Revised March 6, 2008
This is a closed thread.
If you have a question about any of these topics, please create a new thread.
Thanks!

There are more detailed answers elsewhere, this is designed to be a quick Q & A.
Answers can be found by clicking the linked words in each question (a new window will open).

1. What are the definitions of some of the acronyms that appear at this site?
2. How do I improve my mileage?
3. Battery questions
   • Can the battery be jumped?
   • Are you sure I can't jump another car? I asked the dealer about this prior to buying the car, and they said it would be okay.
   • Does the 12V power outlet plugs inside the car stay on when the car is powered off?
   • Can I change the settings for the headlight auto off timer?
   • Do the rear personal reading lights (only available in cars with the moon roof) turn off after a period of time?
   • What is the maximum speed I can achieve on battery only?
   • What happens if I run out of gas?
4. Braking questions
   • Why do my brakes shudder during the first few stops?
5. Are there any tax incentives available for the purchase of a TCH?
6. Where can I learn more about the car and hybrid driving techniques?
7. Calculated mileage questions
   • How accurate are the dashboard calculations?
   • What mileage are other drivers getting?
   • How do I interpret the graph on the ECO Drive Display (one of the screens inside the speedometer) and the blue rings that, at times, appear around the speedometer?
   • How do I record my mileage at this web site?
   • How do I create a dynamic link signature showing my calculated mileage?
     
8. How do I know if my car is turned off properly?
9. Is it okay for me to talk on the phone when I'm driving?
10. Questions about the navigation, BlueTooth Systems, etc.
    • How do I set up voice activation on the Navigation System?
    • How do I set up HomeLink (garage door opener)
    • I have a Palm SmartPhone (Treo) and can't pair with the BlueTooth system.
    • Are there any hidden diagnostics menus (NAV users only)?
11. How do I install...
    • ...a backup camera?
    • ...an engine heater block?
12. Questions regarding changing fluids and filters.
    • Oil
      • Where can I learn more about engine oil?
      • How can I make changing oil less messy?
      • How much should my oil change cost?
      • Why is my oil filter on so tight?
      • What oil and filter should I use?
    • Coolants
      • Recommended engine and transaxle coolant change intervals?
    • Filters (non-oil)
      • How do I remove the air filter?
13. I do not like the look of those hybrid badges. Should I remove them? How can I remove them?
14. Questions about buying an extended warranty
15. My car acts differently when it first starts up and when it is warmed up, are there different stages?
16. How do I adjust the...(seatbelt warning, headlight auto off timer, etc.)?

If you have a comment regarding the FAQ or would like to see a question added to the list, please reply to this post Comments on the FAQ .

Thanks!

 

What are the definitions of some of the acronyms that appear at this site?

• ICE is Internal Combustion Engine
• DINO (or dino) oil is non-synthetic oil, the stuff that came from dinosaurs (get it? )
• FE is Fuel Economy
• ECO is the ECO Switch (hidden to the left of the driver's left knee) that sets the Air Conditioning system to economy mode.
• SOC is State of Charge
• MFD is Multi Function Display (it's found inside your speedometer or on your NAV system)
• NAV is Navigation System
• HSD is Hybrid Synergy Drive (Toyota's name for the hybrid system)
• TCH is Toyota Camry Hybrid
• ECU is the Engine Control Unit. This is the computer "brain" for the entire Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system (HSD) and controls all of the energy utilization and recovery.
• MG1 is the smaller motor generator mechanically connected to the Power Split Device (PSD) sun gear. It is utilized by the Engine Control Unit to provide what is the equivalent of a "gear ratio" for the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system (HSD).
• MG2 is the larger motor generator mechanically connected to the driven axle (axles in the Hylander AWD) and the Power Split Device (PSD) ring gear. It is utilized by the Engine Control Unit for electrically driving the vehicle, assisted electric power for the ICE when required and for recovery of excess energy when coasting and braking, sometime called regenerative energy or simply regen.
• PSD is the power split device -- it replaces the transmission in the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system (HSD). Look here to see how it works.

 

How do I improve my mileage?

