Flat Battery

[152bobby]

I'm just doing research prior to possibly purchasing a 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross Premiere Edition and I've came across the possible dead Battery issue not only on this Forum, but other online sources.

To be honest this would be my first hybrid and does worry me.

I do use the car every week and always have a Ring Jump Starter pack (in ALL my cars).

Should I "REALLY" be concerned about this?

[anchorman]

1 hour ago, 152bobby said:

I'm just doing research prior to possibly purchasing a 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross Premiere Edition and I've came across the possible dead battery issue not only on this Forum, but other online sources.

To be honest this would be my first hybrid and does worry me.

I do use the car every week and always have a Ring Jump Starter pack (in ALL my cars).

Should I "REALLY" be concerned about this?

No.

[hind]

3 hours ago, 152bobby said:

use the car every week

For how long, per week, counting from getting in to getting out of the car? 

[Roy124]

53 minutes ago, hind said:

For how long, per week, counting from getting in to getting out of the car? 

As Marek is implying,  the crucial thing with the hybrid is how much time you spend in Ready Mode (ignition on in old money).  Ideally you need about an hour a week and ideally this should be in bigger blocks rather than 5 minutes now and then.

The essential difference is the car does not have an alternator that can recharge the Battery quickly after starting, but relies on the HV Battery to recharge the 12v Battery after the 12v has started the system.

[G L J]

I always put the car in Ready mode when cleaning it. I also put HVAC system off which certainly reduces the number of times the engine cycles up.

It also means I can listen to music at the same time without depleting the 12v Battery.

[152bobby]

4 minutes ago, G L J said:

I always put the car in Ready mode when cleaning it. I also put HVAC system off which certainly reduces the number of times the engine cycles up.

It also means I can listen to music at the same time without depleting the 12v battery.

I'll have to read up a bit more about this "Ready Mode" which I have just become aware of recently.

And on the topic of flat batteries.  When someone gets one on the Yaris Cross, where do you connect the jump starter ? (I know it's the battery), but where is it in the Yaris Cross.

[Roy124]

7 minutes ago, G L J said:

I always put the car in Ready mode when cleaning it. I also put HVAC system off which certainly reduces the number of times the engine cycles up.

It also means I can listen to music at the same time without depleting the 12v battery.

Where do you put your keys at this point?  

[Roy124]

4 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

And on the topic of flat batteries.  When someone gets one on the Yaris Cross, where do you connect the jump starter ? (I know it's the battery), but where is it in the Yaris Cross.

The 12v Battery is under the back seat and otherwise inaccessible.  The jumper point is in the fuse box under the bonnet on the right passenger side.  It is under a protective latch cover.

You can use this also for using a charger.  Other charging options are to have a tail fitted to the Battery so you connect the charger via the back door.  Or you can use the OBD socket under the steering wheel panel with a solar panel etc.

 

[trashman1965]

1 hour ago, G L J said:

I always put the car in Ready mode when cleaning it. I also put HVAC system off which certainly reduces the number of times the engine cycles up.

It also means I can listen to music at the same time without depleting the 12v battery.

Same. The few times it fires up is worth the petrol cost for the peace of mind. 

[bifski]

We bought a Yaris (2021 model) for economy and reliability, however it appears that you can't have both. We've been let down twice in airport car parks following one week holidays, where the car was completely dead. After being recovered by the AA, I took the car to my local Toyota dealership and on both occasions was told that they couldn't find a fault and that Battery was good. After contacting Toyota UK, I was told that we were covering insufficient mileage (we average five to seven miles per day) and that to prevent a reoccurrence, we need to do one of 3 things: a) do a one hour drive, twice a week. b) switch the car to 'ready' mode for one hour, twice a week (but for safety Toyota recommends that sit in the car during these periods). c) Buy a booster pack or a trickle charger to get you started (but only if you feel competent to do so). It is not what we expected when we bought this car. I feel that Toyota should be making people aware of these conditions at the point of sale, what is the point of buying an economical car if you then have to cover unnecessary mileage or sit the car on the drive twice a week, in order to make it reliable..? Or start lifting the bonnet to rescue yourself, not what I want from a modern day car, I did all that back in the 80's with my MK1 Escort. I've not heard of this issue with other Hybrid manufactuers, or the earlier Hybrid Yaris models, so my advice would be to check out Hybrid cars from another Manufacturer. 

[Roy124]

Andy, that would be akin to the Curry's salesman trying to sell you a maintenance repair plan for the washing machine you just bought.

When did you buy the car?

[Gerald Farrow]

When I ordered my new car I was asked but the salesman do I want a plug in or a self charging hybrid I asked for a self charging one. I now put it on a trickle charger when at home or a solar powered charger if I’m away from home and leaving it for some time. I am beginning to wish I had stayed with Ford. 

[jthspace]

53 minutes ago, bifski said:

 I've not heard of this issue with other Hybrid manufactuers, or the earlier Hybrid Yaris models, so my advice would be to check out Hybrid cars from another Manufacturer. 

I've read in the motoring Sunday papers, Honda have similar issues, probably others as well; on the majority of motoring websites akin to this, you often only read the negative issues, not the satisfied comments - that's NOT to say this whole issue of the small 12v Battery and flat Battery isn't a legitimate concern.  I bought my 2022 model and, after reading the long Battery thread decided to replace my (probably OK) original battery with the recommended Yuasa one and spending £70 was seen as a good idea and a very small percentage of the purchase price.  Despite the car being left for 3 or 4 or more days at a time unused, I've (touch wood) not had a battery "issue".

