New Prius - everything you need to know
NEW 11/2/10: For information on the third-gen Prius brakes recall, please visit toyota.co.uk/prius-recall.
You may have noticed that we have introduced a Q&A section on toyota.co.uk.
This was partly inspired by the huge variation of questions raised by customers during the last few weeks. We also introduced a facility for customers to ask their own question, and these will be posted below, along with the answer from Toyota.
On 5 August 2009, we announced the introduction of the LED Technology pack option here. Check it out if you have any questions about this pack. For everything else, this is the place.
The following topics have already come up:
PRODUCT:
- Customisation: options, availability and costs (including audio; roof rack, cycle rack, towbar; leather)
- Difference between second-generation Prius and new third-generation Prius
- Wheel size
- Miles per gallon
- Satellite navigation
- Bluetooth and phone sync
TECHNOLOGY:
- How a full hybrid works
- Battery charging
- Battery lifespan and replacement
COMFORT:
- Heated seats
- Cold weather driving
MAINTENANCE:
- Servicing: frequency and costs
GENERAL:
- Delivery lead times
- Depreciation
- Warranty
- Road tax
- Insurance
Thanks for all the interest in the new Prius.
Hi,
I have another question. The dealership we bought the car from did not include the floor mats and said that we had to pay extra for those. Is that normal?? I am from the states and all the cars I ever bought came with floor mats without us paying any extra for it.
Thanks,
Saj
Hi Saj,
Yes it’s normal, they are not included.
Sounds VERY greedy to me but there might be another explanation: If the mats are faulty and are (only) an accessory, Toyota might not have to recall the car… (sounds like accelerator and brake pedals might not come as standard on next model).
Stephane
Ah that is very greedy and devious of Toyota… Any good places to get Toyota Prius 2010 mats? I checked out mrcarmats.com but they never got back to me when I asked if the mats will actually fit.
Saj
Hi,
Does anyone here know how much the dealerships are charging to get rid of the beeping sound when reversing?
Thanks!!
Hi,
It’s a 2 minutes job (literally): Plug the diagnostic PC push 2 buttons. So it should be free, and several people here had it done for free.
Stephane
I will try to make an appt with the dealership and see if they will fix it for free.
Thanks for your help!
Hi got into my Prius 06 today and the whole satnav display panel stopped working.Called Toyota and they told me that sometimes the satnav disk gets stuck and will not allow display to fire up.Tried ejecting the DVD from under passenger seat but no joy.All steering features work , radio is working and no other car features seem to be affected. Thought it may be a fuse but was told that I need to bring car into dealership…Any ideas???
Thanks
Kudos to Toyota Wayside Watford..they identified my problem as an internal fuse issue (under the steering wheel)Mechanic explained that the fuse although not blown sometimes needs reseating (possibly die to oxidation).
All working and cost me only what I wanted to give the young mechanic as they would not charge me for the 5 mins work…Thanks TOYOTA!!
Hi everyone. I am about to order a Prius T Spirit. I travel 64 miles to work 95% of which is on a Motorway. What sort of mpg am I going to achieve on the Motorway portion if I drive perfectly…..Not pretending I will.
Also, has anyone got any info on whether a folding wheelchair can fit in the boot?
Jon
Hi John,
On motorway at 70Mph I’m getting 50mpg with good condition/driving (no acceleration/brake) constant speed. With the speed cruiser about 2mpg less, 48mpg.
Stephane
If windscreen is frozen and warm air is required on the windscreen before driving off, does the petrol engine start automatically to raise temperature or is an electric heater used for demisting/defrosting?
If engine braking is required when going down a steep hill, how is this achieved?
I’m considering buying a Prius/Auris HSD and these are a couple of issues which concern me.
Dave
The petrol engine starts automatically and runs until it reaches an optimum operating temperature. It is the heat from the engine that demists the windscren / heats the car. It also heats up the catalytic converter to get it operating efficiently.
The gear selector has a “B” setting for providing engine braking.
Another week and still no answer concerning the correct oil for the Gen3 prius (0W20 as per the manual, anything that the dealer chooses to use according to owners).
Come on Toyota UK, give us an answer.
Kev
I collected my new prius last Tuesday. After driving it home, I got out with a terrible headache and nausea. Now every time i’ve been driving the prius, I feel sick. Some people say it is something in the car seats,covers..
Is this true, and if so, what can I do? I’ve left the windows open to air out the car, but still I feel ill,even after a 10min drive.
Should I take it back to the dealer?
Unless you are alergic to the smell of new cars I would suggest it may be fumes getting into the car somehow.
I would take it back to the dealer for a check if I were you.
Graham
How much rare elarth elements are used in a Prius? I hear its approximately 30kg but I can’t find a reliable source!
Cheers
Please don’t flame me!
I’ve made a very hard decision - NOT to order a new Prius, having previously had two Prius T-spirit models - an 05 and an 08; and we’ve previously had many other Toyotas (2 x RAV4, an Avensis Verso and a Yaris). I’m a company car driver doing about 20,000 miles p.a., living in Berkshire. I occasionally drive into London, and so have occasionally enjoyed the benefit of not paying congestion charges although, to be honest, the cost of parking in London (or being fined) does somewhat detract from the experience.
However, having just accidentally written off my 08 T-Spirit I’ve had to choose a new company car from Leaseplan and had been intent on a new 3rd-gen T-Spirit. Unfortunately, I was staggered to discover that for what I’d been paying from my monthly car allowance on my 08 T-Spirit (with Leather) I could now only get a 3rd gen T3 (non-leather).
Further examination of the various Leaseplan spreadsheets and comparison with T-Spirit lease costs prompted me to choose the car I have now ordered - a BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics. It’s only available with a manual gearbox and only as a 4-door saloon; nor will it qualify for congestion charge exemption, but at 109gms/Km CO2 it does fall in the 13% Benefit-In-Kind company car tax bracket, and its clearly lower depreciation means that, even in its base (SE-type) spec, it was still cheaper to lease, as a company car driver, than a new T3 Prius!
In order to make this BMW at all compatible with the Prius T-Spirit specification I’ve obviously had to specify a few BMW extras - some of which help it to exceed the T-Spirit Spec. Extras ordered: Professional Media Pack (incl. hard drive, Bluetooth and sat/nav); cruise control, auto rain sensing & climate comfort windscreen; auto headlamp at dusk; leather; metallic, front seat heating + extra 12v power sockets. It already comes with an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and heated wing mirrors, rear PDC and an extended lighting pack; and the automatic air-con has a two zone control.
This takes the P11D value to over £31k, but the lease cost and almost equivalent company car tax treatment means that I’ll only be paying 20p/day extra (incl. income tax) for this BMW than for my previously selected T-Spirit, metallic, leather + LED pack, and I’ll live with the downsides that I’ve mentioned above (manual, saloon & Congestion charge) and no Head-Up Display or clever multi-function steering wheel prompts, of course! OK, so it’s not comparing apples with apples!
Good luck Melissa - and all contributors in getting some answers to questions. I’m certainly not gleeful about deserting the Prius, but I am reassured that BMW are providing some sort of green alternative (I’ve had three very satisfactory BMWs previously). Maybe in 3 years time, my personal pendulum will swing back to Toyota…. who knows?
