DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE - Electrical components -> Checking auxiliary battery condition for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door First Generation (1997-2003)

Checking auxiliary battery  
condition—  
—Precautions  
—Checking auxiliary battery  
exterior  
EMERGENCY MEASURES  
CAUTION  
Terminals  
D If electrolyte gets in your eyes,  
flush your eyes with clean water  
and get immediate medical atten-  
tion. If possible, continue to apply  
water with a sponge or cloth while  
en route to the medical office.  
AUXILIARY BATTERY PRECAUTIONS  
When the auxiliary battery must be  
replaced, use the Prius designated  
battery.  
The auxiliary battery produces flam-  
mable and explosive hydrogen gas.  
D If electrolyte gets on your skin,  
thoroughly wash the contact area. If  
you feel pain or burn, get medical  
attention immediately.  
D Do not cause a spark from the bat-  
tery with tools.  
Holddown clamp  
D Do not smoke or light a match near  
Ground cable  
D If electrolyte gets on your clothes,  
there is a possibility of its soaking  
through to your skin, so immediate-  
ly take off the exposed clothing and  
follow the procedure above, if nec-  
essary.  
the battery.  
Check the battery for corroded or loose  
terminal connections, cracks, or loose  
hold−down clamp.  
The electrolyte contains poisonous  
and corrosive sulfuric acid.  
D Avoid contact with eyes, skin or  
a. If the battery is corroded, wash it off  
with a solution of warm water and bak-  
ing soda. Coat the outside of the termi-  
nals with grease to prevent further cor-  
rosion.  
clothes.  
D Never ingest electrolyte.  
D If you accidentally swallow electro-  
lyte, drink a large quantity of water  
or milk. Follow with milk of magne-  
sia, beaten raw egg or vegetable  
oil. Then go immediately for emer-  
gency help.  
D Wear protective safety glasses when  
working near the battery.  
b. If the terminal connections are loose,  
tighten their clamp nuts—but do not  
overtighten.  
D Keep children away from the bat-  
tery.  
D Warning: Battery posts, terminals and  
related accessories contain lead and  
lead compounds, chemicals known to  
the State of California to cause can-  
cer and reproductive harm. Wash  
hands after handling.  
c. Tighten the holddown clamp only  
enough to keep the battery firmly in  
place. Overtightening may damage the  
battery case.  
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