TOYOTA PRIUS PLUS 2012 Owners Manual

4Maintenance and care
381
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior ......... 382
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior .......... 387
4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements................... 390
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions ..................... 393
Hood ................................. 397
Positioning a floor jack ...... 400
Engine compartment......... 403
12-volt battery ................... 413
Tires .................................. 419
Tire inflation pressure ....... 422
Wheels .............................. 425
Air conditioning filter ......... 427
Electronic key battery ....... 430
Checking and replacing
fuses ............................... 433
Light bulbs ........................ 445

382
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
Automatic car washes
Fold the mirrors and remove the antenna before washing the vehicle.
Start washing from the front of the vehicle. Make sure to re-install the
antenna and extend the mirrors before driving.
Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface
and harm your vehicle’s paint.
Roof antenna, rear spoiler may not be washable in some automatic car
washes. There may also be an increased risk of damage to vehicle.
High pressure car washes
Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity
of the windows.
Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle
is closed properly.
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in prime
condition:
Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the vehicle
body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any
dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thor-
oughly with water.
Wipe away any water.
Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehicle
body is cool.

383 4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
When using a car wash
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effec-
tive range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. Place the key in a posi-
tion 2 m (6 ft.) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being
washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
Aluminum wheels
Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use
hard brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical
cleaners.
Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.
Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after
driving for long distance in the hot weather.
Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use.
Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
Front side windows water-repellent coating (if equipped)
The following precautions can extend the effectiveness of the water-
repellent coating.
• Remove any dirt etc. from the front side windows regularly.
• Do not allow dirt and dust to accumulate on the windows for a long
period. Clean the windows with a soft and damp cloth as soon as pos-
sible.
• Do not use wax or glass cleaners that contain abrasives when cleaning
the windows.
• Do not use any metallic objects to remove condensation build up.
When the water-repellent performance has become insufficient, the coat-
ing can be repaired. Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.

384 4-1. Maintenance and care
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
CAUTION
When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may
cause the electrical components etc. to catch fire.
Precautions regarding the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe until it has cooled
sufficiently, as touching a hot exhaust pipe can cause burns.
When cleaning the windshield
When the upper part of the windshield where the raindrop sensor is
located is touched by hand
When a wet rag or similar is held close to the raindrop sensor
If something bumps against the windshield
If you directly touch the raindrop sensor body or if something bumps into
the raindrop sensor
Set the wiper switch to off.
If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wip-
ers may operate unexpectedly in the fol-
lowing situations, and may result in hands
being caught or other serious injuries and
cause damage to the wiper blades.
OFF

385 4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
NOTICE
To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body and compo-
nents (aluminum wheels etc.)
Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the
paint surface
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust,
iron powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.
To prevent the wheels from corroding, remove any dirt and store in a place
with low humidity when storing the wheels.
Cleaning the exterior lights
Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the lights.
Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses.
Antenna installation and removal precautions
Before driving, ensure that the antenna is installed.
When the antenna is removed, such as before entering an automatic car
wash, make sure to store it in a suitable place so as not to lose it. Also,
before driving, make sure to reinstall the antenna in its original position.

386 4-1. Maintenance and care
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
NOTICE
When using an automatic car wash
Set the wiper switch to off. If the wiper switch is “AUTO”, the wipers may
operate and the wiper blades may be damaged.
To prevent damage to the panoramic roof (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions. Otherwise, the surface of the panoramic
roof may be damaged, or the deterioration of the coating may be acceler-
ated.
Before washing the vehicle, remove any dust, sand or other foreign matter
using water.
Do not use harsh brushes, scrubbing brushes or sharp objects to wash the
roof. Use only soft cloths or sponges.
Use a mild soap when removing dirt, and avoid the use of oil-based prod-
ucts (such as glass coating or car wax), alcohol-based products (such as
glass cleaner), or abrasive cleansers.
After cleaning, wash away any remaining soap with water.
If there is iron oxide on the vehicle, wash it away with water while wiping
gently without scrubbing.
Do not attach suction cups or sticky objects, such as stickers.
Promptly remove the information label attached to the panoramic roof after
confirming the content.
If snow has accumulated on the roof, remove it while being careful to avoid
scratching the roof.
If there is frost or ice on the roof, avoid the use of scrapers or de-icer.

387
4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior
The following procedures will help protect your vehicle’s interior and
keep it in top condition:
Protecting the vehicle interior
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty sur-
faces with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water.
Cleaning the leather areas
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
Wipe off any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened
with diluted detergent.
Use a diluted water solution of approximately 5% neutral wool deter-
gent.
Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly
wipe off all remaining traces of detergent.
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remain-
ing moisture. Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and venti-
lated area.
Cleaning the synthetic leather areas
Remove loose dirt using a vacuum cleaner.
Apply a mild soap solution to the synthetic leather using a
sponge or soft cloth.
Allow the solution to soak in for a few minutes. Remove the
dirt and wipe off the solution with a clean, damp cloth.

388 4-1. Maintenance and care
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
Caring for leather areas
Toyota recommends cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a year
to maintain the quality of the vehicle’s interior.
Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available. Use a
sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not use
water. Wipe dirty surfaces and let them dry. Excellent results are obtained by
keeping the carpet as dry as possible.
Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also
check the belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
CAUTION
Water in the vehicle
Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle, such as on the floor, in the
hybrid battery (traction battery) air vents, and in the luggage compartment.
Doing so may cause the hybrid battery (traction battery), electrical compo-
nents, etc. to malfunction or catch fire.
Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior wet.
(P. 160)
An electrical malfunction may cause the airbags to deploy or not function
properly, resulting in death or serious injury.
Cleaning the interior (especially instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel may reflect off
the windshield, obstructing the driver’s view and leading to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.

389 4-1. Maintenance and care
4
Maintenance and care
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
NOTICE
Cleaning detergents
Do not use the following types of detergent, as they may discolor the vehi-
cle interior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:
• Non-seat portions: Organic substances such as benzene or gasoline,
alkaline or acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alcohol
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel’s or other
interior part’s painted surface may be damaged.
Preventing damage to leather surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid damage to and deterioration of
leather surfaces:
Remove any dust or dirt from leather surfaces immediately.
Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Park the vehicle in the shade, especially during summer.
Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or containing wax on the uphol-
stery, as they may stick to the leather surface if the vehicle interior heats
up significantly.
Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system may be damaged if water comes
into contact with electrical components such as the audio system above or
under the floor of the vehicle. Water may also cause the body to rust.
Cleaning the inside of the rear window
Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause
damage to the rear window defogger heater wires. Use a cloth dampened
with lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the window in
strokes running parallel to the heater wires.
Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires.

390
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements
To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and regular
maintenance is essential. Toyota recommends performing the fol-
lowing maintenance:
Scheduled maintenance
Scheduled maintenance should be performed at specified inter-
vals according to the maintenance schedule.
For full details of your maintenance schedule, read the “Toyota
Service Booklet” or “Toyota Warranty Booklet”.
Do-it-yourself maintenance
What about do-it-yourself maintenance?
Many maintenance items are easy to do yourself if you have a little
mechanical ability and a few basic automotive tools.
Note, however, that some maintenance tasks require special tools
and skills. These are best performed by qualified technicians. Even if
you’re an experienced do-it-yourself mechanic, we recommend that
repairs and maintenance be conducted by any authorized Toyota
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-
sional. Any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer will keep a record of
maintenance, which could be useful should you ever require Warranty
Service. Should you choose to select a qualified and equipped profes-
sional other than an authorized Toyota repairer to service or maintain
your vehicle, we recommend that you request that a record of mainte-
nance be kept.