flat tire TOYOTA PRIUS PHV 2012 Owner's Manual

487
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
.
■
Inspection and adjustment procedure
Tire valve
Tire pressure gauge
Remove the tire valve cap.
Press the tip of the tire pressure gauge onto the tire valve.
Read the pressure using the gauge gradations.
If the tire inflation pressure is not at the recommended
level, adjust the pressure.
If you add too much air, pres s the center of the valve to
deflate.
After completing the tire inflation pressure measurement
and adjustment, apply soapy water to the valve and check
for leakage.
Put the tire valve cap back on.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6

488 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
■Tire inflation pressure check interval
You should check tire inflation pressure every two weeks, or at least
once a month.
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure ma y result in the following:
●Reduced fuel efficiency
●Reduced driving comfort and tire life
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent inflating, have it checked by your Toyota dealer.
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or has not been
driven for more than 1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold
tire inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be mi sleading. In addition, tire infla-
tion pressure that is even just a few pounds off can affect ride quality
and handling.
●Do not reduce tire inflation pressure after driving. It is normal for tire
inflation pressure to be higher after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle
is balanced.

489
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■Proper inflation is critical
to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions
may occur and result in an accident causing death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resu lting from overheated tires
●Poor sealing of the tire bead
●Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
●A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps back on.
Without the valve caps, dirt or mo isture could get into the valve and
cause air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps are lost,
replace them as soon as possible.

491
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
4
Maintenance and care
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped with tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters that allow the tire pressure warning system to
provide advance warning in the event of a loss in tire inflation pressure.
Whenever wheels are replaced, tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters must be installed. (
P. 477)
CAUTION
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in
the Owner’s Manual, as this may resu lt in a loss of handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a
tubeless tire. Doing so may result in an accident, causing death or seri-
ous injury.
■When installing the wheel nuts
●Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the wheel nuts to be excessively tightened,
leading to bolt or disc wheel damage. In addition, the oil or grease can
cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the wheel may fall off, causing an
accident and resulting in death or serious injury. Remove any oil or
grease from the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
●Be sure to install the wheel nuts with
the tapered ends facing inward.
Installing the nuts with the tapered
ends facing outward can cause the
wheel to break and eventually cause
the wheel to come off while driving,
which could lead to an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
Tapered
portion

When trouble arises5
523
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
5-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers ......... 524
If your vehicle needs to be towed ........................ 525
If you think something is wrong ......................... 532
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ........................... 533
If a warning message is displayed .................... 546
If you have a flat tire......... 566
If the hybrid system will not start .......................... 588
If you lose your keys ........ 590
If the electronic key does not operate properly....... 591
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ..................... 594
If your vehicle overheats ....................... 600
If the vehicle becomes stuck .............................. 605
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ..................... 607

532
5-1. Essential information
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
■ Visible symptoms
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air cond itioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● High engine coolant temperatur e warning light flashes or
comes on
■ Audible symptoms
●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
■ Operational symptoms
●Engine missing, stumbling or running roughly
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, s pongy feeling, pedal almost
touches the floor

538 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Tire pressure warning
light
When the light comes
on:
Low tire inflation pres-
sure such as
• Natural causes ( P. 540)
• Flat tire ( P. 448) Adjust the tire
inflation pressure
to the specified
level.
The light will turn
off after a few
minutes. In case
the light does
not turn off even
if the tire infla-
tion pressure is
adjusted, have
the system
checked by your
Toyota dealer.
When the light comes
on after blinking for 1
minute:
Malfunction in the tire
pressure warning sys-
tem
(  P. 542) Have the system
checked by your
Toyota dealer.
Master warning light
The warning light comes
on and flashes to indicate
that the master warning
system has detected a
malfunction. P. 5 4 6

540 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
■Electric power steering system warning light
When the 12-volt battery charge becomes insufficient or the voltage tempo-
rarily drops, the electric power steering system warning light may come on.
■ If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving
First check the following:
● Is the fuel tank cap loose?
If it is, tighten it securely.
The malfunction indicator lamp will go off after several driving trips.
If the malfunction indicator lamp does not go off even after several trips, con-
tact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
■
When the tire pressure warning light comes on
Check the tire inflation pressure and adjust to the appropriate level.
Pushing the tire pressure warning reset switch will not turn off the tire
pressure warning light.
■The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes such
as natural air leaks and tire inflat ion pressure changes caused by tem-
perature. In this case, adjusting the tire inflation pressure will turn off the
warning light (after a few minutes).

5
When trouble arises
541
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
■If the tire pressure warning system is not functioning
The tire pressure warning system will be disabled in the following condi-
tions:
(When the condition be
comes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters are used
●If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is
not registered in the tire pressure warning computer
●If the tire inflation pressure is 73 psi (500 kPa, 5.1 kgf/cm2 or bar) or
higher
The tire pressure warning system may be disabled in the following condi-
tions:
(When the condition be comes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If electronic devices or facilities using similar radio wave frequencies
are nearby
●If a radio set at a similar frequency is in use in the vehicle
●If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is installed
●If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, particularly around the
wheels or wheel housings
●If non-genuine Toyota wheels are used (Even if you use Toyota
wheels, the tire pressure warning system may not work properly with
some types of tires.)
●If tire chains are used

5
When trouble arises
543
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
CAUTION
■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 the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment, it is pr obable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.
If a tire is flat, repair the flat ti re by using emergency tire puncture
repair kit.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning syste m may not activate immediately.
■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 pressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a differ-
ent size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pr essure for those tires.)