Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota Camry Hybrid Electrical & Lighting Questions

36 messages,  Last post on Apr 04, 2011 at 2:39 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Hybrid Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Electrical, Lighting

    

Messages Page 3 of 4

#21 of 36 Re: Jumping Toyota Camry Hybrid [cdn_tch] by bbillin

Jan 04, 2010 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: cdn_tch (Jan 02, 2010 11:06 pm)
My husband has a 2009 TCH. He is away and the car is in the garage. I went to start the car, and the power swithced on but the battery light stayed on. Same with the brake light, even though I released it.
 
 A few weeks ago it was fine.
 
Could it be due to the cold? The manual says the car needs to be taken to the dealer, but can't this be done a simpler way???

#22 of 36 Re: Jumping Toyota Camry Hybrid [bbillin] by cdn_tch

Jan 05, 2010 (8:50 am)

Replying to: bbillin (Jan 04, 2010 9:46 pm)
I went to start the car, and the power switched on but the battery light stayed on. Same with the brake light, even though I released it.
  
 A few weeks ago it was fine.
  
Could it be due to the cold? The manual says the car needs to be taken to the dealer, but can't this be done a simpler way???
 
Question, did the car start? Did you get the "READY" light on? If you are not sure, go out again and step on the brake and while the brake pedal is depressed push the start button. Depending on various things it may take up to 7-10 seconds before the engine actually fires up.
 
In response to the cold question; it could be only if the cold also brought with it enough condensation somewhere where some electronics got wet. Likelihood of that is low. My TCH is now going through its second winter and we average in the -20s and we have -40s during some part of winter as well with no problems at all here.

#23 of 36 Re: Jumping Toyota Camry Hybrid [cdn_tch] by bbillin

Jan 06, 2010 (7:22 am)

Replying to: cdn_tch (Jan 05, 2010 8:50 am)
I power goes on in the accessory mode so I can turn on the radio . I left in that mode for 15 seconds and tried to take off the brake slowly. Still, nothing. The battery indicator light comes on, engine light and brake light. I guess I will have to get it towed to the dealer. I don't understand as it has been less than 2 months. I thought being new, it would still start.
 
I have heard terror stories of trying to jump start the battery. Any suggestions?
 
Thank you

#24 of 36 Re: Jumping Toyota Camry Hybrid [bbillin] by cdn_tch

Jan 06, 2010 (8:26 am)

Replying to: bbillin (Jan 06, 2010 7:22 am)
If the dash lights up your 12V battery is good and has power.
 
Just a clarification, you are pressing the regular brake pedal (not the parking brake) when pressing the START button, right? Any messages in the display that is in the speedometer?

#25 of 36 Re: Jumping Toyota Camry Hybrid [cdn_tch] by bbillin

Jan 06, 2010 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: cdn_tch (Jan 06, 2010 8:26 am)
Got it going. I guess I wasn't holding the break down long enough and the steering wouldn't unlock.
 
Thanks for tips.

#26 of 36 Re: Jumping Toyota Camry Hybrid [bbillin] by cdn_tch

Jan 06, 2010 (5:09 pm)

Replying to: bbillin (Jan 06, 2010 2:49 pm)
Glad you're up and running!

#27 of 36 Life expectancy of 12V AGM battery by snaab93se1

Jan 07, 2010 (6:54 am)

Does anyone have an idea of how long one can expect the 12V AGM battery to last?

#28 of 36 Re: Life expectancy of 12V AGM battery [snaab93se1] by cdn_tch

Jan 07, 2010 (8:35 am)

Replying to: snaab93se1 (Jan 07, 2010 6:54 am)
On another board the user SteveHansen posted;
 
"AGM batteries typically do last longer than regular lead-acid batteries. The usual failure mode of a lead-acid battery happens when a plate warps enough to touch an adjacent plate, creating a short. The plates of an AGM battery are separated by fiberglass mat, which prevents them from shorting. Because shorting is prevented, the typical failure mode of an AGM battery is chemical, and failure is gradual instead of sudden.
 
AGM batteries typically retain the hydrogen and oxygen inside the case, and recombine it to water, so they don't lose water. However, they also have overpressure valves to release the gas, when there is too much gas to hold. The gas venting occurs during periods of heavy gas-generation, which occurs during rapid or over charging. Gas production is increased by high ambient temperature.
 
If you keep the batteries in temperature-controlled space, and never rapid-charge or over-charge, AGM batteries can last many years. In some communications systems "float" applications, for example, AGM batteries are scheduled to be replaced at 20 years, though premature failures do occur. But, if you over-heat and over-charge the battery, it can still "boil" the water, and failure can occur in a very short time.
 
So, the life expectancy of an AGM battery depends on the usage, not the calendar. In automotive usage, in a particular model of vehicle, I expect the battery life depends on how smart the engineers were in designing the charging system. For TCH, we probably don't have enough history to know that, yet."

#29 of 36 12 v battery died on 2nd day by h_sam

Apr 18, 2010 (10:02 pm)

Earlier today my 12V battery died/drained down - was a bit surprised, as I had just driven the car earlier on the day. This a brand new 2010 TCH, that I purchased just 2 days ago.
 
Since I am still coming to terms with the key-less starter, it could be that I left the car on. However, I read in the manual that the car is supposed to shut down after an hour of staying 'on' with no driving.
 
Everything worked fine after I jump started it - (Of course, I lost my mileage history and bluetooth presets).
 
Is the battery a 'lemon', or should I give it some more time to charge up?
 
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

#30 of 36 Re: 12 v battery died on 2nd day [h_sam] by cdn_tch

Apr 19, 2010 (6:42 am)

Replying to: h_sam (Apr 18, 2010 10:02 pm)
The AGM battery should not be jump started and must NOT be used to jump another car. Take it back to your dealer and have them check it out as that battery does not do much except keep the electronics going. The traction battery does all the work for keeping the car running.

Messages Page 3 of 4

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement