12v battery maintenance, issues, etc.

[Countryside]

2 hours ago, Max_Headroom said:

It doesn't need to charge it the battery doesn't need to be full as it doesn't crank the engine it only needs to have enough juice to power the 12v systems, as you said you didn't try it there is no reason it wouldn't have started.

Toyota  have sold 715,000 Yaris Cross in the UK imagine how many new posts there would be here daily if the battery was as bad as some are making out, those that drive regularly are not having problems the issue originally raised its head when we had covid lockdown and people were not driving for weeks on end.

Well said 

[Cyker]

Dial down the OCD, take a breath and relax - Stop assuming a problem before it's even happened; Just keep a portable jumpstarter handy and just use the car until it actually has a problem instead of preemptively changing the Battery for no reason.

I've had my Mk4 for nearly 3 years now and it's never failed to start once, despite me leaving the lights on once and leaving it for 2 weeks during some school holidays.

I intend to put in the Yuasa Battery in the event it does fail to start, but until them I'm just keeping the jumpstarter in the car and using it as normal.

Life's to short to worry about things that may never happen; Plan for contingencies, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Also, with the Noco, familiarize yourself with its operation - I've seen a lot of posts (Not just here) complaining their Noco failed to jumpstart the car and decided they were rubbish, but I suspect it's because their batteries were too low and they didn't read the manual: The Nocos have a reverse-polarity protection, which relies on sensing the voltage of the Battery. If it's too low, it can't tell if you connected the jump leads wrong or not, and you have to put it into Force Charge mode to override the protection.

[Derek.w]

23 hours ago, Cyker said:

Where'd you find that? I've not heard of that trick.

 

It was in a Toyota manual for the car not sure if its the paper one or a electronic one but I do remember reading it maybe I look for it when I have some time.

[Dala]

electric cars are even worse, great future

https://youtu.be/iFAtqWOaEgg

[Countryside]

29 minutes ago, Cyker said:

Dial down the OCD, take a breath and relax - Stop assuming a problem before it's even happened; Just keep a portable jumpstarter handy and just use the car until it actually has a problem instead of preemptively changing the battery for no reason.

I've had my Mk4 for nearly 3 years now and it's never failed to start once, despite me leaving the lights on once and leaving it for 2 weeks during some school holidays.

I intend to put in the Yuasa battery in the event it does fail to start, but until them I'm just keeping the jumpstarter in the car and using it as normal.

Life's to short to worry about things that may never happen; Plan for contingencies, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Also, with the Noco, familiarize yourself with its operation - I've seen a lot of posts (Not just here) complaining their Noco failed to jumpstart the car and decided they were rubbish, but I suspect it's because their batteries were too low and they didn't read the manual: The Nocos have a reverse-polarity protection, which relies on sensing the voltage of the battery. If it's too low, it can't tell if you connected the jump leads wrong or not, and you have to put it into Force Charge mode to override the protection.

Great news can I ask how many miles you have done in three years ? How many miles do you do a week ? Many thanks 

[Cyker]

I'm nearly at 38k miles so far!  

[Chas G]

When the Battery is replaced, will I need a code for the radio etc or should everything restart? 

I used to be the most confident person on the planet but something happened  11 years ago and since then everything worries me.

[jthspace]

28 minutes ago, Chas G said:

When the battery is replaced, will I need a code for the radio etc or should everything restart? 

I used to be the most confident person on the planet but something happened  11 years ago and since then everything worries me.

No code on my Yaris, think I may have had to retune radio station memories (DAB).

[Roy124]

9 hours ago, Chas G said:

I used to be the most confident person on the planet but something happened  11 years ago and since then everything worries me.

I sympathise.   I used to be able to open the bonnet, trace pipes or cables,  and do simple things like rewiring the headlights to work through relays 😂.

Now I open the bonnet and can't see the plugs let alone change them.   If I dropped a socket I could either reach down and retrieve it, or pick it up off the floor.  Now it will have gone for ever.

[hind]

16 hours ago, Chas G said:

while having to drive with my lights headlights on in bright sunshine.

Why would you do that? This slows down the charge speed of the 12v Battery

 

11 hours ago, Cyker said:

If it's too low, it can't tell if you connected the jump leads wrong or not, and you have to put it into Force Charge mode to override the protection.

I guess it's rather to protect against connecting it to non-battery items (eg. one clamp on negative terminal and one on the exposed engine part) or trying to jump start 6V batteries etc 🙂 

[Graham47]

22 minutes ago, hind said:

Why would you do that? This slows down the charge speed of the 12v battery

“Auto” headlights…

[Bob66]

12 hours ago, Cyker said:

Dial down the OCD, take a breath and relax - Stop assuming a problem before it's even happened; Just keep a portable jumpstarter handy and just use the car until it actually has a problem instead of preemptively changing the battery for no reason.

