As the UK government has instructed the nation to stay at home and only venture out for specific, essential reasons in light of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation, many of us are being encouraged to park our cars if we can. Some owners of Toyota hybrids might be wondering what will happen to their car during long periods without use, particularly when it comes to the level of charge in the batteries.
The reassuring news is that no difficult car maintenance is necessary. However, there are some tips that, if followed, can help ensure your Toyota remains in tip-top condition during an extended layoff.
To recap, Toyota hybrids generally contain two batteries: a 12-volt battery (which powers systems such as the headlamps and audio) and a high-voltage hybrid system battery (which supplies the power to start the combustion engine and drive the electric motors).
The simplest way to maintain charge in both of these batteries is to simply go through the normal start procedure: press the ‘Start’ button with your foot on the brake and ensure the ‘Ready’ light is illuminated on the dashboard (you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake thereafter, but ensure your vehicle’s transmission is in ‘Park’ and the parking brake is engaged).
We recommend you put the car in ‘Ready’ mode for about 60 minutes before switching it off again and repeat the process at least once a week, providing you can carry out this procedure while adhering to the government’s advice regarding social distancing and Coronavirus (Covid-19). Please do not leave your car unattended when it is in ‘Ready’ mode.
During the time that that car is in ‘Ready’ mode, you may hear and feel the internal combustion engine kick in; this is a normal part of the self-charging process. You might be tempted to switch on the radio to pass the time, or turn on other systems, but bear in mind these will consume small amounts of electrical power so it is preferable to leave them off.
Ensure the handbrake is on; there’s no need to go for a drive, although we must stress that this procedure should take place in a well-ventilated area – something to consider if you park your vehicle in a garage.
What if my Toyota isn’t a hybrid?
Our petrol and diesel cars only have a 12-volt battery, which provides the power to start the engine in addition to the other systems mentioned above. Regular start-up of the vehicle on conventional petrol and diesel engines needs approximately 20 minutes of running to put back into the battery what you remove on start up, so to maintain this battery we would suggest 60 minutes of running at least once a week.
Is there anything else I need to do?
Whether you own a hybrid or a Toyota equipped solely with an internal combustion engine, there are a few other easy car maintenance points that can ensure your Toyota hybrid remains healthy and happy during an enforced hibernation. Again, please adhere to the latest government advice regarding social distancing.
- Check the tyre pressures are fully inflated to the recommended level and top-up if necessary. It can be a good idea to repeat this process when you first drive your car after a long period of inactivity.
- Clean the car thoroughly inside and out. If you are storing your car in a garage, make sure the vehicle is completely dry before you put it away.
- If you do plan to store your car in a garage, ensure the chosen storage area offers plenty of ventilation. If the space is secure, you could consider opening one of the car’s windows a small way to ventilate the interior. If you do this, you might have to change your car alarm’s setting to prevent it setting off the intrusion sensor – please consult your car’s manual for more information.
- It can be beneficial to leave the vehicle with the parking brake disengaged to prevent the brakes from binding, but only do this if you are certain the car is on level terrain and isn’t going to move. Ensure the transmission is set to ‘P’ for park and place wedges or chocks, if you have them, under the wheels.
- If you have a 12V battery trickle charger, or a solar panel charger, and are confident using them, then these are a good option to keep the battery fully charged while the vehicle is stationary for a period of time.
- If your vehicle is equipped with smart entry and start but the system isn’t operated for a long time, a battery-saving function will automatically be activated to prevent the electronic key battery and the 12-volt battery from being discharged. Battery depletion in the key is minimised by stopping the electronic key from receiving radio waves. On many models equipped with this system, it is possible to manually put the key into battery-saving mode, so please consult your car’s handbook for more information. If you aren’t planning to drive your car for a long time, consider putting the smart key in a safe place and not carrying it around with you in your pocket. This will prevent the car from ‘waking up’ unnecessarily should you happen to walk near it in your garage or driveway.
- If the vehicle will be kept on private property (such as inside a garage) for the duration of its storage, you could consider applying for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). This informs the DVLA that the car is off the road and you will receive a refund of any remaining full months of tax. However, you won’t be able to drive your car legally until you tax it again, so it is only advisable if you are positive you won’t use your car for a long time. You can read more information about how to SORN your car here.
Read more Toyota GB’s latest statement on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation
Hi,
Thank for your reply. Don’t know why it has just came through now?
I did go to my local Toyota centre they ordered me the ring RSP240 this only comes with cigarette lighter plug and battery clips. I’m looking for the OBDII plug. I want to be able to charge the battery from inside the car.
Thanks.
