Some safety precautions when working on a hybrid vehicle

There are many benefits to having a hybrid vehicle. Probably the best reason to buy one of these vehicles is to keep pain at the pump to a minimum. Did you know that there are some precautions you should take if you plan to work on one of these vehicles yourself? First of all, it’s true that working on a standard gas-only vehicle is a lot like working on a hybrid, but you have to keep in mind that the battery voltage is much higher.

While each hybrid vehicle is different, each operates under the same principles. It has an internal combustion engine like all other vehicles, but as a backup power source, it also has an electric motor. When it comes to working on hybrids, know that something completely different awaits you. These vehicles have more computers and sensors, not to mention that they have a lot of energy.

These hybrid vehicles feature high-power battery packs located in the rear of the cars that can produce 200 to 275 volts of electricity at up to 80 amps. Honda hybrids produce 144 volts. Note that 50 volts is enough to kill some people. If someone has only had experience working on non-hybrid vehicles, they could easily make a mistake that could seriously electrocute and even kill them.

So if you work on cars and are thinking of working on your own hybrid, keep this in mind. Before working on your new hybrid car, make sure you have read the manual. It would also be a good idea to read a licensed repair manual, such as those prepared by Chilton or Haines. If you are new to auto repair, you may want to leave it to the professionals. However, one of the best precautions to take is to make sure your vehicle is completely turned off before attempting to work on it. Make sure you have removed the keys from the ignition, as the vehicle will start the engine if the battery needs to be charged.

Some hybrid vehicles have already taken this potential danger into account. For example, Toyota has made all of the high-voltage wires on its hybrid vehicles bright orange. This will be of great help to prevent you from making impromptu mistakes. Also, on their Prius model, they have made it so that when the car is turned off, no power passes through these wires. Another precaution that has been taken on this car is the service plug located on the battery. When this plug is removed from the battery, no power can come out of it.

If you’re the proud owner of a hybrid vehicle, there’s no reason to get paranoid about working on your vehicle. It’s still a very safe endeavor, as long as you’re aware of the added danger and take the proper precautions to avoid it.