12v battery maintenance, issues, etc.

[Plumbo]

On 9/24/2022 at 5:52 PM, Cyker said:

I'm not being funny, but if you only do 2.5k miles a year, why do you even have a car?? You have a 20-25 *thousand* pound vehicle, plus the tax and insurance costs!!

That's a lot of money to spend on something you're not really driving...

If it was a weekend toy then sure, but otherwise I feel it would make more sense to subscribe to a car club or something with such little use. Even using taxies would still be far cheaper in the long run with that sort of mileage!

You could buy a full solar panel and battery setup twice over with the money you'd save!

Or a lot of pizzas... or a whole pizza chef! Mmm pizza...

(Sorry it's dinner time and I'm hungry and forgot to prepare anything...)

 

So it's OK to spend the money on aTOY. but no 9n what may be a necessity.

[Max_Headroom]

1 hour ago, Plumbo said:

So it's OK to spend the money on aTOY. but no 9n what may be a necessity.

The problem is you have a car that you may need in an emergency situation (necessity) that is more than likely going let you down, I cannot imagine anything worse than getting into the car after several days of not driving it and crossing my fingers as I start it. 

Why not go for a drive evert 3 days enjoy the car and keep it problem free. 

 

[Cyker]

1 hour ago, Plumbo said:

So it's OK to spend the money on aTOY. but no 9n what may be a necessity.

That's a bit disingenuous but fine I'll bite - If it's a toy, you've just bought it for pleasure, so there's no expectation of saving money and thus no argument that it's a waste of money to spend such a large sum on something to not use it, because if it's a toy, saving money is not the goal. The Mk4 is a nice place to be so can't fault that.

If it was bought to save money, then it makes absolutely no sense - Why spend such a vast sum on a new car that isn't going to be used? - It'll never be made back with that kind of mileage.

A car club makes far more sense in that case, but even a second hand Mk1 or Mk2 petrol Yaris or an Aygo/Up!/i10/2/etc would be far cheaper to buy, tax and insure and have similar running costs. Those also don't have loads of electronics draining the 12v, so they'd be more reliable which is what you want if it's a 'necessity'.

On 10/2/2022 at 9:25 AM, Hybrid21 said:

Where do you get your CR2032 batteries for 30 pence each John ?  😀

I buy a lot of CR2032s in bulk from eBay as I have to replace them quite regularly, generally pay between 20-50p per depending on how many. Toyota charge £5!!!  

That reminds me actually, I need to get some CR2450s, as of course the smart key uses some weird Battery size that I don't have!!   (They gave me a CR2032 by mistake in the servicing...)

[Mojo1010]

Damn I have some energizers! 

Panasonic ones on the right best before 01/2022 still last about 12-18months. 

I won't need the cr2045 just yet, my mk4 probably not due until next summer. More batteries to collect....

[loz8]

on this 12v issue,another odd thing happened,after an AAjump start,later I thought to leave it switched on,ticking over,as you know ,no rev up option. went in house for a while,came out,car stone dead,when I thought Battery would be topped up.

[Roy124]

50 minutes ago, loz8 said:

on this 12v issue,another odd thing happened,after an AAjump start,later I thought to leave it switched on,ticking over,as you know ,no rev up option. went in house for a while,came out,car stone dead,when I thought battery would be topped up.

Which rather suggests you have a problem for which a flat 12v Battery is a symptom and not a cause. 

What was the state of the hybrid before you left it? 

If you can restart it (another jumper) check the 12v Battery voltage.  I am not sure what the converter should push in but I expect around 13v.  If it is less than 12v that points up the problem. 

[Roy124]

I wonder how Loz is getting on. 

[loz8]

It was during lockdown,when flat battery's were occuring,RRG checked it this year when it flattened again,all OK,just to many short journeys. I'll post if the jump Battery gets used.[Maxwell]

[loz8]

did'nt think I'd be  back this quick,flat Battery this am.

Maxtools jump starter used for 1st time,coupleing  it up did'nt do much till I pressed boost button twice,then engine started/.

[Max_Headroom]

12 minutes ago, loz8 said:

Maxtools jump starter

 

Is it one of these small ones or one of those big jump pack garages use?

If it's the former what power output is it?

 

[loz8]

like your pic, Battery capacity 9000mah

max current 500A.  the start up used half of charge ,2 led though the book says 20 starts available.

cant see that. had had more short trips than 1 week parked. I'l go by RRG passing the Battery.

Maxtool recharged in half hr from half empty. plugged into PC.

[Max_Headroom]

1 hour ago, loz8 said:

like your pic, battery capacity 9000mah

max current 500A.  the start up used half of charge ,

Good bit of kit and peace of mind for those that have no reason to drive more than a couple of times a week.

[Roy124]

3 hours ago, loz8 said:

like your pic, battery capacity 9000mah

max current 500A.  the start up used half of charge ,2 led though the book says 20 starts available.

cant see that. had had more short trips than 1 week parked. I'l go by RRG passing the battery.

Maxtool recharged in half hr from half empty. plugged into PC.

. My pack is I think 4,000ma and was sufficient to start the system.  I think I waited a minute or two.  Like you less than 50% remaining.  Recharged through the car USB port. 

[anchorman]

Mines been hooked up to the ctek three weeks.   Good as gold.  

[ICF]

Parked my Yaris at manchester meet and greet for 3 weeks this September and started first time when we collected it.

Don't know if they had to boost start it prior to my collection?

[Max_Headroom]

2 hours ago, ICF said:

Don't know if they had to boost start it prior to my collection?

I doubt they would do that without your permission imagine the trouble they would be in if they fried the ECU or some other expensive electrical  part.

[Mojo1010]

Correct, they will not touch your car. It's not their problem. So your car Battery is in good order. 

On another note, I know someone fried their lexus ct200h ECU by using a 24v Battery to jump start! Cost about 2.5-3k 🙄

[Max_Headroom]

A lot of people assume you connect both batteries together and it doesn't matter which lead you connect first, that is why people often cause damage to modern cars.

 

 

[Mojo1010]

Recently came back from 10 days being abroad. Car starts no problem, though the weather has been milder than usually at this time of year. The handbrake were a bit sticky at the wheels to begin with. 

[anchorman]

4 hours ago, Mojo1010 said:

Recently came back from 10 days being abroad. Car starts no problem, though the weather has been milder than usually at this time of year. The handbrake were a bit sticky at the wheels to begin with. 

My garage is level so I tend to leave the car in park with the handbrake off.  At least I do if I can remember 🙄

[Mojo1010]

I don't have that luxury with street parking 🙄

[Roy124]

Same 12 days here, two short journeys then laid up in car park, then two more moves a mile or so. 

Today hybrid Battery was at 50% but no 12v problem. 

[Max_Headroom]

Rather than start a new thread i thought i would ask here.

I am seriously thinking about buying a cross in the not-too-distant future but this 12v Battery thread is a bit off putting as my commute to work is only a few miles daily, can i ask the best way of keeping the 12v Battery charged i.e. if doing short journeys every day go for a longer run on day 3 to top it up, we go to the next town (16-mile round trip) a couple of times a week to do a supermarket shop and visit family would that do it?

 

[Mojo1010]

55 minutes ago, Max_Headroom said:

Rather than start a new thread i thought i would ask here.

I am seriously thinking about buying a cross in the not-too-distant future but this 12v battery thread is a bit off putting as my commute to work is only a few miles daily, can i ask the best way of keeping the 12v battery charged i.e. if doing short journeys every day go for a longer run on day 3 to top it up, we go to the next town (16-mile round trip) a couple of times a week to do a supermarket shop and visit family would that do it?

 

You got nothing to worry about. The 12v Battery is not needed to start the car, your driving for a few miles daily will be sufficient to top it up, especially with the long journey. All good 👍

[Max_Headroom]

Thanks I was aware the 12v Battery doesn't start the car as in a non hybrid car but having read so many posts about short journeys killing the 12v Battery I was worried my short daily commute wouldn't help.