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01-09-2013, 10:25 AM | #1 |
Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,762
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Sign of a weakening battery, or something else
Now that the mornings are cold, I've been experiencing an issue on my first start of the day.
Twist and release of the ignition key fails to keep the starter engaged. I now have to hold the key while cranking. As I mentioned, this is only happening on the first cold start of the day. Subsequent start-ups, twist and release keeps the starter engaged and she cranks normally. Weak battery, or is there some other issue going on?
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01-09-2013, 12:13 PM | #2 |
Only Happy When it Rains
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i' don't think that is the battery. could just be the cold, how cold are you talking?
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Colin Chapman disciple |
01-09-2013, 12:59 PM | #3 | |
Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,762
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Quote:
If it was indeed the battery, I would expect some hesitant chugging as it tried to crank. Not the case. It fires right up normally if I hold the key.
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01-09-2013, 12:27 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 129
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I think it is your battery.. I was having the same symptoms. What made me get the battery tested: I was traveling and my car was parked at the airport for a few days. When I got back, my car did start but was scary (almost didn't start).
I had the battery tested and it tested out a 180 CCA (iirc). Another symptom is that my scan guage would reset itself to defaults once in a while. Since replacing my battery, I again can just roll the key to the start position & let go and it will start and the scan guage has never reset again. Just get your battery tested.. Most if not all the part stores offer a free test. |
01-09-2013, 12:59 PM | #5 |
Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 9,873
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Weak battery. That's what I was experiencing before I changed my battery.
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01-10-2013, 07:31 PM | #6 |
Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris Hatch-Back Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cerritos, LA CA
Posts: 93
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i would say that u could get urself a battery warmer device that could help to warm ur battery over night and during the day u could start it and see if it works....in any normal conditions, normally battery do not like to be cold....so therefore if ur area gets pretty cold..like under 0 degree...then yes i would go get myself a battery warmer device....if that dont work then just get a new battery and there u go...
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01-10-2013, 09:29 PM | #7 |
Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas!
Posts: 2,799
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I've had the same issues, just trying to stretch the life of this battery as far as I can.
It's worse if the car sits for several days, but usually it's just bad in the mornings and while it is cold here, it's nowhere near as cold as it is there! My battery is over four years old with 25K miles on it. I'm sure it won't last much longer... Cheers! M2
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01-10-2013, 11:14 PM | #8 | |
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws! Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
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Quote:
I still have my OEM sound system in my Yaris. I have a JL Audio/Kenwood Excelon system (including back up sets of unused speakers) in storage in California (from a past car of mine). I'm kind of on the fence re eventually putting this in my current Yaris or saving it for a new 3rd Gen Yaris. Wherever it goes, I'll do a 'Big 3' and almost anything else that would help the overall level of performance I'd seek. I have a feeling I'd be quite tempted to tax battery reserve power pretty regularly after getting the equipment installed . |
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01-10-2013, 11:19 PM | #9 |
Mr. 155 and climbing
Drives: Seriously Modded 07 Sedan Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: In The Hotbox
Posts: 4,742
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Also have you cleaned the terminals as of late by chance? I also did experience that I believe the second winter I owned mine and did the whole terminal cleaning and such which made all the difference in the world. It was so weird too cause it only gave me problems when I dipped below 10F.
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01-11-2013, 05:38 AM | #10 | |
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws! Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
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01-12-2013, 09:57 AM | #11 |
1NZ-6spd
Drives: '05 6-Spd Vitz RS Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,967
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VERY easy test. All you need is a volt meter. If the battery drops below 9V while cranking on your first start of the day, it's done.
On my Echo the factory security locks the doors as the key is turned to ON with all the doors closed and unlocks when the key is turned back off. Two years ago the doors stopped unlocking and it was because the battery was dropping to a point that the system would reset after locking the doors. I put in a good battery and the problem went away. |
01-13-2013, 02:54 PM | #12 | |
Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,762
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Quote:
Twist and release works normally. Battery at rest: 13.5v Battery on crank: 10v Now to wait for it to turn cold outside again.
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11-20-2013, 01:25 PM | #13 |
Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,762
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Update
6 months after posting this, my battery did indeed die. Morning temperatures are now at where they were when the problem manifested itself. With the new battery, I can happily report that the engine once again catches immediately with twist and release of the key.
So, to echo what others had said and now from personal experience, I'd say that this is definitely a battery issue. If you are starting to experience the need to hold the key while cranking, you can assume that your battery is on it's way out. Deal with it soon! I didn't, and found myself stranded under less than ideal circumstances.
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11-20-2013, 10:08 PM | #14 | |
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws! Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
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11-21-2013, 04:58 AM | #15 |
Drives: 2010 5spd sedan Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 137
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Great to know! I never do the turn release thing but I am going to start. I have had maybe 2 long starts in the year I've had my car, not sure if I should worry.
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