12v battery maintenance, issues, etc.

[CPN]

34 minutes ago, Catlover said:

I don’t think so Colin. I have done the one hour in ready mode and the engine did fire up but not many times and not for long. It’s not like the engine is running all of the time.

I didn't suggest it was but nevertheless, I am not going to sit there waiting for someone at this time of year without the heater keeping me warm and the windows mist free either. Quite often after immediately filling up (and the tankful average mpg zeroing) I can nurse a 60+mpg for quite some time even in this weather but if I stop and wait in ready mode for 20 mins or so, that overall tankful mpg figure will plummet by 5 mpg at least in very short order! (in this sometimes sub-zero weather we've had recently) It's mostly because the system struggles to get the ICE much above 50°C to get some temperature into the heater.... (and NO, I am not going to sit there and freeze with no heater on! 😉)

[Jasper.]

Update , I went out to start the Yaris this morning and the dash lit up but the car wouldn't start.

On looking down at my charging socket in the cigarette lighter which has a voltage display , only 7.7 volts was showing so I decided to give the Noco a go.

It was easy to find a suitable earth point close to the fuse box and within seconds the engine fired into life.

We had an appointment to get to and the Noco saved the day..

[Catlover]

Yes, as you found out it doesnt take much to fire one up, by the time you connected the portable Battery and get back to the car cockpit then its virtually ready to go. Now you got to get that Battery up to 100% and thats where something like the XTEX 5 comes in. That will slow charge up to 80% relatively quickly but to get it up to 100% could take another 8 hours or more. One feature with the CTEX 5 is that you can unplug during a charge and next morning when you reconnect the unit picks up from where you left off.

[Roy124]

Our test will be in March.  Airport valet parking.  I am certain they will have a jump start capability.  Just hope they have hybrid knowledge too 😁

[Mikw]

23 hours ago, Catlover said:

I don’t think so Colin. I have done the one hour in ready mode and the engine did fire up but not many times and not for long. It’s not like the engine is running all of the time.

Yep, if you do it without the heater on the engine in the Yaris Mark 4 only comes on two or three times during that hour for a minute or two at most, as long as the traction Battery is well charged.

[Yaris Hybrid 2021]

Is it easier to charge the Battery with Battery charger? The fuse box contains a charging connector.

[Catlover]

54 minutes ago, Yaris Hybrid 2021 said:

Is it easier to charge the battery with battery charger? The fuse box contains a charging connector.

It could be easier but not always convenient ie if no off street parking and you have to stay with the car. A charger may take a lot longer then the one hour Ready charging, albeit a charger may do a better job as they are “smart” and can take the charge up to 100% slowly, and can recondition a Battery. A good smart charger, though, costs a few 10’s of pounds, CTEX 5 for example £70.

[Cyker]

Didn't DevonAygo say in another thread that you shouldn't use that connector to charge the 12v Battery...?

 

[Yaris Hybrid 2021]

Why?

[Devon Aygo]

16 minutes ago, Yaris Hybrid 2021 said:

Why?

There is no connection from the under bonnet starting terminal to the 12v Battery, when you connect power to the terminals you are sending power to the DC/DC converter just like the cars 12v Battery however on separate circuits that do not join.

[Catlover]

12 minutes ago, Devon Aygo said:

There is no connection from the under bonnet starting terminal to the 12v battery, when you connect power to the terminals you are sending power to the DC/DC converter just like the cars 12v battery however on separate circuits that do not join.

So, when I connect a CTEX 5 under the bonnet of the wife’s 2010 Auris hybrid what happens?

[Red_Corolla]

1 hour ago, Devon Aygo said:

There is no connection from the under bonnet starting terminal to the 12v battery, when you connect power to the terminals you are sending power to the DC/DC converter just like the cars 12v battery however on separate circuits that do not join.

Interesting. I've charged my Corolla via both the main terminal (one with the M8 stud) and the blade connector with the red cover. Both times I confirmed current flow with an ammeter and the charging took hours to complete. Are you sure the two distribution points are not joined internally?

Next time, I could pop into the boot and check if the potential does indeed raise at the Battery posts when I connect from the fusebox. But there's energy going somewhere, that's for sure.

Here's an excerpt from my owners manual. It's one of the steps that explain how to perform a 'jump start' using the fusebox terminal:

5. Start the engine of the second vehicle. Increase the engine speed slightly and maintain at that level for approximately 5 minutes to recharge the 12-volt Battery of your vehicle.

