Member introduction

[binnes]

Hi New member introduction from Brian. Live in Scotland (South Lanarkshire)  Bought a used Hybrid Auris couple of months back from the Dealers in Carlisle. Sadly it has sat outside for around ten days and when going to use it yesterday , it would not start !. After searching on here I am presuming its a flat/dead/discharged Battery ? Have emailed the dealers as it is meant to have a 12 month warranty . Hoping to hear back from them soon! 

[Catlover]

Hi Brian, welcome to TOC.

so you got the dreaded flat Battery, happened to mostToyota hybrid users this last 18 months with lockdown and particularly the cold winter.           
The 12 v Battery is small in size and capacity (35ah) because it does not take need massive energy in the hybrids as there is no starter motor like in a petrol or diesel car. The 12v hybrid Battery needs to fire up the computer and a few other lightweight procedures then the big hybrid battery takes over. No need to worry about the hybrid battery. The official Toyota line to keep the 12v battery ok when having little use is to turn the car to Ready mode. To do that it Is the starting procedure of pressing foot brake and holding whilst pressing the Power (Start) button. This bring into action the hybrid battery to charge up the 12v battery. When the hybrid battery gets low the engine will start up. This charges up the hybrid battery, then the engine will shut off. Toyota say do this once week, leave the car in Ready mode for about an hour. The engine doesn’t run for long nor for many times in the hour, just enough to charge up the hybrid battery so it can charge the 12v battery. Alternatively the car needs a ride out for 45-60 minutes every week.      
Probably in your case the car may have been sat at the dealer waiting to be sold, so the 12v may not have had a lot of charge in, then you left it standing for those 10 days.       
I cannot comment on you warranty as I have not seen the terms it lays out. It may or may not include battery. Often batteries are classed as consumables, much like tyres and windscreen wipers. So read the terms of warranty carefully. If it is the original 12v battery it is in the time scale it could fail. If looked after a 12v battery should last 6-10 years.              
There is a lot to learn about Toyota hybrids. You don’t hear of many problems, very few actually, with the hybrid side of things, the rest of the car is basically like any other so need to look after brakes, steering, suspension, exhaust, tyres etc.               

Dd you dealer explain you can now have up to 10year/10k warranty on the car and up to 15 year warranty on the big hybrid battery?  It’s all on this forum, just need to search for it.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Brian - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.