System Malfunction - Trailhunter 5' Hybrid iForceMax - Bad Battery Cell?

[Lets_Taco_Bout_It]

After a long weekend, I went to start the truck this morning and was greeted by the warm glow of dashboard warning lights and a cold engine. What's peculiar is that I didn't turn the truck on all weekend. Dropped off the truck this AM (11/4/24). Waiting to get a call back from Burien Toyota.

Got a call from the dealer and they mentioned that according to their diagnosis, they're saying it could be a bad battery cell. I also found out today that you CAN jump start a Hybrid vehicle, and the new method is BRAND new to this generation. There is a dedicated terminal in the fuse box under the hood, even though that isn't where the battery is.

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[StreeTaco]

So it didn’t start, is what you’re saying correct?

 

[TacoFreak]

My wife had a battery electric Lexus. If she leaves it parked for very long and the app connected it runs down the 12 volt battery to the point where you can't even open the doors. The Lexus service department said it was a known issue with no fix yet, and the only solution for now is to log out of the app.

It is interesting to see what the jump start process is on a hybrid @Lets_Taco_Bout_It. I read something about that before but I had forgotten the details which are good to know. I also noticed that your mileage is about where mine is, which is 7-8 mpg lower than advertised. Have you asked your dealer about that yet?

 

[Lets_Taco_Bout_It]

So it didn’t start, is what you’re saying correct?

Correct. Kind of. It seemed like the electrical systems kicked on but the gas motor didn’t turn over.

 

[Lets_Taco_Bout_It]

My wife had a battery electric Lexus. If she leaves it parked for very long and the app connected it runs down the 12 volt battery to the point where you can't even open the doors. The Lexus service department said it was a known issue with no fix yet, and the only solution for now is to log out of the app.

It is interesting to see what the jump start process is on a hybrid @Lets_Taco_Bout_It. I read something about that before but I had forgotten the details which are good to know. I also noticed that your mileage is about where mine is, which is 7-8 mpg lower than advertised. Have you asked your dealer about that yet?

I could understand if it sat for a week or longer, but this was Friday to Sunday night :/ I don’t plan on using this as a daily driver so I’m hoping it can sit for 5-7 days at a time without the need for a trickle charger.

I did mention it to them and they seemed convinced that there’s not enough data for it to show true mileage. I do live near downtown Seattle but I’ve been feathering the throttle and not pushing the motor to excessive RPM. I don’t know what else could cause the poor mpg. I did switch the tires to 275 KO3’s that are E rated (heavy) but I can’t see it impacting the mpg that severely. I see people getting close to 22 mpg.

 

[TacoFreak]

I could understand if it sat for a week or longer, but this was Friday to Sunday night.

Pretty much the same with my wife's car, she drove it a couple of times one week, parked it on Friday morning and by Sunday night it was dead. Their first thought was also a bad battery, but when it was fine they said it was the car doing constant status updates to the server. It hasn't done it again since she quit using the app, so maybe that is true.

I did mention it to them and they seemed convinced that there’s not enough data for it to show true mileage.

I know some people average 22-23 mpg with the same miles as my truck. One guy I talked to said there was no way he could flog his truck hard enough to get it below 20.

Mine was up to 17.4 mpg and I assumed that it was influenced by the early break in/slow driving miles. So I reset it and drove about 50 miles of mostly freeway and now it is 15.5 mpg. Some variation is understandable, but 7-8 mpg between identical trucks seems like something is wrong to me. I will see what my dealer has to say, but I am expecting something similar to what your dealer said.

 

[Gfenza89]

Many many many questions regarding these new 4th gens…. Hoping you’re listening Toyota.

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