UK spec 2nd generation Prius Headlamp Adjustment

There are lots of web sites telling you how to adjust the headlamp on a 2nd gen Prius but the ones I've seen all tell you to take the radiator cover off and look for an adjustment screw above the headlamp unit. The UK spec Prius doesn't have that screw in that location and, for some reason, the adjustment procedure was left out of the manual  for some of the cars so you'll be wasting your time messing with the radiator cover, etc.

The UK spec T-Spirit has an electronic adjustment on the dashboard, that adjusts both headlamps together using a little motorised unit attached to the back of the headlamp clusters.

That little motor unit has a manual adjustment screw (the white plastic screw in the photo) which you can use to adjust each headlamp individually. Turn it clockwise to raise the beam, anti-clockwise to lower it.


That screw is a bit awkward to get a screwdriver on. I found the easiest way to adjust this thing is with an 8mm ratchet spanner.

Opening the hatch from inside without power

Locked out with  no power on your Prius? Luckily Toyota thought of that. Assuming you can get a door open, which should be possible with the key if you followed my advice on this post, you can get to the back of the car, fold the rear seats down and gain access to the hatch area. Once in there, take out the floor cover and the tray, exposing the spare wheel.
Right under the hatch lock mechanism, on the rear panel of the car, you'll see an oval hole (marked on the picture below). Inside that hole is a tiny metal lever that will unlock the hatch.

This image is of a second generation Prius but I'm told the lever is in the same place on the later models as well, just a little more awkward to get at and under a plastic cover that you'd  need to remove.

Of course, if all you want to do is get power to the thing to jumpstart it or recharge the battery, you don't actually need access to the battery. There's a jumpstart terminal in the fusebox under the bonnet at the front which you can also use to recharge. Take a look at my post, 2010/08/2005-prius-flat-battery, for details.

2nd Generation Prius Bulb List

Correct (as far as I know) for the UK spec 2nd generation Prius.

High & low beam headlamp: 9003/H4 or HID

Parking light: 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Tail light: 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Turn Signal: 7440 [amber] (21W)

Fog light: 9006

License plate: 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Reversing light: 7440

Front sidemarker: 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Map light and front dome (all thee positions in the lamp above the dash): 168/194/T-10 (8W)

Dome light (over rear seats): 3175 (also fit: 3022/3021/6428/6430) (8W) (1.25", 31mm)

Step/Courtesy light: 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Trunk/Cargo area: 3022 (also fit: 3175/3022/3021/6428/6430) (5W) (1.25", 31mm)

Vanity light (above the sun shades): 3022 (also fit: 3175/3022/3021/6428/6430) (5W) (1.25", 31mm) 

The CTEK Multi XS 3600 Battery Charger/Conditioner

Battery chargers have come a long way since the early days of motoring. The CTEK MXS 3.6 3.8A 12V Multi-Functional 4-Stage Car Battery Charger (for Europe!) is a perfect example. Not only can this little device charge your battery as normal, but it will also automatically attempt to recover sulphated batteries. This unit can handle lead acid batteries ranging from a tiny 1.2Ah to a hefty 120Ah.
It has a maintenance mode which it automatically switches to; this monitors the battery voltage and applies a small current whenever it is needed in order to keep the battery fully charged. It can be left connected for months.

The charger comes with two ‘connectors’. One is terminated in eyelets, allowing permanent connection. The other connector is terminated in standard insulated crocodile clips to allow temporary connection to any battery.

It is also supplied with its own bag for storage of the unit, its manual and the connectors. The whole package weighs only 700 grams so I keep mine in the car at all times. The bag even has a loop attached so you can hang it up in your garage or shed.

This charger is very easy to use. Once connected, you just push the ‘Mode’ button to tell it what sort of battery you are charging. For simplicity, it shows little diagrams of a motorcycle for small batteries (14.4v 0.8A), a car for larger batteries (14.4V 3.6A) and a star which can be used if the ambient temperature is below 5’C (14.7V 3.6A). It has inbuilt protection from reverse polarity, etc.

This little charger has been a revelation after years of bulky boxes which you plugged in and had to monitor every minute. The picture above shows the charger in use on my Prius. This car has its battery at the back. I made a permanent connection to it using the ‘eyelet connector’ and I simply have to plug it in to keep the cars battery fully charged (shown below).

The manual states this charger will prolong the life of your battery. Can’t comment on that but I have successfully ‘resurrected’ an old battery that had been sitting in the garage awaiting disposal for over a year. Given the high cost of replacement batteries, I’m happy that I made the right choice in buying this charger.

*** Please note this battery charger is available and designed for use in Europe.

Winter Tyres!

Bought a set of winter tyres mounted on steel wheels for the Prius. I chose Michelin Alpin A4's. Went to fit them then discovered that the OEM nuts are not suitable for the new wheels. Seems they can work loose easily which sort of defeats the object of fitting the tyres in the first place...that is safety!
Managed to get hold of some suitable nuts online from "Raceways Die-Cast Models", they were delivered the very next day as promised. Fitted and everything is now safe...phew.


Course the first thing that happened after I fitted the winter tyres was a sudden spike upwards of ambient temperature...I'm sure that won't last long though.

Will report back when we get some snow/ice/cold weather :)

Hybrid System Pump Recall and Brake Disks skimmed

Sorted. One tried and tested though seemingly potentially dodgy pump that has performed flawlessly for nearly six years thrown away. Now have a brand new pump...time will tell if it performs as well as the last one.

Also had the brake disks skimmed. Seems I don't brake hard enough to stop them getting corroded...or I don't use the car enough...or a combination of the two :)

Ack - got a recall!

2nd generation Prius' are being recalled to have the hybrid system water pump changed. Not actually had any issues with  mine but it would be silly to ignore a recall so it goes in this week to have that sorted out.
http://www.toyota.com/recall/prius.html for more info.