flat TOYOTA PRIUS 2012 3.G Owners Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
1Before driving
Information on the hybrid system and adjusting and op-
erating features such as door locks, mirrors, and steer-
ing column
2When drivingDriving, stopping and safe-driving information
3Interior
featuresAir conditioning and audio systems, as well as other in-
terior features for a comfortable driving experience
4Maintenance
and careCleaning and protecting your vehicle, performing do-it-
yourself maintenance, and maintenance information
5When trouble
arisesWhat to do if the vehicle needs to be towed, gets a flat
tire, or is involved in an accident
6Vehicle
specificationsDetailed vehicle information
7For ownersReporting safety defects for U.S. owners, and seat belt
and SRS airbag instructions for Canadian owners
IndexAlphabetical listing of information contained in this
manual

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
5
4-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior............ 396
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior............. 399
4-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ..................... 402
General maintenance.......... 405
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs........................... 409
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions ....................... 410
Hood ................................... 413
Positioning a floor jack ........ 416
Engine compartment ........... 419
12-volt battery ..................... 431
Tires .................................... 437
Tire inflation pressure ......... 447
Wheels ................................ 451
Electronic key battery.......... 454
Checking and replacing fuses ................................. 456
Light bulbs........................... 467 5-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers............ 484
If your vehicle needs to be towed........................... 485
If you think something is wrong ............................ 492
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds.............................. 493
If a warning message is displayed ...................... 507
If you have a flat tire ........... 523
If the hybrid system will not start ............................ 538
If you lose your keys........... 540
If the electronic key does not operate properly ......... 541
If the 12-volt battery is discharged........................ 543
If your vehicle overheats .... 549
If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................. 554
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ....................... 556
4Maintenance and care5When trouble arises

9
Fuel filler door
P. 131
Rear turn signal lights
P. 211
Rear window defoggers P. 346
Tires
●
Rotation
● Replacement
● Inflation pressure
● Information
P. 437
P. 523
P. 569
P. 575
Rear side marker lights
P. 250
Tail lights P. 250
Camera*Side doors P. 87
Back door P. 93
Rear window wiper P. 262
: If equipped
*: Refer to “Display Audio System Owner’s Manual”
or “Navigation System Owner’s Manual”.
License plate lights
P. 250

57
1-1. Hybrid system
1
Before driving
■
Air conditioning on/off
Switch the air conditioning ( ) to off when it is not needed.
Doing so can help control excessive gasoline consumption.
In summer: In high temperatures, use the recirculated air mode.
Doing so will help to reduce t he burden on the air conditioner
and reduce fuel consumption as well.
In winter: Because the gasoline engine will not automatically cut
out until the gasoline engine and the interior of the vehicle are
warm, it will consume fuel. Also, fuel consumption can be
improved by avoiding overuse of the heater.
■ Checking tire inflation pressure
Make sure to check the tire inflation pressure frequently.
Improper tire inflation pressure can cause poor fuel consump-
tion.
Also, as snow tires can cause lar ge amounts of friction, their use
on dry roads can lead to poor fuel consumption. Use a tire that is
appropriate for the season.
■ Luggage
Carrying heavy luggage can lead to poor fuel consumption.
Avoid carrying unnecessary luggage. Installing a large roof rack
can also cause poor fuel consumption.
■ Warming up before driving
Since the gasoline engine starts up and cuts out automatically
when cold, warming up the engine is unnecessary. Moreover,
frequently driving s hort distances will ca use the engine to
repeatedly warm up, which can lead to poor fuel consumption.

140
1-8. Safety information
SRS airbags
The SRS airbags inflate when the vehicle is subjected to certain
types of severe impacts that may cause significant injury to the
occupants. They work together with the seat belts to help reduce the
risk of death or serious injury.
SRS front airbags
SRS driver airbag/front passenger airbag
Can help protect the head and ches t of the driver and front pas-
senger from impact with interior components
SRS knee airbag
Can help provide driver protection

143
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
Your vehicle is equipped with
ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag
sensor assembly (ECU) controls ai rbag deployment based on infor-
mation obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system compo-
nents diagram above. This inform ation includes crash severity and
occupant information. As the air bags deploy, a chemical reaction in
the inflators quickly fills the airbags with nontoxic gas to help restrain
the motion of the occupants.
■ If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying
(inflating) SRS airbag.
● A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
● Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator)
as well as the front seats, parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side
rails, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
● The windshield may crack.
● For Safety Connect subscribers, if the SRS airbags deploy or in the event
of a severe rear-end collision, the system is designed to send an emer-
gency call to the response center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location
(without needing to push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to
speak with the occupants to ascertain the level of emergency and assis-
tance required. If the occupants are unable to communicate, the agent
automatically treats the call as an emergency and helps to dispatch the
necessary emergency services. ( P. 388)

145
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
■
Conditions under which the SRS airbags may deploy (inflate), other
than a collision
The SRS front airbags may also deploy if a serious impact occurs to the
underside of your vehicle. Some examples are shown in the illustration.
■ Types of collisions that may not de ploy the SRS airbags (SRS front air-
bags)
The SRS front airbags do not generally inflate if the vehicle is involved in a
side or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in a low-speed frontal
collision. But, whenever a collision of any type causes sufficient forward
deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the SRS front airbags may occur.
● Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or
hard surface
● Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
● Landing hard or falling
●Collision from the side
● Collision from the rear
● Vehicle rollover

146 1-8. Safety information
■Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbags
(SRS side and curtain shield airbags)
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags may not activate if the vehicle is
subjected to a collision from the side at certain angles, or a collision to the
side of the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment.
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags do not generally inflate if the vehi-
cle is involved in a frontal or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in
a low-speed side collision.
■ When to contact your Toyota dealer
In the following cases, the vehicle will require inspection and/or repair. Con-
tact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
●Any of the SRS airbags has been inflated.
●Collision from the side to the vehicle
body other than the passenger com-
partment
● Collision from the side at an angle
●Collision from the front
● Collision from the rear
● Vehicle rollover
●The front of the vehicle is damaged or
deformed, or was involved in an acci-
dent that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS airbags to inflate.

147
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
●
A portion of a door is damaged or
deformed, or the vehicle was involved
in an accident that was not severe
enough to cause the SRS side and cur-
tain shield airbags to inflate.
● The pad section of the steering wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger air-
bag or lower portion of the driver’s side
instrument panel is scratched, cracked,
or otherwise damaged.
● The surface of the seats with the side
airbag is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged.
● The portion of the front pillars, rear pil-
lars or roof side rail garnishes (padding)
containing the curtain shield airbags
inside is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged.

148 1-8. Safety information
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
● The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm)
of inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag pro-
vides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in.
(250 mm) away now, you can change your driving position in several
ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in.
(250 mm) distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply by reclining the back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of
your seat makes it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a firm,
non-slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle has that feature\
.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air- bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still
maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the
instrument panel controls.