Get When driving -> Driving the vehicle Guide for Toyota Prius 4 Door Third Generation (2010-2015)

2-1. Driving proc edures

Driving the vehicle

The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driv-

ing:

■ Starting the hybrid system

P. 192

■ Driving

STEP

1

With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift position to D.

(P. 202)

Check that the shift position indicator shows D. (P. 214)

STEP

2

3

Release the parking brake. (P. 212)

Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the

accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.

■ Stopping

STEP

1

With the shift position in D, depress the brake pedal.

If necessary, set the parking brake.

STEP

2

When the vehicle will be stopped for an extended period of time,

shift the shift position to P. (P. 205)

■ Parking the vehicle

STEP

1

2

3

Stop the vehicle completely.

Set the parking brake. (P. 212)

Shift the shift position to P. (P. 205)

Check that the shift position indicator shows P. (P. 202)

STEP

4

5

6

Press the “POWER” switch to stop the hybrid system.

Slowly release the brake pedal.

Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key

on your person.

When parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.

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2-1. Driving procedures

Starting off on a uphill

STEP

1

2

3

Firmly set the parking brake with the brake pedal depressed,

and then shift the shift position to D.

Release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator

pedal.

Release the parking brake.

2

■When starting off on a uphill

The hill-start assist control is available. (P. 301)

■Driving in the rain

●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the

windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.

●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be

especially slippery.

●Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,

because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road

surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.

■Breaking in your new Toyota

To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is rec-

ommended:

●For the first 200 miles (300 km):

Avoid sudden stops.

●For the first 600 miles (1000 km):

• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.

• Avoid sudden acceleration.

• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

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2-1. Driving procedures

■Operating your vehicle in a foreign country

Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability

of the correct fuel. (P. 562)

■For efficient use

●Shift the shift position to D when driving.

In the N position, the gasoline engine operates but electricity cannot be

generated. The hybrid battery (traction battery) will discharge, requiring

unnecessary engine power to recharge.

●Drive your vehicle smoothly.

Avoid abrupt acceleration and deceleration. Gradual acceleration and

deceleration will make more effective use of the electric motor (traction

motor) without having to use gasoline engine power.

●Avoid repeated acceleration.

Repeated acceleration consumes hybrid battery (traction battery) power,

resulting in poor acceleration. Battery power can be restored by driving

with the accelerator pedal slightly released.

●Shift the shift position to P when parking.

In the N position, the hybrid battery (traction battery) does not recharge.

Leaving the shift position in the N position for an extended period of time

may discharge the hybrid battery (traction battery). The vehicle cannot

run if the hybrid battery (traction battery) is discharged.

182

2-1. Driving procedures

CAUTION

■When starting the vehicle

Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the hybrid sys-

tem operating. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.

■When driving the vehicle

●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-

erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.

2

• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake

pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident

that could result in death or serious injury.

• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi-

culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.

• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the

vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and acceler-

ator pedals properly.

• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake

pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-

ing in an accident.

●Because there is no engine noise when the vehicle is being driven using

the electric motor, pedestrians in the vicinity may not notice the vehicle.

Even though the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle proximity notification

system, drive with care as pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice

the vehicle if the surrounding area is noisy.

●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.

The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot

parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.

●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while a forward driving position is

selected, or roll forward while the shift position is in R.

Doing so may result in an accident or damage to the vehicle.

183

2-1. Driving procedures

CAUTION

●If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and

check that the back door is closed. Large amounts of exhaust in the vehi-

cle can cause driver drowsiness and an accident, resulting in death or a

serious health hazard. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer

immediately.

●Do not shift the shift position to P while the vehicle is moving.

Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle

control.

●Do not shift the shift position to R while the vehicle is moving forward.

Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle

control.

●Do not shift the shift position to D while the vehicle is moving backward.

Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle

control.

●Moving the shift position to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage

the hybrid system. Engine braking is not available with the hybrid system

disengaged.

●During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid

system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control,

but the power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more

difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as

soon as it is safe to do so.

However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible

to stop the vehicle in the normal way: P. 556

●Use engine braking (shift position B instead of shift position D) to maintain

a safe speed when driving down a steep hill.

Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose

effectiveness. (P. 202)

184

2-1. Driving procedures

CAUTION

●Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or

outside rear view mirrors while driving.

Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control that can cause accidents,

resulting in death or serious injury.

●Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of their body

are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.

●Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-

mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-

speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) 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.

2

■When driving on slippery road surfaces

●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and

reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.

●Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shift changing, or changes in

engine speed could cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.

●After driving through a puddle, depress the brake pedal to make sure that

the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the

brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet

and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in

an accident.

185

2-1. Driving procedures

CAUTION

■When changing the shift position

Be careful not to change the shift position with the accelerator pedal

depressed.

Changing the shift position to any positions other than P or N may cause the

vehicle to accelerate abruptly, causing an accident and resulting in death or

serious injury.

After changing the shift position, make sure to confirm the current shift posi-

tion displayed on the shift position indicator inside the meter.

■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indica-

tors)

Have your Toyota dealer check and replace the brake pads as soon as pos-

sible.

Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.

It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads

and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded.

■When the vehicle is stopped

●Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.

If the vehicle is in any shift position other than P or N, the vehicle may

accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.

●Do not leave the vehicle with the hybrid system on for a long time.

If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space

and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.

●In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep

depressing the brake pedal while the “READY” indicator is on. Apply the

parking brake as necessary.

186

2-1. Driving procedures

CAUTION

●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused

by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal

and securely apply the parking brake as needed.

●Avoid revving or racing the engine.

Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause

the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible

material is nearby.

2

■When the vehicle is parked

●Make sure to firmly apply the parking brake and shift the shift position to P.

Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move, or the vehicle to acceler-

ate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed. Also, when

leaving the vehicle, make sure to turn off the hybrid system and lock the

vehicle.

Sound or shuddering may not be noticed even when the hybrid vehicle is

ready to drive (when the “READY” indicator is illuminated).

●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in

the vehicle when it is in the sun.

Doing so may result in the following:

• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a

fire.

• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and

plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.

• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the

interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehi-

cle’s electrical components.

187

2-1. Driving procedures

CAUTION

●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a

place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when

luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.

●Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not place

containers such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard.

Adhesive discs or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehi-

cle.

●Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a

metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause

the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.

●Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the hybrid system is operating or

immediately after turning the hybrid system off.

Doing so may cause burns.

●Do not leave the hybrid system operating in an area with snow build-up, or

where it is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the

hybrid system is operating, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehi-

cle. This may lead to death or a serious health hazard.

■Exhaust gases

Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless

and odorless. Inhaling exhaust gases may lead to death or a serious health

hazard.

●If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area, stop the hybrid system. In a

closed area, such as a garage, exhaust gases may collect and enter the

vehicle. This may lead to death or a serious health hazard.

●The exhaust system should be checked occasionally. If there is a hole or

crack caused by corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise,

be sure to have the vehicle inspected and repaired by your Toyota dealer.

Failure to do so may allow exhaust gases to enter the vehicle, resulting in

death or a serious health hazard.

188

2-1. Driving procedures

CAUTION

■When taking a nap in the vehicle

Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the

shift lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or

fire due to hybrid system overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in

a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle,

leading to death or a serious health hazard.

■When braking

2

●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.

Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause

one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the

parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.

●If the electronically controlled assist function does not operate, do not fol-

low other vehicles closely and avoid downhill or sharp turns that require

braking.

In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be

depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.

●The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if one of the

systems fails, the others will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal

should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will

increase. If this happens, do not continue to drive the vehicle. If the brake

system warning light (red indicator) comes on while driving, immediately

stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Toyota dealer.

189

2-1. Driving procedures

NOTICE

■When driving the vehicle

●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during

driving, as this may restrain driving torque.

●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake

pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.

■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts

●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for

an extended period of time.

Doing so may damage the power steering motor.

●When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid

damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.

■If you get a flat tire while driving

A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering

wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.

●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.

●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.

●The vehicle will lean abnormally.

Information on what to do in case of a flat tire. (P. 523)

190

2-1. Driving procedures

NOTICE

■When encountering flooded roads

Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may

cause the following serious damage to the vehicle:

●Engine stalling

●Short in electrical components

●Engine damage caused by water immersion

2

In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be

sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following:

●Brake function

●Changes in quantity and quality of engine oil, transmission fluid for the

hybrid system, etc.

●Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possi-

ble), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

If the P position control system is damaged by flooding, it may not be possi-

ble to shift the shift position to P, or from P to other positions. When the shift

position cannot be changed from P to any other position, the front wheels

will lock, and you will be unable to tow the vehicle with the front wheels on

the ground, as the front wheels may be locked. In this case, transport the

vehicle with both front wheels or all four wheels lifted.

191

When driving -> Driving the vehicle for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door Third Generation (2010-2015)

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