It sounds like the leasing company are taking a pessimistic view of the depreciation on the Prius to give that result, which is unfortunate when the Prius has historically had relatively low depreciation. At least the BMW is still reasonably efficient, although I wouldn’t want to be driving it in the snow!
Brian,
That’s my conclusion too.
My first Prius T Spirit (05) was non leather and it was about £505/month on Leaseplan. In hindsight, that was really very expensive, but the car was relatively new and I assumed that they simply under-estimated how well it would hold its price. My next Prius T-Spirit (08) included leather, and Leaseplan charged only £405.67/month - that seemed like a real result as I got lots of money back in my pay packet for unused car allowance!
The new T-Spirit with Leather is now being quoted at £505.53/month on my company’s Leaseplan agreement. Some of the increase is obviously accounted for by the increase in list price, but not all of it. It makes me wonder if they have recently increased the monthly lease amounts having factored in some extra depreciation following the recent issues. I would doubt that the change in warranty period on the battery has had an impact. Does anyone else have a theory?
The Prius still wins out on P11D Company Car tax calculations as its CO2 benefit-in-kind band is 10%; and its latest high-tech wizardry is pretty much ahead of the game: I still really rate it as a car, but the little irritants like the engine oil and the out-of-date sat nav files should be seen as simple easy-to-fix hygiene factors that the company could solve immediately.
p.s. I’ll take even greater care in the snow in future - thanks for that reminder!!
My experience has demonstrated that the depreciation on the previous model Prius increased once the Gen 3 had been launched. A sudden increase in the number of second hand old models available being the reason. I was quoted in August 2009 £13500 for my 15 month old Prius Gen 2 with 9000 miles on the clock yet when my new Gen 3 became available in December I only managed £10500 in part exchange.
Hi Melissa,
I think you are doing a grand job in difficult circumstances. As you can see a lot of us are getting frustrated in the lack of communication coming out from Toyota either GB or Japan. I think in these times the information should come a lot quicker. It seems that dealers are very bereft of information from yourselves you cannot seem to get straight answers to straight questions. I think it would be good PR to keep us well and truly informed. I have been a faithful customer of Toyotas for 30 odd years but now I am wondering what is going wrong in Toyota. I am finding it hard to get a Sat Nav update for my Gen III T-Spirit from my dealer as they are not sure if there is one.
Keeping the question alive!
Another month, another attempt at getting a straight answer….
On the old chestnut of the correct grade of oil for the Gen III Prius - From various threads going back to last October, I understand that the thicker grade of oil (5W-30 and 10W-30) won’t damage the engine in my Prius BUT the RECOMMENDED oil in the manual is 0w20.
HOWEVER,from the number of posts in this blog (and from personal experience), dealers aren’t using the recommended 0w20 oil.
So, if 0w20 is “nice to have but expensive and not essential” (the Dealer’s evident position) why does the manual say that “0w20 should be used, and if a different grade is used it should be replaced with 0w20 at the next service”?
How have dealers come up with a standard price for a standard Prius service? Surely this will have been based on advice from Toyota about the correct items to replace at a particular service interval….. so are the dealers ripping us off??
There MUST be some standard advice to Toyota Service Centres on the correct grade of oil. Toyota have said that this should be 0w20 for the Gen III Prius (see Melissa’s response from last October, below)
Just in case you forgot (and because this blog is so unwieldy to navigate) here is Melissa’s response from last October….
“…I just spoke to the technical specialist. As is often the case, Pete G is pretty much on the money!
0W-20 is the type of oil used during the manufacturing process, and is, I am told, the recommended oil for third-generation Prius (as stated in the manual). The reason for the change is that, in comparison to 5W-30 and 10W-30, it provides better engine ’startability’ in cold weather, which in turn improves engine performance, fuel consumption and emissions in cold weather conditions. This may prove particularly useful, and be more obvious, to you during shorter journeys, when the engine does not have a chance to reach its normal operating temperature. Viscosity wasn’t mentioned, Pete, but you may well be correct.
All that said, the recommendation of 0W-20 does not mean that using 5W-30 or 10W-30 will cause long-term damage to your engine.”
Cheers Dave, its good to see that I am not the only one getting really frustrated with this. I’m actually dreading going to my dealer for my first service as ther is going to be a big argument if this is not cleared up by Toyota UK
Actually, there isn’t a question here. The manual is clear and unambiguous regarding what sort of oil should be used. Melissa’s postings in October confirmed this and gave some information about the reasons why. All that is required is a clear directive from Toyota UK to their dealers that they must not under any circumstances use anything other than the correct oil when servicing Priuses.
I appreciate that Melissa may not have the authority within the organisation to do this, but please, Melissa, pass it up to the person who does. Producing such a directive and emailing it out is a 5 minute job for the person concerned. Why has it not been done?
Pete
Totally agree Peter.
Hi Melissa
.
Please may I flag up this thread http://blog.toyota.co.uk/new-prius-everything-you-need-to-know/comment-page-1#comment-4575 from last October.
.
As you know I was dismayed to take delivery of a car last September which had hideously out of date mapping data on its expensive built in Satnav. You promised to keep us informed regarding updates.
.
I gather that Priuses are now being delivered with 2009/10 mapping data, rather than the 2008/9 edition on my car, but my dealer says they still have no information from Toyota regarding the procedure for updating maps on older cars.
.
The built in satnav was the main reason I chose a T-Spirit rather than a T4, and driving around with a very old TomTom stuck to the windscreen is increasingly infuriating, particularly since the car’s display defaults to the map view; I can’t even switch the wretched thing off and forget about it.
.
Pete
Hi Pete,
I am in the same position waiting for the Dealer to provide an update service. To switch the screen off - press the ‘Display’ button on the left side of the display and you will see the option to switch the display off. Pressing any of the buttons on the left will bring it back again.
Regards
Alan
Alan, that’s fine, but if I then make a phone call, or stop the car and start again, the screen defaults back to map view. Having to keep switching it off is almost as annoying as having it there!
Peter,
I can understand if you make a phone call because it activates through bluetooth and the screen - not something I do often. If the display is off and I switch the car off, the next time I switch the car on, the screen remains off. If I want the map on I have to press the map button.
Alan
Sorry Alan, you’re right. I usually receive several incoming phonecalls during my daily round, so have given up trying to get rid of the map screen as each phone call reactivates it
I haven’t had chance to check if this exists on my father in law’s Prius but on my Lexus hybrid there is an option to turn off the automatic transition back to the Navigation screen. With the transition enabled, if you adjust the audio, climate etc. it will switch back to the map screen after a few seconds. With it disabled, it stays exactly where it is.
I’d be surprised if there wasn’t such an option on the Prius display.
Ben, there is such an option in the menus but it stays off for a bit then comes back on after a phone call or two
Anyway, getting rid of the map display is a distraction from the big issue here, I really, really want an up to date map, please!!!
You’re right Peter and I share your frustration at the failure to provide an update facility. Surely Toyota should have sorted this out when they decided to change to a hard disk system. I understand that Toyota issue to all Dealers a ‘Minimum Requirement’ list which details all the equipment they should hold to service each model. I wonder if this update facility is yet on the ‘Minimum Requirement’ list? Perhaps this is a question that Melissa can ask.