Hi Sylvia,
We would recommend re-contacting your Toyota Centre and making them aware of your situation.
They will do their best to help locate the desired parts where possible.
Thanks.
Thank you I will contact them again.
We had the same battery flat problem with a Toyota CH-R. Bought a new battery and also a solar panel battery charger so we didn’t experience the same problem again. Not technical people so thought this wise.
Tried to lock the car today with the solar panel plugged in and was getting message key fob not being found (or something similar). Couldn’t lock car until the solar panel had been unplugged. Never had this problem before.
So how is plugging a solar panel in going to keep battery charged when you can’t lock the doors? This leaves car vulnerable.
Hi Helen, thanks for your query.
We would recommend contacting your local Toyota Centre to discuss issues related to locking and charging.
You can find your nearest centre here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/find-a-dealer
Thanks.
I have a Yaris Cross 2022, and have suffered with a flat battery on 3 occasions whilst parked in a field at competitions. I have a high mileage (25,000 in less than 18 months) so not being driven is not the cause.
On all occasions of the battery going flat it had been parked for almost 48 hours, mostly locked (but occasionally unlocked). All of the journeys to the venues that this has happened have been over 2 hours drive away. Is there something within the Yaris Cross that is constantly drawing on the 12v battery? Should I be concerned that I am having to jump start the vehicle (from a borrowed jump pack)? Will this shorten the life of the 12v battery? Is the advice really to buy a jump pack for a car that is less than 18 months old?
The local dealership have told me it’s not a warranty issue even though there is no logical reason for the battery going flat as quickly as it does?
Hi Hayley, thanks for getting in touch.
We’re sorry to hear you are experiencing these issues and completely understand your frustration.
We would recommend re-contacting your local Toyota Centre. There, the technicians can observe your vehicle in person and determine whether this is a fault of the car or its handling.
Thanks.
Hi, our Dec 22 Yaris Hybrid had been parked at the airport for just over a week and when we returned from our holiday would not start. We couldn’t get in to the boot or the back doors, had to call out AA for a jump start. This must be a fault, but you say above that during Covid lockdown the cars needed running for an hour every week… surely not ???
Hi Rob,
We are sorry to hear about the inconvenience this has caused.
The electricity stored in the 12-volt battery will discharge gradually even when the vehicle is not in use, due to natural discharge and the draining effects of certain electrical appliances.
If the vehicle is left for a long time, the 12-volt battery may discharge, and the hybrid system may be unable to start.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Thanks.
Hi, Used my C-HR on a 75mile journey. Locked the vehicle and left it over night. When i came back to it in the morning, the vehicle wouldn’t start. Checked the 12v Battery Voltage which read 7.5volts. I called out Toyota Assist via the AA who was able to start the car with a battery booster. They then checked the 12 volt battery and found it was reading 12 volts but when using their battery analyser it showed the internal voltage of the battery was at 50%. I was recommended to take it back to Toyota and have the battery replaced as it was faulty. I took the car back to Toyota today and was told there is nothing wrong with the battery. This has happened 3 times now. Can you advise what steps should i take now???
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your comment.
We are sorry to hear about this and we can only apologise for the frustrations this has caused.
If the reason you have been unable to start your car is the direct result of a manufacturing defect, then we’ll do all we can to put things right.
Included in that promise, is the 12V battery and if it’s reported to us as being faulty by a Toyota dealer, we’ll put things right no question.
If it’s a result of lack of use, then unfortunately this is not something we are able to support.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Thanks.
Good Morning
Thank you for the prompt reply. My CH-R is used daily and as stated the car had completed a 75mile journey the day before. The car is never left standing for days without use and is used daily to travel to work. My dealer is not interested in what went wrong or what the Toyota assist Engineer found! If the car fails again within the next 28 days Toyota assist will not come out as their policy states it will not revisit the same fault within a 28 day period. I travel fair distances per day for my work, w hat do I do if this happens again within 28 days and I am far from home. I mentioned this to the dealer and they just shrugged their shoulders. How do I get the Toyota dealer at Bromsgrove Worcestershire to change my battery without anymore stonewalling by them please.
Hi Bob, thanks for getting in touch.
Please accept our apologies for the delay in getting back to you. We are sorry you’re experiencing these difficulties and will work with you to resolve them as quickly as possible.
We would recommend contacting our Customer Relations team who are best placed to support you with this. There, they can contact the centre if needed and advise you on your options.
The team can be reached here: https://brnw.ch/21wCzBM
Please do not hesitate to get in contact should you need.
Thanks.
Since it appears Toyota is not going to address this issue except by telling owners the same thing.
