My Mums Yaris

[rambler]

My Mum has just got back from a 10 mile trip to see my sister & children in colchester,throughout her short journey she was scared to use the heater,lights,rear de-mister...infact anything that used Battery power. :o

(She just managed to get back before darkness).

Her yaris is 07 reg...1.3 petrol,20'000 on the clock...very well maintained.

She was scared of 'taking out too much Battery power,and not being able to replace said power in that short journey'

Should she be worried?....

It frustrates me that she should even have to consider Battery re-charging after such a short journey with heater etc turned on...,on a modern vehicle

Sorry if i have dragged up any past topics,but this still annoy's me to this day.

I do almost the very same journey,day in,day out,useing all those functions on my rav4...no worries,..but i do have the biggest battery i could fit on my Rav4

[stewyinpagham]

Have I missed something... Has there been a problem in the past with the car??

[Big Kev]

....aye, me too , Rambles.....did it go flat before, or is she / has she been put under the misapprehension her Battery would not cope? Ah will not have ANYBODY'S wee mammy worried

Big Kev.

[jps71]

Is the alternator charging correctly?

[allycomet]

Fairly safe to say it's either the alternator or Battery. Should be easy to diagnose if you know someone with a multimeter.

[RAV4Len]

Just tell her to use it as normal. Modern cars are designed to be used :)

[allycomet]

Fairly safe to say it's either the alternator or battery. Should be easy to diagnose if you know someone with a multimeter.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_runs_down.htm

[Ady-Rav4]

We had the Battery run flat on our RAV4 last week when we was called out to my brother's on an emergancy at 11:00pm. I left 1 interior light on . When we departed to go home at 1:40am, the Battery was so flat it wouldn't even entertain waking up the starter motor :o . The next day, jump leads got her going in no time. Since then, she's started 1st time, early every morning in sub zero temps. Rambler, has your mum got caught up in the reports of neglected cars with knackered bats? I heard a chap on the radio from a motoring organisation a few days ago, going on about batteries and all the things in the car that use a lot of power up if used all at once. What was said could have put some peaple in the same situ as your mum. If your mum's Yaris always starts 1st time and keeps it's charge, there should be no worries.

[bothwell_buyer]

blimey

the car is designed to be used. With all the accessories switched on.

[rambler]

Hi folks

Sorry...been at work all morning,just got home for xmas....

Yep,mothers yaris has been like this since she bought it (ex demo) about 2 years ago,so she never uses any of the features,incase it wont start next time ( it does start,just does'nt ...jump into life )

She travels everywhere locally,with coat on in the car etc etc, just to keep warm.

Local Mr T dealership have told her that no bigger Battery is available & keep asking her if she has a portable Battery charger....to keep it with her...in the car :o :o :o

According to them 'all' cars are designed like this nowadays.....just enough Battery charge,just enough for the job..any drain on battery after its running,may affect the engine starting next time.,even worse in colder conditions :o

She has had it checked by them,and it charges 'as it should' according to them.

Her guarantee has finished now ( i believe ),oooooooohhhhh this really annoy's me

[Cyker]

When the car is *running*, there should be no chance of the Battery going flat as all the power comes off the alternator.

I can actually hear the engine note change for a second on mine if I turn on the front beams and rear de-mister on at the same time

The main heaters draw heat from the engine so those won't affect the batter at all.

If she's scared of not charging the Battery, she can change gear later so it runs at higher revs. (This is really a placebo tho' as it should charge ok during normal use!)

But at least this gives you a good idea for what to buy her for Christmas

(Maybe Halfords have a deal going on Battery chargers? )

[Mstock3]

For peace of mind take it to one of the major Tyre fitting companies, try the one that used to have that anonying TV advert "you cant's get quicker than a .................. They offer a free Battery and charging system check. Failing that try a local auto-electrican

[MarsKy]

The Auris comes with "Stop-Start technology", which cuts the engine when the car's at a standstill and fires it up when the clutch is depressed.

Is this what's scaring her?

And unless she's doing home deliveries and switching off her engine every mile or two between deliveries, I don't think she should have any problems.

EDIT: Oops - it's a Yaris she has.

[rambler]

The Auris comes with "Stop-Start technology", which cuts the engine when the car's at a standstill and fires it up when the clutch is depressed.

Is this what's scaring her?

And unless she's doing home deliveries and switching off her engine every mile or two between deliveries, I don't think she should have any problems.

EDIT: Oops - it's a Yaris she has.

Hi Marsky

She does'nt have the stop ,start system on it,just normal key start,but its never had that real 'umph' to start,just a sluggish turn over of engine.

she has an auto electrician in her 'rambling' group,when i see him next i'll get him to test it for her independently.

Until then it'l be cold journeys for her,( i'll be toasty in my rav.. )

(When she's in my rav ,she always says "why do i have the Rav4 so warm to drive in "....because i can & because its luuuuvly & its what its designed to do )...she's quite jealous

[jps71]

She doesn't need to have cold journeys its already benn mentioned on here.

The heat comes from the engine not the electrics just open all of the vents and set the heat to its highest.

[rambler]

She doesn't need to have cold journeys its already benn mentioned on here.

The heat comes from the engine not the electrics just open all of the vents and set the heat to its highest.

