Toyota Yaris battery problem

Monanore

It is clear that this car is the worst for leaving drivers stranded due to its feeble battery discharging.

Because it is otherwise bombproof it still has to be in my list of possible new cars. ( Why Toyota do nothing about this is beyond me; they must lose half their potential sales over this issue ! )

Anyway, I’d appreciate any thoughts on the following questions :

1. Is it correct that Toyota still fit a 35Ah lead-acid battery as standard?

2. Can a 45Ah battery be fitted without consequence?

3. Is there a better Li-ion alternative?

4. Do dealers supply a recommended trickle charger and any required fitment ?

5. Do dealers supply a recommended jump start device and any required fitment ?

6. There is no separate warning for a low charge on the 12v. Can a warning device be installed ?

That’s all I can think to ask. Does anything else occur to anyone ?

Thanks all.

WellKnownSid

How many miles are you doing? The issue only affect driveway queens.

Mildly_Miffed

The "Yaris" badge has been on about half a dozen different cars in the UK, so it might help if you give a bit more of a clue if you want model-specific information.

If a higher-capacity battery will physically fit, there's zero downside to fitting one.

No, you can't just swap to lithium - the charge voltage from the standard alternator is wrong.

Any 12v charger will work just fine. Not "trickle" - that's ancient, low-tech junk from the 70s. Decent smart chargers are cheap - CTek make excellent ones that are often rebranded by supercar manufacturers.

Any 12v jump-box will work just fine. But letting a 12v lead battery go flat is a great way to kill it.
If you want to know the battery voltage, just put a ciggy-socket voltmeter in. There's loads on the 'bay for buttons with USB sockets. I presume there is a standard lack-of-charge warning light to inform you of alternator problems.

But a healthy battery really shouldn't give any issue if the car's in even semi-regular use. Every car will have quiescent draw while parked up - ECU and radio memories, alarm, remote locking, etc etc - that will flatten the battery if left for weeks at a time.

daveyjp

IMHO it's an overhyped issue. Use the car and all will be good.

We have certainly had no problem in the 7 months and 3,000 miles of owning an almost 5 year old Yaris hybrid - now on 21,000 miles. The car is driven most days, but generally short trips.

I did buy a cheap plug in voltage meter for the cigarette lighter - ironically it has only been used to check dodgy battery voltages twice and not on the Yaris.

Even after a week of not being driven the voltage shows 12.5v at rest and as soon as the key is turned shows 14.4v as the 12v takes charge from the hybrid battery.

If you are looking at buying a modern vehicle which will be left for weeks on end undriven you need to prepare for battery problems with any of them.

Monanore

@Mildly_Miffed

@daveyjp

Thank you both; that's really helpful information.

Bigwheels1111

This issue has been talked about on here a lot.

Not using the car enough, not putting it in some kind of mode so the hybrid battery charges the 12v battery, Plus fitting a bigger amp battery.

Getting a £30 / £40 jumper pack with boost button so you never get stuck.

This one should do the job.

£32.39 if you have prime.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GREPRO-Starter-Vehicles-Motorcycle-Flashlight/dp/B0DBGZF3C6/ref%3Dsr_1_12_sspa?crid=1QQQS63F09YA0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ARkD3YSrckIArm3F0_IHklti1xH4mzoZgy3142dfHpjcb7UxjuWZOVyj4xaYqjuBo_K3YoR_QuMEJcsaiPWyl-gB06uyj_bw3xrBclNLY3E307zXHmfzyYamdvsAXTrpA5rf9oal6hgkJy-BsPPXIo5Jj1tdT4QsCr8zsqmoi1pG2WEv8dY2iIUigFHtYvuproRUo4WTUsryGDQ3LgMhC0J0Jkv5yi5xLOtiAwaDvF73f-xVSXiSYfOBpj4s2-VUb-rrfsx06CFdmjnGGMfX4ADmHgMSPcNg37bDR0XQkco.q1CzLZ_CTYBxQH5UPIEw19upwkbtmrG9wzMg6TJibOE&dib_tag=se&keywords=gooloo&qid=1771845931&sprefix=gooloo%2Caps%2C348&sr=8-12-spons&aref=jtYvPGHGji&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

Don't get into the name brand hype.

Noco for eg.

I used a GooLoo GT4000, replaced by a GT6000 now.

My unit holds a charge for 18 months at least.

Plus will jump a ( dead ) battery 18 plus times on one charge.

SiliconChip

I've been driving what is now a 5 year old Yaris for the last 2 years and have had no issues with the battery at all, so I'd agree with @daveyjp that it's overhyped. When I was unable to drive for 6 weeks after a knee replacement I followed the instructions in the manual to put the car in ready mode for an hour every couple of weeks to allow the battery to recharge (mainly by transferring charge from the Li battery to the lead/acid one, with a couple of brief spells when the petrol motor started up).

To find out more join the Toyota Owners UK forum where you can download a PDF advice sheet that's been created by some of the members.

Goudy

An acquaintance of mine is an independent Toyota/Lexus specialist and is adamant this subject has been overblown for a while now.

Yes, the modern hybrid Yaris has a small 12v battery but it's not used for starting the engine, they just power the rest of the car's 12v systems.

As with any 12v car battery they have a certain life and that can be shortened or prolonged by use, most of the care it needs, ie the charging is taken care of by the car's own software, but it can't really adapt to what it isn't programmed to do. So if it is left in live state for too long to deplete it can't manage it's care until it's state is changed to a charging one.

As mentioned, keep running a battery flat and it becomes harder and harder for it to take a full charge. This has meant many of the reported failing have been repeated ones. Angry customer rants and raves that the problem only gets worse and Toyota do nothing.

Hardly surprising really if use hasn't changed and the battery ability to hold a charge gets progressively worse is it?

For his low use customers, he recommends plugging a small solar charger into the car's 12v system if it's left idle for more than a week as this keeps the battery's chemistry active. It won't charge a flat battery though, it will just keep a good battery topped up.

I had one and gave it to the mother in law. Her none hybrid was repeatedly giving battery trouble as the car stands weeks before it's used for short hops to the shops or a trip to the doctors. I set it up through the OBD2 port and she can manage plugging and unplugging it with ease. So far we've have no trouble and the battery is always healthy even though it's on the original battery (12 years old) and the car does probably less than 8 miles a week.

marlot

Loads of information at the Toyota Owners club. https://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/

James2k

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81895837#Comment_81895837

Noco are high quality, unlike your no name brand. Can you use the cheaper ones? Certainly. But don't pretend they are the same level of reliability and quality. You do sometimes get what you pay for

BlueonBlue

Gooloo and GrePro jump starters are without question NOT no name brands ….they are better priced than Noco just like Android phones are better priced than Apple phones .Apple phones fail too ….its not news .

Bigwheels has highlighted the Grepro 196pro 3000A at around £35

Most likely IMO because its a current very cost effective 3000A option …you can spend more of course which he highlighted with a excellent example the Gooloo GT4000 .The market moves and deals go up and down like a !!!!!! draws .

You can get a AsperX 3000A at times for £24 delivered .My past model the Gooloo GE3000 was £24.58 delivered but was a very short lived deal .

How much you spend is up to the individual .Certainly the bigger Amp jump starters are best/better and Gooloo and GrePro are great options with the AsperX 3000A at times even less cost .

What I would suggest ….is do not go with any of the AliExpress types unless you have money to burn along with anything else in the vincinity of the jump starter .