When trouble arises -> If your vehicle overheats for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door Third Generation (2010-2015)

5-2. St eps t o t ak e in an em ergenc y  
If your vehicle overheats  
The following may indicate that your vehicle is overheating:  
The high coolant temperature warning light flashes or comes on:  
The engine may be overheating.  
“HYBRID SYSTEM OVERHEAT” is shown on the multi-informa-  
tion display:  
The power control unit may be overheating.  
Follow the correction procedure as described below.  
Correction procedures  
If the high coolant temperature warning light flashes or comes  
on  
STEP  
STEP  
1
2
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air condition-  
ing system.  
Check to see if steam is coming out from under the hood.  
If you see steam:  
Stop the hybrid system. Carefully lift the hood after the  
steam subsides and then restart the hybrid system.  
5
If you do not see steam:  
Leave the hybrid system operating and carefully lift the  
hood.  
549  
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency  
STEP  
3
Check to see if the cooling fans are operating.  
If the fans are operating:  
Wait until the high coolant temperature warning light goes  
off and then stop the hybrid system.  
If the fans are not operating:  
Stop the hybrid system immediately and call your Toyota  
dealer.  
After the hybrid system has  
cooled down sufficiently, check  
the engine coolant level and  
inspect the cooling system for  
leaks.  
STEP  
4
If necessary, add engine coolant  
up to the “FULL” line.  
STEP  
5
Water can be used in an emer-  
gency measure if engine coolant  
is unavailable. (P. 566)  
ITO52P130  
Have the vehicle checked at nearest Toyota dealer as soon as possi-  
ble.  
550  
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency  
If “HYBRID SYSTEM OVERHEAT” is shown on the multi-infor-  
mation display  
STEP  
1
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the air condition-  
ing system.  
STEP  
STEP  
2
3
Leave the hybrid system operating and carefully lift the hood.  
Check if the cooling fans are operating.  
If the fans are operating:  
Wait until “HYBRID SYSTEM OVERHEAT” disappears and  
then stop the hybrid system.  
If the warning light does not turn off, call your Toyota dealer.  
If the fans are not operating:  
Stop the hybrid system immediately and call your Toyota  
dealer.  
After the hybrid system has  
cooled down, check the power  
control unit coolant level and  
inspect the cooling system for  
leaks.  
STEP  
4
5
551  
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency  
If necessary, add power control  
unit coolant up to the “F” line.  
STEP  
5
Water can be used in an emer-  
gency measure if power control  
unit coolant is unavailable.  
(P. 566)  
Have the vehicle checked at nearest Toyota dealer as soon as possi-  
ble.  
Overheating  
The following symptoms may occur when your vehicle is overheating:  
Hybrid system output decrease  
Steam is coming from under the hood  
552  
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency  
CAUTION  
To prevent an accident or injury when inspecting under the hood of  
your vehicle  
If steam is seen coming from under the hood, do not open the hood until  
the steam has subsided. The engine compartment may be very hot, caus-  
ing serious injuries such as burns.  
Check that the indicator on the “POWER” switch and the “READY” indica-  
tor are off.  
For vehicles with a hybrid system, there are times when the gasoline  
engine automatically starts to run or the cooling fans suddenly start to  
operate. Do not touch or approach the rotating parts of the fans, etc. Doing  
so may lead to fingers, clothes or tools getting caught, resulting in injury.  
Do not loosen the coolant reservoir cap while the hybrid system and radia-  
tor are hot.  
Serious injury, such as burns, may result from hot coolant and steam  
released under pressure.  
NOTICE  
When adding engine/power control unit coolant  
5
Wait until the hybrid system has cooled down before adding engine/power  
control unit coolant.  
When adding coolant, do so slowly. Adding cool coolant to a hot hybrid sys-  
tem too quickly can cause damage to the hybrid system.  
To prevent damage to the cooling system  
Observe the following precautions:  
Avoid contaminating the coolant with foreign matter (such as sand or dust  
etc.)  
Do not use commercially available coolant additives  
553