Alan
I am due to take delivery of T Spirit sometime in next week or so (for info order went in mid November with anticipated date end January - it has the solar roof option hence possible long lead time). However I’m posting on this thread re sat nav. Kind of basic question - other than spotting that the software is not up to date through knowing the locality, how else can you tell?
Brian W,
Press ‘Navi’ button on the left of display, then ‘Map Data’ and it will display the map data version No. Mine reads ‘2008-2009 Ver 1′ which clearly shows that it must have been approved for issue in 2008.
Alan
the 2008/09 .ver1 does not map certain road changes made in 2007, so was somewhat out of date when it was released in 2008.
I gather the version in current priuses is called 2009/10, so if you are lucky it may only be 2 years out of date instead of 3 years
Pete
Alan and Peter G thanks for advising on how to identify year of sat nav data input. Will advise if mine has 2010/11 - comment which will probably some wry smiles..!
Hi Melissa,
I also requested an update on this several times without any reply… (and on CDDB update too, useless without regular update unless you buy years old CD).
Thanks,
Stephane
Hi Pete,
Good to hear from you. I haven’t forgotten about this issue; at this stage, we still have no information regarding the update procedure but, as I have assured you and others, we will update you all on the situation as soon as we have new information. We hope that this will be soon. Thanks for waiting so patiently.
Melissa, passively waiting for new information is fine for a short time, but my car is six months old.
Could you let me have the phone number of whoever is responsible for organising satnav updates so I can ring up and shout at them?
Thanks
P
I originally posted this comment on about the 20th Jan and would like to raise it again, as my question remains unanswered.
The brochure gives the Prius luggage capacity (rear seat up) as being 446 however this is loaded up to the roof. What is the figure for when the luggage is not obscuring the rear window, as this would be the normal type of usage?
I have been unable to obtain this information from my local dealer or from Toyota Customer Relations.
I’m told that a diesel car has a much better chance of driving through a flooded street than a petrol one has but where do we stand with the Prius. I believe the large battery is quite low down in the vehicle so can this be an Achilles’ heel when caught in a torrential downpour. Is it well insulated, if water gets in can it generate dangerous sparks?.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your good question. I’ll ask about the insulation of the battery and I’ll get back to you.
Dear Melissa
I gave up waiting for the registered formal letter coming through the post for the Prius recall since receiving a letter confirmation two weeks ago. Have opted to register online on this site last Tuesday, 22nd Feb and selected my choice of Toyota centre for the precautionary fix. Am still waiting…. and waiting… for the Centre to email me regarding the fix. How long does one need to wait before one get a respond from the Centre? Before anyone suggest that I should contact the Toyota Centre rather than wait to be contacted, am merely trying to satisfy and see Toyota PR at its best.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for letting us know. I’m going to pass this straight to Customer Relations who will look into this right away. I’m also going to need a couple more details, so I’ll send you an email now. Thanks.
MK,
That’s bad. I registered online and chose my preferred dealer. They contacted me within 2 days and did the upgrade 2 days later.
No hassle, they even cleaned the car (great after the terrible weather) and presented me with an after care kit (Much appreciated)
Ron Brookes, of Mansfield, well done and thanks.
Exactly the same for me. Phoned Dealer - done the next day. Washed and valeted with complimentary satchel of cleaning products. Well done - Ron Brookes, Ilkeston.
does the new prius have 7 digit sat nav in the spiritmodel.
Hi Dave
The T spirit has a 7 digit post code selection for the UK. There is a button on the 2nd page of the navigation window for selecting UK postcodes.
Hope that is what you were referring to.
Hi, Melissa. Like others I posted a question on a non-blog page without realizing that it would be posted on this blog. However, a number of other enquiries have been dealt with since I posted on 19 Feb, asking about the load-carrying dimensions of the Gen3 Prius, and I haven’t had any form of acknowledgement. I know it’s a busy time for you all, but the lack of cross-sectional diagrams is a very odd omission in the booklet. It’s not as if your rivals can’t work it out, just potential end-users like me. I want to be able to get 2 folding bikes in there for my holidays and awaydays, and still have a bit of room for one passenger and some luggage. I’m a potential defector from the Honda Jazz, but this is a deal-breaker for me. Please at least let me know someone has noticed - thank you.
Hi John,
Thanks for your question, and for taking the time to get back in touch again. I’m sorry about the previous lack of acknowledgment; as you say, we’ve been busy here but are hoping to address everyone’s outstanding concerns in the next few days. Thanks so much for continuing to be patient with us.
I don’t know if such a graphical image exists, but I will check this out with the Prius product team and go through some technical documentation. I’ll let you know as soon as I find something.
Also, any Toyota Centre will be more than happy to let you load your bikes into a demonstrator model and experiment with the flat-folding seats. To find your nearest Centre, please click here.
Thanks again for your patience. I’ll be back in touch soon.
there is a bike rack available
http://www.priuscarrier.com/
We ordered a Tspirit on jan 21st, and the dealer told us it would be here “26th feb the latest”..now I get a call saying the delivery will be “latest 4th march”.. will this become a situation of receiving a call every week and they adding an extra week every time? Has anyone else ordered a prius in january? If so, when did they say it would be delivered? Every time I ask the vessel name and port of arrival (so you can track it yourself online) the dealer is very vague and never gives a straight answer.
Ordered a T Spirit in Black (no extras) on 1st Feb 2010 for delivery 1st week in March. I am told it is now in the country and will be at the dealership 2nd March.
Did you order any extras that may have slowed things down ??
Nope I didn’t order any special options. Just the normal T Spirit (pearl). My dealer called me last Friday. Wouldn’t he know that the ship is docking 3 days later??
How many shipments are there each month? I’ve been told two/month.
Is it possible to set the doors to lock automatically when I drive off. If so, will this be a chargeable service from my local dealer?
Hi Graham,
It is a base feature of the US model, unfortunately disabled in UK (can’t figure out why, as the electronic seems to be the same). And dealer can’t do anything about it I’m afraid
Melissa,
You’ve frequently replied to questions about Sat Nav updates by providing a standard response about updates being controlled from Japan and maybe being very 9 to 18 months. A number of posts have implied that the new Prius was launched without the latest navteq map release - in fact maybe being rather out of date!
I’m about to order a new T Spirit for delivery in (optimistic here) late May/early June.
Could Toyota GB please contact Japan and get a definitive answer on sat nav map update policy for GB? It’s surely not a state secret! If they cannot give us an update date, could they bat least provide a date when theywil announce an update schedule?
Thanks
Steve, you will see from my previous post that I am waiting for a satnav database update. I understand that 2010 Prius deliveries have got an updated version and that Dealers can update existing models but require a ‘tool’ to enable them to access the hard drive. It is not clear if Toyota will issue all Dealers with the ‘tool’ or whether it is down to each Dealer to purchase from Toyota when they need it. I am still waiting for a response.
Thanks Alan!
Please could you tell me how many miles a Prius T Sprit would go on a litre of fuel?
That depends on who is driving, where and how they are driving! The quoted combined mpg figure, using the standard European test, is 70.6 for the TSpirit without sunroof. That equates to about 15.5 miles per litre.
I’m trying to get some information about what is standard on a Prius T3. Is the Vermillion Red only available as a metallic finish? If so is this an optional extra and what is the cosr? Is the Tahara Dark Grey a standard interior on the T3? Is it possible to have a DAB radio in a T3 and what is the cost?
