Awesome tips, the only thing that I would compliment this great video from experience on storing a lot of cars is if one is storing the car more than 3 months , it is a good idea to add a fuel stabilizer and fill up the tank with fresh gasoline. The modern Ethanol mixed gasoline mandated nowadays by the EPA attracts moisture because H2O gravitates to Ethanol , the result : varnish buildup in tight fuel passages possibly causing the fuel pump to lock up and the fuel injectors to clog.
The really ideal solution for storing a modern vehicle indoors for more than a month is to keep the 12V battery charged by plugging in a "smart" charger (like the CTEK) before leaving. When you return to your vehicle, everything will work perfectly and you won't have to reconfigure a lot of settings.
I was happy to see the flat spot warning right at the beginning. A family member was medically ineligible to drive his car for what turned out to be several months. It made flat spots on all the tires, and driving a few days didn't help. Four new tires was needed to get them right. Great idea about taping the plastic bags over them, too! I'm surprised I don't see objections about the battery situation, though: technically, the alternators are capable of recharging a nearly dead battery. They can't do it without wear and tear to the battery and alternator though, so your advice is still exactly right. A 100 amp alternator will not put out more than roughly a hundred amps, even into a short circuit, because that limit is what it is capable of producing with 14V excitation voltage at any rpm. The inductance of the windings (which are on the AC side of the bridge) exactly balances the increase in EMF as rpm increases above roughly half the alternator's design speed. At full rated output the alternator quickly becomes a _lot_ hotter than it was designed to be; okay for a few minutes but destructive as the heat builds.
On the alternators. The newer alternators on Toyota’s say around 2007-2009 and up barely produce any amperage at idle and it does so by design to reduce drag on the engine and reduce emissions. That’s why starting the car and let it idle for 15-20 minutes after jump starting it won’t really charge a dead battery back up like it did in older cars
I just cleaned the headlight lens on my 2005 prius. Used a $20 bottle of silica whitening toothpaste I had on hand and a brush attachment for the drill. Warm water and clean cloth! Worked so well and much easier than anything I've seen. Thought I'd share.
@ The Car Care Nut - thanks for this video. Before I went out of the country in 2019 to see family, I asked my Toyota dealership if it would be alright to leave my 2011 Toyota Prius sit for 2 weeks. All of my maintenance is done @ this dealership. No one knew the answer. I ended up leaving it with my daughter to drive but unhappily so as she has totaled 2 vehicles. Wishing this was available or found you sooner! Great videos, always to the point and no fluff. Really appreciate it.
2:43 Tire flat spot - It has been said to raise your car enough to get the tires off the ground by putting 4 jack stands at the proper places . I would even liberally spray 303 Protectant on them as well as on the inside of the tire to keep them from drying out .
Wow! Once again, GREAT advice! I won't store my car but wont drive it NEAR as much & mine sits outside.. I wondered what I should do being a hybrid. And ur analogy of charging a battery is spot on!
I do share my life between 2 different places 6 months at the North 6 months at the south. I do all these things which you have mentioned and recommended and is a must do the tires the oil change and the battery disconnect. The brakes do get rusty and i always clean them before i start with a brash to get some rust down it helps. Major issue is the AC! Nobody can start my cars while i m not there and if they don't work the pipes are getting porose and start losing refrigerant anytime i have to refill it. My car is old and i was thinking to buy a Toyota Hybrid but listening to you i will conceder very well if i ll get a Hybrid!
Good advice! In addition, when I store my Mustang over winter in my unheated, unpowered pole barn, I add plastic bags over the exhaust tips, keep the hood open and place mothballs and dryer sheets around the engine bay. I also place mothballs under the rear axle. Keeps the mouse nests away! I used to use a car cover, until one Spring I removed it and found a nest in my CAI made from the firewall insulation and droppings all over the engine! Fresh gas to full and fuel stabilizer added. I remove the battery and keep it in my warm basement and charge it when the voltage drops to 12.4V. The windshield wash system and reservoir gets drained. I also give it a good wipe down with spray ceramic wax to protect the paint and wipe it down during storage, if it gets dusty from my generator-powered workshop activities at the other end of the building
This video is gold for me, as I'm working in oil industry and leave my car sit outside for about 1 - 1,5 months till I come and take care of it for 3 - 4 weeks.
