12v battery maintenance, issues, etc.

[Countryside]

Don this morning I went to my Toyota dealer we had a good talk had coffee was there for 2 hours bare with me here is what they said could you please give me your opinion Thankyou . I’m on the verge of ordering a silver Yaris hatch excel on the motability scheme for 3 years I just put petrol in ! I asked the service manager lovely man to talk with me in my car outside I told him in the cold frosty winter months I was worried about this Turkish Battery as car may stand for 3 to 4 days I do 7000 miles a year ! Ii asked if I paid could I swop battery’s and after 3 years when car goes back could you change to original Battery that came with car as on motability ! He said yes could change Battery but battery taken out wouldn’t work after 3 years so when car goes back I would have to pay for another original Turkish battery ! He said a lot of people doing just 2000 miles a year have had problems and he has fitted a ring solar trickle charger cost £40 fitted and this has solved the problem ! He said the charger would be fitted and rest in back footwell and to use it I just stretch the wire and put on dashboard if I know car is going to be not used ! I still don’t know nor did he watch battery the new revised 2024 Yaris has ? What do you say to all his many thanks for your help greatly appreciated 

[Mooly]

2 hours ago, Countryside said:

He said yes could change battery but battery taken out wouldn’t work after 3 years so when car goes back I would have to pay for another original Turkish battery !

That sounds a bit daft tbh. I doubt they would not accept a car back because a new (different and better) Battery was fitted. It sounds non sensical to me.

 

2 hours ago, Countryside said:

He said the charger would be fitted and rest in back footwell and to use it I just stretch the wire and put on dashboard if I know car is going to be not used !

We know these (and other makes and models) have these Battery issues... we know that... but to have to do this on a new 21st century car that is supposed to be at the cutting  edge of design and technology is ludicrous. 2000 miles may not sound much but if you use it four days a week that is 10 miles a day. 

It pains me to say it being a big Toyota fan but the words 'not fit for purpose' come to mind. They really do.

[Dala]

Yesterday I bought a new Varta 44Ah car Battery in a specialist shop for the planned replacement of the existing Turkish Mutlu Battery.  The salesman told me that all WET batteries must not drop below 12.4V. The car Battery will be in good condition -  must be recharged immediately when the voltage is found to be 12,4V.

[CPN]

1 hour ago, Dala said:

Yesterday I bought a new Varta 44Ah car battery in a specialist shop for the planned replacement of the existing Turkish Mutlu battery.  The salesman told me that all WET batteries must not drop below 12.4V. The car battery will be in good condition -  must be recharged immediately when the voltage is found to be 12,4V.

Not sure who told that salesman that figure but he's not quite correct...

Damage will only start to occur if the voltage drops below 10.5v under no load conditions...

 

[Dala]

The seller probably has the opinion that a wet Battery is not suitable for deep discharge.

 

[CPN]

11 minutes ago, Dala said:

The seller probably has the opinion that a wet battery is not suitable for deep discharge.

 

Well that much is true... 

[Bob Sutton]

On 3/12/2024 at 9:34 PM, hind said:

What about the average daily time and the frequency of the trips? My wife drives our Yaris daily to work (excluding weekends). It takes her about 20-25 minutes total every day (10 + 15 minutes) + once a week another 10 minute trip for shopping and battery is fine with that, despite already done damage caused by leaving the car for 2.5 week. So if your wife drives daily, even for the short distances, there is a good chance that recharging once per month would be enough to keep the depleted battery problem away. At least for some time - as if I understood correctly, you already got new OEM battery installed?

Hello Marek, sorry for the delay in replying.

That is part of the problem. She does not commute and the car is only used infrequently. It might be used only a couple of days a week, then nothing for at least three weeks.

You are correct. A new OEM Toyota Battery was fitted by the dealer as they would not fit a Yuasa branded one (YBX5202).

23 hours ago, anchorman said:

Let me start by saying you’ve got a superb car but if you are constantly worried about the battery, why don’t you save yourself a lot of anxiety and just fit a decent brand which we know from experience cures the problem.  

Hello anchorman, I am not going to stress about it anymore. As you say, it is a good car, so, if and when the 12volt Battery fails, I will call out the AA (courtesy as per my one years’ free membership which came with the deal) and then replace it myself with the Yuasa Battery. I will have to accept it, as simply a running cost of the car, rather than (in my opinion) either a poor specification, or cost cutting decision, by Toyota.

 

Kind regards, Bob Sutton.