Thanks
Yes, only white & black are non-metallic. Metallic paint costs about £400 extra.
I think there is one interior colour as standard, with possibly an exception for having (blue?) paint. Someone else should be able to clarify, or wait for Toyota to respond.
Yes, it’s possible to have DAB, but the exact cost of fitting could vary between dealers; mine was quoted as £470.
Hi Derek,
There are no interior trim colour options other than
the Orion blue does come with a light grey interior
rather than dark grey. There were a couple of posts
on this subject back in September.
Go to “Older Comments” then search for “Orion blue
TSpirit”
Hi there!
I have asked about heated seats a few times now but got no response. Does any one here know if the Prius T Spirit comes with heated seats or not? There is a switch for one and I know that US version does come with heated seats.
Thanks,
Saj
Heated seats are not available in the UK to the best of my knowledge. It appears some options are country/region specific and the UK didn’t get the heated seats !!
Graham
Thanks for the response! That’s crazy we don’t get heated seats because out of all the places I can imagine we need it the most in UK.
Do you still give an 8 year warranty on batteries for the Prius?
Why does a T Spirit 2010 Prius with the solar roof have to have the 15” alloy wheels?
To compensate for the additional weight of the solar roof so that the overall consumption figures are the same as for the TSpirit without solar roof.
how does the battery of the car charge
http://www.hybridsynergydrive.com
Starting a new post to bring the oil question back to the top of this blog!!!
Do we have a statement from Toyota on the grade of oil to put in the Prius?? There has been a lot of discussion here and in the Prius Owner’s Forum about the oil in the Gen III Prius. The manual says 0w20, but the dealers seem to be using 5wxx. When I had my car serviced recently, the dealer used 5Wxx (it’s a company car, so it is not up to me what the leasing company authorise!). When I queried with the dealer, they said that the lease company would have to pay for the additional cost of 0wxx oil…. BUT if this is a STANDARD TOYOTA Service at a Toyota dealer, surely the “Correct” oil should be used, and if this is more expensive than “normal” oil, the cost should be built into the “Standard” service cost for the car??? (Or has the dealer taken the “standard” cost recommended by Toyta & is then creaming off the additional profit from using cheaper oil!?)
Come on TOYOTA, lets have a response. it should not be to hard.
Kev
Hi Kev, and all others who are asking about oil,
We are looking into this right now and hopefully will be able to give you a full answer soon. Please bear with us. Thanks.
Melissa,
Any news on the OIL (0W20). It seems to be taking a long time to get what should be a simple answer.
I’m afraid there’s no news as yet, Kev - we’re talking to dealers and working on it.
This is ridicoulous, why are you talking to dealers. We want rhe official line from Toyota UK which should be in line with the manual. Surely, you should be telling the dealers what they should be doing.
At this rate I will be booking my service and arguing the fact with the dealer, which will really be interesting and heated.
Kev,
I didn’t mean to imply that we are asking dealers for advice. A number of parties are involved in the discussions and we are getting to the bottom of it as fast as we can.
Hi Melissa
Thanks for the response - glad to hear that you are working on the oil issue and not just ignoring it!
Looking forward to a resolution / definitive statement!
Dave R
I notice correspondence which suggests that Toyota UK monitor all entries on the blog and respond accordingly. Therefore I ask the question once again concerning the use of 0W20 oil for the Gen3. It would appear that most if not all dealers are using alternative oil which goes against the manual.
Could you please confirm what the situation should be, as I believe that we as owners should not have to ask for correct oil which may attract an additional premium on the service.
I agree totally with you Kev.
From what I can ascertain Toyota’s own brand of 0W20 should be used. As such all authorised service centres should be supplying that make and grade of oil, no other.
Official response from Toyota GB PLEASE.
Yes, I’m with you both on that too. It should be part of the service schedule laid down by Toyota, rather than needing to insist that dealers used the correct oil that seemed to be a problem for some dealers with the second gen Prius. At the same time Toyota could tell them to make sure they don’t overfill, another frequent problem with the second gen.
Yes, I remember the problems of overfilling the oil on the 2nd gen. I always used to take my own oil, but am finding it difficult to find 0w20 and don’t believe that I should need to be looking.
Hopefully, we will get a response from Toyota this comming week.
I am waiting for an update to the satnav database on my Gen 3 Prius. I understand that the Dealer needs a tool to install any update onto the hard drive. Has Toyota issued the tool and update to Dealers or is it the responsibility of Dealers to acquire it?
What I’d like to know is why, when contacting Toyota direct with a question, rather than reply, one’s question is automatically posted here and apparently left to the general public to find the answers! Why are those on this forum answering questions on Toyota’s behalf?
Because this is a blog, and that’s how blogs work. If you want to contact Toyota, then go via the main website or contact a dealer.
I agree Tony. I didn’t sign up to the blog, because I don’t support them. I tried to Email Toyota and it appears to have been diverted to the blog! I even received an acknowledgement but no answer!
I checked the main site and it appears that one can no longer access Toyota by Email!
My question about Nokia phones (see below) was answered by the answer is in this string, but it wasn’t, presumably cleared in the blog upgrade.
This is the only criticism I have ~ I am delighted with my new Prius!
Brian, try reading my post again! I DID contact Toyota direct and, instead of answering, they simply registered me here and posted the message without asking me! WTF is that all about?
Sounds to me as though they can’t be bothered to reply and would rather leave it to people like you. Personally, I want the information from them, not Joe Bloggs, with respect to the posters here.
Sorry Tony, I didn’t realise that is what they were now doing. I agree that isn’t right.
This blog thread started out as comments and questions re the new Prius pre-launch. The posting of direct web contact/email messages to here must be a new thing that they are doing.
This is not right Michelle - stop it now!
Oops, sorry, I meant Melissa not Michelle
Hi Tony, can I just check please that you originally contacted us via the Q&A Prius section on toyota.co.uk? We have always had the policy of posting those questions direct to the blog (this is implied within the ‘terms and conditions’ button, but we’ll look at making this much clearer).
Sometimes questions are answered by other members of the blog - as Brian says, that dialogue and sharing of information is how this webspace works. However, all comments are read by Toyota GB, and we do our best to come back to outstanding questions in a reasonable time.
It is not currently possible to email Toyota HQ directly with a general question, although our address and telephone numbers are on our site under ‘Contact Us’ in a link at the bottom of each page on the mainsite. Also each of the Dealer’s has an email address which is displayed on their pages.
We intend in the near future to redesign our blog. Your comments, along with those from Brian, Clive, and others, will be invaluable when we do so.
So, please accept our apologies for any confusion or delays. Please also let us know if you’d like your comments deleted from this blog. By all means email me directly at simon.rutherford@tgb.toyota.co.uk if you wish to do so.
Regards
Simon
Hi again Tony,
I wrote an email to you on Wednesday that concerned the blog comments system. I assure you once again that we answer all questions as quickly as we can. As soon as I am able to answer your questions with the assistance of the Product and Technical teams at Toyota, I will do so.
Thanks for your patience.
Having been here for some time, I can see how busy you are with all our enquiries.
Perhaps something like - Message viewed enquiries in hand reply would be nice.
I don’t even know if you have spotted my message dated 17th January never mind the ones before that.
