My i-Force Max has an.... Alternator???

[TacoFreak]

Yep - no alternator on my 2024 Pro. It charges strictly from the traction motor.

Some hybrids and many electrics have trouble keeping their 12 volt batteries charged. My wife went 5 days without driving her BEV and we had to jump it, even though it had a full traction battery.

I guess Toyota decided to head off that problem by adding an alternator to the hybrids, although mine can sit for up to a week and I have never had a problem. It is a nice upgrade for the 2025 models though IMO.

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[TacoTime]

Just guessing… alternator may be needed to provide higher amps for aux in 2025 Trailhunter and TRD pro models. Not sure about OR hybrid if it has 4aux and higher amps.

https://assets.sia.toyota.com/publications/en/om-s/OM04012U/pdf/OM04012U.pdf

 

[Tom Sellick]

No alternator for me. Canada 2024 TRD Pro

 

[CanadainTRDpro]

No alternator

 

[WKTJR1]

It's midnight but I had to check. No alternator, week 48 build.

 

[TacoFreak]

It's midnight but I had to check. No alternator, week 48 build.

This must have changed with the 2025 models, although only Toyota know why and they aren't talking.

 

[WKTJR1]

This must have changed with the 2025 models, although only Toyota know why and they aren't talking.

Which is kind of crazy. We're talking about a major component not some small relay or minor revision.

 

[TacoFreak]

I think it is related to ensuring that the 12v battery stays charged. In my wife's Lexus BEV the official cause of 12v battery discharge is the Lexus app. As long as you are logged in the car sends regular status updates to the app server, and if the car is not driven for a while that will run down the battery. They do not have a fix other than log out of the app when not actively using it. That fixed the problem and no better solution has even been released.

So rather than tell customers that they can't use the Toyota app they added an alternator. Some owners do have problems with the 12v batteries in Tacoma hybrids, and it would be interesting to know if that is mostly among people staying logged into the app.

 

[Vidman]

9/11/24 build date with no alternator

 

[CanadainTRDpro]

So with them putting alternator back in with the 25 model year would that mean that they know 24 model year has an issue/recall?

 

[TacoFreak]

So with them putting alternator back in with the 25 model year would that mean that they know 24 model year has an issue/recall?

Good point! Toyota knows there is some issue, or they would not have added an expensive component like an alternator. But will they do anything for 2024 hybrid owners? The old Toyota would have, but things are different today and I kind of doubt that they will.

 

[WKTJR1]

But could they retrofit an alternator if they wanted to?

I guess it depends on the wiring harnesses. Are the harnesses the same for both hybrid and non-hybrid models? Would a new secondary harness be needed to backfit the alternator into the 2024 models? And then you’d likely need new software updates as well.

I did a brief review of ALLDATA, and while it's updated with 2025 information, I didn’t see anything that mentions the differences between the model years.

 

[TacoFreak]

But could they retrofit an alternator if they wanted to?

I'm sure they could, but as you point out, it would be a lot more complicated than just bolting one onto the engine.

Unless they get a lot of complaints I don't think they will do anything. Even if they get pressured the most I would expect is a TSB for people with dead 12v batteries on a regular basis. I know people have taken their Tacos to dealers for 12v battery discharge issues and I have never seen any of them report any attempt to fix it.

 

[WKTJR1]

Unless they get a lot of complaints I don't think they will do anything.

Exactly. Unless the warranty metrics forces their hand, I think we'll all have unicorns for trucks.

I'm sure a YouTube hack will bring it up eventually.

 

[MustardTiger]

Nov 2024 build here...no alternator. Silently putting an alternator in the 2025 models...I find this wild af! Like...why? It wouldn't help a 12v battery discharge/drain issue anyways. The 12v battery will only get a charge when the engine is running...via the MG. So putting an alternator on makes no sense, unless theres a hidden issue that we'll find out about in time

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