I'm aware that this is the Yaris forum, so apologies if I'm jumping to false conclusions with my Corolla example.

[Jasper.]

Ok,  so I plan to buy a ctek MXS 5 at the weekend and the adapter kit for permanent Battery connection , I'm assuming that those of you using this set up would leave the charging cable hiding behind the access panel when not being used ?

[Roy124]

My Corolla Battery is under the bonnet.  I routed the extension cable to the right to be nearer my charger.  I leave the extra curled up on the right. 

 

  

[Jasper.]

Any Mk4 Yaris owners out there using a Ctek charger  ?

[Jasper.]

I'd really like your opinions on the best way to hook up the charger to the 12 volt battery  ?

Thanks..

[Catlover]

Tomorrow I will take a photo of the connections you get with the CTEX 5 and post them on here for you. 

[Jasper.]

46 minutes ago, Catlover said:

Tomorrow I will take a photo of the connections you get with the CTEX 5 and post them on here for you. 

Perfect , thank you.

[Catlover]

Photos of the CTEX 5. This is what you get in the box, including a bag to put the unit in.

The crocodile clips go across the connection Battery terminals, but as the 12v Battery in a Yaris hybrid is under the rear set the 2nd connectors may be more suitable. They permananlty screw into the Battery terminals and out of the seat somewhere where it can be tucked up when not in use. On the main CTEK 5 unityou can choose what program you want ie motorcycle or car, AGM battery, Recon option. Easy to use, 8 steps in total.

The battery in a Yaris Hybrid is under the rear seat (in the passenger area) so is an AGM type

 

[Roy124]

I plan to have the dealer fix the eyelet short lead to the Yaris when I get it. I will then use the CTEK extension lead to connect with the charger. In the Corolla I have the extension under the bonnet.  In the Yaris it will be with the charger. 

[Hibird]

I have CTEK 5 which on the rare ocaasions I have used is connected to the jump start terminal in the Yaris fuse. Not ideal as it of course involves removing the fuse box cover. I also have a Noco Genius 5 that I connect the same way again only on rare occasions.

I appreciate not everyone agrees this is a suitable location however I am unconvinced but always open to the thinking behind that. However connecting a charger to a Battery installed and connected in vehicle is another discussion and is something we all do at our own risk but worse things happen at sea as they say !

Connecting direct to the Battery via a sub harness available for both these chargers will make life easier  just take care that cable routing and access does not compromise the insulation integrity.

I have read many in depth reviews on both the above chargers and combined with my own experience definatley have a preference.

Why so many chargers are needed for Toyota Hybrids is another story but whats another few quid to get our £25k vehicles started .... ubelievable

 

[Roy124]

Hibird, Hibrid batteries aside, I have experienced flat batteries from time to time on previous ICE cars. Usually it was because I left a light on or a boot was not shut.  One occasion at an RTA my hazards were on and the Battery flattened. 

In 60 years I have had 3 chargers.  The first failed after 50 years, the 2nd was unsuitable for a hybrid and now I have a CTEK.  Less than £2 per year is good value.  Whether you need them after hybrid may be unlikely. 

[Hibird]

Wow 50 years out of a charger that's amazing Roy I got less than a minute out the paper shredder I bought last week !

[Jasper.]

5 hours ago, Catlover said:

Photos of the CTEX 5. This is what you get in the box, including a bag to put the unit in.

The crocodile clips go across the connection battery terminals, but as the 12v battery in a Yaris hybrid is under the rear set the 2nd connectors may be more suitable. They permananlty screw into the battery terminals and out of the seat somewhere where it can be tucked up when not in use. On the main CTEK 5 unityou can choose what program you want ie motorcycle or car, AGM battery, Recon option. Easy to use, 8 steps in total.

The battery in a Yaris Hybrid is under the rear seat (in the passenger area) so is an AGM type

 

Thanks Catlover,  I plan to fit the Ctek harness directly to the Battery terminals but this would be an easier job if I removed the rear seat base to gain access to the positive terminal.

Am I right in thinking that the seat base pulls up ? I'm sure I've read previously that this is the case ?

Another option maybe , looking at the positive terminal there is a red plastic cover that unclips and lifts up to reveal what looks like a charging point , similar to the jump start point under the bonnet  ?

[Catlover]

Sorry, I not familiar with a 2021 Yaris hybrid. If I remember correctly seat removal has been discussed on here, perhaps a search will find it.