• Factors not related to the way the driver operates the vehicle.
  Your mileage will increase...
  • ...after your first oil change.
  • ...when the weather is warm. In cold weather the ICE needs to run to warm up.
  • ...if you drive on flat roads
  • ...when the air conditioner or heater is set to off
  • ...if you increase tire pressure. The trade off is a noisier and possible more uncomfortable drive. Always stay within the posted recommended pressure range set by the manufacturer. See this survey to see how other drivers set their pressure.
  • ...if you use top tier gas
  • ...if you switch to Low Rolling Resistance tires
• Factors related to the way the driver operates the vehicle.
  • After the engine warms up, come to a complete stop for a few seconds and see if the engine turns off after 4-5 seconds (not after one second). When it does this you are now in EV mode. The car will drive 'in the blue', on battery power, up to 40 MPH. Please see how-come-i-cant-go-into-ev-mode-sometimes (the third post) for an explanation.
  • Combine trips and make your lengthiest trip the first leg of your trip. This will give the car a chance to warm up.
  • Don't store heavy items in the trunk or travel with passengers. Three extra adults in the car could add between 400 and 600 pounds.
  • Don't warm up the car before driving. Power it on and when you see READY, put it in gear and go. This is not practical if you live in a cold climate.
  • Try and drive at a constant speed. Frequent stops and starts hurt mileage.
  • Pulse and Glide Accelerate to a nice speed, say 65 MPH and then let the car glide down to 55 MPH (traffic permitting) and then start the process up again
  • Anticipate traffic light changes and glide up to the light, rather than using the gas and braking
  • Use cruise control when on flat roads.
  • Avoid jack rabbit starts
  • Avoid bumper to bumper traffic, if possible
  • Monitor the battery's charge level and avoid letting the it run low when in traffic (the ICE will turn on at slow speeds to help regenerate the battery). Try and leave a gap between you and the car in front of you and then pulse and glide to try and regenerate the battery.
  • There are many other driving techniques that people use to increase their mileage. There are quite a few posts and threads that discuss this topic. Some of the techniques you will see could potentially put the driver, passengers and others at risk. Please use common sense and observe local traffic laws as well as proper driving etiquette when considering whether some of these tactics are appropriate for you. The EMT in the ambulance will not ask you what your mileage was before the accident. Always drive safely!

 

Battery questions

• Can the battery be jumped?
  • Yes, the small 12 volt battery (located in the trunk) can.
  • The hybrid battery can only be jumped by the dealer.
  • Before attempting to jump the battery, please read the manual to make sure you know what you are doing.
  • You should NOT try and jump start another car.
• Are you sure I can't jump another car? I asked the dealer about this prior to buying the car, and they said it would be okay.
  • A.The 12-volt battery in the TCH is an AGM (Absorptive Glass Mat) type. These batteries are designed to survive repeated deep discharge/recharge cycles without failure, but cannot take rapid charge or discharge without potential damage (temperature dependent). The TCH's ECU circuitry limits the charge/discharge rates. Jump starting another vehicle using the TCH's 12-V battery is likely to reduce its service life appreciably due to the very high cranking current that is drawn from it in such an operation. (It's also a rather expensive battery to replace! It incorporates both a temperature sensor and a gas venting valve and gas discharge attachment.)
• Does the 12V power outlet plugs inside the car stay on when the car is powered off?
  • No, these are disabled when the car's power is off.
• Can I change the settings for the headlight auto off timer?
  • No, you can't, but the dealer can. For a list of the options that the dealer can modify, please see the PDF attached to this link.
• Do the rear personal reading lights (only available in cars with the moon roof) turn off after a period of time?
  • Even though the interior lights go off after a few seconds, the rear personal reading lights do not turn off when you power off the car. Please make sure these lights are turned off as they can drain your battery.
• What is the maximum speed I can achieve on battery only?
  • When the engine is warmed up you should be able to get up to 40 MPH. This will vary due to a number of conditions. Eventually, the battery charge will drop and the ICE will turn on to help regenerate power.
• What happens if I run out of gas?
  • When your gas gauge reaches E and your MFD indicate 0 miles left on the tank, you have approximately 3 gallons of gas left in the tank. You should try and refill your tank as soon as possible. There are no awards given for the most mileage driven per tank, similarly, it's not fun standing on the side of the road hoping someone will give you a ride to the nearest gas station.
    
