1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

How to Engage "Maintenance Mode" on the G3 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Den49, Oct 23, 2014.

  1. Den49

    Den49 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2010
    498
    267
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Maintenance Mode is useful for running the engine continuously without it shutting off, such as when you do a coolant drain and fill and want to purge air out of the cooling system. This thread was created to clarify the procedure for engaging Maintenance Mode on the G3 Prius after attempting to do it according to the Prius service manual and finding that the manual does not clearly describe or include all the required steps.

    Perform the follows steps in less than 60 seconds to engage Maintenance Mode for the G3 Prius.
    1. Begin with the car and all accessories turned off.
    2. Set the parking brake.
    3. With the car in Park, and your foot off the brake pedal, turn the Power Switch "On" by pressing it twice.
    4. With the car in Park, and your foot off the brake pedal, fully depress the accelerator twice.
    5. Step on the brake pedal and use the shift lever to shift from Park to Neutral.
    6. With the car in Neutral, and your foot off the brake pedal, fully depress the accelerator twice.
    7. Step on the brake pedal and press the Park switch/button to shift from Neutral to Park.
    8. With the car in Park, and your foot off the brake pedal, fully depress the accelerator twice.
    9. Check that "Maintenance Mode" is displayed in the multi-information display.
    10. Step on the brake pedal and then press the Power Switch to start the engine.
    Important: DO NOT drive the car in maintenance mode to avoid damage to the transaxle.

    CANCEL Maintenance Mode by pressing the brake pedal, and then press the Power Switch.
     
  2. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    this instructions should be an " sticky" on PC
     
  3. sfprankster

    sfprankster Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2014
    443
    490
    10
    Location:
    Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three

    ...and that's how you do the Hokey Pokey. :whistle:


    In all seriousness, thanks for posting the info!!! (y)
     
    Den49 likes this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Thanks for that!

    Just in case it's not dead obvious, what the last line is saying to do is Shut the Car Down.

    Just for giggles, it might be good to block the tires before doing this? Just in case.
     
  5. TheLos

    TheLos Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2013
    113
    19
    0
    Location:
    Corona, California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks


    iPhone ?
     
  6. jack black

    jack black Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    225
    142
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    i tried the procedure and it didn't work. the engine started when gas pedal pressed before the end of the dance. is it only for the touch screen models?
     
  7. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    If the engine started, you must have been in READY, not ON. Be sure to follow step #3 exactly as written.
     
    Mendel Leisk and jack black like this.
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    You need to push start button twice without foot on brake, at the start.
     
    jack black likes this.
  9. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    If I remember correctly, on the UK G3 and Prius+, I seem to think it was just turn car on (ready or acc), press setup button on the nav/radio and turn headlights on and off 3 or 4 times, as it is now on the G4.
     
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That's how you get into a set of self-check screens for the infotainment system, which always gets new owners excited thinking they've found a secret shortcut to diagnosing the car, until they find out those screens have only to do with the infotainment system. (They do show the 12 V voltage on the vehicle signal check screen, which is sort of useful. And of course, if the infotainment system is what you've got trouble with, they're helpful then.)

    Nothing to do with the "maintenance mode" that you use when you need to run the engine steadily for testing purposes.

    Also worth knowing: in earlier generations, there was one "maintenance mode" that both ran the engine constantly, and suppressed traction control so you could do dyno tests. In Gen 3 those are split into two separate modes, with two different menu selections in Techstream to enter them. (Without Techstream, they involve different numbers of go-pedal steps in the little dance.)
     
    kithmo likes this.
  11. jack black

    jack black Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    225
    142
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    i stand corrected, the procedure worked alright. i'll copy for future reference.
     
  12. Muhammad Nadeem

    Muhammad Nadeem Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2019
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Pakistan
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the info
    How much time the maintenance mode takes?
     
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I am not sure I understand the question.

    The maintenance mode is something you can select if you are going to do any kind of service procedure where you want the engine to continuously run. In maintenance mode, the engine will never stop automatically, but will stay running, for as long as you want. When you power the car off again, the mode is cancelled, so the car will be back in normal operation when next started.
     
  14. ws309

    ws309 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    22
    0
    0
    Location:
    ventura
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    One question, Can you use an OBD11 scan tool while in maintenance mode?
     
  15. Jeff606

    Jeff606 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2012
    18
    4
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay area
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I would say, why not? Difficult to do real damage with an OBD2 meter.
     
  16. ws309

    ws309 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    22
    0
    0
    Location:
    ventura
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I was in maintenance mode for 3 mins and then the engine stalled out shaking like crazy.I'm at my wits end. Ever hear of that happening?
     
  17. fluffypony

    fluffypony New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2023
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Is there a way to rev the engine while in maintenance mode?
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Try pushing the gas pedal? ;)