 

[anchorman]

18 hours ago, Countryside said:

Don this morning I went to my Toyota dealer we had a good talk had coffee was there for 2 hours bare with me here is what they said could you please give me your opinion Thankyou . I’m on the verge of ordering a silver Yaris hatch excel on the motability scheme for 3 years I just put petrol in ! I asked the service manager lovely man to talk with me in my car outside I told him in the cold frosty winter months I was worried about this Turkish battery as car may stand for 3 to 4 days I do 7000 miles a year ! Ii asked if I paid could I swop battery’s and after 3 years when car goes back could you change to original battery that came with car as on motability ! He said yes could change battery but battery taken out wouldn’t work after 3 years so when car goes back I would have to pay for another original Turkish battery ! He said a lot of people doing just 2000 miles a year have had problems and he has fitted a ring solar trickle charger cost £40 fitted and this has solved the problem ! He said the charger would be fitted and rest in back footwell and to use it I just stretch the wire and put on dashboard if I know car is going to be not used ! I still don’t know nor did he watch battery the new revised 2024 Yaris has ? What do you say to all his many thanks for your help greatly appreciated 

You’re too honest for your own good.  You sometimes get these salesmen that come out with ludicrous statements that they cannot uphold.   If you hadn’t said anything he wouldn’t have known for one, but if wants to play silly bees, change the Battery and just put the Mutlu back in 3 years.  Does he insist that if you wear the tyres out you fit the same brand because I doubt they’d even look.  Ask him to get it in writing from Toyota Head Office.  

[anchorman]

5 minutes ago, Bob Sutton said:

Hello Marek, sorry for the delay in replying.

That is part of the problem. She does not commute and the car is only used infrequently. It might be used only a couple of days a week, then nothing for at least three weeks.

You are correct. A new OEM Toyota battery was fitted by the dealer as they would not fit a Yuasa branded one (YBX5202).

Hello anchorman, I am not going to stress about it anymore. As you say, it is a good car, so, if and when the 12volt battery fails, I will call out the AA (courtesy as per my one years’ free membership which came with the deal) and then replace it myself with the Yuasa battery. I will have to accept it, as simply a running cost of the car, rather than (in my opinion) either a poor specification, or cost cutting decision, by Toyota.

 

Kind regards, Bob Sutton.

 

You’re next door in Cheshire.  Fetch it over and I’ll do it for you if it comes to that.  

[Countryside]

10 minutes ago, anchorman said:

You’re too honest for your own good.  You sometimes get these salesmen that come out with ludicrous statements that they cannot uphold.   If you hadn’t said anything he wouldn’t have known for one, but if wants to play silly bees, change the battery and just put the Mutlu back in 3 years.  Does he insist that if you wear the tyres out you fit the same brand because I doubt they’d even look.  Ask him to get it in writing from Toyota Head Office.  

Don are those solar chargers any good he mentioned ?

[anchorman]

31 minutes ago, Countryside said:

Don are those solar chargers any good he mentioned ?

They’re not bad if you can get enough light to them.   CTEK is better and new Battery better still.  Il be able to tell you on Tuesday what Battery they come with.   

[Countryside]

Look forward to Tuesday Don your right I shouldn’t have said anything the Battery on my Chr has never failed after 3 years 21000 miles I wonder if it’s same one giving the trouble in current Yaris ?

[hind]

5 hours ago, Bob Sutton said:

then nothing for at least three weeks.

that might put a strain even on decent brand Battery and will probably kill Mutlu, I'm afraid. So I'd take solar charger or CTEK (or both) anyway. 

[Bob Sutton]

6 hours ago, anchorman said:

You’re next door in Cheshire.  Fetch it over and I’ll do it for you if it comes to that.  

Hello anchorman,

Thanks for your very kind offer to fit a new Battery for me, but I won’t trouble you.

I didn’t want to do it myself, if I was going to “shoot myself in the foot” so to speak, by voiding any warranty with the car, but, from what I understand, that seems not to be an issue.

I don’t mind dusting off the old socket set and do the replacement, as and when necessary, but thanks again.

 

Kind regards, Bob Sutton.

[Cyker]

I dunno, I reckon the Mutlu would be pretty dead after 3 years of sitting on a shelf waiting to be put back in  

You'd have to leave it connected to a trickle charger for the whole 3 years for it to have any chance of surviving. Left unplugged it'd be dead within half a year I reckon - Lead acid batteries generally don't like being left for long periods.

Why does the turkish Battery have to go back in anyway? It's a consumable part so just leave the Yuasa in and say it was replaced as part of normal wear and tear. There's nothing stipulating it has to be that exact Battery, that'd probably be a breach of block exemption rules or something.

 

I've always wondered how effective the solar chargers are - The one someone posted, rated at 4.8W for instance; At 12v that'd be 0.4amps! Most USB ports put out more current than that! And that's peak! On a cloudier day it'd likely be far lower...

I had a mate with a 40W one but that was the size of a suitcase and concertina'd out to about the area of a picnic blanket  

[Roy124]

Michael,  your driving profile is ideal for the Toyota requirement.   You say you have had no problem with the CHR.  You will have no issues with the Yaris everything remaining as is.

