Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (2017 year). Manual

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

629

WARNING

■ Replacing light bulbs

● Be sure to stop the hybrid system and turn off the lights. Do not attempt to

replace the bulb immediately after turning off the lights.

The bulbs become very hot and may cause burns.

●Do not touch the glass portion of the light bulb with bare hands. When it is

unavoidable to hold the glass portion, use and hold with a clean dry cloth

to avoid getting moisture and oils on the bulb.

Also, if the bulb is scratched or dropped, it may blow out or crack.

●Fully install light bulbs and any parts used to secure them. Failure to do so

may result in heat damage, fire, or water entering the headlight unit. This

may damage the headlights or cause condensation to build up on the lens.

●Do not attempt to repair or disassemble light bulbs, connectors, electric

circuits or component parts.

Doing so may result in death or serious injury due to electric shock.

●Do not replace the right-hand back-up light immediately after the vehicle

has been driven.

After the vehicle has been driven the exhaust pipe will be extremely hot,

and touching the exhaust pipe may result in burns.

●Use gloves and other protection to prevent injuries on vehicle parts.

There is the danger of being injured on the edges of parts.

■ To prevent damage or fire

● Make sure bulbs are fully seated and locked.

●Check the wattage of the bulb before installing to prevent heat damage.

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When trouble arises

8-1.

Essential information

Emergency flashers

632

If your vehicle has to

be stopped in an

emergency

633

8-2.

Steps to take in an

emergency

If your vehicle needs

to be towed

634

If you think something is

wrong

640

If a warning light turns on

or a warning buzzer

sounds

641

If a warning message is

displayed

650

If you have a flat tire

658

If the hybrid system will

not start

676

If the electronic key does

not operate properly

678

If the 12-volt battery is

discharged

682

If your vehicle

overheats

688

If the vehicle becomes

stuck

693

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632

8-1. Essential information

Emergency flashers

The emergency flashers are used to warn other drivers when the

vehicle has to be stopped in the road due to a breakdown, etc.

Press the switch.

All the turn signal lights will flash.

To turn them off, press the switch

once again.

■ Emergency flashers

If the emergency flashers are used for a long time while the hybrid system is

not operating (while the “READY” indicator is not illuminated), the 12-volt bat-

tery may discharge.

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8-1. Essential information

633

If your vehicle has to be stopped in an

emergency

Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop

the vehicle in the normal way, stop the vehicle using the follow-

ing procedure:

Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly depress it.

Do not pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the effort

required to slow the vehicle.

Shift the shift position to N.

 If the shift position is shifted to N

After slowing down, stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.

Stop the hybrid system.

 If the shift position cannot be shifted to N

Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce vehicle

speed as much as possible.

To stop the hybrid system,

press and hold the power

switch for

2 consecutive sec-

onds or more, or press it briefly

3 times or more in succession.

Press and hold for 2 seconds or

more, or press briefly 3 times or

Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.

WARNING

■ If the hybrid system has to be turned off while driving

Power assist for the steering wheel will be lost, making the steering wheel

heavier to turn. Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the hybrid

system.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

If your vehicle needs to be towed

If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle

towed by any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another

duly qualified and equipped professional or commercial towing

service, using a wheel-lift type truck or flatbed truck.

Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/

provincial and local laws.

Situations when it is not possible to be towed by another vehicle

In the following situations, it is not possible to be towed by another

vehicle using cables or chains, as the front wheels may be locked due

to the parking lock. Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer,

or another duly qualified and equipped professional or commercial

towing service.

● There is a malfunction in the shift control system. (P. 330, 656)

● There is a malfunction in the immobilizer system. (P. 75)

● There is a malfunction in the smart entry & start system. (P. 678)

● The 12-volt battery is discharged. (P. 682)

Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing

The following may indicate a problem with your hybrid transmission.

Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly

qualified and equipped professional or commercial towing service

before towing.

● The hybrid system warning message is displayed and the vehicle

does not move.

● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

Using a flatbed truck

If your vehicle is transported by a

flatbed truck, it should be tied

down at the locations shown in the

illustration.

Front

If you use cables or chains to tie

down your vehicle, the angles

shaded in black must be 45.

Do not overly tighten the tie

downs or the vehicle may be dam-

aged.

Emergency towing

If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be

temporarily towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency

towing eyelets. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads

for short distances at under 30 km/h (18 mph).

A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The

vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in

good condition.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

637

Emergency towing procedure

Take out the towing eyelet. (P. 598)

Remove the eyelet cover using

a flathead screwdriver.

To protect the bodywork, place a

rag between the screwdriver and

the vehicle body as shown in the

illustration.

Insert the towing eyelet into the

hole and tighten partially

hand.

Tighten down the towing eyelet

securely using a wheel nut

wrench or hard metal bar.

When tightening with a wheel nut

wrench or hard metal bar, make

sure not to damage the vehicle

body.

Securely attach cables or chains to the towing eyelet.

Take care not to damage the vehicle body.

Enter the vehicle being towed and start the hybrid system.

If the hybrid system does not start, turn the power switch to ON mode.

Turn off the Intelligent Clearance Sonar. (if equipped): P. 445

Shift the shift position to N and release the parking brake.

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638

8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

■While towing

If the hybrid system is off, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not

function, making steering and braking more difficult.

■ Wheel nut wrench

Wheel nut wrench is installed in luggage compartment. (P. 598)

■ Towing eyelet installation hole on the rear of the vehicle

The hole is equipped for fastening the

vehicle while shipping. The towing eyelet

installed in this hole cannot be used for

towing another vehicle.