Thanks for this suggestion, Paul.
I’d like to see a graphical view of the dimensions of the 3rd gen Prius, so I can judge how well it will cope with awkward loads, eg a fridge or more comonly for me, 2 folding bikes and some luggage. Unfortunately the booklet only has a small photo from above and some volume dimensions, not at all useful for my purpose. I expected to see a dimensioned cross-section diagram showing the plan view, the side elevation and maybe the rear view, more or less to scale. Thanks.
is the prius hybrid available on motability if so how much is the advance payment
Jim
This has been answered on this thread once or twice already - search for motability for more details.
The answer, I think, was yes
HOW MANY MILES PER GALLON DO YOUR CARS DO IN AUTOMATICand would you know the insurance group ?
Robert
The quoted mpg figures are on the main Prius page on the Toyota website. There is no ‘automatic’ or ‘manual’ version of the car - whatever you think about gears in conventional cars does not apply to a Prius. The transmission is continuously variable, so concepts of automatic and manual are meaningless because gears do not change in the conventional sense.
I think insurance group has been answered elsewhere on this thread - search it for the word “insurance”
I cannot access EV mode even when the batttery is fully charged. There is a constant message saying EV mode is not available. Also is it more economical to use Eco mode at higher speeds and motorway driving or should this only be used for round town or below say 40mph?
Rodney
EV mode often gives a reason as to why it is not available, although not always. Reasons can include a low battery charge or speed above 21mph (or sometimes 30mph).
See my comments here about Eco mode:
http://blog.toyota.co.uk/new-prius-everything-you-need-to-know/comment-page-2#comment-8967
To test if there is a problem with EV mode I suggest pressing EV when first switching on the car, before the engine starts and without air conditioning/heating system on (this is another reason that it may not be available that I didn’t mention above).
If it still doesn’t activate, and the battery has more than 2 bars of charge, then there may be a problem with it.
how do you unlock it
I am driving a hire car (2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid) and when I turned the engine off tonight a light started flashing on the dashboard. It is a red light that looks like a padlock in front of a car???
The red flashing light is nothing to worry about - it is to show that the immobiliser has been set.
how does the Prius regenerative braking work?
The system switches the electric motor to run as a generator, so instead of converting electrical energy into motion (operating as a motor), it converts kinetic energy (motion) into electricity to charge the battery. This is done completely automagically by the car’s computer system. If you need to brake heavily, and when you are braking at speeds lower than about 7mph, “conventional” friction brakes come into play, in which case your kinetic energy goes to heat up the brakes (i.e. is wasted).
How many years does the Batterys last?
What were the environmental factors considered while introducing prius in Europe?
Hi Maryam,
Sorry for the delayed reply to your question. I spoke to the CSR & Environmental Affairs Manager, who told me the following:
“When considering the introduction of a new model and its potential impact on the environment, Toyota applies Life Cycle Thinking to the vehicle
development process. This consists of taking into account all resources consumed by the vehicle during its whole life cycle and the environmental/health issues associated
with it.
This is a 360 approach that covers each step of a vehicle’s life from design through material and vehicle production, transportation, driving the vehicle (for this assessment, we use the standard EU Drive Cycle which is 150,000 kms i.e. 93,000 miles) and finally recycling.
The Life Cycle Assessment for third-generation Prius shows that, for instance, its CO2 emissions over the complete life cycle are 37% lower than an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle.
This video gives more information on the life cycle of the Prius.”
I hope that answers your question. If not, do get back in touch and we’ll try our best to help. Thanks for your patience.
wich one is seven seter
The Prius is 5-seater only. Try http://www.toyota.co.uk for other car options
As a new owner of a Prius T4, I want to know which is the best engine setting for Motorwy driveing - Eco or Power Mode?
Geoff
It’s a matter of personal preference. The 3 modes (Eco, normal & Power) alter the relationship between the amount the accelerator is depressed and the amount of acceleration applied by the car. At each end (none and full) they are all the same, but in between the acceleration curve is different.
Normal is basically directly proportionate, in Eco there will be less acceleration applied at the lower end and in Power mode more acceleration at the lower end (for a ’sportier’ feel). Depending upon your driving style and whether you compensate for these differences there may or may not be a difference in ultimate efficiency.
I believe that it Eco mode the vehicle climate control also operates more efficiently.
What is the battery technology?
Nickel Hydride.
Can you tell me what the European emissions Standard for the Prius is, i.e. II or III?
Euro IV, but it exceeds the requirement by a comfortable margin
Hi,
Can someone please get back to me regarding heated seats in the Prius T Spirit. I am looking to buy a Prius and I was told by the dealer that the UK version does not come with heated seats. I don’t understand how that could be the case esp when there is a button for one the gear. I checked this faq section but couldn’t find any answer. Many thanks
Saj
what are the real mpg figures for the Prius T Spirit I would like to know what I should see when driving @ 30mph, 50mph and 70mph.
Richard
That depends on so many variables - length of journey, maximum speed, speed variation, terrain, driving style, even ambient temperature. The standard quoted figures are determined in a standardised test situation and, as with most cars, tend to be higher than would typically be achieved in real life (perhaps by around 10%), although some people do achieve around the given figures on longer journeys.
I have just replaced my Prius T Spirit car (Jan 05) with the latest Prius T Spirit model (Jan 10) and am told that my roof cycle carrier needs to be replaced as this new model car size is slightly different and the shape on the roof sides is slightly changed. I cannot find a roof cycle carrier listed for the new Prius. Is this correct, and if so why not.
Thank you, Anthony Ridley
Roof bars are different for the new prius, but if your cycle carrier fits to the bars I would think they would be able to fix to the new bars the same as the old ones
How do I find out if my Nokia 5500 Bluetooth phone is compatible with the T Spirit?
Search further down this thread for a link to the Bluetooth compatibility checker
Brian, I eventually found the old comments, the ’string’?, and went to the link to check my Nokia 5500 Sport Bluetooth phone for compatibility in the Prius T Spirit, but that model was not listed. Does that mean that it is not compatible or simply not known?
Why is it not possible to contact Toyota by Email, as well as by phone or post without using the blog. I find blogs to be a complete waste of time!
Regards, Clive.
Clive
I suspect it means not known or not guaranteed to work. As I’ve just commented to Tony above, I didn’t realise Toyota were diverting direct queries to them onto this blog, and think it’s wrong that they are doing that.
Hi Clive, We’ll look into the compatibility of the Nokia 5500 Sport Bluetooth and come back to you as soon as we have a definitive answer.
If you wish you can call Toyota GB on 0845 120 6070 (8:30am - 6:00pm Monday - Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday).
Our CR (complaints) number is 0800 138 8744 (Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm, Sat: 10am-4pm).
Regards
Simon
Hi Clive
Thanks for your patience – we’ve looked into your Bluetooth compatibility question in more detail for you. The New Prius T Spirit owner’s manual shows that the car’s system supports Bluetooth Specification v1.1 or higher, with v2.0+EDR (or higher) recommended. So, is your phone compatible?
The short answer is yes! Nokia’s technical specification for the 5500 Sport shows that the phone is compliant with Bluetooth Specification v2.0+EDR. To view the technical spec for your phone, click here.
I hope this settles the issue for you.
