We've just bought a new 2007 Highlander Hybrid. As New York is going through
one of its nasty road periods, we elected to leave the Highlander in the
garage
until the roads clear. Its been two weeks and the engine battery (12 Volt)
is
absolutely dead.
Question: is the computer drain on the battery such that it will wipe out a
battery
in simply two weeks or should I look for something wrong?
In article <uc-dnQU65aqlJm_YnZ2dnUVZ_sGqnZ2d@usadatanet.net>,
"Walt & Lynda Johnson" <waterbirds@usadatanet.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
> We've just bought a new 2007 Highlander Hybrid. As New York is going through
> one of its nasty road periods, we elected to leave the Highlander in the
> garage
> until the roads clear. Its been two weeks and the engine battery (12 Volt)
> is
> absolutely dead.
>
> Question: is the computer drain on the battery such that it will wipe out a
> battery
> in simply two weeks or should I look for something wrong?
>
> Thanks in advance...Walt in upstate NY[/color]
Take it back to the DEALER, who knows the correct answer to all these
questions--and who will fix this problem under warranty.
Also, understand that with Toyota's hybrid synergy drive, there is no
"engine battery" per se like there is on a non-hybrid car. There's a
12v battery, but it's there to turn on the computer. Once the computer
is up and happy, it controls the big battery and the engine together.
The big battery is responsible for starting the engine as required by
the computer.
"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)" <DwightSchrute@DunderMifflin.com> wrote in message
news:jft5v2lscj4a6bii0df0hpot5229if8b7q@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:07:36 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
> <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Take it back to the DEALER, who knows the correct answer to all these
>>questions--and who will fix this problem under warranty.[/color]
>
> Don't ya' just love folks who go to the Internet before seeking
> warranty service on an expensive, spanking new, ride? <G>[/color]
That's actually good. Not only do others get to learn from the questions and
answers, but the OP may learn something that the dealer doesn't tell him.
In fact, it is not a bad idea. Plus, the OP may not realize that this is a
warranty issue.
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:22:00 GMT, "Jeff" <news@googlemail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>That's actually good. Not only do others get to learn from the questions and
>answers, but the OP may learn something that the dealer doesn't tell him.[/color]
And he can try to fix it himself, based on anonymous poor advice,
possibly voiding a covered repair.
[color=blue]
>In fact, it is not a bad idea. Plus, the OP may not realize that this is a
>warranty issue.[/color]
Brand new cars that go dead for no apparent reason are warranty cases,
PERIOD. If it's gotta' be flatbedded back to the dealership, so be
it.
Now, if these folks called the dealership and were told it's normal
for this to happen, that's a totally different story and a great time
to post.
"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)" <DwightSchrute@DunderMifflin.com> wrote in message
news:00u5v2d3dsbkjrebr06iqohq2bf2lo8utv@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:22:00 GMT, "Jeff" <news@googlemail.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>That's actually good. Not only do others get to learn from the questions
>>and
>>answers, but the OP may learn something that the dealer doesn't tell him.[/color]
>
> And he can try to fix it himself, based on anonymous poor advice,
> possibly voiding a covered repair.[/color]
That the funny thing. It is only on newsgroups where poor advice is given.
The advice by neighbors, relatives, and TV announcers is always good. And
websites are 100% accurate, all the time. ;-)
[color=blue][color=green]
>>In fact, it is not a bad idea. Plus, the OP may not realize that this is a
>>warranty issue.[/color]
>
> Brand new cars that go dead for no apparent reason are warranty cases,
> PERIOD. If it's gotta' be flatbedded back to the dealership, so be
> it.[/color]
I don't disagree. But this is a forum where people are supposed to ask
questions.
Geez.
[color=blue]
> Now, if these folks called the dealership and were told it's normal
> for this to happen, that's a totally different story and a great time
> to post.[/color]
It's a great time to post before calling the dealership, but the OP can
learn helpful information about what is going on.
