TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 2.G Owners Manual

331
The electric power steering system, us-
ing an electric motor, assists the turn-
ing of the steering wheel.
In the following cases, you may feel the
steering becomes heavy. However, the
electric power steering system warning
light does not come on. (Because it is
not a malfunction.)
When maneuvering the steering fre-
quently or keeping the steering wheel
turned fully while the vehicle is stopped
or moving very slowlyThe power steering effect will be re-
duced to prevent the system from over-
heating. Avoid turning the steering
wheel, or stop the vehicle. When you
leave the vehicle in the “IG −ON” mode
for a while, the system will become
cool.
NOTICE
If you repeat the operation which will
turn on the overheating prevention
function, the electric power steering
system may be damaged.
When the 12 volt battery is discharged
Check the 12 volt battery’s condition.
If necessary, recharge or replace the
battery. For details, see “Checking 12
volt battery condition” on page 418.
When the steering wheel is operated
with the hybrid system not to be turned
on (with the “READY” light off)
The 12 volt battery capacity is de-
creased temporarily. The system re-
turns to normal some time after the
hybrid system is turned on.
If there is a problem somewhere in the
electric power steering system, the warn-
ing light comes on in the multi −information
display. For details, see “Multi −information
display” on page 133.
When you move the steering wheel, an
electrical motor noise may be heard. This
is power steering motor noise, and is not
a malfunction.30p003
The brake pad wear limit indicators on
your disc brakes give a warning noise
when the brake pads are worn to where
replacement is required.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise
while driving, have the brake pads
checked and replaced by your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. Expensive ro-
tor damage can result if the pads are not
replaced when necessary.
Electric power steering system Brake pad wear limit
indicators

332
30p004b
The vehicle identification number (VIN)
is the legal identifier for your vehicle.
This number is on the left top of the
instrument panel, and can be seen
through the windshield from outside.
This is the primary identification number
for your Toyota. It is used in registering
the ownership of your vehicle.
30p005c
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is
also on the Certification Label.
30p006b
Engine number
Motor number
The engine and motor number plates
are installed on the engine and trans-
axle case as shown.
Your Toyota’s identification—
—Vehicle identification
number —Engine and motor number

333
Theft prevention labels
Your new vehicle carries theft preven-
tion labels which are approximately 47
mm (1.85 in.) by 12 mm (0.47 in.).
The purpose of these labels is to reduce
the incidence of vehicle thefts by facilitat-
ing the tracing and recovery of parts from
stolen vehicles. The label is designed so
that once it is applied to a surface, any
attempt to remove it will result in destroy-
ing the integrity of the label. Transferring
these labels intact from one part to anoth-
er, will be impossible.
NOTICE
You should not attempt to remove the
theft prevention labels as it may vio-
late certain state or federal laws.
CAUTION
Do not modify the suspension/chassis
with lift kits, spacers, springs, etc. It
can cause dangerous handling charac-
teristics, resulting in loss of control.
Suspension and chassis

334This illustration indicates typical tire
symbols.
1. Tire size— For details, see “Tire
size” on page 338.
2. DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN)— For details, see
“DOT and Tire Identification Num-
ber (TIN)” on page 337.
3. Location of tread wear indica- tors— For details, see “Checking
and replacing tires” on page 411.
4. Tire ply composition and materi- als— Plies mean a layer of rubber −
coated parallel cords. Cords mean
the strands forming the plies in the
tire.
5. Summer tire or all season tire— An all season tire has “M+S”
on the sidewall. A tire not marked
with “M+S” is a summer tire. For
details, see “Types of tires” on
page 347.
Tire information—
—Tire symbols (Standard tire)
30p226a

335
6. Radial tires or biasply tires—
A
radial tire has “RADIAL” on the
sidewall. The tire not marked with
“RADIAL” is a bias −ply tir e.
7. “TUBELESS” or “TUBE TYPE” —A tubeless tire does not have a
tube inside the tire and air is direct-
ly filled in the tire. A tube type tire
has a tube inside the tire and the
tube maintains the air pressure.
8. Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure— For details,
see “Checking and replacing tires”
on page 411.
9. Maximum cold tire inflation pressure— This means the pres-
sure to which a tire may be in-
flated. For recommended cold tire
inflation pressure, see “Tires” on
page 434.
10. Uniform tire quality grading— For details, see “Uniform tire quali-
ty grading” that follows.