Regards,
Grant
How much is a replacement battery for the prius?
can i gey swappage schme for pirus
Dear Toyota Team,
I am interested in puchasing a Prius, but was concerned about the battery replacement cost. Please can you send me some detailed information on how long the battery lasts (I do about 7000 miles per year) in years, and how much it will cost to replace. I can only find information on your US website for previous Prius models. Kind regards,
Mark Evans
Hi, I’m interested in buying the new prius but can you please clarify if the 2010 model comes with heated seats or not. I am getting the leather package. Thanks
I have two questions. Firstly, can you explain why the solar sunroof is only available with 15″ wheels? Is there any technical reason for this or is it down to reduced economy and higher emissions? If the latter, I assume the 17″ wheels could be fitted by the customer later?
Secondly, can you confirm if there’s a switch (either physical, at the lights, or electronic, via the control panel) to switch the beam direction from RHD to LHD, for use when travelling abroad? Also, is there any difference in respect of this between the standard lights and the HID (optional) lights?
Regards
Hi Tony,
I’m happy to say that I’m now in a position to answer your questions. Apologies for the delay, but thanks for your patience.
The specification combination of solar roof and 17″ wheels is not available because it is, as you know, an issue of weight management. This in turn affects fuel economy and emissions. There is no further technical reason.
17″ wheels would not be retrofitted by a Toyota Centre, and we neither advise nor endorse unofficial third-party aftermarket fittings. The wheels that come with Prius improve air flow and drag co-efficient, so we’d recommend using these only.
To answer your second question, I spoke with a Prius product specialist and he has confirmed that there is no way to switch the beam direction. We do not offer HID (High Intensity Discharge) lights, but as you know, we do offer LED lights as part of the optional LED Technology Pack. The specialist confirmed that there is no difference in the beam direction of standard halogen and LED lights.
I hope that’s answered your questions. I’ll answer your remaining questions where they appear in the blog.
When is the new Prius Estate for sale?
Couple of questions on the hard disk drive for storage of music;
- Does it have an inbuilt database to recognise and display artist / album / track info or do you have to type it in?
- Is the menu to select artist / album / track easy to operate if you have a large collection i.e. type first couple of letters to search?
Thanks,
No inbuilt database. It relies on the info available on the disk you record.
Easy to access recordings - press audio button then HDD and select from menu.
Alan, assuming we are talking about the T-Spirit, it does have an inbuilt databse- the Gracenote CD database. Sadly the database in mine is 2 years out of date and there is no means of updating it myself, and I gather it costs a lot of money to get it done at a dealer.
When inputting old CD’s, the information comes up beautifully, but anything less than 2 years old involves laboriously typing in track names.
The other major issue with what is described as a “Hard Disc Based MP3 player” is that the buyer might be forgiven for thinking he can load MP3’s in to it. I was enthusiastic as my whole music collection has been server based for the last 3 years. Only after buying the car did I learn that you can only load music from audio CD’s. I had to go in the loft to sort out my CD collection, and to load my old stuff that is on vinyl or new stuff bought from iTunes, I have to laboriously burn the MP3 file on to a CD in CD Audio (NOT MP3) format, then load it in to the car. The triple format conversion not only takes ages but messes up the quality too.
Very disappointed
Pete
Thanks for the replies. Yes, it is the T Spirit that I was referring to. Good that it has a gracenote database, but completely flawed design bearing in mind that any new release cds you buy after getting the car won’t be on the database! I had a horrible feeling that anything in this category would involve keying it in!
As Peter says, the only alternative is to burn audio cds with the info on which doesn’t sound very 21st century! Great idea but incredible that it hasn’t been thought through properly.
I’ve heard that the ipod solution is unwieldy too - in that searching for a track is scrolling down a list with no search as per the ipod menus. A real pain if you’ve got a large collection.
No, even worse, it doesn’t pick up any info from the audio cd’s. If it’s not on the ancient Gracenote database, you have to key it in.
P
The only saving grace of the system is the AUX input jack. when we go out as a family, I put the children in charge of music. They connect their iPod headphone sockets to the aux socket, and the sound quality is fine.
Don’t buy the accessory iPod connector- it costs twice the price of an iPod, and it doesn’t improve on an iPod connected to the aux jack- just confuses you with hopeless menus
Now that’s where you lose me Peter… putting the kids in charge of the music! Your comments are really helpful (if a little depressing on having a huge storage system without a robust file system!). Also, although I was considering the ipod option, doesn’t apppear that the functionality justifies the comparatively high cost… I’ll stick with the AUX. Thanks.
No, they’re teenagers with good taste. I agree that “Wheels on the Bus” could be a problem if you have toddlers
Hi all 3rd Gen Prius Owners
Have you had any success with Push & Glide?? Been trying it at crusie speed of 40mph but can’t seems to get the arrow disappear on the Energy Monitor. Maybe my 1 week old car need to run in first?
Any thoughts??
Thanks
Not quite as easy as 2nd Gen models, but it is important that the engine has gone through warm up cycle.
have just taken delivery of Prius t spirit WHAT A FABULOUSE CAR think it must be the very BEST.
have a small nigel,
The indicator’s are very slow to cancel or have to be cancelled manualy. is this a trait or can it be fixed.
a small price to pay for such a magnificent drive
Is the emf reading level heigher then a non Hybrid car, if yes what are the risks.
What will be d cost of Prius in India n when we can book it?
You need to be on the Toyota India website, not the UK one!
Why didnt you have the sola panel recharge the battery
I can think of a few reasons:
* Volatility of sunlight would make recharge cycles difficult to manage
* Difficult to specify mileage when sunlight comes into equation
* Solar cell capacity might be insufficient
I am sure the Prius engineering team will have many more to add. But simply put, this would be to do with balancing practicality vs highest return on fuel saving. I would imagine that in intense sunlight & heat, the air conditioning system would draw extra power which can be avoided (minimized) by having the solar panel.
BTW this concept of practicality if something most people don’t get, you don’t need to look far to see some manufacturers investing millions on pure electric long range cars. Toyota on the other hand is being very wise with there plugin evaluations. Practicality is key!
Jay,
As I mentioned before, it was none of the reasons you stated. Toyota originally wanted to use the solar roof to top up the battery - that is the obvious use for it! However, they found that the equipment interfered with the radio and dropped the idea as a result.
A huge opportunity missed, in my opinion. For example, there’s an American firm which produces solar panels for the Prius and the modified car can drive at up to 42mph for 7 miles without any other power. Then, when you park and go to work, there’s enough power to drive home again!
When you consider that 50% of all journeys in the UK are fewer than 4 miles, just imagine the impact that would have on oil use…
Hi Tony,
I would agree that a highly efficient solar panel could indeed be used to recharge battery but that was not the point I was making.
>> they found that the equipment interfered with
>> the radio and dropped the idea as a result
Not sure what kind of “interference” you are referring to but I very much doubt this could be the reason. For example, the problem of EMF shielding has already been solved by engineers and so nowadays, it is relatively easy to shield off external interference. Secondly, car designers are way more clever than us, they would need to be so to survive in today’s competition, so it is difficult to imagine how they could overlook such an obvious solution, after all every idea missed is an opportunity to the competition.
Anyway, I really do not want to speculate on Toyota’s line of thinking without first hand proof. However, I am sure you would agree that, with companies like Honda vying for top spot, Toyota would have an army of clever boffins to retain leadership in Hybrid Technology.
