Toyota hybrid servicing and checks

Toyota has sold hybrids in the UK since the first Prius, and today the Yaris, Corolla, C-HR, RAV4 and Auris hybrids are everywhere. The system is well proven, but it adds a few components a normal car does not have, and knowing which ones to check is what makes a good hybrid service.

The inverter converts battery power to drive the electric motors and has its own cooling circuit with a separate electric pump. On the second and third generation Prius, and the Auris hybrid that shares its system, that pump is a known failure point. If it stops, the inverter overheats, the dashboard shows a warning triangle and a check hybrid system message, and the car can lose drive. We check the pump is running and the inverter coolant is at the right level.

The hybrid battery is cooled by a small fan that draws air from inside the car, usually beside or under the rear seat. Its filter and fan blades clog with dust and pet hair, and a hot battery wears out faster. Cleaning it is a simple job that is often forgotten. We also test the small 12V battery, because on a hybrid a weak 12V battery stops the car going into ready mode even though the main battery is fine.

On the third generation Prius, the EGR cooler can block with carbon, which in turn has been linked to head gasket failures. Where it is relevant we look for the early signs. Everything else is the same care any car needs: correct low-viscosity oil, brake fluid, coolant and a close look at brakes that often last a long time on hybrids because regenerative braking does much of the work.