
5
1
9 8
7
6 4 3
2
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
5
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service  precautions ..................... 512
Hood.................................. 515
Positioning a floor jack ...... 517
Engine compartment ......... 518
Tires .................................. 532
Tire inflation pressure........ 542
Wheels .............................. 545
Air conditioning filter .......... 548
Cleaning the hybrid battery  (traction battery) air intake 
vent and filter .................. 551
Wiper insert  replacement .................... 556
Electronic key battery ........ 560
Checking and replacing  fuses ............................... 563
Headlight aim .................... 566
Light bulbs ......................... 568
7-1. Essential information Emergency flashers .......... 580
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an 
emergency ...................... 581
If the vehicle is trapped in  rising water...................... 582 7-2. Steps to take in an 
emergency
If your vehicle needs to  be towed .......................... 584
If you think something is  wrong............................... 591
If a warning light turns on  or a warning buzzer 
sounds ............................. 592
If a warning message is  displayed ......................... 603
If you have a flat tire  (vehicles without 
spare tire) ........................ 611
If you have a flat tire  (vehicles with 
spare tire) ........................ 631
If the hybrid system will  not start ........................... 645
If the electronic key does  not operate properly ........ 647
If the 12-volt battery is  discharged ....................... 650
If your vehicle overheats.... 656
If the vehicle becomes  stuck ................................ 661
7When trouble arises 

18Pictorial index
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Power switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 245
Starting the hybrid system/changing the modes  . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 245
Emergency stop of the hybrid system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . .  P. 581
When the hybrid system will not start  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 645
Warning messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 603
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 255
Changing the shift position  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .  P. 255
Precautions against towing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 584
P position switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 256
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 98
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument 
cluster light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 98, 100
Warning lights/indicator lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .  P. 107
When the warning lights come on  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 5921
2
3
4 

291-1. For safe use
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
1
For safety and security
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
●Do not adjust the position of the driver’s seat while driving.
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Do not place a cushion between the driver or passenger and the seatback.
A  cushion  may  prevent  correct  posture  from  being  achieved,  and  reduce
the effectiveness of the seat belt and head restraint.
● Do not place anything under the front seats.
Objects  placed  under  the  front  seats  may  become  jammed  in  the  s eat
tracks  and  stop  the  seat  from  locking  in  place.  This  may  lead  t o  an  acci-
dent and the adjustment mechanism may also be damaged.
● Always observe the legal speed limit when driving on public roads.
● When  driving  over  long distances, take  regular breaks  before yo u  start  to
feel tired.
Also, if  you feel  tired  or  sleepy  while driving,  do not force y ourself  to con-
tinue driving and take a break immediately. 

851-4. Hybrid system
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
1
For safety and security
◆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 electric motor (tr action motor) is used. 
When shift position is in N, the hybrid battery (traction batte ry) 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. 86)
◆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
When the accelerator pedal is depressed heavily, the power of t he
hybrid  battery  (traction  battery)  is  added  to  that  of  the  gasol ine
engine via the electric 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  driving  with  the  gasolin e  engine  stopped,  a  sound,  which
changes in accordance with the driving speed, will be played in  order
to warn people nearby of the vehicle’s approach. The sound will  stop
when the vehicle speed  exceeds approximately 22 mph (35 km/h).
Vehicle proximity notification system 

861-4. Hybrid system
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(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 while driving with the shift  position in D or
B.
● The brake pedal is depressed while driving with the shift posit ion in D or B.
■ Hybrid System Indicator
■ 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
*: Depending  on  the  circumstances,  the  gasoline  engine  may  also  not  stop
automatically in situations other than those above.
■ 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. 652
■ 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. Hybrid  System  Indicator  represents  the
hybrid  system  power  output  and  regener-
ative charging. ( P. 129) 

871-4. Hybrid system
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
1
For safety and security
■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 position to P when parke d.
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. ( P. 89)
■ Vehicle proximity notification system
In  the  following  cases,  the  vehicle  proximity  notification  syst em  may  be  diffi-
cult for surrounding people to hear.
● In very noisy areas
● In the wind or the rain
Also,  as  the  vehicle  proximity  notification  system  is  installed   on  the  front  of
the vehicle, it may be more difficult to hear from the rear of  the  vehicle  com-
pared to the front.
■ When  “Proximity  Notification  Syst em  Malfunction  Visit  Your  Dealer”  is
displayed on the multi-information display
The  vehicle  proximity  notification  system  may  be  malfunctioning .  Have  the
vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■ Maintenance, repair, recycling, and disposal
Contact your Toyota dealer regarding maintenance, repair, recyc ling and dis-
posal. Do not dispose of the vehicle yourself. 

891-4. Hybrid system
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
1
For safety and security
There  is  an  air  intake  vent  under
the  right  side  of  the  rear  seat  for
the  purpose  of  cooling  the  hybrid
battery  (traction  battery).  If  the
vent  is  blocked,  charging/dis-
charging  of  the  hybrid  battery
(traction battery) may become lim-
ited.
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.
Hybrid battery (traction battery) air intake vent
Emergency shut off system 
Hybrid warning message 

951-5. Theft deterrent system
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
1
For safety and security
Immobilizer system
The  indicator  light  flashes  after
the power switch has been turned
off  to  indicate  that  the  system  is
operating.
The  indicator  light  stops  flashing
after  the  power  switch  has  been
turned  to  ACCESSORY  or  ON
mode  to  indicate  that  the  system
has been canceled.
■System maintenance
The vehicle has a maintenance-free type immobilizer system.
■ Conditions that may cause the system to malfunction
●If the grip portion of the key is in contact with a metallic ob ject
● If the key is in close proximity to or touching a key registered to the security
system (key with a built-in transponder chip) of another vehicle
The  vehicle’s  keys  ha ve  built-in  transponder  chips  that  prevent
the hybrid system from starting if a key has not been previousl y
registered in the vehic le’s on-board computer. 
Never leave the keys inside the vehicle when you leave the vehi-
cle. This  system  is  designed  to  help  prevent  vehicle  theft  but  does not
guarantee absolute security  against all vehicle thefts.