25 Trailhunter, Low Battery?

[JayZap]

Almost got stranded today. 25 Trailhunter with 10k miles.

My truck has been super reliable except today got my first issue. Started my truck and moved it 30 feet closer to load it up. Shut it down and about 40 min later went back to start it up and wouldn’t turn over.

Cluster lit up like a Christmas tree. I remember reading something about this. So I grabbed my tools and figure I would disconnect the battery to “reset” the truck. Did that and same thing.

I know voltage and can create a lot of electronic grimlins so thought maybe battery is low. Luckily I had one of those hand held jumper packs with me. Clamped it on the battery and fired right up.

Nothing was on for those 40 min except the tailgate being open. Is my battery going to shit? If I didn’t have that jump pack I would have been screwed.

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[lauren01]

Same thing has happened to me. Maybe you had read my post. I keep the jump pack with me at all times and check it every month to make sure the charge is at or near 100%.

 

[JayZap]

Same thing has happened to me. Maybe you had read my post. I keep the jump pack with me at all times and check it every month to make sure the charge is at or near 100%.

Dam, I did not see your post, got the link?

 

[lauren01]

Dam, I did not see your post, got the link?

Geez, I’m not sure how to go about finding it.

 

[JayZap]

Geez, I’m not sure how to go about finding it.

Haha, I checked your threads and didn’t see the post. So I was like, just send it to me lol

 

[lauren01]

Haha, I checked your threads and didn’t see the post. So I was like, just send it to me lol

Ah I think it’s a comment on a thread someone else started.

 

[lauren01]

Try this —

https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/thre...ry-on-iforcemax-fault-codes.20826/post-260857

 

[JayTech]

Short drives, and it being a hybrid can lead to the 12v battery being insufficiently charged. If you do a lot of city driving where the engine isnt running due to using the hybrid power, the main 12v battery may not be recharging enough.


EDIT: Also to add to this, Toyota has been having problems lately on hybrids for this issue. The main workaround we suggest is if it operates most of the time in hybrid power, to maybe use a trickle charger on it to maintain sufficient charge.

 

[BoboForShort]

Hey I ran into this same issue. For some reason the bed scene lights never turn off if the tailgate is open. If you’re going to keep the tailgate open you need to turn off the scene lights manually.

 

[Rubenc87]

I read that the vehicle doesn't run on the Hybrid battery as much when on Sport Mode.

 

[djevans]

This may not have anything to do with your present issue, but I thiought I'd mention "it" for what it's worth...

- 2025 Tacoma Limited 13573 miles
- 2026 Lexus RX350 Luxury 2729 miles

I'm going back and forth with Lexus corporate customer satisfaction first, as they are always the easiest of the two to deal with. Toyota corp. seems just determined to break things lately.

What happening to us, is that Toyota, I assume in order to meet cafe' standards, limits battery charge these days.

With Lexus already having replaced one battery (in the Lexus) at only 2000 miles, I'm simply frustrated. I have to charge both vehicle batteries at times between uses, the Lexus more than the Toyota. (to keep the battery above 50%)My wife's car frequently charges to a maximum of 80% charge, typically though between 70 to 80%. The battery so far, has never charged to 100% no matter how many miles driven. Therein lies the problem. My wife doesn't drive the LEXUS, at times for 5 days. The car has been checked at Lexus prior to this service visit. (it's at Lexus now in service dept) It's apparently operating "as designed." But I shouldn't have to monitor the car battery voltage in only 5 days of sitting in our garage to insure it doesn't drop below 50% SOC. As I mentioned, they've already replaced one battery, and SOC's this low just aren't good for lead acid cells, even AGM cells. I just won't let our batteries get below 50% SOC. Just waiting to see what they do this time . (if anything) This is our 5th LEXUS, the best and the most disapointing. No previous Lexus or Toyota was programmed this way. The battery will start the car even at 50 SOC, but it just doesn't seem right for lead acid cells...

 

[JayZap]

This is all good information.

Now that I think about it, I do drive very short distances and its quite possible the night prior I was working on the truck and had doors and lights on when the truck was being worked on. Then the next day it was a quick 3 min drive before shutting it down.

Usually when I drive, I drive in tow/haul mode because I hate the start/stop and also the 35in falcons are heavy heavy heavy. Plus the tow/haul mode favors lower gears and keeps revs higher.

Thinking that the combination of the truck work the day prior, a short 3 min drive to the my spot the next day, then a start up and 30 foot move was just too much for the battery to handle.

Side note: this is why when I am in the back country, I hate shutting off the engine and I get anxiety lol

 

[JayZap]

I read that the vehicle doesn't run on the Hybrid battery as much when on Sport Mode.

Quiet the opposite, it pulls on the battery even more. Its just slightly less engaging in the start stop. It wont shut down the engine when coasting to a stop, only just once you finally stop.

 

[lauren01]

This is all good information.

Now that I think about it, I do drive very short distances and its quite possible the night prior I was working on the truck and had doors and lights on when the truck was being worked on. Then the next day it was a quick 3 min drive before shutting it down.

Usually when I drive, I drive in tow/haul mode because I hate the start/stop and also the 35in falcons are heavy heavy heavy. Plus the tow/haul mode favors lower gears and keeps revs higher.

Thinking that the combination of the truck work the day prior, a short 3 min drive to the my spot the next day, then a start up and 30 foot move was just too much for the battery to handle.

Side note: this is why when I am in the back country, I hate shutting off the engine and I get anxiety lol

Interesting that you mentioned Tow Haul. Yesterday I drove home in Tow Haul mode (~300 miles). Just before shutting off the truck I took a picture of the dashboard. In the lower right area, you can see the voltage meter below the 50% point. I noticed this a few times during the trip home, but not on the way there 4 days earlier. The day before we left, we took a drive around the lake and up the mountain for about an hour and a half, broken up by a couple of stops.

Might be time to get that Optima Yellow Top and request my tuner up the alternator charge level to keep it happy.

 

[JayZap]

Interesting that you mentioned Tow Haul. Yesterday I drove home in Tow Haul mode (~300 miles). Just before shutting off the truck I took a picture of the dashboard. In the lower right area, you can see the voltage meter below the 50% point. I noticed this a few times during the trip home, but not on the way there 4 days earlier. The day before we left, we took a drive around the lake and up the mountain for about an hour and a half, broken up by a couple of stops.

Might be time to get that Optima Yellow Top and request my tuner up the alternator charge level to keep it happy.

Ya mine always bounces between the - and the + on the little digital battery. When I got in the truck today is was closer to the plus and when driving it’s closer to the minus lol

let me know if you do the optima battery. I don’t like having less than 100% confidence when I am hours away from a road.

Also, ooooof your trans temp, lol

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