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Toyota RAV4 Battery and Electrical Problems

132 messages,  Last post on May 06, 2013 at 1:01 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota RAV4, Engine, SUV

Messages Page 8 of 14

#67 of 132 Dead battery- sounds abnornal to me, dealer says no by drivememad

Feb 07, 2010 (8:11 am)

I bought a 2009 Toyota Rav4 in August 2009. Last week, during a cold (but certainly not unusual) spell here in Maine I went into the garage to start the car and it was dead. We recharged it, I took it to the dealer, they checked the battery out and said it was fine. The sevice manager asked if I mostly drive short distance and I said yes. He said that can wear the battery down in cold weather because it needs to be driven longer distances to recharge. He said he has seen this with other customers.
 
Huh??? I have lived in Maine for decades and have never heard that, nor had a new battery die. So now the dealer says they will keep the car for 24 hours and hook it up to see if some sensor is not turning off and draining the battery.
 
Has anybody else been told that?
 
One feature I note about the Rav4: if the headlights are left on when the ignition is turned off, they remain on for, I guess, several minutes before turning off automatically. Can this be a bad design that drains the battery if done a lot?

#68 of 132 Re: Dead battery- sounds abnornal to me, dealer says no [drivememad] by comem47

Feb 07, 2010 (11:13 am)

Replying to: drivememad (Feb 07, 2010 8:11 am)
"One feature I note about the Rav4: if the headlights are left on when the ignition is turned off, they remain on for, I guess, several minutes before turning off automatically. Can this be a bad design that drains the battery if done a lot? "
 
I don't have a RAV-4, but many vehicles keep the lights on when you walk in from your car so the path is lit, but you can turn them off early by hitting the remote lock button a second time once your at the door to your house. Something worth trying if you haven't already.

#69 of 132 Re: 2005 Rav4 leaves me stranded [lizzie06] by jhs5

Jun 09, 2010 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: lizzie06 (Jun 02, 2009 5:46 am)
I am experincing similar problems with a 2008 model. At times the battery seems to be dead and the car won't start nor will the steering wheel turn. Its happened 4 times this month. Last Sunday I pushed the RAV4 from my garage because I thought the battery was dead and I was going to use jumper cables and my truck to recharge the battery. However, I tried to start it once again before attaching the cables, and it started. The same thing happened earlier today.
I will never purchase another Toyota since the problem has occurred on past models of the RAV4.

#70 of 132 RAV4 Ignition problems by jhs5

Jun 09, 2010 (1:09 pm)

I am experincing starter problems with a 2008 model. At times the battery seems to be dead and the car won't start nor will the steering wheel turn. Its happened 4 times this month. Last Sunday I pushed the RAV4 from my garage because I thought the battery was dead and I was going to use jumper cables and my truck to recharge the battery. However, I tried to start it once again before attaching the cables, and it started. The same thing happened earlier today.
I will never purchase another Toyota since the problem has occurred on past models of the RAV4.

#71 of 132 Re: RAV4 Ignition problems [jhs5] by junebug1701

Jun 09, 2010 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: jhs5 (Jun 09, 2010 1:09 pm)
This is a simple problem that has nothing to do with a dead battery and should be fixed for free under warranty. Take it to the dealership and tell them to perform this Toyota TSB:
 
TSB Number: TSB-0348-09
Bulletin Title: Intermittent No Crank/No Start
Release Date: September 30, 2009
Applicable Year(s): 2006 - 20010
File Size: 171 kb
Download: Link
 
Description: Some Highlander, Matrix, and RAV4 vehicles may intermittently exhibit a “no crank” condition. The engine can usually be started after moving the shift lever to the Neutral position or by cycling the shift lever in and out of the Park position. A revised neutral start switch assembly is available to address this condition.
 
Download TSB

#72 of 132 Re: 2006 RAV4 Starting Problem [janyboy] by mandyl

Jul 19, 2010 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: janyboy (Aug 22, 2008 5:15 pm)
I wanted to know if you had found a solution to the starting problem. I have a 2007 Rav4 and started having the same starting issue fall 2009. Only once, maybe twice a week. I notifed the dealership, as I take it in every 3K miles for oil change, they ran diagnostics and found nothing. Blamed it on the cold weather and getting miles on it. Well, the problem still exists, in fact every morning and after it has sat for at least 6 hours, it takes a while for it to crank over. I wanted to see if you had an resolution to the problem. Thanks!

#73 of 132 Re: 2006 RAV4 Starting Problem [mandyl] by junebug1701

Jul 19, 2010 (6:04 pm)

Replying to: mandyl (Jul 19, 2010 5:39 pm)
Hey, janyboy (mandyl), did you read the previous message (post #71)? Next time you are at your dealer tell them to look at TSB-0348-09. That will probably fix your problem!

#74 of 132 Re: 2006 RAV4 Starting Problem [junebug1701] by mandyl

Jul 25, 2010 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: junebug1701 (Jul 19, 2010 6:04 pm)
I did, but they didn't think that was the issue since I have never had an issue with not having power or not cranking. They cannot get it to replicate the issue at the dealer, but they believe the pressure issue with the gas pump, that if they can get it to replicate the issue, they can diagnosis it pretty easily. As long as it does not leave me stranded, I am okay, just irritates me that it is doing it more than anything.

#75 of 132 Re: 2006 RAV4 Starting Problem [mandyl] by junebug1701

Jul 25, 2010 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: mandyl (Jul 25, 2010 4:21 pm)
OK, so it cranks but it takes too long to start? I would have a battery load test done. The battery on the RAV4 usually only lasts 3 years. There is a tremendous load on the battery at starting what with the electric power steering on top of everything else. If the starter saps too much energy from the battery when cranking, the voltage can drop too low for the fuel pump and computer to work properly.

#76 of 132 Re: 2006 RAV4 Starting Problem [junebug1701] by mandyl

Jul 29, 2010 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: junebug1701 (Jul 25, 2010 5:08 pm)
Thanks for the advice. The local Toyota dealer has tested it a couple of times and it checks out fine, but this last time they did say that it tested weak at times; its the original battery My husband has thought all along that it acts like its not getting fuel at start-up, so your fuel pump comment makes sense.

Messages Page 8 of 14

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