Very well explained Love it .. I also did buy some rats trap around my garage. Rats could live in the engine and cut those wires like what my friend had experienced..
I thought my storage techniques were pretty strong until I watched this video. Great idea with masking tape over the trunk and sunroof to stop water and debrie from entering the drain channels. Keep up.the awesome work AMD, love the technical aspect of your channel as it helps us nerds understand the level of engineering that goes into these hybrid beauties!
Thanks! I often store my Tundra and do have a nice cover (it’s huge). I didn’t think of disconnecting the battery and overfilling the tires...life is good! “Take good counsel and accept correction-that’s the way to live wisely and well.” -Proverbs 19:20
Greetings, Amd! Love your channel. Hey - on hybrids with Li-Ion batteries, and let's talk phev - ie, R4P where we have come control. How about keeping the battery at about 50%? Say, 15 - 20 miles predicted on the EV range, or "50%" on the toyota ap. I understand that Li-ion batteries love to spend life in the 1/2-ish range. Thanks - and I hope this still finds you, as it's been a while.
I also recommend if storing outside; put fairly good tarp that is at least 2 feet wider and longer than the car with the corners weight down. That keeps grass and weeds from growing up under the car. This is assuming that you aren't storing on a paved surface.
Clearly it is a great great channel ! Thanks a lot for this ton of info !!! I am buying a 2019 Lexus IS 300h and a bit concerned about all I hear about the 12v depletion… as I usually leave the car for a month in summer. I’ll check the fuse stuff.
Hi, thanks for the great info. Can you please do a video on tightening chassis bolts (and maybe suspension bolts as well) as an occasional maintenance activity? I noticed Toyota schedules it for the 5 year 100k km (~60k mile) mark. Would be good to know which bolts and tightening to what torque values. Many thanks.
Hey man, could you possibly make a video talking about the tire pressure monitoring system and indicator on 2012-2017 Toyota Camry’s? How to take light off etc, as well as anything to do with reading and clearing OBD codes.
By disconnecting the 12v system will the car's computer take some time to relearn your driving preferences...how long? Always with the great tips, learned a lot from this video.
The newest cars won’t get affected by disconnecting the battery. Some of the older ones will lose their memory but relearn after one or two drive cycles
One additional thing I do is make sure the gas tank is full and add fuel stabilizer. If the tank is not full changes in temperature can cause condensation - water is added to the gas.
Hi AMD, Thanks for the info about storing your vehicle, but I was gonna do it a little different and wanted your opinion. I plan on storing my 22 Camry hybrid in Florida during the summer months while I am back up north, I have a garage without a garage door, like an elaborate carport. My intention was to use the Toyota remote connect app on my phone, and start the car once every couple weeks or once a month and let it run for 10 minutes, which is the program running time, do you recommend this?
