light TOYOTA PRIUS 2009 2.G Owner's Guide

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1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
CAUTION
■
Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding front passenger occupant clas-
sification system.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Wear the seat belt properly.
● Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not been left inserted
into the buckle before someone sits in the front passenger seat.
● Make sure the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights is not illuminated when
using the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue from
the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect the seat belt
extender after making sure the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated.
If you use the seat belt extender while the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, the front passenger airbag and side airbag on the front pas-
senger side may not activate correctly, which could cause death or serious
injury in the event of collision.
● Do not apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat.
● Do not put weight on the front passenger seat by putting your hands or
feet on the front passenger seatback from the rear passenger seat.
● Do not let a rear passenger lift the front passenger seat with their feet or
press on the seatback with their legs.
● Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.
● Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear
seat. This may cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not deploy in the event of
a severe accident. If the seatback touches the rear seat, return the seat-
back to a position where it does not touch the rear seat. Keep the front
passenger seatback as upright as possible when the vehicle is moving.
Reclining the seatback excessively may lessen the effectiveness of the
seat belt system.

106 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
CAUTION
■Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
● If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the “AIR BAG ON” indicator
light is illuminated. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, ask
the passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and
with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light still
remain illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or if
that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward.
● When it is unavoidable to install the forward-facing child restraint system
on the front passenger seat, install the child restraint system on the front
passenger seat in the proper order. ( P. 1 1 1 )
● Do not modify or remove the front seats.
● Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to severe impact. Other-
wise, the SRS warning light may come on to indicate a malfunction on the
detection system. In this case, contact your Toyota dealer immediately.
● Child restraint systems installed on the rear seat should not contact the
front seatbacks.
● Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion or seat cover, that covers
the seat cushion surface.
● Do not modify or replace the upholstery of the front seat.

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1-8. Safety information
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Before driving
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
CAUTION
■
Child restraint precautions
● For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child
must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system
depending on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is
not a substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle’s interior.
● Toyota strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that con-
forms to the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to acci-
dent statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat
than in the front seat.
● Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger
seat even if “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an
accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear-facing child restraint
system is installed on the front passenger seat.
● A forward-facing child restraint system may be installed on the front pas-
senger seat only when it is unavoidable. A child restraint system that
requires a top tether strap should not be used in the front passenger seat
since there is no top tether strap anchor for the front passenger seat.
Adjust the seatback as upright as possible and always move the seat as
far back as possible even if “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated,
because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed
and force. Failing to do so may cause death or serious injury to the child.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system
on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system
with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not
securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause death or seri-
ous injury to the child or other passengers in the event of collision.

112 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
Installation with LATCH systemType A Widen the gap between
the seat cushion and
seatback slightly.
Latch the hooks of the
lower straps onto the
LATCH anchors.
If the child restraint has a
top tether strap, the top
tether strap should be
latched onto the top
tether strap anchor.
For owners in Canada:
A symbol on a child restraint sys-
tem indicates the presence of a
lower connector system.
Canada only
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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1-8. Safety information
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Before driving
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
Type B
Widen the gap between
the seat cushion and
seatback slightly.
Latch the buckles onto
the LATCH anchors.
If the child restraint has a
top tether strap, the top
tether strap should be
latched onto the top
tether strap anchor.
For owners in Canada:
A symbol on a child restraint sys-
tem indicates the presence of a
lower connector system.
Canada only
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

114 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
Installing child restraints using a seat belt (child restraint lock
function belt)
■ Rear facing Infant seat/convertible seat
Place the child seat on the rear
seat facing the rear of the vehi-
cle.
Run the seat belt through the
child seat and insert the plate
into the buckle. Make sure that
the belt is not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder belt
and then allow it to retract
slightly in order to activate the
ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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1-8. Safety information
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Before driving
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
While pushing the child seat
down into the rear seat, allow the
shoulder belt to retract until the
child seat is securely in place.
After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there is
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to
check that it cannot be extended.
■
Forward facing Convertible seat
Place the child seat on the seat
facing the front of the vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the
child seat and insert the plate
into the buckle. Make sure that
the belt is not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder strap
and then allow it to retract
slightly into the ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
STEP4
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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1-8. Safety information
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Before driving
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
CAUTION
■
When installing a child restraint system
Follow the directions given in the child restraint system installation manual
and fix the child restraint system securely in place.
If the child restraint system is not correctly fixed in place, the child or other
passengers may be injured or even killed in the event of sudden braking or
an accident.
● When a booster seat is installed, always ensure that the shoulder belt is
positioned across the center of the child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from the child’s neck, but not so that it could fall off the child’s
shoulder. Failing to do so may result in death or serious injury in the event
of an accident or sudden braking.
● Ensure the belt and tab are securely locked and that the seat belt is not
twisted.
● Push and pull the child seat from side to side and forward to be sure it is
secure.
●If the driver’s seat interferes with the
child restraint system and prevents it
from being attached correctly, attach
the child restraint system to the right-
hand rear seat.
● Only put a forward facing or booster
child seat on the front seat when
unavoidable. When installing a forward
facing or booster child seat on the front
passenger seat, move the seat as far
back as possible even if “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated. Fail-
ing to do so may result in death or seri-
ous injury if the airbags deploy (inflate).

When driving2
121
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 122
Power (ignition) switch ..... 132
Transmission.................... 138
Turn signal lever .............. 142
Parking brake ................... 143
Horn ................................. 144
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 145
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 148 2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers
Headlight switch ............... 152
Fog light switch ................ 155
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 156
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 158
2-4. Using other driving systems
Cruise control ................... 159
Rear view monitor system ........................... 163
Driving assist systems ..... 166
2-5. Driving information Cargo and luggage .......... 169
Vehicle load limits ............ 172
Winter driving tips ............ 173
Trailer towing ................... 177
Dinghy towing .................. 178

124 2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS_U_(OM47614U)
●Avoid repeated acceleration
Repeated acceleration consumes hybrid battery (traction battery) power,
resulting in poor acceleration. Battery power can be restored by driving
with the accelerator pedal slightly released.
● Push the “P” position switch when parking
In the “N” position, the hybrid battery (traction battery) does not recharge.
Leaving the shift lever in the “N” position for an extended period of the
time may discharge the hybrid battery. The vehicle cannot run if the
hybrid battery is discharged.
■ Normal characteristics after turning off the hybrid system
Approximately five hours after the hybrid system is turned off, you may hear
sound coming from under the vehicle for several minutes. This is because
the fuel evaporation leakage check is performed. It does not indicate a mal-
function.