You may ‘very much doubt it’ but I was quoting from Akihiko Otsuka, who, if you don’t know, was chief engineer for the Prius redesign!
He spoke to EVDesign, who confirmed that Toyota tried it and apparently discovered that connecting the PV panels to the battery turns them into an “antenna”, which at the very least seems to disrupt the car’s radio. Toyota then dropped the idea of charging the battery but decided to keep the roof and power the ventilation. This was simply a marketing gimmick, as £1500 to run a fan is a joke!
Yes, I’m sure Toyota employs plenty of ‘boffins’ but so what? I’m talking about the end result, which is all that matters, and having an electric car with a solar roof, which DOESN’T charge the battery, is very silly indeed.
As I said, the Americans have already resolved this on the Prius MkII and that car can cover every day trips without using a drop of petrol. THAT’s the future, not using a £1500 option to operate a ventilation fan!
ps. As someone else rather amusingly put it:
“I’ll tell you what’s really gettin’ ventilated here - somebodies wallet.”
Tony, look on the bright side, some of the redundant American car workers might just about have a 2nd chance of life producing recharge systems for Prius
Seriously, enough with jokes, I think we have diverted off Paul’s original question. The answer is that (for whatever reason) Toyota seem to have decided not to allow solar panel recharging, let’s hope at least Prius Gen IV or GenIII-PHV would feature something similar (Anyone like to add this to Prius Gen-4 wishlist)
In the mean time, I am off for a lunch time spin on my shiny new pearl-white T3.
Thanks,
Jay
“I think we’ve diverted off Paul’s original question.”
What?! I think you’ve forgotten his original question, Jay! If you scroll back up, you’ll see he asked “Why didnt you have the sola panel recharge the battery” [sic].
Hi Paul,
Apologies for the delayed response to your question.
The answer is actually very simple: the amount of energy required to charge the hybrid battery is huge, and unfortunately today’s technology means that generating this amount of energy through solar power alone is not yet possible. The roof size also presents a limitation, as it means the solar panel can only be so big, again meaning that only so much power can be generated.
However, Toyota is continually developing this technology, and hopes that at some time in the future it will be able to produce a vehicle that can charge its battery with solar energy.
Thanks for getting in touch, and don’t hesitate to come back to us with any further queries.
Condidering buying an 02 Prius. Whats battery policy? Cost of replacement? Being “semi-retired” I have to be “aware”!
If you are looking for information on the third-generation Prius brakes recall, please visit http://www.toyota.co.uk/prius-recall. You can enter your VIN/registration number to check if your car is affected.
If you have further questions or concerns regarding the recall, please call our Customer Relations team on 0800 1388 744.
how far on full battery
how long to recharge the batterey
The standard car will only cover 1.2 miles or so on the battery alone - and that’s at no more than 30mph.
Unless of course you’re going downhill! I can sometimes do a journey of more than that length and finish with the battery in a state of charge at least as high as when i started.
Yes, of course, going downhill would enable far greater distances to be covered on battery power alone. However, you always have to go back uphill at some point - and then the battery would be drained within seconds and the consumption would plummet!
The important thing is how long you can drive in normal conditions without using the petrol engine at all. 1.2 miles at a slow speed is not very much, unfortunately. Once battery technology improves, we will see really beneficial effects. If the distance (and the maximum speed) is increased significantly, it will make a huge difference. And not always by plugging in or charging the battery with a petrol engine but at least partly by use of truly free energy, such as solar power.
Hi,
Note that the query regarding snow chains hasn’t been answered. We are taking our 06 Spirit to the Italian Alps next week and would like to know if we can easily fit snow chains. Spoke to dealers and they ‘thought’ that would be fine, but have no experience. Other web info all US based, but seemed to be some suggestion that some snow chains won’t fit between wheel and body. I guess we will buy them in France or Italy.
Any suggestions, experience?
Anna
Hi Anna
Please accept our apologies for not addressing this matter in time for your trip. I recently answered the question here.
With regards to fitting snow chains, you would need to follow the guidelines stated in your owner’s manual along with the snow chain manufacturer’s instructions.
I hope this helps and that you had a great time in the Alps.
why is prius hibrid
Hi can you plug-in the prius at home into your electricity supply
Thanks
you can’t, yet.
A plugin version with extended battery range is currently in development
Does this car have radar cruise control
I think this has been answered somewhere on this thread already - I don’t think that is an option in the UK
Radar Cruise Control is available on American spec cars, so I’ve no idea why it’s not optional on the UK ones.
As I understand it, Toyota HQ give each regional territory a menu of possible options for the models and they choose which ones they think are worth offering in their territory. Toyota GB apparently did not choose radar cruise control.
can a tow bar be fitted to the Prius? And if so what bis the cost
No. Answered many times already on this thread, although admittedly now on the “older posts” page.
It’s apparently because of the how the software/drive system operates.
Hi Gavin
Thanks for posting your question to the blog. We’ve covered the issue of towing with a Prius a few times before. For a full explanation as to why Toyota doesn’t recommend using a Prius as a tow vehicle, please click here.
I hope this answers your query - please get in touch if you have any other questions.
Are there any suitable rear dog guards manufactured for the prius model made 2009. Thanks..
Toyota UK,
I have started to notice very specific and targetted negative campaign against the prius as of late in printed and online media. Pls. make sure you make every possible effort to ensure your hard earned image is not tarnished by those trying to capitalise on the recall.
Thanks!
Thanks, Jay - we’re watching, and doing all we can.
Too right Jay. Although I doubt that Toyota can publicly admit it, this recall would not have been necessary on safety grounds, it has purely been forced on them by media hype. misunderstanding and over-reaction to a technical quirk.
how much are they
Take a look at the main Toyota UK website for prices & factory options
We have just ordered a new T-Spirit this week, and are really looking forward to driving it, despite all of the negative news Toyota have received recently.
Hopefully you could help me with the following question.
How do I transfer music onto the Prius Hard drive, is it via SD card?
Andy
I understand (although mine doesn’t have that) from discussions that it can only rip one CD at a time via the CD drive, there is no direct transfer possible.
Great that makes it easier, Thank you.
It can be set to automatically record any CD that is put into the CD slot and it records much quicker than the playing time. Very easy!
latest prius edition launch
I heard if i buy a third generation prius, it might not stop, Nice safety feature boys.
Only if you don’t use the brake. Anything else you’ve heard is media B/S by people who don’t know what they are talking about, and don’t understand the quirk that has been changed by the latest software update.
what is the IPA pre-support switch for. sounds a daft Q but book gives no indication
sorry folks just seen it daft b*****
Intelligent Parking Assist.
Automatically manoeuvres you into your chosen parking spot.
How am I supposed to know whar “generation” of Prius I have? There is no mention of a “generation” on the registration document and I was not aware of generations when I bought the car.
The date of first registration is 25/9/08.
