If I want to connect a trickle charger/maintainer to my hybrid RAV4, where do I connect it? To both positive and negative terminals to battery in the back or can I use the positive terminal under the hood and negative clip to the metal frame? I looked and couldn’t find this in any threads. Thanks!
Trickle charge/maintaining the 12V battery in hybrids
BroncoFan007
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If I want to connect a trickle charger/maintainer to my hybrid RAV4, where do I connect it? To both positive and negative terminals to battery in the back or can I use the positive terminal under the hood and negative clip to the metal frame? I looked and couldn’t find this in any threads. Thanks!
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I for the life of me cannot figure out why Toyota is not addressing this battery drainage issue. I do not have this type of RAV4 but feel it is an issue...not owners leaving something on to drain the battery. Since your wanting to put a trickle charger on your car, what I have done is wire the trickle charger wires to a 12v plug that will plug into your accessories receptacle. Purchase the plug at most auto parts stores. Please verify polarity prior to wiring the new plug. This allows for repeatable connection without ever worrying about making a connection error. Run the cord out the window and roll it up until it nearly closes.
This won't work, because the ACC sockets will be electronically closed when you shut off the engine. So no power on the socket our or in.
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Still didn’t answer my question though. I don’t have the battery issue yet.... but just preparing myself. Where do I hook up the trickle charger if I do? Thanks.
2020 RAV4 hybrid XLE, Magnetic Grey metallic, cold weather package.
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You can also use odb2 connector
But it is limited to below 2.5 amp
And you need to make sure you have reverse current diode protection.
I have been trying to find the proper connection wire for this but no luck so far. It is either too expensive or not exists.
But it is limited to below 2.5 amp
And you need to make sure you have reverse current diode protection.
I have been trying to find the proper connection wire for this but no luck so far. It is either too expensive or not exists.
I hooked up a trickle charger directly to the 12v battery in the back and threaded the charger's plugin connector into the rear compartment. It worked fine when I was out of town for five weeks during the winter. The car was in an unheated garage. I have left the plugin connector attached to the battery so it can be used again any time. I also have a rechargeable jump start pack that I carry in the car. My 2019 Hybrid Limited has had no battery drain problems, but with the reports of this problem in the 2020s, I am just being cautious.
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I had the same battery drain issue. Please go to your dealer and get the software update which corrects how the car connects to the internet. It keeps trying until your battery dies. Just tell them that your SOS button goes from green to red light.
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Sounds good, directly to the battery. No issues yet, with fingers crossed.
I thought I would connect a Battery Tender Junior to the battery.
Battery Tender® Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger
Battery Tender® Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger
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Be sure you do NOT use a cheap trickle charger for extended periods. It can overcook your battery.
Instead, get a battery maintainer (AKA "smart" charger).
It'll keep your battery well-charged, will not overcharge, AND goes thru a maintenance cycle that extends battery life. And by de-sulphating, it can (sometimes) breath new life into dead battery.
I've used the same CTEK 3200 for over 10 years... continuously for months on a Corvette during winter storage, no problem. More recently, on my 2019 CRV during stay-at-home.
Battery Tender and NOCO also make excellent smart chargers. Expect to pay about $70.
Instead, get a battery maintainer (AKA "smart" charger).
It'll keep your battery well-charged, will not overcharge, AND goes thru a maintenance cycle that extends battery life. And by de-sulphating, it can (sometimes) breath new life into dead battery.
I've used the same CTEK 3200 for over 10 years... continuously for months on a Corvette during winter storage, no problem. More recently, on my 2019 CRV during stay-at-home.
Battery Tender and NOCO also make excellent smart chargers. Expect to pay about $70.
There are battery posts in the fuse box that travel back to the battery in the trunk. If you're using aligator clips be careful not to connect to the plastic side of the connector.
I got this info from watching a very informative youtube by an expert that teaches out of Weber University. (I think I got that right)
It's worth the time to watch his lecture.
cheers
Joe F
P.S. the 12 volt is NOT you're every day normal battery but some kind of special (?Glass?) battery??
I got this info from watching a very informative youtube by an expert that teaches out of Weber University. (I think I got that right)
It's worth the time to watch his lecture.
cheers
Joe F
P.S. the 12 volt is NOT you're every day normal battery but some kind of special (?Glass?) battery??
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Did you get a definitive answer to where to connect a trickle charger - battery posts (in the boot) or jump start terminal (in engine compartment)? I asked my garage at the RAV4 first service and was told to use the battery posts in the boot. Very inconvenient way of doing it - have you found a better method?
NC '19 Rav4 Hybrid Limited, Entune 3.0, Adaptive Headlights, Advanced Technology Package
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There is a recent T-SB-0095-20 which addresses the battery drain issue as well as several others in 2020 and 2021 Rav4s. Not 2019s. It is posted in a thread about battery issues under the Rav4 hybrid sub-forum. Just out 4-5 days ago.
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I have BT Jr's connected to my 2017 RAV (normal, not hybrid), a 2018 Polaris Slingshot and a 2009 Yamaha Majesty scooter. The original battery in the scooter lasted 10 years!!!!
Don't take a chance on what MAY be a charger/maintainer OR may not be. Just hook everything you have to a Battery Tender brand. I have used them for at least 15 years in northeast Iowa. NEVER had a winter start problem.
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I’ve seen several posts here, thanks. My XSE hybrid has passed a 2 day and a 5 day stretch of not being driven, so far so good. Gonna check that TSB out tho.
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Actually didn’t get a trickle charger, picked up a portable 12V jump pack, just in case.
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The preferred method is to hook the positive clamp to the positive terminal under the hood. Since there is no negative terminal, I've found the easiest thing to do is connect the negative clamp to a bolt on the strut assembly (see attached picture). Normally I would connect the negative clamp to the engine block, but most battery tenders don't have cables that reach that long.
Note that while most people, including roadside assistance providers, put the negative clamp on the negative battery post, you should never do this. Yes, the vast majority of people may never have any problems doing it this way. However, connecting to the negative terminal carries with it the possibility of igniting hydrogen gas that may be present above the battery (think Hindenburg). Given that the RAV4 Hybrid battery in the back is an AGM and vented, perhaps this hazard is less of an issue. Either way, it's much easier connecting jumper cables or a battery tender using the front positive terminal.
2020 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid (Blizzard Pearl/Midnight Black Metallic)
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My ‘20 XSEh failed to start after sitting for 5 days and I had TSB-0095-20 performed.
Before that, I tried jumpstarting with a large battery pack (Antigravity XP-10) at the terminals in the engine bay. No start. Nothing. Then, Toyota Care sent a service to jumpstart. Their battery pack also failed to start the car using the terminals in the engine bay. Finally and successfully, they connected jumper cables from their vehicle to the terminals in the engine bay (positive near the fuses, negative to the engine block per the owners manual). Then I drove to the dealership and told them the TSB to perform.
The moral of this story is that a battery jump pack may not be sufficient to start a hybrid with a drained battery.
Epilogue... after the service for the battery drain, the vehicle is pulling to one side or the other.
Tech Tip T-TT-0616-20 may need to be performed too... “Every time the vehicle’s battery is disconnected or discharged, the Steering Angle Neutral Point memorization and the Steering Sensor Zero Point Calibration must be performed.” [Disconnecting the battery for service by the owner or technician without recalibrating the steering is probably causing a lot of steering problems].
I know this post is loaded with a few issues, but they are all related to our desire to have a vehicle that reliably starts.
Not sure if this was done or not, but look at the picture in the post above yours (post 18). If the positive clamp was reversed, a jump pack will not work. This is because the jump port under the hood is metal only on one side.
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