Hi Jps71

Yup, thats what i said.....but the blower motor uses electric ( as she's just reminded me )

Guess we will be going to my sisters tomorrow in my rav4.....all nice & warm. :)

mmmmmmm....can smell roast pork cooking :D

[local hero]

She doesn't need to have cold journeys its already benn mentioned on here.

The heat comes from the engine not the electrics just open all of the vents and set the heat to its highest.

Hi Jps71

Yup, thats what i said.....but the blower motor uses electric ( as she's just reminded me )

Guess we will be going to my sisters tomorrow in my rav4.....all nice & warm. :)

mmmmmmm....can smell roast pork cooking :D

Rambs, besides the humorous side to this topic it really is diabolical that your poor mum is driving around in a cold car frightened of using any electrics, I think you really should get the advice of your auto electrition mate as to what the problem is, and then if the Battery is indeed the problem consider a more powerful Battery, It doesn't have to be physicaly bigger, and doing a quick search your mums Battery is 45 amp hr, 50 amp hr are available, also very expensive but have a look at this LINK it will fit the yaris, has 2x the life of a normal battery, faster cranking speed, and can be left 3x as long, But first find out what the problem is Stew...If you click that link, click on the specification tab as well..

[MarsKy]

VARTA D53: 4 year warranty, 60Ah, 560 CCA

Need to call for price though.

EDIT: But I suspect there is nothing wrong with the one she has.

[local hero]

VARTA D53: 4 year warranty, 60Ah, 560 CCA

Need to call for price though.

EDIT: But I suspect there is nothging wrong with the one she has.

I agree Marsky however i did pick this up on a Yaris review, not sure if its relevant or not Stew

Quick update (06/04/2009) I still have the Toyota Yaris. It has been reliable generally but when it went for a service Toyota discovered that one of the alloy wheels was buckled this cost me approximately £300.00 to replace. This was the cars first MOT - the question is how, why and when was it buckled? This was not a welcome surprise.

Another problem I have had with the car is that it has twice lost all Battery power. This happened in a hospital car park and on my own driveway. My daughter didn't shut the rear door properly on the this occasion which meant all the doors where left unlocked for about 36 hours (a day and half). It seems to be a glitch where the on board computer or circuitry does not shut down and consequently drains the Battery. All these factors may well persuade me to consider buying from another manufacturer when the time comes.

..

[bothwell_buyer]

Interesting. I'd ask an auto-electrician or anyone with a meter suitable to check for any current drain when the car is parked up, and also check the starter motor itself isn't goosed.

[rambler]

She doesn't need to have cold journeys its already benn mentioned on here.

The heat comes from the engine not the electrics just open all of the vents and set the heat to its highest.

Hi Jps71

Yup, thats what i said.....but the blower motor uses electric ( as she's just reminded me )

Guess we will be going to my sisters tomorrow in my rav4.....all nice & warm. :)

mmmmmmm....can smell roast pork cooking :D

Rambs, besides the humorous side to this topic it really is diabolical that your poor mum is driving around in a cold car frightened of using any electrics, I think you really should get the advice of your auto electrition mate as to what the problem is, and then if the Battery is indeed the problem consider a more powerful Battery, It doesn't have to be physicaly bigger, and doing a quick search your mums Battery is 45 amp hr, 50 amp hr are available, also very expensive but have a look at this LINK it will fit the yaris, has 2x the life of a normal battery, faster cranking speed, and can be left 3x as long, But first find out what the problem is Stew...If you click that link, click on the specification tab as well..

VARTA D53: 4 year warranty, 60Ah, 560 CCA

Need to call for price though.

EDIT: But I suspect there is nothging wrong with the one she has.

Thanks Chaps

Never even gave 'yellowtops' a thought,or the varta ones, (used to have yellow tops) when i my old cars were packed full of audio gear years ago.

Plenty of power in them,just right for a good strong cranking of the engine on cold starts

But ...Will consult our auto electrician friend during the hols,and see what he comes up with anyway

[RAV4Len]

For peace of mind take it to one of the major Tyre fitting companies, try the one that used to have that anonying TV advert "you cant's get quicker than a .................. They offer a free battery and charging system check. Failing that try a local auto-electrican

That will be a new Battery fitted then......

[rambler]

For peace of mind take it to one of the major Tyre fitting companies, try the one that used to have that anonying TV advert "you cant's get quicker than a .................. They offer a free battery and charging system check. Failing that try a local auto-electrican

That will be a new Battery fitted then......

Only if and when a better one is sourced...as above posts have shown,Mind you she does drive like a elderly person ( sorry mum),sloooooow & diddery....i just dare'nt be passenger with her.. bless

[Cyker]

Seriously, when the engine is running, the power to the car comes from the alternator.

This is why everything in the car still works after a jump start, even when the Battery hasn't had a chance to charge!

You'll only use the Battery a) Initial crank start or B) Doing anything electrical when the engine is off (Radio, lights, windows etc.)

Suffering unnecessarily she is!!

[RAV4Len]

For peace of mind take it to one of the major Tyre fitting companies, try the one that used to have that anonying TV advert "you cant's get quicker than a .................. They offer a free battery and charging system check. Failing that try a local auto-electrican

That will be a new Battery fitted then......

Only if and when a better one is sourced...as above posts have shown,Mind you she does drive like a elderly person ( sorry mum),sloooooow & diddery....i just dare'nt be passenger with her.. bless

Sorry, but you missed it....