AMD Regarding long term storage and oil changes, any thoughts regarding the utilization of a possible "Clear Flood Mode" option. Whereas since the engine oil has drained into the pan with minimal lubrication in the engine over period of months. I have also read where you could remove the fuse that controls the fuel pump there by allowing on to push oil through the engine without combustion. Long term storage and start ups appears to put the most wear on an engine. This and oil changes where the filter is designed to mount sideway or upside down prohibiting one from pre filling the oil filter. Your thoughts? Love your site, your intelligence and your humble pragmatic approach to helping the average Diyer. I currently own two 2023 GX460s and a 1996 LX450 like new with 85K on the clock and look forward to maintenance updates on Mrs AMD's GX460 Cheers and God bless
I drive my 2006 in the summer and my 99 crv in the winter and store each in my garage. I start them up at least once a month and drive a little bit just to move the tires and make the transmission shift and I run the AC. I make sure I brake a lot to clean off the rotors. I didn’t know about 45 psi for tires, thanks for that! Since I drive so little, I do a once per year oil change for each car and use synthetic oil. I’m talking less than 5000 km’s for each car. I have wondered though if I should put some fresh cheap oil for storage and pitch it after storage, or do clean oil for storage and then don’t change, or do like I do. Doesn’t driving the car on the highway at operating temperature boil off gasoline in the oil, and clean off fuel injectors and valves etc? I find it hard to believe that if I do that before storage that much gas would enter the oil. The injectors would have to be slowly leaking into the intake manifold and then dribbling into the cylinders. I also store it with a full tank of gas and I use fuel stabilizer. I also make sure I leave the parking brake off so it doesn’t stick.
In addition to cover the car if left outside, wash the car first and dry the car before the cover is put on. A cover over a dirty car will scratch the paint due to influences of the wind that constantly moves the cover despite the protective liner, if any. Better yet, wax the car after washing it. Kind regards, Willem.
Out of thousands of videos on how to do things, I find this greatest easy visual demonstration, thank you, subscribed looking forward to more videos like this hopefully.
On the hybrid you really recommend some one come and start the car its not possible for us so you advise battery management screen.? Half full. .? And that removal of dccfuse.? Looking at 5 months of storage please advise i love all your advise thank you
CCN you’re very informative, this topic was very educational for me thanks 🙏🏾 bro. I have two questions about hybrids. Is there a proper way to wash 🧽 a hybrid car 🚙, is it ok 👌🏽 to wash 🧽 it at a car wash and if it’s ok should one self wash or run the car through the auto wash ? Thanks 🙏🏾. Much blessings much love CCN.
Thank you for watching my video! So washing a hybrid is no different than any other car. When washing the engine bay don’t use high pressure water directly on electrical connections and components and you should be good.
Thanks very much for all your videos. Great work. I was especially interested in this one as my 2024 Rav4 Hybrid has an issue where the 12v battery is dead after 7 days of the car being parked in a cold climate and normal driving does not recharge the 12v battery very quickly at all. An hour of driving only brought the battery back to 15% charge. Every few days I have to tear apart the back end, connect my charger and bring it back up to full charge (which takes several hours). So my question is this. Is there anything I can do in settings to reduce the 12v battery usage while its parked? Is there anything I can turn off or disable? Again thanks very much for your great vids. As a first time Toyota owner they have been invaluable!
I travel for work and my Prius sits outside for 3-5 months at a time. Funny that you mentioned tires, mine were getting old. I worry about the battery.
Hey car care nut, could you please do a video about the newest gen rav 4 hybrid (possible issues etc like the camry video)? Would be a appreciated as I'm buying a new 2021 rav 4 hybrid. Issues to look out for etc... Thanks again for the awesome content.
Excellent very helpful information as usual from your channel. May I also ask if you can recommend (not necessarily by brand) a type of charger that can safely charge the 12V "auxiliary" battery. I ask as I do very little mileage. Thank you.
I have a Prius hybrid. I don’t “store” it, but I sometimes go a week or two without driving. Is that bad for the car? Should I actually drive it every week, how often, how far, just to keep it in best condition?
@@TheCarCareNut Hello! Thank you so much for the informative video! I am new to the channel and am enjoying it greatly. Strictly speaking, 5 miles every 3 days translates to ~50 miles per month or ~600 miles per year. While the monetary return-on-investment for a full hybrid over a non-hybrid will increase with more miles driven, is this all one needs to drive (in conjunction with other maintenance like the battery air filter) to maintain optimal battery health?