The “generations” of model can be ascertained by one of two ways,
either
body shape (as in saloon = 1st gen, hatchback in production 2003 to 2009 = 2nnd gen and latest model = 3rd gen)
or
model code as on registration document, where
NHW10 and NHW11 = 1st gen (1.0 and 1.1 versions)
NHW20 = 2nd gen
and the latest model as Zxx30 in the model code
(xx = maybe ZVH, but I fgorget the exact letter code)
My prius Tspirit is a 2007 model. Please can you advise what size snow chains I need
Hi Heather
Thanks for your question. Apologies for the delay - in case you’re still thinking of purchasing snow chains for your Prius, here’s the information you need. The 2007 Prius T Spirit is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels and 195/55 R16 tyres as standard. According to the owner’s manual your car should use snow chains that conform to the following specification:
3.5mm side chain diameter (A)
4.0mm cross chain diameter (B)
Please consult your Prius owner’s manual for information about how snow chains should be installed, including important safety precautions that should be taken.
I hope this information helps.
Castrol recommended 0W-30 OIL
Personally I’d be more inclined to follow toyota’s recommendation than castrol’s, as castrol don’t make the car. Perhaps castrol don’t produce a 0w-20!
if you drive in ev mode for 1.2 miles what happens when the battery runs flat and how long does it take to recharge the battery
1.2 miles is not a fixed figure, it depends on the conditions. All that happens is that once the battery level of charge has fallen below a certain level (or speed is too high) the petrol engine kicks in. the battery is then charged/used as normal.
How do you get to the “Q&A Section” referred to in Simon Rutherford’s note of 27 July 2009?
Hi Al
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I believe the Q&A section you are looking for is found in the Prius section of the Toyota (GB) website.
You can jump directly to it here. You will be able to click on the ‘Q&A’ box on the right-hand side, below the main Prius image.
I hope this helps.
Its amazing, I have raised the question and see that it continues to appear concerning the correct oil for the Gen3 Prius. As the manual states 0W20 then that is surely what a dealer should use at service and at no additional cost. We should not need to ask.
Surely, if I put incorrect oil in the engine and something went wrong, I would be held responsible and the warranty would be void.
Yes, it remains to be seen whether Toyota have more success getting the message through to dealers about the Gen 3 than they did about the Gen 2
Love the tidy up but does this mean we have to resubmit unanswered questions?
Paul F says:
January 19, 2010 at 17:34
Am I correct in thinking that the built in Sat Nav comes as a standard fitting in the Spirit.
Can a Spirit be ordered without the Sat Nav?
Hi Paul,
Apologies for the delay in answering your question. Sat nav does come as standard with the T Spirit, but the Prius Product Manager informs me that you cannot order it without.
The sat nav system is the main differentiator between the T Spirit and the T4 (the grade immediately below). The other differentiator is the optional solar roof. If you are not considering the roof and don’t want the sat nav, then perhaps T4 is the grade for you!
Apologies once again, and thanks for your patience.
Sorry the recall information site is
http://www.toyota.co.uk/recall
(edited comment: Simon 19:09)
To clarify: the dedicated recall site is http://www.toyota.co.uk/recall. Please do not use the email address Alan posted previously.
Can i use 0W-30 OIL
Steve
You’re opening a right can of worms there. There have been problems throughout the life of the second gen Prius with dealers not using the recommended type of oil (5w-30) even if specifically requested, or stating that it is not necessary despite being the Toyota recommended type.
For the new Prius the recommended is, IIRC, 0W-20, and the manual recommends chaging to that the next time if not used on the last refill. The main practical impact of using different types appears to be on fuel efficiency. 5w30 would be most likely be acceptable to use, but probably less efficient than the recommended 0w20.
Of course, which type of oil is used is only one factor affecting efficiency - overfilling (another common gripe with dealers) also has a detrimental effect.
My recollection from the handbook is that there are several grades of *acceptable* (as in cause *no* damage or warranty issues) mentioned.
The thinner oils will give better mpg so these are “best” (as in 0W20).
However as there seems to a restricted choice on suppliers of this new thinner 0W20 oil the price is currently grossly excessive meaning that the extra cost of this oil may well outweigh the fuel savings to be had (of which no one has ever published definitive figures for, more a matter of speculative guesses so far).
One wonders if the published mpg figures are based on thin 0W20 oil ??
If Toyota recommends OW20 then that is what every Toyota dealer should be using. When I go for my 10K service, I will not settle for anything less. No one (not even my dealer) would have the technical expertise to asses the long-term implications of using any other oil so their opinion should really not matter. Typically, a manufacturer would do thousands of hours of continuous engine run simulations to decide on oil grade recommendation so unless someone is able to offer scientific results for other oil grades, I would go by Toyota’s recommendation.
Jay,
Don’t forget. get the quote for a service first and then remind them of what oil they should be using. The quoted price should in my opinion still stand.
let us know how you get on
Do you know when the PHEV plug-in will be available in the UK ? regards
when does it use the electric engine
It uses the electric motor and petrol engine separately and together as the control system decides are appropriate circumstances, depending upon factors such as speed and acceleration.
For a detailed explanation visit http://www.hybridsynergydrive.com
James
You might also like to take a look at this site if you really want to know !!
http://prius.ecrostech.com/original/Understanding/WhatsGoingOnAsIDrive.htm
I have 6 Toyota Prius model in our company car fleet, how do I know if the are affected by the recall on the brakes.?
Hi Pauline,
The recall applies to the third-generation Prius built before 27 January 2010 only. For all the latest information on this, please see our official statement.
Subject: Acceleration problems.
I’m not defending Toyota but acceleration problems aren’t unique to them, I nearly had an accident in my brand new Ford Focus a number of years ago, it was extremely scary sitting in a car accelerating towards a roundabout at 70 miles per hour with your foot hard on the brake. The dealership told me that there was a problem with a printed circuit and that I was lucky to have a manual gear box, he said that people in America with automatic transitions were having fatal accidents all over the place but there was no fix for it yet, three weeks later I received a recall letter. My point here is, I don’t remember Ford getting the same negative grlling that Toyota is getting today, why not I wonder?.
Hi, what is the service interval on the Prius?
I have a pace maker.
can i drive the Prius.
Shmuel,
Any particular reason why you feel a pacemaker might be an issue?
Because of the electro manetic filds when driving the car.
I don’t recall, having read the manual, seeing any warnings about them - I imagine that any magnetic fields created by operation of the motor/generators will be contained/baffled by being within the metal framework around the front of the car.
Pacemaker wearers have an ongoing dilemma around no one wanting to take responsibility for the incredibly rare eventuality of their pacemaker malfunctioning due to electromagnetic field exposure. Pacemaker manufacturers install fairly hefty screening but still warn that excessive electromagnetic fields can interfere, and manufacturers of goods that emit e/m fields always state that they take no responsibility for any effect on pacemakers, so the pacemaker wearer is condemned to avoiding one milliwatt fields when their pacemaker would actually be fine with a nearby lightning bolt.
The Prius manual does state that the (fraction of a milliwatt??) keyless entry system can be disabled for the benefit of pacemaker wearers and others who wish to avoid exposure, but strangely makes no reference to the magnetic fields around the 60KW motor- yes, I know the motor is screened, but I’d be surprised if the screening attenuates the motor’s field to less than that of the keyless entry system.
Perhaps Melissa can give us some data on the strength, frequency and locations of the various e/m fields around the Prius so Shmuel can take them to his pacemaker manufacturer.
(Sorry Melissa :-))
Incidentally, all petrol engines produce e/m interference from around the coil, distributor and plug leads. This may well be more intense than any other source in the Prius