
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 

771-3. Hybrid system
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
◆When stopped/during start off
The  gasoline  engine  stops
*  when  the  vehicle  is  stopped.  During
start-off,  the  electric  motor  (traction  motor)  drives  the  vehic le.  At
slow  speeds  or  when  traveling  down  a  gentle  slope,  the  engine  i s
stopped
* and the motor is used.
When  the  shift  lever  is  in  N,  the  hybrid  battery  (traction  batt ery)  is
not being charged.
*: When  the  hybrid  battery  (traction  battery)  requires  charging  o r  the  engine
is warming up, etc., the gasoline engine will not automatically  stop. 
( P. 78)
◆During normal driving
The  gasoline  engine  is  predominantly  used.  The  electric  motor
(traction motor) charges the hybr id battery (traction battery) as nec-
essary.
◆When accelerating sharply
The power of the hybrid battery (traction battery) is added to  that of
the gasoline engine via the ele ctric motor (traction motor).
◆When braking (regenerative braking)
The  wheels  operate  the  electric  motor  (traction  motor)  as  a  pow er
generator, and the hybrid battery  (traction battery) is charged.
When the gasoline engine is off while driving, a sound is produ ced to
warn pedestrians, people riding bicycles or other people and ve hicles
in  the  surrounding  area  that  the  vehicle  is  approaching.  The  pi tch  of
the sound adjusts according to v ehicle speed. When vehicle spee d is
approximately  22  mph  (35  km/h)  or  more,  the  warning  system  turn s
off.
Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System 

781-3. Hybrid system
PRIUS c_U
■Regenerative braking
In  the  following  situations,  kinetic  energy  is  converted  to  electric  energy  and
deceleration  force  can  be  obtained  in  conjunction  with  the  rech arging  of  the
hybrid battery (traction battery).
● The accelerator pedal is released with the shift lever in D or  B. 
● The brake pedal is depressed with the shift lever in D or B.
■ EV drive indicator lamp
■ Conditions in which the gasoline engine may not stop
The gasoline engine starts and stops automatically. However, it  may not stop
automatically in the following conditions:
● During gasoline engine warm-up
● During hybrid battery (traction battery) charging
● When the temperature of the hybrid battery (traction battery) is high or low
● When the heater is switched on
The  EV  drive  indicator  lamp  comes  on
when  the  vehicle is  driven  using only the
electric motor (traction motor) or the gas-
oline engine is stopped.
This  indicator  lamp  will  also  be  dis-
played  when  “ECO  Score”  or  “ECO
Savings” is selected. ( P. 105) 

791-3. Hybrid system
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U■
Charging the hybrid batt ery (traction battery)
As  the  gasoline  engine  charges  the  hybrid  battery  (traction  bat tery),  the  bat-
tery  does  not  need  to  be  charged  from  an  outside  source.  Howeve r,   i f   t h e
vehicle  is  left  parked  for  a  long  time  the  hybrid  battery  (trac tion  battery)  will
slowly  discharge.  For  this  reason,  be  sure  to  drive  the  vehicle   at  least  once
every  few  months  for  at  least  30  minutes  or  10  miles  (16  km).  I f  the  hybrid
battery (traction battery) becomes fully discharged and you are  unable to start
the hybrid system, contact your Toyota dealer. 
■ Charging the 12-volt battery
P. 525
■ After  the  12-volt  battery  has  discharged  or  when  the  terminal  h as  been
removed and installed during exchange, etc. 
The  gasoline  engine  may  not  stop  even  if  the  vehicle  is  being  driven  by  the
hybrid battery (traction battery). If this continues for a few  days, contact your
Toyota dealer. 

