12v battery maintenance, issues, etc.

[Cyker]

The light sensor is a little smoked plastic dome on the passenger side and from what I can tell it just looks up, so if *anything* is above you - Trees, bridges, a particularly dark cloud, a spectacularly large seagul etc. the car will think it's night time and turn the beams on.

I wouldn't mind, but there is no OFF position to stop it doing this, only Auto, and it's one of the gripes I have with the car as there are many roads here lined with trees, and in summer when they are thick with leaves my headlights will just keep turning on and off with no way for me to stop them and just keep the DRLs on.

Switching to sidelights is the only real recourse I can think of to do, as a few of you also do, but it's far from ideal.

The really irritating thing is the manual shows that there are two stalks available for the car - The one we have, and one with an OFF position, so it should be possible! I don't understand why they didn't just use that one for all the cars??

[CPN]

I think you'll find that the one with the OFF position is only on cars that are not fitted with auto headlights...

[Cyker]

If tonly that were the case it wouldn't be so annoying!!

[CPN]

Ah right! Wasn't aware of that type...

[Derek.w]

You can adjust the sensetivity of your headlights within vehicle settings on the audio screen for cars with automatic headlights & no off position on the stork control.

Hope this helps.

[Graham47]

11 minutes ago, Derek.w said:

You can adjust the sensetivity of your headlights within vehicle settings on the audio screen for cars with automatic headlights & no off position on the stork control.

Hope this helps.

Not if you don’t have the 8” screen.  It can only be done by dealer settings.

[jthspace]

Did it in the Calistra app, they still come on if you drive under a bridge or through tree shade....

[Graham47]

10 hours ago, jthspace said:

Did it in the Calistra app, they still come on if you drive under a bridge or through tree shade....

Mine’s due a service mid Feb, I’m hoping Techy can dial it down a notch then.

[Mojo1010]

12v Battery measurements:

2.5 days ago 12.65v after driving that day. 

2x 30 mins run today. 

Did not measure before 1st run, just after at 12.25v.

After 2nd run at 12.55v. 

For my own peace of mind on this battery/car, in this cold snap, should need to start the car for at least 30mins no further than 3 days. 

Does anyone have measurement of 5 days plus in cold weather? I don't want to test out as Battery could discharge to a low level and could have a long term effect. 

[Roy124]

1 hour ago, Mojo1010 said:

Does anyone have measurement of 5 days plus in cold weather? I don't want to test out as battery could discharge to a low level and could have a long term effect. 

Not cold as such but I did experience a cliff edge drop one time. Gentle decline over a few days from 12v+ to just over 11v, then just under 11v then under 9v.

 

[Dala]

4 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

Not cold as such but I did experience a cliff edge drop one time. Gentle decline over a few days from 12v+ to just over 11v, then just under 11v then under 9v.

 

Before starting or during starting?

[Chas G]

@Cyker @Graham47 @hind

After @Derek.w s post I had a look at how to reduce sensitivity of the headlights sensor. On the yaris cross you just go into the display screen:-

"Press Set up button

Scroll down and select vehicle

Select Vehicle customisation

Select Light settings

Select Light sensor sensitivity

Reduce to 0 then press home button"

Just been to Morrisons in Watford in bright sunlight and the headlamps didnt come on at all. Running lights on as normal.

 

 

[Graham47]

Yes, but as I said to the original post, that is only available via the 7” or 8” headunit.  Cars fitted with the 9” headunit don’t have that setting and can only be modified via diagnostics.  It’s all clearly detailed in the handbook

Obviously your Yaris Cross has the 8” headunit.

.

[Chas G]

1 hour ago, Graham47 said:

Yes, but as I said to the original post, that is only available via the 7” or 8” headunit.  Cars fitted with the 9” headunit don’t have that setting and can only be modified via diagnostics.  It’s all clearly detailed in the handbook

Obviously your Yaris Cross has the 8” headunit.

.

Amazing what a difference an inch makes 😁

[Roy124]

1 hour ago, Dala said:

Before starting or during starting?

Before

[Roy124]

The four flat batteries I experienced were with the 1.8 Corolla,  the first when it was brand new and Covid before the Ready mode advice was issue.  Two more failures and they changed the Battery.  Final failure was with the new Battery.

No issues with the YC.  It was laid up when very new at Southampton for a fortnight,  Gatwick for a fortnight and at a friend's for a fortnight.  Obviously charged after 2-3 hour journeys.

The start process is different from the Corolla.   Things started happening after you opened the door.; the Yaris, apart from the interior lights, is Pff until you start and Ready Mode.

 

[RickyC]

On 1/16/2024 at 10:28 PM, Derek.w said:

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.

I searched on online manuals and on my paper one but I didn't find this procedure.

Can you check on your paper one ?

[jthspace]

38 minutes ago, RickyC said:

I searched on online manuals and on my paper one but I didn't find this procedure.

Can you check on your paper one ?

See 6 posts above from Chas G

[Graham47]

34 minutes ago, jthspace said:

See 6 posts above from Chas G

The “procedure” I think @RickyC is looking for is the suggestion that you can charge a flat Battery by some combination of EPB and ready button posted by @Derek.w.

 

If you suffer from a flat 12 volt Battery and car wont start without a jumper pack of some sort then try this providing the HV Battery has a good charge lets say above 60%.

Pull up the handbrake button and keep it up then press the starter button and hold it down after 45 seconds release handbrake button then start button.

Hopefully car will start but it depents on type of 12 volt battery fault and how low it is after a quickboost from HV battery.

[RickyC]

Correct.

It smells a bit of black magic 😉  but if it works it's fantastic 😀 !!!!!

But while you keep handbrake pulled and starter pressed do you need also to sing some magic spell in antique japanese language ? 😁

 

[RickyC]

Jokes apart there's a point that it's not clear to me in this forced recharge procedure.

To start the 12V Battery charge it's necessary to close HV Battery contactors and activate DC-DC circuit.  

But to do it you need a 12V power source, that it's supposed to be not sufficient to start the process in ths moment.

Am I missing something ?

 

[Roy124]

Guessing, there may be something that allows power build up such as charging a capacitor. 

What Graham didn't mention, you must pull the EPB switch with your Right hand and you press the Start button with your Left.  This will enable you to time 45 seconds on your watch.

[Graham47]

10 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

What Graham didn't mention, you must pull the EPB switch with your Right hand and you press the Start button with your Left.  This will enable you to time 45 seconds on your watch.

What I posted was copied directly from @Derek.w’s post (unfortunately I’m not skilled enough to copy and paste as if the actual quote so I copied text).  So I assume you have experimented and realised the ‘hands’ business ?

[jthspace]

But what if you've got the old fashioned key? 🤔

[haelewyn]

Call AA and make sure you became a member in advance.