Toyota training focuses on hybrids

As the number of hybrid vehicles on the road increases, more and more collision repair shops will need to know the specialized techniques for repairing them.

“It’s getting more important all the time for service providers to learn how to work on these cars,” says Roger Larsen, body service supervisor, technical and body training development at the University of Toyota. “The hybrid population is growing, and the number of vehicles on the road is only going to escalate.”

Larsen’s presentation during the I-CAR International Annual Meeting on Friday, “Toyota Hybrid Service Techniques,” covered service procedures for the automaker’s hybrid vehicles that go beyond the typical battery-related issues.

According to Larsen, most training around hybrid repair has focused on safety issues — primarily, determining when the high-voltage battery has to be removed to safely complete a repair.

There are a number of other important considerations that can impact the repair process, however. For example, if the radiator in one of these vehicles has to be removed, there are specific procedures for bleeding the system and removing and reinstalling the parts that have to be followed. It’s also important to use the correct coolants and other fluids to avoid damaging the vehicle’s internal systems.

“There are specific things you need to know about bleeding the system so that it operates correctly,” Larsen said. “If it’s not bled correctly, hot spots can form.”

You also can’t tow a Prius, for example, with its wheels on the ground. Because the motors in the front and back wheels could put current into the hybrid system if they spin unnecessarily, these cars have to be towed on a flatbed or using special dollies.

The session also covered air conditioning compressor oil and service, absorbed glass matt (AGM) battery service precautions, HV battery repair and replace procedures, electronic power steering technology and service, and clearing diagnostic trouble codes.

“Technicians need to know where to draw the line when determining if they can clear a service code themselves, or if they need to call the dealership,” Larsen says. “In some cases you can easily clear the code; in other cases, such as with the electronic fuel injection system, you want to stay completely away from that and leave it to a correctly trained diagnostic technician.”

These procedures are still being developed as the number of hybrids increase. “The population of hybrids on the road is going to make it necessary for technicians to get trained to whatever degree they can,” Larsen says.

Repair technicians interested in hybrid repair training can visit www.crrtraining.com for course information and registration. Independent shops can be sponsored by a local dealership to receive training through Toyota’s Collision Repair & Refinish program.