    However, in the unlikely situation that you forgot to refill your tank, you failed to notice the dashboard warning light and the car ran out of fuel, your car will be able to drive approximately one or two miles (depending on driving habits, conditions, and battery state) before the main hybrid (traction) battery runs out of power. If you are unable to make it to a gas station before the hybrid battery dies, your car will be stranded and you will need to contact the Toyota dealership to have the battery charged.
    
    Word to the wise...when the warning light tells you you need fuel, get it.

 

Braking questions

Why do my brakes shudder during the first few stops?

• Due to the nature of a hybrid vehicle, there are points in time when you may be applying the brakes without actually using the brake pads. This is called regenerative braking; which uses the HSD to slow the vehicle. Since the brake pads are not used as often as in a non-hybrid vehicle, moisture can build up on the pads and rotors. If moisture is present, the pads may "slip" causing your brakes to shudder while applying them. This will happen until the moisture is burned off. If this happens frequently, during more than the first few stops, you should consider contacting your service center.

 

Are there any tax incentives available for the purchase of a TCH?

• The US Federal tax credit was based upon the number of units sold by the manufacturer and due to Toyota's popularity, the credit ended (numerous web citations available). Individual states may have tax credit or other incentives available (such as allowing you to drive in HOV lanes with only one occupant or parking garage discounts).
• Canada offers currently a $1500 tax rebate on the TCH (2007 and 2008 model years). Please see this page
• The province of Ontario offers an additional $2000 rebate. Please see this page
• There might be credits for the other provinces, we are not sure.

 

Where can I learn more about the car and hybrid driving techniques?

• Learn more by visiting Toyota's iGuide
• WikiCars page for Toyota Camry Hybrid
• Wikipedia entry for Hybrid Synergy Drive
• 2007 Online Owner's Manual (PDF)
• fueleconomy.gov
• 2008 Online Camry Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
• Please see the Toyota Prius FAQ and the Ford Escape Hybrid FAQ for other tips and techniques.

 

Calculated mileage

• How accurate are the dashboard calculations?
  • Typically the MPG displayed is 1-1.5 MPG high. The fuel usage is an approximation, so it would be difficult to calculate an accurate MPG.
  • The speedometer is approximately 3 miles per hour high at 60 miles per hour (see this post for details)
• What mileage are other drivers getting?
  • This page lists the various users mileage. Please don't expect to be able to achieve the mileage that some users are posting. You may not be able to, nor want to, drive under the conditions that they did to achieve these results.
• How do I interpret the graph on the ECO Drive Display (one of the screens inside the speedometer) and the blue rings that, at times, appear around the speedometer?
  • The ECO Drive chart shows the car's approximate average mpg since you last started the car (it resets every time you turn the car off). It is a stair step display and is updated every 10 seconds.
    The rings may appear on the outside of the speedometer as your mpg improves. The gauges change luminosity and more rings are added at the same time as the ECO Drive stair step increases. The following are the levels of the stair steps and corresponding blue speedometer rings:
    • Level 0 -- Below 25 mpg -- Ring brightness off, no lines
    • Level 1 -- Between 26 & 30 mpg -- Ring brightness is subtle with one thin blue line
    • Level 2 -- Between 31 & 35 mpg -- Ring brightness is medium intensity with thicker blue lines
    • Level 3 -- 36 mpg & above -- Ring brightness is full intensity with the thickest blue lines
    When you turn off the the car, the ECO Drive display (MFD) retains the ECO display for 3 seconds. It will display "EXCELLENT" if your average was 36 MPG or more. Remember, these are approximations of your mileage.
    The ECO display on the dash is not related to the ECO switch next to the tank refill switch referred to in this post.
• How do I record my mileage at this web site?
  • Click the Manage Your Cars link on left side of this page and follow the instructions.
• How do I create a dynamic link signature showing my calculated mileage?
  
  • Click this link to find out how

 

How do I know if my car is turned off properly?

• Look at the clock on your dashboard. If it's on, your car is on. If it's off, the car is off.

 

Is it okay for me to talk on the phone when I'm driving?

• Surprisingly, talking on a cell phone; reading or sending text messages or e-mailing; eating or putting on make-up are as dangerous in a hybrid as they are when driving a traditional vehicle. These activities are good, however, if you are interested in watching your airbags inflate. If you must talk on a cell phone, please consider using the BlueTooth system