So the idea is letting a battery sit for a long period of time without any charge discharge cycles is the issue. You could have it sit for the whole year then one day drive the 600 miles that is not a good scenario. However consistency of driving is what’s important
@@TheCarCareNut Thank you! Understood. :-) So in your estimation, consistently driving at minimum ~5 miles every 3-5 days is roughly the minimum amount of consistent driving to maintain optimal battery health through the years (along with all other maintenance, of course)? I intend to keep my car for at least 10 yrs but am nervous about not driving it enough since it's for fun and not work.
Thank you, I have learned a lot about Toyota Hybrids from your channel. I have a 22 Venza Hybrid and wanted to know if it would damage the car to drive 80 mph on the interstate for a long trip? I live in the country and dont have any interstates near me, but I average 40.4 mpg and don't want to damage this car on my upcoming road trip.
Hello Care Care Nut great video, my question is I'm planning to store my 2017 RAV4 SE over winter. Is been store indoors wash and detail car drove car for 30 mins get moisture out and brakes also add fuel stabilizer top of tank 95% and also inflate tires to 44 lbs . My question is when i disconnect battery over winter and into early spring close to 6 months long winters in Canada what do I need to do to rest on board computers .
Hi! No need to worry about anything for the computers in your car. When you're back in spring, start the car let it run for a bit then take it for a good 20-30 minute drive at speeds around 35-40mph and that should reset everything. You might have to set the clock again and set your radio station presets but that's about it.
I didagree on depleting the Hybrid battery. Lithium batteries prefer to stay at 50%. Degradation occurs at full or empty. Now Toyota Full and empty are not actually full or empty voltage wise but leaving it fully deleted is not a good idea.
If you have to store a hybrid with lithium-ion battery pack for 6-12 months, what is the best way to store it to minimize damage to battery? Run hybrid battery to 40-60% and then disconnect 12V battery? Is that different if it is a NIMH battery pack? Is there a charger made to connect to hybrid battery to condition and maintain for long-term storage? I don't mind spending the extra time/money. Please tell us the best way to store long-term. Thanks!
How about if you put the car on jack stands,and lift the car so the tires are a few inches from the ground? This is the way I store my car. Just a thought...Ray...
Your right on that. My grandfather had a 26Nash Roadster, and he used Jack stands, and 70yrs later my dad got a hold of this car and restored it to its natural glory. And thos tires had no flat spots,but we did change the tires because they where the originals. Those where 22inch wheels..
Great video. Should you store it with a full gas tank? If a car uses regular gas, should you store it with the highest octane in it because it's more stable?
I would store it with a small amount of gas if it’s not over 6 months of storage. That way you can get the old gas out quick and freshen it up when you’re back to it. Octane has no effect on gas going stale. If your car takes regular there’s no real benefit From Storting it with premium gas
We were shopping for a used car with low miles. We came across a 3 year old car with only 8,000 miles. That car only had 2 oil changes before coming back to the dealership. I am glad we didn’t get that car, as we don’t know where and how it was stored. Thank you again for information.
Hi! Undercoating is good for cars in the rust belt. Newer cars that are covered up pretty good it won’t be as much. Toyota truck frames especially could use undercoating to protect them.
@@TheCarCareNut I drive a 2009 Prius in northern NY. No rust at 220k. I did clean, prime, paint under parts that where wearing thin. I did own a early Corolla in the 70s that had an 1100cc slant 4 and 12 inch wheels. It's probably still running.
We bought a schumacher float 12v charger should we connect it to battery in the rear? This is for 4 months sitting in the garage need a diffinative answer. Called the dealer and he said to do this
Hi i have a 2021 toyota sienna hybrid how should it be stored in the garage for 4 months? Just disconnect the negative to the batterty? We were going keep it connecyed to a float charger, really need help on this getting difference versions from dealer thanks
I would never leave ANY hybrid battery depleted for storage, that is not a good idea... especially for Lithium type hybrid batteries! This is when dendrites form, which are permanent microscopic short-circuits that form DURING DEPLETED CONDITIONS. The 12v battery should be disconnected so that the HV battery cannot be discharged by the car during storage, since the contractors in the HV battery are powered by the 12v battery. The ONLY way the gas engine can start is from the HV battery, so it MUST have sufficient charge in it to start the gas engine, so the gas engine can charge the HV battery.
