I own a 2006 pruis with 40,000 miles on it & would like to know how to deactivate the system to make it safe to clean & lube the battery terminals. Also how to get to the hybrid battery.
Do not touch the hybrid battery, it is very dangerous!!! Quite safe if left alone. If the car is off you can disconnect the battery with no damage. As well as cleaning the terminals remove and clean under the cable then refit and tighten then grease over where the earth wire attaches to the body.
It's fairly safe to check the 12 vdc auxilary battery if you understand how to work safely on lead acid batteries. Under no circumstances should you open up the NiMH battery case. You could be exposed to 200 vdc
More generally, if you don't already have the owner's manual and scheduled maintenance guide (they are two separate documents), get them and read them. They will save you considerable trouble and expense.
If you disconnect the 12V battery, be prepared to restore settings, such as the radio and auto driver window. I prefer to float the system with another 12V source connected to the jump points. That way you can disconnect the battery for cleaning or replacement without having to restore settings. Tom
