Toyota Prius Prime (2020 year). Owner's manual - part 37

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

NOTICE

■

If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive engine wear
due to dirt in the air.

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Hood

Pull the hood lock release lever.

The hood will pop up slightly.

Pull  the  auxiliary  catch  lever
and lift the hood.

Hold the hood open by inserting
the supporting rod into the slot.

Release the lock from the inside of the vehicle to open the hood.

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WARNING

■

Pre-driving check
Check that the hood is fully closed and locked. 
If the hood is not locked properly, it may open while the vehicle is in motion
and cause an accident, which may result in death or serious injury.

■

To prevent burns

■

After installing the support rod into the slot
Make sure the rod supports the hood securely from falling down on to your
head or body.

■

When closing the hood

NOTICE

■

When closing the hood
Be sure to return the supporting rod to its clip before closing the hood. Clos-
ing  the  hood  without  returning  the  support  rod  properly  could  cause  the
hood to bend.

Do  not  touch  the  air  conditioning  pipes
when  the  air  conditioning  compressor  is
operating or after it is  stopped,  because
the air conditioning pipes are hot.
Touching  by  hands  before  the  air  condi-
tioning  pipes  cool  down  may  cause
burns.

When  closing  the  hood,  take  extra  care
to  prevent  your  fingers  etc.  from  being
caught.

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Positioning a floor jack

◆

Front

Set a floor jack against the front suspension member.

◆

Rear

When  using  a  floor  jack,  follow  the  instructions  in  the  manual
provided with the jack and perform the operation safely.
When raising your vehicle with a floor jack, position the jack cor-
rectly.  Improper  placement  may  damage  your  vehicle  or  cause
injury.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Engine compartment

Engine coolant reservoir 

(

P. 592)

Fuse boxes

 (

P. 638)

Engine oil level dipstick 

(

P. 589)

Engine oil filler cap (

P. 590)

Brake fluid reservoir

(

P. 598)

Washer fluid tank  (

P. 600)

12-volt battery

(

P. 595)

Power control unit coolant 
reservoir

 (

P. 592)

Radiator 

(

P. 594)

Condenser

 (

P. 594)

Electric cooling fans

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With the engine at operating temperature and turned off, check the oil
level on the dipstick.

■

Checking the engine oil

Park  the  vehicle  on  level  ground. After  warming  up  the  engine
and turning off the hybrid system, wait more than 5 minutes for
the oil to drain back into the bottom of the engine.
Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out.

Wipe the dipstick clean.
Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Holding a rag under the end, pull the dipstick out and check the
oil level.

Low
Normal
Excessive

Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it fully.

Engine oil

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Adding engine oil
If  the  oil  level  is  below  or  near
the low level mark, add engine
oil  of  the  same  type  as  that
already in the engine.

Make  sure  to  check  the  oil  type  and  prepare  the  items  needed
before adding oil.

Remove the oil filler cap by turning it counterclockwise.
Add engine oil slowly, checking the dipstick.
Install the oil filler cap by turning it clockwise.

■

Engine oil consumption
A certain amount of engine oil will be consumed while driving. In the following
situations,  oil  consumption  may  increase,  and  engine  oil  may  need  to  be
refilled in between oil maintenance intervals.

●

When the engine is new, for example directly after purchasing the vehicle or
after replacing the engine

●

If low quality oil or oil of an inappropriate viscosity is used

●

When driving at high engine speeds or with a heavy load, or when driving
while accelerating or decelerating frequently

●

When leaving the engine idling for a long time, or when driving frequently
through heavy traffic

Engine oil selection

P. 722

Oil quantity (Low 

 Full)

1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp.qt.)

Items

Clean funnel

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WARNING

■

Used engine oil

●

Used  engine  oil  contains  potentially  harmful  contaminants  which  may
cause  skin  disorders  such  as  inflammation  and  skin  cancer,  so  care
should be taken to avoid prolonged and repeated contact. To remove used
engine oil from your skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.

●

Dispose of used oil and filters only in a safe and acceptable manner. Do
not dispose of used oil and filters in household trash, in sewers or onto the
ground.  Call  your  Toyota  dealer,  service  station  or  auto  parts  store  for
information concerning recycling or disposal.

●

Do not leave used engine oil within the reach of children.

NOTICE

■

To prevent serious engine damage
Check the oil level on a regular basis.

■

When replacing the engine oil

●

Be careful not to spill engine oil on the vehicle components.

●

Avoid overfilling, or the engine could be damaged.

●

Check the oil level on the dipstick every time you refill the vehicle.

●

Be sure the engine oil filler cap is properly tightened.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

The coolant level is satisfactory if it is between the “FULL” and “LOW”
lines on the reservoir when the hybrid system is cold.

■

Engine coolant reservoir

Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line

If  the  level  is  on  or  below  the
“LOW”  line,  add  coolant  up  to
the “FULL” line. (

P. 709)

■

Power control unit coolant reservoir

Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line

If  the  level  is  on  or  below  the
“LOW”  line,  add  coolant  up  to
the “FULL” line. (

P. 709)

Coolant

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Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or a similar high quality ethylene
glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with
long-life hybrid organic acid technology.
U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and 50% deion-
ized water. (Minimum temperature: -31

F [-35C])

Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and 45% deion-
ized water. (Minimum temperature: -44

F [-42C])

For more details about coolant, contact your Toyota dealer.