336This illustration indicates typical tire
symbols.
1. “TEMPORARY USE ONLY”— A
compact spare tire is identified by
the phrase “TEMPORARY USE
ONLY” molded into its sidewall.
This tire is designed for temporary
emergency use only. For details,
see “Compact spare tire” on page
366.
2. Tire size— For details, see “Tire
size” on page 338.
3. DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN)— For details, see
“DOT and Tire Identification Num-
ber (TIN)” on page 337.
4. Location of tread wear indica- tors— For details, see “Checking
and replacing tires” on page 411.
5. Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure— For details,
see “Checking and replacing tires”
on page 411.
— Tire symb o ls
(Compact spare tire)
30p104a

337
6. Maximum cold tire inflation
pressure— This means the pres-
sure to which a tire may be in-
flated. For recommended cold tire
inflation pressure, see “Tires” on
page 434.
7. Tire ply composition and materi- als— Plies mean a layer of rubber −
coated parallel cords. Cords mean
the strands forming the plies in the
tire.
8. “TUBELESS” or “TUBE TYPE” —A tubeless tire does not have a
tube inside the tire and air is direct-
ly filled in the tire. A tube type tire
has a tube inside the tire and the
tube maintains the air pressure.
9. Radial tires or biasply tires— A
radial tire has “RADIAL” on the
sidewall. The tire not marked with
“RADIAL” is a bias −ply tir e.
21A009a
This illustration indicates typical DOT
and Tire Identification Number (TIN).
1. “DOT” symbol
2. Tire Identification Number (TIN)
3. Tire manufacturer ’s identification mark
4. Tire size code
5. Manufacturer ’s optional tire type code (3 or 4 letters)
6. Manufacturing week
7. Manufacturing year The “DOT” symbol certifies that the
tire conforms to applicable Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
—DOT and Tire Identification
Number (TIN)

338
30p227a
This illustration indicates typical tire
size.1. Tire use (P=Passenger car, T=Temporary use)
2. Section width (in millimeters)
3. Aspect ratio (tire height to section width)
4. Tire construction code (R=Radial, D=Diagonal)
5. Wheel diameter (in inches)
6. Load index (2 digits or 3 digits)
7. Speed symbol (alphabet with one letter)
21A007a
1. Section width
2. Tire height
3. Wheel diameter
21A006a
1. Bead
2. Sidewall
3. Shoulder
4. Tread
5. Belt
6. Inner liner
7. Reinforcing rubber
8. Carcass
9. Rim lines
10. Bead wires 11. Chafer
—Tire size —Name of each section of tire

339
—Uniform tire quality grading
This information has been prepared
in accordance with regulations issued
by the National Highway Traffic Safe-
ty Administration of the U.S. Depart-
ment of Transportation. It provides
the purchasers and/or prospective
purchasers of Toyota vehicles with in-
formation on uniform tire quality grad-
ing.
Your Toyota dealer will help answer
any questions you may have as you
read this information.
DOT quality grades—All passenger
car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to
these grades. Quality grades can
be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoul-
der and maximum section width.
For example: Treadwear 200 Trac-
tion AA Temperature A.Tread wear—
The tread wear grade
is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested un-
der controlled conditions on a speci-
fied government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half (1 −1/2) times as well
on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving hab-
its, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate. Traction AA, A, B, C—
The traction
grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C, and they represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave-
ment as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor trac-
tion performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and
does not include cornering (turning)
traction.

340 Temperature A, B, C—T he tem per a-
ture grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C cor-
responds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of per-
formance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades for
this tire are established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.