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545
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6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Wheels
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they are
equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim wid th and
inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at your Toyota dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Toyota does not recommend using the following:
● Wheels of different sizes or types
● Used wheels
● Bent wheels that hav e been straightened
● Use only Toyota wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changi ng your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight afte r driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire
chains.
● Use only Toyota genuine balance we ights or equivalent and a plas-
tic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be
replaced. Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or
cause a loss of handling control.
Wheel selection
Aluminum wheel precautions
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
5476-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced b y your
Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop. In addition, make sure to
purchase your tire pressure warning valves and transmitters at your
Toyota dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine Toyota wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work prop erly
with non-genuine wheels.
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5897-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
AWD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with the
front wheels raised or with all four wheels
raised off the ground. If the vehicle is
towed with the front wheels contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and related
parts may be damaged or electricity gen-
erated by the operation of the motor may
cause a fire to occur depending on the
nature of the damage or malfunction.
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the drivetrain or related parts
may be damaged, the vehicle may fly off
the truck, or electricity generated by the
operation of the motor may cause a fire
to occur depending on the nature of the
damage or malfunction.
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591
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7
When trouble arises
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If you think something is wrong
●Fluid leaks un der the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning a fter use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● High coolant temperature warni ng light flashes or comes on
● Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the hybrid system
● Engine missing, stumb ling or running roughly
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one s ide when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost touch es
the floor
If you notice any of the followi ng symptoms, your vehicle proba -
bly needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms
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6007-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
WARNING
■When the electric power steering system warning light comes on
When the light comes on yellow, the assist to the power steerin g is
restricted. When the light comes on red, the assist to the powe r steering is
lost and handling operations of the steering wheel become extre mely
heavy. When steering wheel operations are heavier than usual, g rip the
steering wheel firmly and operate it using more force than usua l.
■
If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause a loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust t he tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●Vehicles with emergency tire puncture repair kit: If the tire p ressure
warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjus tment, it
is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires. If a ti re is flat,
repair the flat tire by using emergency tire puncture repair ki t.
●Vehicles with spare tire: If the tire pressure warning light co mes on
even after tire inflation pressure adjustment, it is probable that you
have a flat tire. Check the tires. If a tire is flat, change it with the spare
tire and have the flat tire repaired by the nearest Toyota deal er.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires dete riorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.
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6017-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
WARNING
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation p ressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has t ires of a dif-
ferent size than the size indica ted on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should de termine
the proper tire inflation p ressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS -tire pressure warning system) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Acco rdingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning ligh t) illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible , and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread lif e, and may
affect the vehicle’s handl ing and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a sub-
stitute for proper tire maintena nce, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached
the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire
pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warn-
ing system) malfunction indicato r to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS (tire pressure warning system) mal func-
tion indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure
warning light). When the system detects a malfunction, the tell tale will
flash for approximately one mi nute and then remain continuously illumi-
nated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle star t-ups
as long as the malfunction exists . When the malfunction indicator is illu-
minated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tir e pres-
sure as intended.
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a vari-
ety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or al ternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure w arning
system) from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pres-
sure warning system) malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alter-
nate tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning sys tem) to
continue to function properly.
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6027-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
NOTICE
■To ensure the tire pressure warning system operates properly
Do not install tires with different specifications or makers, a s the tire
pressure warning system may not operate properly.
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6127-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
●Stop the vehicle in a safe place on a hard, flat surface.
● Set the parking brake.
● Shift the shift position to P.
● Stop the hybrid system.
● Turn on the emergency flashers.
● Check the degree of the tire damage.
A tire should only be repaired
with the emergency tire punc-
ture repair kit if the damage is
caused by a nail or screw pass-
ing through the tire tread. • Do not remove the nail or screw from the tire. Remov-
ing the object may widen the
opening and make emer-
gency repair with the repair
kit impossible.
• To avoid sealant leakage, move the vehicle until the area of the
puncture, if known, is positioned at the top of the tire.
■A flat tire that cannot be repaired with the emergency tire pun cture
repair kit
In the following cases, the tire cannot be repaired with the em ergency tire
puncture repair kit. Contact your Toyota dealer.
●When the tire is damaged due to driving without sufficient air pressure
●When there are any cracks or damage at any location on the tire , such
as on the side wall, except the tread
●When the tire is visibly separated from the wheel
●When the cut or damage to the tr ead is 0.16 in. (4 mm) long or more
●When the wheel is damaged
●When two or more tires have been punctured
●When more than one sharp objects such as nails or screws have p assed
through the tread on a single tire
●When the sealant has expired
Before repairing the tire