In article <jft5v2lscj4a6bii0df0hpot5229if8b7q@4ax.com>,
"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)" <DwightSchrute@DunderMifflin.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:07:36 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
> <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >Take it back to the DEALER, who knows the correct answer to all these
> >questions--and who will fix this problem under warranty.[/color]
>
> Don't ya' just love folks who go to the Internet before seeking
> warranty service on an expensive, spanking new, ride? <G>[/color]
In article <cHCIh.790$0W5.183@trndny05>, "Jeff" <news@googlemail.com>
wrote:
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >>Take it back to the DEALER, who knows the correct answer to all these
> >>questions--and who will fix this problem under warranty.[/color]
> >
> > Don't ya' just love folks who go to the Internet before seeking
> > warranty service on an expensive, spanking new, ride? <G>[/color]
>
> That's actually good. Not only do others get to learn from the questions and
> answers, but the OP may learn something that the dealer doesn't tell him.[/color]
Maybe.
But he's not using the net as a supplement. He comes here FIRST to ask
anonymous people to offer advice on a major problem he's having with his
two week old, $32,000 shiny toy.
Wow.
[color=blue]
> In fact, it is not a bad idea. Plus, the OP may not realize that this is a
> warranty issue.[/color]
If he's that stupid, I'm going to knock on his door and sell him
insurance and home repair and a few other things.
A two week old car that he bought NEW, and he doesn't realize that this
is a warranty issue??????
What the fuck are YOU smoking? Don't excuse his pathetic behavior like
that. His shiny new toy STOPPED WORKING. TWO WEEKS after he bought it.
And the only excuse you can come up with for why he should be allowed to
post such a question in public like this is "he may not realize that
this is a warranty issue"?????
If he's truly that stupid, I'm afraid of him being on the road in a 3500
pound vehicle. "But officer, he may not realize that this was a stop
issue. That's why he went through the red light and t-boned the school
bus full of nuns. You have to let him go without a ticket."
"Walt & Lynda Johnson" <waterbirds@usadatanet.net> wrote in message
news:uc-dnQU65aqlJm_YnZ2dnUVZ_sGqnZ2d@usadatanet.net...[color=blue]
> We've just bought a new 2007 Highlander Hybrid. As New York is going
> through
> one of its nasty road periods, we elected to leave the Highlander in the
> garage
> until the roads clear. Its been two weeks and the engine battery (12 Volt)
> is
> absolutely dead.
>
> Question: is the computer drain on the battery such that it will wipe out
> a
> battery
> in simply two weeks or should I look for something wrong?
>
> Thanks in advance...Walt in upstate NY
>
>[/color]
The 12 volt battery was probably not fully charged because it sat on a ship
for a week or two, then at the port of entry for a few days, then possibly
another week on a train and railhead, then a few days at the dealership, and
then 2 weeks in your garage.
Additionally, the faq section at [url]www.toyota.com[/url] has hybrid vehicle storage
tips. It says:
"To prevent excessive auxiliary battery drainage, charge the battery at
least once every two weeks by driving the vehicle for 15 - 20 minutes with
all non-essential electrical accessories (such as air conditioning and audio
equipment) turned off. As an alternative, you may disconnect the negative
terminal of the auxiliary battery.
For the hybrid vehicle battery, charge the battery at least once every two
months by starting the hybrid system for about 30 minutes*. Check that the
"ready" light is on and all lights and electrical accessories are off. It is
not necessary to drive the vehicle, but do not start the hybrid system in an
enclosed area unless the tail pipe is connected to an exhaust hose to
prevent harmful build up of fumes"
If you think that you will frequently park the vehicle for several weeks at
a time, you may wish to consider getting an automatic trickle charger for
the 12 volt battery.
--
The Highlander Hybrid is much like the Prius - the hybrid battery pack
is isolated via a relay when the vehicle is off.
The 12v accessory battery does exactly that - powers the accessories,
like the head and tail lights, the interior map/dome lights, the
alarm, the radio, the fans, etc. It also powers the computers. (The
computers can then flip the relay, allowing the hybrid battery pack to
come online and it is the hybrid battery pack that starts the gasoline
engine.)
If Toyota followed what is done in the Prius, then it's a relatively
small 12v accessory battery (since it is never needed to start the
engine). It's pretty easy to run it down by leaving a dome light on
overnight (say by leaving a door slightly open), or by the parasitic
drain of the alarm system and such by leaving the car undriven for
long periods of time. (Toyota has a TSB for dealers that has
preventative measures listed for the 12v battery if you are leaving it
for 10 or more days... See:
[url]http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/highlander_hybrid/files/TSBs/[/url] for
TSB PD016-05 and PD097-06)
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