That's so patronising and a silly statement....and a bit of an oxymoron...stop assuming a problem....but...aren't you assuming a problem ... with a handy jump starter. 

I, for one, rely upon my car, so need to be a tad OCD ...to be certain it actually starts as and when required. I don't really want to be faffing on with a jumper...in a cold, dark and strange location.

 

[Chas G]

22 minutes ago, Bob66 said:

That's so patronising and a silly statement....and a bit of an oxymoron...stop assuming a problem....but...aren't you assuming a problem ... with a handy jump starter. 

I, for one, rely upon my car, so need to be a tad OCD ...to be certain it actually starts as and when required. I don't really want to be faffing on with a jumper...in a cold, dark and strange location.

 

I am sure @Cyker comments were made with good intention.

[Bob66]

4 minutes ago, Chas G said:

I am sure @Cyker comments were made with good intention.

I only intend good intentions too...but do like to challenge / debate comments made.

[hind]

1 hour ago, Graham47 said:

“Auto” headlights…

Whats wrong with them? Mine always seem to switch correctly according to the sunlight availability? 

[Chas G]

15 minutes ago, hind said:

Whats wrong with them? Mine always seem to switch correctly according to the sunlight availability? 

Yaris Cross - my headlights turn on in bright sunlight which irritates me because rightly or wrongly it makes me think that are stealing some of my 12 volt Battery charge.

I turn the stalk to position 1 running/side lights and the headlights go off. 

Personally I would rather control the lights myself and be able to turn them off completely in bright sunlight. I assume that not having an off switch is a pedestrian safety feature.

[jthspace]

5 minutes ago, Chas G said:

Yaris Cross - my headlights turn on in bright sunlight which irritates me because rightly or wrongly it makes me think that are stealing some of my 12 volt battery charge.

I turn the stalk to position 1 running/side lights and the headlights go off. 

Personally I would rather control the lights myself and be able to turn them off completely in bright sunlight. I assume that not having an off switch is a pedestrian safety feature.

I do the same, but the DRL go to half brightness which defeats the pedestrian safety aspect!  Technology for technologies sake!  Now, I just ignore them and let them have their fun.

What we need is a bright spark to invent a little gadget (oh, I've just done that!) with a solar panel on top that fits over the sensor on the dash and shines an LED on it.  The sensor would then see its too bright and not switch on the headlights, leaving the driver to decide when the lights go on.

If anyone wants to go fund me for a few 100,000 then I'll consider doing it.

[Chas G]

@jthspace I have ordered one of these :-

https://www.toolstation.com/streetwize-12v-amber-beacon-led-light/p18425?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=_dm&pcrid=null&pkw=null&pmt=null&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAkp6tBhB5EiwANTCx1KeHz3GwuYkt0yvwMuBmSIcOSuId6UbDX_ZTVI7EjsYy4_EFC39jvBoCewUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Mojo1010]

20 minutes ago, Chas G said:

@jthspace I have ordered one of these :-

https://www.toolstation.com/streetwize-12v-amber-beacon-led-light/p18425?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=_dm&pcrid=null&pkw=null&pmt=null&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAkp6tBhB5EiwANTCx1KeHz3GwuYkt0yvwMuBmSIcOSuId6UbDX_ZTVI7EjsYy4_EFC39jvBoCewUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That is a good idea for motorway hard shoulders or so the called smart motorway danger in the event of a breakdown. 

[Graham47]

1 hour ago, hind said:

Whats wrong with them? Mine always seem to switch correctly according to the sunlight availability? 

Good for you !
It appears some are set too sensitive and, maybe, aren’t user adjustable.

[Dala]

Everyone knows that a small amount of electricity from the car Battery is enough to start a hybrid.
But few people think about what happens to a car Battery when the voltage drops below 12.1V with a small voltage draw.
IMHO using a "jump start" automatically means replacing a WET car Battery.

[Chas G]

4 hours ago, hind said:

Whats wrong with them? Mine always seem to switch correctly according to the sunlight availability? 

Not a clue. They have a mind of their own.

[hind]

21 minutes ago, Dala said:

using a "jump start" automatically means replacing a WET car battery.

Why replace something that you can still jump start? 😛  You are going to throw it away anyway, right?

[Dala]

8 minutes ago, hind said:

Why replace something that you can still jump start? 😛  You are going to throw it away anyway, right?

you're right
a car Battery damaged in this way discharges quickly
but it also charges faster because it has a smaller capacity
the system then evaluates the charge earlier and switches to the 12.8V maintenance voltage much earlier than it should

[Mojo1010]

4 hours ago, Mojo1010 said:

That is a good idea for motorway hard shoulders or the so called smart motorway danger in the event of a breakdown. 

Ordered one from AliExpress for a lot cheaper. Though my hatchback needs the YC boot space!