■

If the coolant level drops within a short time of replenishing
Visually check the radiator, hoses, engine/power control unit coolant reservoir
caps, drain cock and water pump. 
If you cannot find a leak, have your Toyota dealer test the cap and check for
leaks in the cooling system.

WARNING

■

When the hybrid system is hot
Do not remove the engine/power control unit coolant reservoir caps.
The cooling system may be under pressure and may spray hot coolant if the
cap is removed, causing serious injuries, such as burns.

NOTICE

■

When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor straight antifreeze. The correct mixture of
water and antifreeze must be used to provide proper lubrication, corrosion
protection and cooling. Be sure to read the antifreeze or coolant label.

■

If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to prevent it from damaging parts or paint.

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Check the radiator and condenser and clear away any foreign objects. 
If  either of  the  above parts  is  extremely  dirty  or you  are not sure of
their condition, have your vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.

Radiator and condenser

WARNING

■

When the hybrid system is hot
Do not touch the radiator or condenser as they may be hot and cause seri-
ous injuries, such as burns.

■

When the electric cooling fans are operating
Do not touch the engine compartment. 
With the power switch in ON mode, the electric cooling fans may automati-
cally start to run if the air conditioning is on and/or the coolant temperature
is high. Be sure the power switch is off when working near the electric cool-
ing fans or radiator grille.

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Check the 12-volt battery as follows:

■

12-volt battery exterior
Make sure that the 12-volt battery terminals are not corroded and
that there are no loose connections, cracks, or loose clamps.
Terminals

■

When opening the cover of the positive (+) battery terminal

■

Before recharging
When recharging, the 12-volt battery produces hydrogen gas which is flam-
mable  and  explosive.  Therefore,  observe  the  following  precautions  before
recharging:

●

If recharging with the 12-volt battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to dis-
connect the ground cable.

●

Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and dis-
connecting the charger cables to the 12-volt battery.

12-volt battery

While  pushing  the  portion  shown  in  the
illustration from both sides, lift the end of
the cover up.

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After recharging/reconnecting the 12-volt battery

●

Unlocking the doors using the smart key system may not be possible imme-
diately after reconnecting the 12-volt battery. If this happens, use the wire-
less remote control or the mechanical key to lock/unlock the doors.

●

Start the hybrid system with the power switch in ACCESSORY mode. The
hybrid system may not start with the power switch turned off. However, the
hybrid system will operate normally from the second attempt.

●

The power switch mode is recorded by the vehicle. If the 12-volt battery is
reconnected, the vehicle will return the power switch mode to the status it
was in before the 12-volt battery was disconnected. Make sure to turn off
the power before disconnect the 12-volt battery. Take extra care when con-
necting  the  12-volt  battery  if  the  power  switch  mode  prior  to  discharge  is
unknown.

If the system will not start even after multiple attempts at all methods above,
contact your Toyota dealer.

WARNING

■

Chemicals in the 12-volt battery
The 12-volt battery contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid and may
produce hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. To reduce the risk
of death or serious injury, take the following precautions while working on or
near the 12-volt battery:

●

Do not cause sparks by touching the 12-volt battery terminals with tools.

●

Do not smoke or light a match near the 12-volt battery.

●

Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothes.

●

Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.

●

Wear protective safety glasses when working near the 12-volt battery.

●

Keep children away from the 12-volt battery.

■

Where to safely charge the 12-volt battery
Always  charge  the  12-volt  battery  in  an  open  area.  Do  not  charge  the
12-volt battery in a garage or closed room where there is insufficient ventila-
tion.

■

How to recharge the 12-volt battery
Only perform a slow charge (5 A or less). The 12-volt battery may explode if
charged at a quicker rate.

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WARNING

■

Emergency measures regarding electrolyte

●

If electrolyte gets in your eyes
Flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immedi-
ate medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with a sponge or
cloth while traveling to the nearest medical facility.

●

If electrolyte gets on your skin
Wash the affected area thoroughly. If you feel pain or burning, get medical
attention immediately.

●

If electrolyte gets on your clothes
It can soak through clothing on to your skin. Immediately take off the cloth-
ing and follow the procedure above if necessary.

●

If you accidentally swallow electrolyte
Drink a large quantity of water or milk. Get emergency medical attention
immediately.

■

When disconnecting the 12-volt battery
Do not disconnect the negative (-) terminal on the body side. The discon-
nected negative (-) terminal may touch the positive (+) terminal, which may
cause a short and result in death or serious injury.

NOTICE

■

When recharging the 12-volt battery
Never  recharge  the  12-volt  battery  while  the  hybrid  system  is  operating.
Also, be sure all accessories are turned off.

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■

Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between  the  “MAX”  and  “MIN”
lines on the tank.

■

Adding fluid

Slide  and  lift  up  the  rubber
strip  to  partly  remove  it  as
shown.

Disconnect  the  claws  and
remove the service cover.

Brake fluid

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Remove the reservoir cap.

Add brake fluid slowly while checking the fluid level.

Make sure to check the fluid type and prepare the necessary item.

■

Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause a dangerous loss of braking effi-
ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.

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Fluid type

SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1704
or FMVSS No.116 DOT 4 brake fluid

Items

Clean funnel

WARNING

■

When filling the reservoir
Take  care  as  brake  fluid  can  harm  your  hands  and  eyes  and  damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean
water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.

NOTICE

■

If the brake fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads
wear out or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, there may be a serious problem.