will be canceled).
Continue to press and hold the button until the trip meter disp lays “000000”.
■ Allow inspection and repairs to be performed by a Toyota dealer
●Toyota  technicians  are  well-trained  specialists  and  are  kept  up   to  date  with
the  latest  service  information. They  are  well  informed  about  th e  operations
of all systems on your vehicle.
● Keep  a  copy  of  the  repair  order.  It  proves  that  the  maintenance   that  has
been  performed  is  under  warranty  coverage.  If  any  problem  should  arise
while  your  vehicle  is  under  warranty,  your  Toyota  dealer  will  p romptly  take
care of it.
1
2
3 
     
        
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4117-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■If your vehicle is no t properly maintained
Improper  maintenance  could  result  in  serious  damage  to  the  vehi cle  and
possible serious injury or death.
■ Handling of the 12-volt battery
● Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and a wide variety of  automobile
components contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to
cause  cancer  and  birth  defects  and  other  reproductive  harm.  Wor k  in  a
well ventilated area.
● Oils,  fuels  and  fluids  contained  in  vehicles  as  well  as  waste  produced  by
component  wear  contain  or  emit  chemicals  known  to  the  State  of  Califor-
nia  to  cause  cancer  and  birth  defects  or  other  reproductive  har m. Avoid
exposure and wash any affected area immediately.
● 12-volt  battery  posts,  terminals  and  related  accessories  contain  lead  and
lead  compounds  which  are  known  to  cause  brain  damage.  Wash  your
hands after handling. ( P. 431) 
     
        
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4127-2. Maintenance
PRIUS c_U
General maintenance
Listed  below  are  the  general  maintenance  items  that  should  be
performed  at  the  intervals  specified  in  the  “Owner's  Warranty
Information  Booklet”  or  “Owner's  Manual  Supplement/Sched-
uled  Maintenance  Guide”.  It  is   recommended  that  any  problem
you  notice  should  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  your  Toyota
dealer or qualified s ervice shop for advice.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
Brake fluidIs the brake fluid at the correct level?
( P. 428)
CoolantIs  the  engine/power  control  unit  coolant  at  the
correct level? ( P. 426)
Engine oilIs the engine oil at the correct level? (P. 423)
Exhaust systemThere  should  not  be  any  fumes  or  strange
sounds.
Radiator/condenserThe radiator and condenser should be free from
foreign objects. (P. 428)
Washer fluidIs there sufficient washer fluid? (P. 430)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
12-volt battery Check the connections. (P. 431)
Accelerator pedal• The  accelerator  pedal  should  move  smoothly
(without uneven pedal effort or catching).
Brake pedal
• Does the brake pedal move smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have appropriate clear-ance from the floor? ( P. 542)
Does  the  brake  pedal  have  the  correct  amount
of free play? ( P. 542) 
     
        
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4137-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
PRIUS c_U
Brakes
• The  vehicle  should  not  pull  to  one  side  whenthe brakes are applied.
• The brakes should work effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel spongy.
• The  brake  pedal  should  not  get  too  close  to the floor when the brakes are applied.
Head restraints
(Adjustable type)• Do  the  head  restraints  move  smoothly  andlock securely?
Hybrid  transmission
“Park” mechanism• When  parked  on  a  slope  and  the  parkingbrake is on, is the vehicle securely stopped?
Indicators/buzzers• Do  the  indicators  and  buzzers  function  prop-erly?
Lights• Do all the lights come on?
Parking brake
• Does  the  parking  brake  lever  operate  nor-mally?
• When  parked  on  a  slope  and  the  parking
brake is on, is the vehicle securely stopped?
Seat belts• Do the seat belts operate smoothly?
• The seat belts should not be damaged.
Seats• Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steering wheel rotate smoothly?
• Does  the  steering  wheel  have  the  correctamount of free play?
• There should not be any strange sounds com-
ing from the steering wheel.
ItemsCheck points 
     
        
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4147-2. Maintenance
PRIUS c_U
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors• Do the doors operate smoothly?
Engine hood• Does the engine hood lock system work prop-erly?
Fluid leaks• There should not be any signs of fluid leakageafter the vehicle has been parked.
Tires
• Is the tire inflati on pressure correct?
• The tires should not be damaged or exces- sively worn.
• Have the tires been rotated according to the
maintenance schedule?
• The wheel nuts should not be loose.
Windshield  wipers/rear
window  wiper  (if
equipped)
• The  wiper  blades  should  not  show  any  signs
of  cracking,  splitting,  wear,  contamination  or
deformation.
• The wiper blades should clear the windshield/
rear window without streaking or skipping.
WARNING
■If the hybrid system is operating
Turn  the  hybrid  system  off  and  ensure  that  there  is  adequate  ve ntilation
before performing maintenance checks. 
     
        
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4157-2. Maintenance
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Maintenance and care
PRIUS c_U
The OBD system determines that a problem exists somewhere in the
emission  control  system. Your  vehicle  may  not  pass  the  I/M  test  and
may  need  to  be  repaired.  Contact  your  Toyota  dealer  to  service  the
vehicle.
● When the 12-volt battery is  disconnected or discharged
Readiness codes that are set duri ng ordinary driving are erased.
Also,  depending  on  your  driving  habits,  the  readiness  codes  may
not be completely set.
● When the fuel tan k cap is loose
The  malfunction  indicator  lamp  comes  on  indicating  a  temporary
malfunction and your vehicle m ay not pass the I/M test.
The error code in th e OBD system will not  be cleared unless the vehi-
cle is driven 40 or more times.
Contact your Toyota dea ler to prepare the vehicle for re-testin g.
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M) 
programs
Some  states  have  vehicle  emission  inspection  programs  which
include  OBD  (On  Board  Diagnos tics)  checks.  The  OBD  system
monitors the operation of t he emission control system.
If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on
Your vehicle may not pass the I/M  test in the following situations:
When  the  malfunction  indicator  lamp  still  remains  on  after  sev-
eral driving trips
If your vehicle does not pass the I/M test 
     
        
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416
PRIUS c_U
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself  ser vice precautions
If  you  perform  maintenance  by  yourself,  be  sure  to  follow  the
correct procedure as given in these sections.
ItemsCheck points
12-volt battery condition  (P. 431) • Grease
• Conventional wrench 
(for terminal clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level
(P. 428)
• FMVSS  No.116  DOT  3  or  SAE  J1703  brake
fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine/power  control
unit coolant level (P. 426)
• “Toyota  Super  Long  Life  Coolant”  or  a  similar
high  quality  ethylene  glycol  based  non-sili-
cate,  non-amine,  non-nitrite  and  non-borate
coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid tech-
nology
For the U.S.A.: 
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 50% coolant and 50% deionized water.
For Canada: 
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 55% coolant and 45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding coolant)
Engine oil level (P. 423)• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses ( P. 454)• Fuse with same amperage rating as original
Light bulbs (P. 458)
• Bulb with same number and wattage rating as
original
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wrench
Radiator and condenser
(P. 428)
Tire inflation pressure
( P. 444)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air source