Get STARTING AND DRIVING Guide for Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

SECTION

4

STARTING AND DRIVING

Before starting the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348

How to start the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348

Tips for driving in various conditionss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350

Winter driving tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351

Dinghy towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352

Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353

How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer, too . . . . . . . . . 353

347

How to start the hybrid

system— (a) Before starting

the hybrid system

(b) Turning on the hybrid

system (Using the smart

function—on some models)

Before starting the hybrid

system

1. Check the area around the vehicle be-

fore entering it.

1. Apply the parking brake firmly.

2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-

sories.

2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle,

head restraint height and steering

wheel angle.

3. Depress the brake pedal and hold it

to the floor until driving off.

3. Adjust the inside and outside rear view

mirrors.

40p102b

4. Lock all doors.

5. Fasten seat belts.

When you get in the vehicle, check

whether the “READY” light is on or

not.

Before starting the hybrid system, be sure

to follow the instructions in “(a) Before

starting the hybrid system”.

CAUTION

Your vehicle does not produce any

noise or vibration when the vehicle is

ready to be driven with the “READY”

light on. Move your foot carefully

from the brake pedal to the accelera-

tion pedal when driving.

Normal starting procedure

Carry the key and press the “POWER”

switch briefly and firmly with the brake

pedal depressed. The “READY” light starts

blinking. After a few seconds, the blinking

“READY” light remains on and two beeps

sound. (If the ambient temperature is low,

such as during winter driving conditions,

it may take time until the “READY” light

is on.)

The engine may not start even with the

“READY” light on.

348

(b) Turning on the hybrid

system (Using the key)

You may hear a motor sound in the en-

gine compartment when the brake pedal is

depressed with the hybrid system off.

NOTICE

z The hybrid system cannot be

started when the shift position is

“N”. Be sure to put it in “P” and

then start the system.

When the hybrid system is started or

stopped, you may hear a sound coming

from the hybrid battery in the luggage

compartment. However, this does not indi-

cate any trouble.

40p002d

z If any warning light comes on (See

page 125 for details.) or the 12 volt

battery is disconnected, the hybrid

system may not start by pushing

the “POWER” switch. In that case,

push it once again. If the “READY”

light does not come on, contact

your Toyota dealer.

If there is a problem somewhere in the

hybrid system, the hybrid system malfunc-

tion warning light will come on in place of

the “READY” light. If this happens, contact

your Toyota dealer.

Before starting the hybrid system, be sure

to follow the instructions in “(a) Before

starting the hybrid system”.

CAUTION

z When you start the hybrid system

at a lowered outside temperature, it

may take longer before the blinking

“READY” light changes to stay on.

Never start the hybrid system from

outside the vehicle, or an accident

may occur. Be sure to sit on the driv-

er seat, then start the system when

driving.

Normal starting procedure

Insert the key and press the “POWER”

switch briefly and firmly with the brake

pedal depressed. The “READY” light starts

blinking. After a few seconds, the blinking

“READY” light remains on and two beeps

sound. (If the ambient temperature is low,

such as during winter driving conditions,

it may take time until the “READY” light

is on.)

The engine may not start even with the

“READY” light on.

349

Tips for driving in various

conditions

You may hear a motor sound in the en-

gine compartment when the brake pedal is

depressed with the hybrid system off.

ꢀ Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.

NOTICE

This will allow you much better control.

z The hybrid system cannot be

started when the shift position is

“N”. Be sure to put it in “P” and

then start the system.

ꢀ Drive slowly onto curbs and, if pos-

sible, at a right angle. Avoid driving

onto high, sharp−edged objects and

other road hazards. Failure to do so

can lead to severe tire damage such

as a tire burst.

When the hybrid system is started or

stopped, you may hear a sound coming

from the hybrid battery in the luggage

compartment. However, this does not indi-

cate any trouble.

z If any warning light comes on (See

page 125 for details.) or the 12 volt

battery is disconnected, the hybrid

system may not start by pushing

the “POWER” switch. In that case,

push it once again. If the “READY”

light does not come on, contact

your Toyota dealer.

Drive slowly when passing over bumps

or travelling on a bumpy road. Other-

wise, the impact could cause severe

damage to the tires and/or wheels.

If there is a problem somewhere in the

hybrid system, the hybrid system malfunc-

tion warning light will come on in place of

the “READY” light. If this happens, contact

your Toyota dealer.

ꢀ When parking on a hill, turn the front

wheels until they touch the curb so

that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the

parking brake, and put the hybrid

transaxle “P”. If necessary, block the

wheels.

CAUTION

z When you start the hybrid system

at a lowered outside temperature, it

may take longer before the blinking

“READY” light changes to stay on.

Never start the hybrid system from

outside the vehicle, or an accident

may occur. Be sure to sit on the driv-

er seat, then start the system when

driving.

ꢀ Washing your vehicle or driving through

deep water may get the brakes wet. To

see whether they are wet, check that

there is no traffic near you, and then

press the pedal lightly. If you do not

feel a normal braking force, the brakes

are probably wet. To dry them, drive

the vehicle cautiously while lightly

pressing the brake pedal with the park-

ing brake applied. If they still do not

work safely, pull to the side of the road

and call a Toyota dealer for assistance.

350

Winter driving tips

Make sure you have

protection for engine coolant.

a

proper freeze

ꢀ Do not drive in excess of the speed

limit. Even if the legal speed limit

permits it, do not drive over 140

km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle

has high−speed capability tires.

Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph)

may result in tire failure, loss of

control and possible injury. Be sure

to consult a tire dealer to determine

whether the tires on your vehicle

are high−speed capability tires or

not before driving at such speeds.

