I had a battery charging message appear on and off while driving a 2024 Rav4 gas model. The car sat undriven for a few days. What does this message mean and could it be an electrical issue? Thanks.
Battery Charging Message
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sportsfan_2030
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I had a battery charging message appear on and off while driving a 2024 Rav4 gas model. The car sat undriven for a few days. What does this message mean and could it be an electrical issue? Thanks.
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The message was "battery charging."
The 2021 Owner's Manual for gas models says at page 650 that the MID screen will display a warning message "Charging System Malfunction." At page 638 it shows the warning light symbol of a battery and says it means a charging malfunction if this lights up on your dash. There is nothing about just an intermittent "battery charging" message. If yours does it again you should do either of two things--whichever is most convenient: 1 Go to the dealer and get them to check your battery health and the alternator's charging (you are under warranty) or 2. Go to Autozone or another parts store--they will test the battery free.
Being a 2024, I would think it's best to go direct to dealer, whatever an Autozone or O Reillys may say or find, Id still take it up with the dealer and service there will do their own inspection/evaluation anyways. If warranty lapsed, the other parts store would then be a good option, IMO.
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The "Battery Charging" message is not uncommon on my 23LE ICE.
Usually appears when the Stop/Start system has activated too many times and the battery is a little weak from too many short trips in cold weather. Once the battery has recharged sufficiently, the message disappears.
Page 308 in the manual:
![Image]()
Usually appears when the Stop/Start system has activated too many times and the battery is a little weak from too many short trips in cold weather. Once the battery has recharged sufficiently, the message disappears.
Page 308 in the manual:
Everyone should ALWAYS read the Owners Manual that came with their car...it's the FIRST place to go to if you encounter any strange messages or warning lights. There is an index at the end. Every manual may have some differences between model years and the gas and hybrid manuals will also be different.
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Last year I had a similar issue on my 2020 ICE. It got so bad that the "Battery Charging" message was posted all the time, and the Start Stop feature never kicked in. The car would also not start in the morning on occasion because the battery had been drained overnight. I had the battery replaced, but that did not fix the issue.
Finally someone on this forum posted saying that it could be caused by an issue addressed by T-SB-0089-21, which was a software update to the Data Communication Module. I took it to the dealer, they installed the update, and the problem went away.
I don't know if this is still an issue in 2024, but it might be worth asking about it at the dealership.
Finally someone on this forum posted saying that it could be caused by an issue addressed by T-SB-0089-21, which was a software update to the Data Communication Module. I took it to the dealer, they installed the update, and the problem went away.
I don't know if this is still an issue in 2024, but it might be worth asking about it at the dealership.
I just bought RAV 4 2021, changed the battery (OEM was 2020) to AGM Optima Yellow Top and still when battery drops below 90 percent, according to Solar BA-9 tester, first Start and Stop system stops activating, then as the battery discharges further the battery charging message comes on. Not driving a car for a few days discharges the battery. Driving car short distances discharges the battery. Only solution I found is to drive a lot (and every day) to have the alternator boost the charge and/or get a battery charger/tender and plug in every few days. I had no idea I bought a Tesla 
There is a T-SB-0089-21 for 2020-2021 but people have been reporting the same issue reoccur even after the DCM firmware update.
I would rather chew off my arm than go to the dealership to get some runaround and an offer to replace a johnson rod for 3 easy payments of $99.99.
There is a T-SB-0089-21 for 2020-2021 but people have been reporting the same issue reoccur even after the DCM firmware update.
I would rather chew off my arm than go to the dealership to get some runaround and an offer to replace a johnson rod for 3 easy payments of $99.99.
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My 2020 still discharges the battery overnight, but the problem isn't as severe now. I have a small Voltmeter/Charger plugged into my accessory port, and I can see the battery voltage decline as I leave the car for a few more hours. I often get in the car in the morning and see a voltage of 11.9, or if I leave it for more than a day, 11.8. But it isn't causing a problem anymore. Before the software update, leaving the car overnight often left the battery at 11.3, where starting it was marginal.
Cars are now cell phones with wheels. They are never off, but are constantly talking to the Mother Ship to upload our data. I doubt you can buy a car today that doesn't do that.
My solution is to carry my car starter battery pack at all times so I can get the car started when the battery has gone flat. It is a sad situation, but that is what we get these days.
Cars are now cell phones with wheels. They are never off, but are constantly talking to the Mother Ship to upload our data. I doubt you can buy a car today that doesn't do that.
My solution is to carry my car starter battery pack at all times so I can get the car started when the battery has gone flat. It is a sad situation, but that is what we get these days.
