Problem with automatic gear on Toyota corolla

[GRG]

Got stuck with empty 12v Battery. When recovery came to haul me away we could not move the gear out of 'Park" without the Battery power. Luckily we jumped started the car. 

[Don Mac]

This is covered in the handbook - "If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P".

The shift lock can be released by prying up the little cover next to the shift lever and pressing the button underneath (using a screwdriver or similar) at the same time as the button on the lever.

If the 12V Battery goes flat you won't be able to start the car. Fortunately you don't need much power to get it going (the 12V Battery just starts the computer, it doesn't turn the engine over) so any 12V pack should be up to the job.

You should remember, however, not to try jump starting another car from your Corolla (unless it's another hybrid, which is not really a jump start) as its Battery is not designed for this.

 

You'll find lots of information elsewhere on this forum about looking after the 12V battery on your Corolla.

[AndrueC]

Just like every other automatic. A bit worrying that a recovery company didn't know that.

[dmxconnect]

The AA recovery did not know about this when the dreaded 12V Battery issue struck! Car stuck in my garage. Can't open the boot - electric. Can't release the handbrake - electric. Can't get to the bonnet to attach power source! Car completely stuck!

I was curious what the slot was for when I got the car so I looked it up in the manual. In the end after a bit of thought we released the transmission, jacked the car up (trolley jack) in the centre at the back (to get the back wheels off the ground) and manually rolled the car out of the garage enough to get to the bonnet to attach his power bank. Only needed a few seconds to boot all the computers and we could then power up the car. To add insult to injury I was then informed if the AA was called out for this again I would have to pay!

[Cyker]

That's a bit cheeky when they advertise unlimited callouts!!

Is that with AA directly or via the Toyota Roadside cover?

If that's another condition they've changed I might have to stop renewing my Toyota Roadside as the T&Cs seen to be slowly getting worse while the price has gone up. They also seem to have removed the 2 year discount and the discount for having more than one car on the scheme at the same address...

 

[Bernard Foy]

6 minutes ago, Cyker said:

That's a bit cheeky when they advertise unlimited callouts!!

Is that with AA directly or via the Toyota Roadside cover?

If that's another condition they've changed I might have to stop renewing my Toyota Roadside as the T&Cs seen to be slowly getting worse while the price has gone up. They also seem to have removed the 2 year discount and the discount for having more than one car on the scheme at the same address...

 

It might be just worthwhile phoning AA’s head office to get clarification on their current policy.

[Derek.w]

So if you apply that to the letter even if you change a Battery and a cell fails you are expected to pay on top of a increase in premiums next year.

( I dont remember that in the Toyota Roadside Recovery small print.)

[Cyker]

I don't know if Toyota Roadside has a different policy but AA's website says:

How many call-outs do I get?
You'll get unlimited call-outs included with your cover without it costing you any extra. (But it can't be a repeat call-out for the same fault within 28 days).

...which is a load of horsepoop frankly

How do they expect you to control what problem you have! So if you call them out for a puncture or flat Battery you can't call them out again for that for another month?! Why even have home start, as a flat Battery is the most common reason for it. May as well save the money and buy a jump pack!

[Dylanfan]

11 hours ago, Cyker said:

I don't know if Toyota Roadside has a different policy but AA's website says:

How many call-outs do I get?
You'll get unlimited call-outs included with your cover without it costing you any extra. (But it can't be a repeat call-out for the same fault within 28 days).

...which is a load of horsepoop frankly

How do they expect you to control what problem you have! So if you call them out for a puncture or flat battery you can't call them out again for that for another month?! Why even have home start, as a flat battery is the most common reason for it. May as well save the money and buy a jump pack!

I think they are more understanding than you think. Whatever an AA man or independent called in by the AA says, they are usually okay as long as you’ve  tried to correct the issue or what is wrong was not picked up.

 I once called them out 5 times with the same fault. I’d had it repaired each time but the main cause had not been found, the AA just asked if I’d done anything and when I explained what was happening they were okay. I’m assuming they still work like that; whenever I’ve needed them they’ve always been excellent.

 

[TonyHSD]

Lol these cars seems like a pain. Not only front wheels were locked by the P of the traction but rears locked by the electronic parking brake? Is that correct? If yes just shows anonymity reason why it is a good idea to disable auto parking brake and only use it when necessary, most likely not when the car is parked in a garage. 👍

[Cyker]

7 hours ago, Dylanfan said:

I think they are more understanding than you think. Whatever an AA man or independent called in by the AA says, they are usually okay as long as you’ve  tried to correct the issue or what is wrong was not picked up.

 I once called them out 5 times with the same fault. I’d had it repaired each time but the main cause had not been found, the AA just asked if I’d done anything and when I explained what was happening they were okay. I’m assuming they still work like that; whenever I’ve needed them they’ve always been excellent.

That's good to know, but the problem is that's not in writing anywhere so I can't rely on that. I'd be at the mercy of whoever's on the other end of the phone effectively, and knowing my luck they'd have just been dumped by their SO, cat escaped, lost a winning lottery ticket etc. and be in a foul mood...

My most common reason for a 'breakdown' is punctures, and while I've had a lot fewer in recent years, when I do I tend to get a run of them!