CAUTION

Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”

or similar high quality ethylene glycol

based non−silicate, non−amine, non−nitrite,

and non−borate coolant with long−life

hybrid organic acid technology. (Coolant

ꢀ Before driving off, make sure the

parking brake is fully released and

the parking brake reminder light is

off.

ꢀ Do not leave your vehicle unat-

tended with the “READY” light on.

with

long−life

hybrid

organic

acid

technology is

a

combination of low

phosphates and organic acids.)

ꢀ Do not rest your foot on the brake

pedal while driving. It can cause

dangerous overheating, needless

wear, and poor fuel economy.

See “Checking the coolant level” on page

402 for details of coolant type selection.

For the U.S.A.—“Toyota Super Long Life

Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and

50% deionized water. This coolant pro-

vides protection down to about −35ꢁC

(−31ꢁF).

ꢀ Do not continue normal driving

when the brakes are wet. If they are

wet, your vehicle will require a lon-

ger stopping distance, and it may

pull to one side when the brakes

are applied. Also, the parking brake

will not hold the vehicle securely.

ꢀ To drive down a long or steep hill,

reduce your speed and downshift.

Remember, if you ride the brakes

excessively, they may overheat and

not work properly.

For Canada—“Toyota Super Long Life

Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and

45% deionized water. This coolant pro-

vides protection down to about −42ꢁC

(−44ꢁF).

ꢀ Be careful when accelerating or

braking on a slippery surface. Sud-

den acceleration or engine braking,

could cause the vehicle to skid or

spin.

NOTICE

Do not use plain water alone.

351

Dinghy towing

Check the condition of the 12 volt bat-

tery and cables.

NOTICE

Do not use engine antifreeze or any

other substitute because it may dam-

age your vehicle’s paint.

Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of

any 12 volt battery, so it must be in top

shape to provide enough power for winter

starting. Section 8−3 tells you how to

visually inspect the 12 volt battery. Your

Toyota dealer will be pleased to check the

level of charge.

40p050b

Do not use your parking brake when

there is a possibility it could freeze.

When parking, push the “P” position

switch and block the rear wheels. Do not

use the parking brake, for snow or water

accumulated in and around the parking

brake mechanism may freeze, making it

hard to release.

Make sure the engine oil viscosity is

suitable for the cold weather.

See page 401 for recommended viscosity.

Leaving a heavy summer oil in your ve-

hicle during winter months may cause

harder starting. If you are not sure about

which oil to use, call your Toyota deal-

er—they will be pleased to help.

Your vehicle is not designed to be

dinghy towed (with four wheels on the

ground) behind a motorhome.

Keep ice and snow from accumulating

under the fenders.

Ice and snow built up under your fenders

can make steering difficult. During extreme

winter driving, stop and check under the

fenders occasionally.

NOTICE

Keep the door locks from freezing.

Do not tow your vehicle with four

Squirt lock de−icer or glycerine into the

locks to keep them from freezing.

wheels on the ground.

This may

cause serious damage to your ve-

hicle.

Depending on where you are driving,

we recommend you carry some emer-

gency equipment.

Use a washer fluid containing an anti−

freeze solution.

This product is available at your Toyota

dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow

the manufacturer’s directions for how

much to mix with water.

Some of the things you might put in the

vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,

bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,

jumper cables, etc.

352

How to save fuel and make

your vehicle last longer, too

Trailer towing

Improving fuel economy is easy−just take

it easy. It will help make your vehicle last

longer, too. Here are some specific tips

on how to save money on both fuel and

repairs:

ꢀ Do not rest your foot on brake ped-

al. This causes premature wear, over-

heating and poor fuel economy.

ꢀ Maintain a moderate speed on high-

ways. The faster you drive, the greater

the fuel consumption. By reducing your

speed, you will cut down on fuel con-

sumption.

ꢀ Keep your tires inflated at the cor-

rect pressure. Underinflation causes

tire wear and wastes fuel. See page

405 for instructions.

40p003b

ꢀ Keep the front wheels in proper

alignment. Avoid hitting the curb and

slow down on rough roads. Improper

alignment not only causes faster tire

wear but also puts an extra load on

the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.

ꢀ Do not carry unneeded weight in

your vehicle. Excess weight puts

a

heavier load on the engine, causing

greater fuel consumption.

ꢀ Accelerate slowly and smoothly.

Toyota does not recommend towing a

trailer with your Toyota. Toyota also

does not recommend the installation of

a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch

Avoid jackrabbit starts.

ꢀ Keep the bottom of your vehicle free

from mud, etc. This not only lessens

weight but also helps prevent corro-

sion.

ꢀ Avoid continuous speeding up and

slowing down. Stop−and−go driving

wastes power.

carrier for

a

wheelchair, scooter, bi-

cycle, etc. Your Toyota is not designed

for trailer towing or for the use of tow

hitch mounted carriers.

ꢀ Keep your vehicle tuned−up and in

top shape. A dirty air cleaner, improp-

er valve clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil

and grease, brakes not adjusted, etc.

all lower engine performance and con-

tribute to poor fuel economy. For longer

life of all parts and lower operating

costs, keep all maintenance work on

schedule, and if you often drive under

severe conditions, see that your ve-

hicle receives more frequent mainte-

nance.

ꢀ Avoid unnecessary stopping and

braking. Maintain a steady pace. Try

to time the traffic signals so you only

need to stop as little as possible or

take advantage of through streets to

avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper dis-

tance from other vehicles to avoid sud-

den braking. This will also reduce wear

on your brakes.

ꢀ Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams

whenever possible.

353

CAUTION

Never turn off the hybrid system to

coast down hills. Your power steering

and brake booster will not function

without the hybrid system running.

Also, the emission control system op-

erates properly only when the hybrid

system is running.

354

STARTING AND DRIVING for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

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