Please please need storage advise for 2021 sienna hybrid going for 4 months. No one available to start car. Do put a trickle charger on the battery? In the rear of the car, is there a fuse to be removed?
Hello Have you heard any news on the cablegate faulty that costs roughly $7000CDN for replacement. And Toyota stated that it's not covered under Toyota hybrid system. The cable gate has serious issue with corrosion issue in the areas where there are prompt to often have deep snow. The corrosion seems to affects only on RAV4 hybrid and Prime 2019 and newer models. Toyota only covers the cost of replacement of the cable if the vehicle is under the 3yrs/60000kms warranty. There is class action lawsuit going on at the moment. I hope Toyota agree to make a recall.
Great storage tips. For my 2017 Prius Prime, can you tell me which one is the "storage fuse"? Also, if I run the battery to zero, upon my return, should I plug it in to bring the HV battery charge to 50% before starting it up and driving it for 30 minutes? Should I also force it into hybrid mode during this 30 minute drive to get the engine running as long as possible as well? Also, would filling the gas tank to full for storage help prevent condensation and rust in the tank? Thanks so much for your great suggestions on long term storage.
On your Prius it’s likely going to be either called DC cut or short pin in the fuse block under the hood. If you’re not using the car as much I would deplete the EV range and drive it as a hybrid only. Once your normal driving is back recharge it and use it as both. I wouldn’t fill the tank as gas goes stale so I would keep a quarter to a half tank then add fresh gas.
@@TheCarCareNut if you store it for a few months in extreme cold temps like we have up here in northern Ontario (Canada) you have to fill up the tank as you will have condensation. Also for a few months storage, I would also suggest a fuel stabilizer..... for years I've done this every winter for my motorcycle & have no problem whatsoever in the spring.
@@TheCarCareNut With motorcycles, at least, it is recommended to FILL the tank before long-term storage. If you leave space for air, that air contains water which will condense when it gets cold enough and cause rust. Wouldn't this be the same with a car?
Hello , good job with the channel, i really learned a lot about hybrids from your videos. I have a question for you, and i hope you will answer . I`m in the process of buying an Toyota Auris hybrid, but i don`t have an garage , so the car will be parked 99.99% of the time outside. It`s ok , regarding the hybrid battery if the car is parked outside in the sun? In the summer the temperatures will be around 80 fahrenheit to about 95 fahrenheit degrees in the shade,from June to the end of August. I will drive it , but except the times i won`t, should i expect the hybrid battery to quickly lose it`s life expectancy? Thanks for your time
Hi! Thank you for watching my channel! So you should be perfectly fine with the high temps and your hybrid. However I would advise you consider a few things to help it. First if it’s legal within your area and doesn’t bother you, tinting the windows helps significantly. Another thing that’s even more important is that you maintain the cooling fan filter for the battery keeping the filter clean and making sure you know where the vent is and keep it clear. Also always use your air conditioning in the car as the hybrid battery uses that air conditioned air to cool the battery when needed.
@@TheCarCareNut i thankyou for your advices , and keep up the good work sir ! Respect for what you are doing, teaching us amazing stuff about hybrid cars !
Thank you for the great insights! I have a 2020 hybrid CHR and I'm planning to store it indoors (shared space) for 2- 3 months, will disconnecting the battery keep my car safe? What can I do to prevent car theft?
Fuel in oil - is it really so big issue? Isn't it evaporating from oil after warming up engine? Oil have temperature over 90 or even 100C when gas start boiling from much lower temperature. Than gas fumes can be easily sucked into engine via crankcase ventilation system and burned. or I'm wrong?
