TOYOTA Prius HSD - Manual (Page 36)

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Battery-Pack
Replacement The power management system was designed to maximize battery life. It rigorously works to
always keep the charge-level at optimum, by never fully draining or fully recharging it. And you
can clearly see that by watching the indicator on the Multi-Display. Lab testing has demonstrated
that the battery-pack will last an equivalent of 180,000 miles (290,000 km) of driving without any
deterioration. And the preliminary real-world data now available is confirming those findings. The
battery-pack is expected to last the lifetime of the vehicle. With normal wear & tear, Prius owners
should not expect to ever have to replacement it. (The US distance record as of July 2006 from a
Classic model Prius was an amazing 243,000 miles!)
Recycling Toyota has had a recycling program in place for NiMH batteries ever since the electric version of
the RAV4 was introduced back in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the environmentally safe
precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel-case, and the wiring, can all be recycled. To ensure that
the battery-packs come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling
information and dealers are paid a "bounty" of $200 for each pack collected.
Rear Hatch
Slam It! The hatch door is designed to be slammed shut. So if you find you are not getting it to shut tight,
don't feel afraid to use some muscle on it. Holding back isn't necessary. Grab the hand-hole (that
cavity within the plastic, on the right as you face it) then... Slam It! Damn It!
Unlock SKS (formally known as SE/SS) won't unlock the hatch while the Prius is running. So to unlock
the hatch, you need to press the unlock button on the inside either of the front doors.
Extra Height Temporarily remove the false floor to reveal the hidden storage area. Doing that provides an extra
6 inches of height from the glass, for carrying unusually tall cargo.
Cargo Cover The rollout "shade" that is used to cover the hatch (to conceal the contents, if any) uses plastic
grips that lock into place with the body of the car. Each grip attaches to the cover using 2 screws.
It is possible, after plenty of use, for a screw to come loose and eventually fall out. Don't let the
inconvenience occur. Be proactive by either tightening them annually (like during routine spring
cleaning) or take the time to make the connection permanent by sealing over the screw with a
heat-resistant adhesive (like “Super Goo”).
Securing Cargo There are 4 metal-rings, bolted to the frame of the vehicle, available for securing cargo. Each is
located in a corner of the hatch area. Use them in conjunction with bungee-cords or rope to keep
large or loose items from shifting while you drive. If you need addition locations when the back
seats are up, simply raising a headrest to reveal metal rods that can be used. When the back seats
are folded down, you may use the latch-loop that is normally used to secure the seat in place.
Cargo Nets There are two types available. One mounted flat (horizontal) across the floor, connecting to each
of the metal-rings. You just slip cargo underneath it to prevent movement while you drive. The
other is mounted upright (vertical), connecting to the 2 metal-rings closest to the hatch door and 2
connector-points which you add by drilling a simple hole in a location close to the window. This
type works well for cargo such as grocery bags.
Prius User-Guide 36 of 54 Last Updated: 9/01/2007