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■ When towing the vehicle

Be sure to transport the vehicle with the

front wheels raised or with all four wheels

raised off the ground. If the vehicle is

towed with the front wheels contacting

the ground, the drivetrain and related

parts may be damaged or electricity gen-

erated by the operation of the motor may

cause a fire to occur depending on the

nature of the damage or malfunction.

■ While towing

●When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. which place

excessive stress on the towing eyelets, cables or chains. The towing eye-

lets, cables or chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit peo-

ple, and cause serious damage.

●Do not turn the power switch off.

This may lead to an accident as the front wheels will be locked by the

parking lock.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

639

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■ Installing towing eyelets to the vehicle

●The towing eyelets are only for the vehicle equipped with them. Do not use

the towing eyelets for another vehicle, and do not use the towing eyelets

for this vehicle on another vehicle.

● Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.

If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing.

NOTICE

■ To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing using a wheel-lift type

truck

When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at

the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the

vehicle could be damaged while being towed.

■ To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing with a sling-type truck

Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.

■ To prevent damage to the vehicle during emergency towing

Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

If you think something is wrong

If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle proba-

bly needs adjustment or repair. Contact any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped pro-

fessional as soon as possible.

Visible symptoms

● Fluid leaks under the vehicle

(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)

● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear

● High coolant temperature 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, spongy feeling, pedal almost touches

the floor

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

641

If a warning light turns on or a warning

buzzer sounds

Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights

comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then

goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the

system. However, if this continues to occur, have the vehicle

inspected by any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or

another duly qualified and equipped professional.

Warning light and warning buzzer list

Warning light

Warning light/Details/Actions

Brake system warning light and warning buzzer (red

indicator)*1

Indicates that:

• The brake fluid level is low; or

• The brake system is malfunctioning

 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-

tact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or

another duly qualified and equipped professional.

Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.

Brake system warning light (yellow indicator)

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The regenerative braking system; or

• The electronically controlled brake system

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

Charging system warning light

Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system

 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-

tact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or

another duly qualified and equipped professional.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

Warning light

Warning light/Details/Actions

Low engine oil pressure warning light

(warning buzzer)*2

Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low

 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-

tact any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or

another duly qualified and equipped professional.

Malfunction indicator lamp

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The hybrid system;

• The electronic engine control system; or

• The electronic throttle control system

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

SRS warning light

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The SRS airbag system; or

• The seat belt pretensioner system

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

ABS warning light

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The ABS; or

• The brake assist system

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

Electric power steering system warning light (warning

buzzer)

Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steer-

ing) system

(Red/yellow)

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

643

Warning light

Warning light/Details/Actions

PCS warning light

When the warning light flashes (and a buzzer sounds):

Indicates a malfunction in the PCS (Pre-Crash Safety sys-

tem)

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

When the warning light flashes (and a buzzer does not

sound):

Indicates that the PCS (Pre-Crash Safety system) is tem-

porarily unavailable, possibly due to either of the following:

• An area around the radar sensor or camera sensor

being dirty or covered with condensation, ice, stickers,

etc.

(Flashes)

 Clear the dirt, condensation, ice, stickers, etc.

(P. 362)

• Radar sensor or camera sensor operational conditions

(such as temperature etc.) being not met

 Driving is possible in this case. The PCS (Pre-Crash

Safety system) will be enabled if the operational con-

ditions (such as temperature etc.) are met again.

When the warning light is illuminated:

Either the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system or PCS

(Pre-Crash Safety system) is disabled or both are dis-

abled.

 To enable the PCS, enable both the VSC system and

PCS. (P. 372, 493)

Slip indicator light

Indicates a malfunction in:

• The VSC system;

• The TRC system; or

• The hill-start assist control system

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

The light will flash when the ABS, VSC or TRC system is

operating.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

Warning light

Warning light/Details/Actions

High coolant temperature warning light

• When the light flashes:

Indicates that the engine coolant temperature is too high

The light changes from a flashing to a solid light when

the temperature further increases

 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place.

(P. 688)

• When the light comes on without flashing:

Indicates a malfunction in the exhaust heat recirculator

system

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional immediately.

ICS OFF indicator

Indicates a malfunction in the Intelligent Clearance Sonar

function

 Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional.

The warning light will operate as follows, even when the

system is not malfunctioning:

(Flashes)

(If equipped)

• The light will come on when the Intelligent Clearance

Sonar function is turned off (P. 445)

• The light will come on when the Intelligent Clearance

Sonar function is operating (P. 449)

• The light will flash when the system cannot temporarily

be used (P. 453)

Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*3

Indicates that a door is not fully closed

 Check that all the doors are closed.

Low fuel level warning light

Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately

6.4 L

(1.7 gal., 1.4 Imp.gal.) or less

 Refuel the vehicle.

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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency

645

Warning light

Warning light/Details/Actions

Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light

(warning buzzer)*4

Warns the driver and/or front passenger to fasten their

seat belts

 Fasten the seat belt.

If the front passenger’s seat is occupied, the front

passenger’s seat belt also needs to be fastened to

make the warning light (warning buzzer) turn off.

Rear passengers’ seat belt reminder light

(warning

buzzer)*4

Warns the rear passengers to fasten their seat belts

 Fasten the seat belt.

Master warning light

A buzzer sounds and the warning light comes on and

flashes to indicate that the master warning system has

detected a malfunction.

 P. 650

Tire pressure warning light

When the light comes on:

Low tire inflation pressure such as

• Natural causes (P. 648)

• Flat tire (P. 658)

 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 inflation pres-

sure is adjusted, have the system checked by any

authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly

qualified and equipped professional.

When the light comes on after blinking for 1 minute:

Malfunction in the tire pressure warning system (P. 648)

 Have the system checked by any authorized Toyota

dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and

equipped professional.

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Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (2017 year). Manual - part 38