801-3. Hybrid system
PRIUS c_U■
Sounds and vibrations sp ecific to a hybrid vehicle
There may be no engine sound or vibration even though the vehic le is able to
move with the “READY” indicator is illuminated. For safety, app ly the parking
brake and make sure to shift the shift lever to P when parked.
The  following  sounds  or  vibrations  may  occur  when  the  hybrid  sy stem  is
operating and are not a malfunction:
● Motor sounds may be heard from the engine compartment.
● Sounds  may  be  heard  from  the  hybrid  battery  (traction  battery)  under  the
rear seats when the hybrid system starts or stops.
● Relay operating sounds such as a snap or soft clank will be emi tted from the
hybrid  battery  (traction  battery),  under  the  rear  seats,  when  the  hybrid  sys-
tem is started or stopped.
● Sounds from the hybrid system may be heard when the back door is open.
● Sounds  may  be  heard  from  the  transmission  when  the  gasoline  engine
starts or stops, when driving at low speeds, or during idling.
● Engine sounds may be heard when accelerating sharply.
● Sounds may be heard due to regenerative braking when the brake  pedal is
depressed or as the accelerator pedal is released.
● Vibration may be felt when the gasoline engine starts or stops.
● Cooling fan sounds may be heard from the air intake vent on the side of the
lower part of the rear left seat.
■ Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System
In  the  following  cases,  the Acoustic  Vehicle Alerting  System  so und  may  be
difficult for pedestrians, people riding bicycles or other people and vehicles in
the surrounding area to hear:
● When there is a lot of noise in the vicinity 
● When it is raining or during strong winds
● When in the area surrounding the rear of the vehicle, rather than in front of
the vehicle
■ Maintenance, repair, recycling, and disposal
Contact your Toyota dealer regarding maintenance, repair, recyc ling and dis-
posal. Do not dispose of the vehicle yourself. 

811-3. Hybrid system
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
The illustration is an example for explanation and may differ from the
actual item.
Hybrid system precautions
Take  care  when  handling the  hybrid  system, as  it is  a  high  volt -
age system (about 520 V at maximum) as well as contains parts
that become extremely hot when  the hybrid system is operating.
Obey the warning labels attached to the vehicle.
Warning label
Service plug
Air conditioning compressor
Electric motor (traction motor) Power control unit with DC/DC
converter
Hybrid  battery  (traction  bat-
tery)
High voltage cables (orange)1
2
3
4
5
6
7 

821-3. Hybrid system
PRIUS c_U
There  is  an  air  intake  vent  on  the
side  of  the  lower  part  of  the  rear
left seat for the purpose of cooling
the  hybrid  battery  (traction  bat-
tery).  When  the  air  intake  vent  is
blocked,  the  battery  operations
will  be  restricted  and  cause  a
decline in fuel consumption.
When  a  certain  level  of  impact is  detected  by  the  impact  sensor ,  the
emergency shut off system blocks  the high voltage current and stops
the fuel pump to minimize the ri sk of electrocution and fuel leakage. If
the emergency shut off system activates, your vehicle will not  restart.
To restart the hybrid system , contact your Toyota dealer.
A  message  is  automatically  displ ayed  when  a  malfunction  occurs  in
the hybrid system  or an improper operation is attempted.
If a warning message is shown on
the  multi-information  display,  read
the  message  and  follow  the
instructions. ( P. 488)
Hybrid battery (traction battery) air intake vent
Emergency shut off system
Hybrid warning message 

831-3. Hybrid system
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
■If a  warning  light comes  on, a  warning  message is displayed,  or the 12-
volt battery has been disconnected
The hybrid system may not start. In this case, try to start the system again. If
the “READY” indicator does not come on, contact your Toyota dea ler.
■ Running out of fuel
When the vehicle has run out of fuel and the hybrid system cann ot be started,
refuel  the  vehicle  with  at  least  enough  gasoline  to  make  the  lo w  fuel  level
warning  light  ( P.  482)  go  off.  If  there  is  only  a  small  amount  of  fuel,  the
hybrid system may not be able to start. (The standard amount of  fuel is about
1.3 gal. [5.0 L, 1.1 Imp. gal.] when the vehicle is on a level surface. This value
may  vary  when  the  vehicle  is  on  a  slope. Add  extra  fuel  when  th e  vehicle  is
inclined.)
■ Electromagnetic waves
●High  voltage  parts  and  cables  on  hybrid  vehicles  incorporate  el ectromag-
netic shielding, and therefore emit approximately the same amount of elec-
tromagnetic  waves  as  conventional  gasoline  powered  vehicles  or  home
electronic appliances.
● Your  vehicle  may  cause  sound  interference  in  some  third  party-p roduced
radio parts. 
■ Hybrid battery ( traction battery)
The hybrid battery (traction battery) has a limited service life. The lifespan of
the  hybrid  battery  (traction  battery)  can  change  in  accordance  with  driving
style and driving conditions.