I also have a battery lithium booster pack as our previous car was a Citroen C3 Auto and the battery on that would go flat if left at the cruise terminal for any length of time. My MX5 ND will flatten it's battery over a period of 3 weeks, even if I turn off the interior movement sensors as the alarm and other dark current draw will eat up the power.  My 1993 Eunos can be left for a couple of months and the battery is OK to start the car, but there are few electrical draws when the ignition is off.

 

[152bobby]

2 minutes ago, jthspace said:

I've read in the motoring Sunday papers, Honda have similar issues, probably others as well; on the majority of motoring websites akin to this, you often only read the negative issues, not the satisfied comments - that's NOT to say this whole issue of the small 12v battery and flat battery isn't a legitimate concern.  I bought my 2022 model and, after reading the long battery thread decided to replace my (probably OK) original battery with the recommended Yuasa one and spending £70 was seen as a good idea and a very small percentage of the purchase price.  Despite the car being left for 3 or 4 or more days at a time unused, I've (touch wood) not had a battery "issue".

I also have a battery lithium booster pack as our previous car was a Citroen C3 Auto and the battery on that would go flat if left at the cruise terminal for any length of time. My MX5 ND will flatten it's battery over a period of 3 weeks, even if I turn off the interior movement sensors as the alarm and other dark current draw will eat up the power.  My 1993 Eunos can be left for a couple of months and the battery is OK to start the car, but there are few electrical draws when the ignition is off.

 

Can you send me a link to that exact Battery that you bought to replace the original in the Yaris Cross ?  Did it fit properly etc ?

[jthspace]

8 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

Can you send me a link to that exact battery that you bought to replace the original in the Yaris Cross ?  Did it fit properly etc ?

Mine is a Yaris, not the Cross, someone will post Battery alternative for the Cross.

[bifski]

33 minutes ago, jthspace said:

I bought my 2022 model and, after reading the long battery thread decided to replace my (probably OK) original battery with the recommended Yuasa one and spending £70 was seen as a good idea and a very small percentage of the purchase price.

I did ask about the option to upgrade the Battery but was told by the Toyota service manager that it would void my warranty. In addition, after numerous and lengthy discussions with Toyota UK, at no point have they suggested a Battery upgrade to resolve this issue...

[bifski]

1 hour ago, Roy124 said:

Andy, that would be akin to the Curry's salesman trying to sell you a maintenance repair plan for the washing machine you just bought.

When did you buy the car?

December 2022

[Primus1]

Had Battery issues with my mild hybrid puma, although mine never totally flattened the Battery, others on the puma forums did have this issue, the solution on there was to fit a varta Battery in place of the original.  my cross did let me down over Christmas with a flat battery but I am able to charge at home in my garage, I also invested in a Noco boost starter just in case, it is what it is im afraid, manufacturers seem more and more disinterested in their customers whichever brand of car you have, Toyota being no different…

[152bobby]

I can't believe that Toyota have told some people that fitting a different larger Battery will invalidate their warranty whether it's within the first 3 year warranty from new or the Relax warranty up to 10 years/100k.

How can they possibly say this, it's classed as a wear and tear item.  I can understand them saying that for the first initial 3 years possibly, but your not telling me that for example on year 8 at say 90k miles, and your Battery is knackered, they will change it for free !!!  I would have thought they would tell you to jog on.

[bifski]

27 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

I can't believe that Toyota have told some people that fitting a different larger battery will invalidate their warranty whether it's within the first 3 year warranty from new or the Relax warranty up to 10 years/100k.

How can they possibly say this, it's classed as a wear and tear item.  I can understand them saying that for the first initial 3 years possibly, but your not telling me that for example on year 8 at say 90k miles, and your battery is knackered, they will change it for free !!!  I would have thought they would tell you to jog on.

The car is less than three years old. Maybe he was just fobbing me off.

 

[Roy124]

1 hour ago, bifski said:

December 2022

Thank you.  Frosty will no doubt ask you to update your car model.

The reason I asked about dates is 2nd Owners have no idea about the previous Battery usage.  Low mileage might be a clue to previous low voltage issues.  Even high mileage is no guarantee of good usage.  As @jthspace mentioned would go flat if left at the cruise terminal for any length of time.

 

[Cyker]

Yeah I don't get why they would say changing the 12v Battery would invalidate the warranty as that would be illegal.

As I understand it, at most it would invalidate the warranty on the Battery (Since it's been replaced) and any problems they could prove was caused by the new Battery, but that's it.

 

[Paul john]

9 minutes ago, Cyker said:

Yeah I don't get why they would say changing the 12v battery would invalidate the warranty as that would be illegal.

As I understand it, at most it would invalidate the warranty on the battery (Since it's been replaced) and any problems they could prove was caused by the new battery, but that's it.

 

I guess its about ppl choosing the “wrong” sort of Battery, like replacing an AGM or EFB with a “Lead Acid” or visa versa

[Cyker]

But even if you put a completely 'wrong' Battery in the car, unless it actually broke something in the car, they still couldn't invalidate the entire warranty!

 

[Gerald Farrow]

1 hour ago, Roy124 said:

Thank you.  Frosty will no doubt ask you to update your car model.

The reason I asked about dates is 2nd Owners have no idea about the previous battery usage.  Low mileage might be a clue to previous low voltage issues.  Even high mileage is no guarantee of good usage.  As @jthspace mentioned would go flat if left at the cruise terminal for any length of time.

 

Sorry Roy my car is a 2023 Yaris GR hybrid it has so many extras the Battery can not keep charged when not being left on charge.