There are many benefits to owning a hybrid vehicle. Probably the best reason to buy one of these vehicles is to keep pain at the pump to a minimum. However, did you know that there are some precautions to take if you plan to work on one of these vehicles yourself? First of all, it is true that working on a standard vehicle that only consumes gasoline is very similar to working on a hybrid, but you should be aware that the battery voltage is much higher.
While every 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 with hybrids, know that something completely different awaits you. These vehicles have more computers and sensors, not to mention they have a lot of power.
These hybrid vehicles have 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. Keep in mind 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 them, even lead to death.
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 a newbie to auto repair, you may want to leave it up to the professionals. However, one of the best precautions to take is to make sure your vehicle is completely shut down 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 manufactured all of the high voltage wires in its bright orange hybrid vehicles. This will go a long way to prevent you from making sudden mistakes. Also, in their Prius model, they have made it so that when the car is off, there is no power running 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.
If you are the proud owner of a hybrid vehicle, there is no reason to become paranoid about working on your vehicle. It is still a very safe endeavor, as long as you are aware of the added danger and take the proper precautions to prevent it.