“We apologise and would recommend contacting our Customer Relations team who are best placed to support you with this. There, they can contact the centre if needed and advise you on your options.”
Could disconnecting ones battery before leaving the car be a solution? This would be in a locked garage.
Or…does disconnecting the battery for two or more weeks adversely effect any computers/programs in the car?
Hi Leigh, thanks for your comment.
We appreciate your feedback and understand your frustration.
We advise vehicle owners experiencing any issues to contact our Customer Relations teams. The team are best placed to support and help.
They can be contacted here should you need: https://brnw.ch/21wCBBY
Your local Toyota centre may also be able to advise on this issue.
You can locate your nearest centre here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/find-a-dealer
Thanks.
Just got back from 2 week holiday and our 22plate Yaris Cross Hybrid would not start and had to call out AA.
Spoke to our Salesman who we always buy from(1st Hybrid now owned) and we told him what AA man said about this happens all the time and he said he had not heard of the problem before.
Looking at this forum and the comments I think Toyota know a great deal about the problem-not happy because our car is used every day and this is the 1st time for a 2 week break.
Hi Rob, thanks for getting in touch.
We are sorry to hear of your experience and understand your frustration.
Our Customer Relations team are best placed to help you with this and can be contacted here: https://brnw.ch/21wCPGF
They will work to support and assist you.
Thanks.
Hi Leigh
I have researched this issue on line with 12v battery failures on Toyota cars and it appears to happen across the range of Hybrid vehicles. I myself have experienced the issue 5 times!! There have been many owners complaining online through forums and the best way to get your battery changed is to keep pestering your dealer.
I believe currently the battery (12v) has a 3 year warranty when the car is purchased from new.
It took me 5 visits to my local dealer and having to show pictures of a volt meter reading of the battery showing the battery voltage below 12v to get them to charge the battery under warranty.
The Cars is great best I’ve ever had, but battery warranty claim and trying to get it resolved extremely poor on Toyota side!!!!
My 6 month CHR was also left for two weeks whilst on holiday.
On returning to the car in the pouring rain the car could not be opened.
I had to use the manual key to get in the drivers door but there was no access to the other doors which could not be opened even from inside.
We and the luggage got completely soaked. As the suitcases were too large to fit through the drivers door .
We waited 2 hours before the AA turned up and jump started the vehicle.
Now all the settings have been changed and we are not getting adequate MPG.
The Tamworth service centre said that this was normal and we should invest in a charger pack or disconnect the battery before leaving the car at the airport for any time.
This really is not acceptable and we will be unlikely to replace with another Toyota.
Hi Andrew, thanks for your comment.
We are very sorry to hear you have experienced this and wish to express our sincere sympathies.
Our Customer Relations team are best placed to support and advise you with this.
The team can be reached through the following link: https://brnw.ch/21wCWWW
Thanks.
My late 2019 2ltr Chr has had the dreaded flat battery syndrome from new. I fitted a new battery with more power, thinking this would solve the drainage problem, when it’s left over a week or so. This didn’t solve the problem. I then bought the AA solar charger because the car was to be parked up for 2 wks. I also bought a device that connects to your battery and via a App, it tells you the charging rate as you drive.
Returning two wks later the battery was at 98%. No problems getting into the car was a massive relief. Must point out that the car was left in a large open car park and sunny for the two wks. Might not of been 98% if parked in shade or cloudy for the two wks.
What I’ve noticed when starting the car with its usual low battery warning, on the charging app, it instantly reads 14+ volts charging and stays at that most of the time. But occasionally, on a journey, stops charging and the volts drop down to just over 12 volts. After some time, just above 12volts, starts charging again at 14volts. So if I finished my journey and turned car off while at 12volts, the battery would be dead after a day or so.
Toyota dealer says no faults found. So nothing wrong. Now looking for a more reliable none hybrid car.
How strange….. I have an imported Toyota Estima…. would you believe this motor was made in 2006… and imported into the UK in 2020… I’ve left it stood for 3 weeks… no problem at all 😁 it’s a hybrid too…. makes you wonder why these cars weren’t initially made for the European market…. it far exceeds some of the specs on car’s of Today….. Mmmm
I feel your frustration. My 21 month old Yaris Cross is currently dead. I have tried to jump start it and trickle charge it without success. I am now facing a large bill to have it towed to my (not close) Toyota garage who I know (after reading this blog) will tell me the battery is fine. I love this car despite the issues but I am a nurse and I need to know my car will work when I try to start it. I will be selling it soon.
PS my son drives my 18 year old Prius and that car has NEVER let us down.