Definitely agree on a jump starter, I bought a portable one that I can also use as a power bank. Toyota should really put in AGM batteries that allow deeper discharge: 11.8 v means battery is at 40%.
Battery maintainers are a solution, but if you live in an apartment like I do, good luck finding a receptacle to plug in, I charge at work and endure the Tesla comparison jokes from the staff.
Battery maintainers are a solution, but if you live in an apartment like I do, good luck finding a receptacle to plug in, I charge at work and endure the Tesla comparison jokes from the staff.
Once you reach over 3 years on a 5th gen RAV you should start to contemplate replacing the Clarios EFB with an aftermarket AGM.
I often don't drive for over a week. My EFB Clarios 12V in my '21 gas model is ALWAYS at 11.9 volts in the morning before starting...and it has been for years. It has ALWAYS started. It goes up to over 12.1V after driving.
My 2021 gas XLE has NEVER done that and I don't drive for several days to a week at times. You really need to get your alternator tested and get that DCM/Battery Drain TSB performed.
I always carry a NOCO GB40 in my RAV. I bought it at Walmart on the way home after buying the new Toyota back in 2021. Most posters in this forum in 2019-2021 were aware of the on-going DCM/ battery draining issue and learned to carry jump starters just in case the issue arose. You don't hear much about the issue nowadays because it was resolved by the TSB and in most cars on the assembly line by 2021.
I am being drastic in saying "discharges", not completely discharges, but I just tested the battery with BA-9 and the message is "OK, recharge", Voltage is 12.4, SOH 100, but SOC is 77%
I put it on Optima charger to top it off and to condition, it will reach 100% in an hour or so and another hour to condition, then it switches to maintain.
That is a week after last recharge and driving about 10-15 miles each day, so not bad at all
Alternator is putting out 14.1 volts and charging system is OK according to BA-9 - love that little gadget
I have no doubt that even at 11.5 RAV will still start, mine would probably get to that level after siting for a couple of weeks.
I got a portable Jump-n-carry, so I don't have to leave the jump starter in a car on a hot day, the lead acid ones weigh a ton to carry around.
Last time I trusted my car to a dealer, things were bent and clips broken off and all they had to do is to replace (or disarm đź’Ą) the passenger side Takata.
I love Toyotas, but imho a bit more care and perfectionism would go a long way towards maintaining the Kaizen principle.
That's not bad resting (engine off) voltage for an AGM like the Optima yellow top. I attach a chart showing resting voltages for AGMs compared to liquid filled lead/acid batteries.
Attachments
My 2021 ICE XLE charges at 14.2 volts.
I agree for a gas/ICE model 5th gen. Hybrids may or may not start if their 12V batteries are that low voltage. One thing to note--if your ICE model battery is well below 11.9V resting you are very likely to get bogus MID screen warnings like "Parking Brake Malfunction see your dealer." Yet the EPB will be fine and operate normally. The bogus warnings are caused by power surges on start up that "confuse" the ECM.
I will just share with you this...I just bought RAV 4 2021, changed the battery (OEM was 2020) to AGM Optima Yellow Top and still when battery drops below 90 percent, according to Solar BA-9 tester, first Start and Stop system stops activating, then as the battery discharges further the battery charging message comes on. Not driving a car for a few days discharges the battery. Driving car short distances discharges the battery. Only solution I found is to drive a lot (and every day) to have the alternator boost the charge and/or get a battery charger/tender and plug in every few days. I had no idea I bought a Tesla
There is a T-SB-0089-21 for 2020-2021 but people have been reporting the same issue reoccur even after the DCM firmware update.
I would rather chew off my arm than go to the dealership to get some runaround and an offer to replace a johnson rod for 3 easy payments of $99.99.
When i got my Mazda MX-5 i put in a Yellow top R51 or 51-R, as it were, it lasted just at 3 years, Oreily auto parts no longer carried that battery, so i put in a New Under Warranty Oreilly, AGM. No cost.
Just over 3 Years it died, no warranty, so i now have a New NAPA AGM Battery, it was on sale & also had a Rebate on it. I usually have the car on a Smart Charger, the Oreillys died caus i left a light on in the truck cause my little woman put the lid down but did not latch it. so Dead Batt. i could not bring it back.
I loved my Yellow top, no fumes, Deep Cycle. But their quality was just not there, had no warning, it just worked one day, & Died the next. Batterys like everything else have doubled.
Good luck with yours, hope it lasts 10 years or more.
You should watch the movie "127 Hours" with James Franco, based on a true story.
That's all I'm going to say.
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Or maybe they could start equipping the cars with larger capacity batteries. Otherwise the "Autostop" is nothing more than an annoyance, a great leap sideways in technology.
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