I would simply enjoy the car.  If, and only if, you have a problem  a Battery change under warranty should fix the problem 

[Cyker]

When in doubt just take it for a hoon!  

I still love driving mine, and do so any excuse I get  

This is backfiring my attempts to stop my mates using me as a taxi thought...

[Rhymes with Paris]

10 minutes ago, Cyker said:

This is backfiring my attempts to stop my mates using me as a taxi thought...

Send 'em the Uber app.

 

[anchorman]

29 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

Michael,  your driving profile is ideal for the Toyota requirement.   You say you have had no problem with the CHR.  You will have no issues with the Yaris everything remaining as is.

I would simply enjoy the car.  If, and only if, you have a problem  a battery change under warranty should fix the problem 

Exactly.  As they say here in Derbyshire, if tha's going courting sheep tha needs wellies with them handles......  oh no, that’s another one.  It’s this one - dunner worry until tha’s got  summat to worry about.

21 minutes ago, Cyker said:

When in doubt just take it for a hoon!  

I still love driving mine, and do so any excuse I get  

This is backfiring my attempts to stop my mates using me as a taxi thought...

....and then you wonder why London is full of potholes.

[Countryside]

Thankyou for the replies I’ve got to say it’s reading on here that has scared me 👍 the car being on motability has 3 years servicing and checks full rac membership includes Europe tyres windscreen etc I just put petrol in allowed 60.000 miles in 3 year I do around 21000 ! Car is used most days maybe 3 days off if snow hard frost in winter ! My local Toyota dealer is lovely I’m 95% sure it’s a new revised Yaris excel for me in silver I adore the big centre screen and the 12 different dashboard displays ! Blind spot will be handy on the motorway I go to relations down M1 100 mile round trip every 2 weeks ! I love the auto folding mirrors the keyless the gorgeous new alloys etc 

[hind]

12 hours ago, Cyker said:

Left unplugged it'd be dead within half a year I reckon - Lead acid batteries generally don't like being left for long periods.

If they are left fully charged, not much would happen even after some time. It isn't more than 15% per month which means that if you charge it fully every half year, it would be fine. 

I have one quite old Maxis (basically a no-name) 95Ah battery which I bought 7 years ago as used. I charged it and used it once in a while, mainly to power lighting where electric socket was not available. Definitely left it without charging for at least a year. I was amazed how much "juice" was left after that time. And I'm still using it to power up my garden pump from time to time, it was already brought down to 4 or 5 volts once after the pump failed to shut off. So it should be dead for sime time already - but for some reason it still lives. 

[Tom Corbett]

On 3/2/2024 at 7:25 PM, AlJ said:

That pricing is ludicrous. Did they give any reason why that was the case? 
You're not going to break down on the way as once the car is in Ready mode, it's "running" and the big traction battery and fuel system is keeping the 12v battery charged up. 
How did this pan out for you? 

Thanks everybody for replying.

I decided to fit the Toyota replacement, mainly because the Yaris is my wife's car. LOL, Decisions on what to do with the car are above my pay grade! Further, I bought the Battery for £171 and fitted it myself, not being willing to wait for Listers to get around to it. I justify spending on my cars by telling myself it is only equivalent to a tank of petrol or so. So to get the car on the road again only cost me the £30 extra though it did make me feel the ***** was being taken! 

Now, after reading the comments here I would go for a cheaper Battery but at the time I thought there must have been something special about the Battery for it to cost so much! It is only 35 AHr, so just need the correct dimensions and vent in the right place and size. It's not even fast charge, restricted to 1/5 C of 3.5A max charging when I looked at the spec.

But never mind, I'm now worried about the start/stop of my Volvo -- but that is another forum!

Rock On!!

[Tom Corbett]

1 hour ago, Tom Corbett said:

Thanks everybody for replying.

I decided to fit the Toyota replacement, mainly because the Yaris is my wife's car. LOL, Decisions on what to do with the car are above my pay grade! Further, I bought the battery for £171 and fitted it myself, not being willing to wait for Listers to get around to it. I justify spending on my cars by telling myself it is only equivalent to a tank of petrol or so. So to get the car on the road again only cost me the £30 extra though it did make me feel the ***** was being taken! 

Now, after reading the comments here I would go for a cheaper battery but at the time I thought there must have been something special about the battery for it to cost so much! It is only 35 AHr, so just need the correct dimensions and vent in the right place and size. It's not even fast charge, restricted to 1/5 C of 3.5A max charging when I looked at the spec.

But never mind, I'm now worried about the start/stop of my Volvo -- but that is another forum!

Rock On!!

I haven't found the edit button. Do we have one? Of course 3.5A charge on a 35 AHr Battery is 1/10 C, not 1/5 C !! Finger trouble!

[Roy124]

Tom, the 3 dots top of your post 

[coreye9090]

2 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

Tom, the 3 dots top of your post 

It's only got  "Report" or "Share" option😅