Hi AMD, thank you for another quality Toyota content! Let's say there is a 2nd car sitting unused in the garage as lot of work has shifted to home these days due to COVID-19 restrictions. In this case, what is the minimal amount of driving required to prevent a battery from going south? I've been doing 20 minutes of driving once a week. Is that an overkill or is 30 minutes once a month good enough? I'm a bit uncomfortable using battery tenders/maintainers as there have been some (very rare) reports of fires in some garages.
Hi I drive a car (Corolla hybrid 2020) every day for 20 minutes to work and back, and the multimeter shows 11.9V ?? Why is it not 12.5V and more?@@TheCarCareNut
I've read mixed things on it but would like to understand the storage impacts on a hybrid for several years in a row for approximately 6 months in the winter. What long term impacts are expected on the hybrid battery and should I avoid buying a vehicle with that history? Will a pre sale inspection at a Toyota dealer be able to confirm the battery condition from such use if adverse and if the battery is likely to fail prematurely?
For the first time this year I stored my 2022 V6 Tacoma for six months. The vehicle was stored in a garage and I put the truck on jack stands and disconnected the Negitive terminal. However, I changed the oil at a Toyota dealership drove it 3 miles to the house and put it away. Should I again change the oil when I get home?
Do the gaskets of the compressor get dry and start loose refrigerant if we don’t have someone to turn on the engine with the a/c on? I want to ship a car to Europe and I will use it every summer when I go there. If not I have to find a patent to turn the engine on and off through the internet, I have done that already for other reasons! 😜
for a 2021 Venza Hybrid, would you suggest disconnecting the battery (neg terminal) or removing the D/C Cut fuse. The car will be stored for 6 months. Thank you
I travel weekly for work. My truck usually sits for 3-10 days, but consistently, I usually only use it for a couple days at a time and then it sits in the garage till I get back the following weekend. Do I still need to treat it like it's being stored or is it being used enough to not need much? I do keep a trickle charger on it when I leave. Thanks.
Hi! Likely in this case you’re good as that’s not really long term storage. But a battery maintainer could be a good idea if you notice your battery going dead.
Was wondering about and looking for info on what to do with the fuel and fuel tank and evap system when storing. Should one fill the tank , leave it empty so on. In Canada there are two types of fuel , one is high butane fuel in winter that does not evaporate in cold weather and summer fuel with a 15 cent surcharge per liter that contains an additive so fuel does not evaporate in hot conditions.. One summer, i stored my Honda with winter fuel and it wound out filling the evap charcoal. Any thoughts on storing my Toyota in winter and the fuel situation.?
Are there special battery maintainers for hybrid batteries (NIMH or Li-Iion) to use for long-term storage or is the only option to disconnect the 12 V battery or remove the fuse you mentioned?
Hello, I need to ask this question. I have a 2019 Corolla hybrid euro. For five months it sat doing almost noting. First three month my wife would run it 6 times or so and everything was okay. Last two months of thos five its battery died so she couldn't do anything. When I got home and jumped it from another car, it started right off. Its big battery had all bars except one. I was surprised to see that, I thought it would deplete a little. My question is is it bad for a hybrid sit for months although battery was almost full? Thanks a lot
Hi! It’s not healthy for these batteries to sit for months. But a one time deal is ok. If you are going to be repeating this storage say every year I would make sure is started and driven
I purchased a 2020 Toyota Camry XLE Hybrid new. So it has been on the dealer lot for a long time for being sold in 2021. Will that two years in the midwest sun and winters have messed up the hybrid battery? I'm happy to do things like an early oil change so let me know anything you can think of that is not in the video!
Not using the AC for fall, winter, and spring is like a storage concern. Is it good to run it every so often, even in the winter? Should the temp be set to max cold or doesn’t any of this matter?
Using your AC is advised in the winter to dehumidify the interior to avoid condensation and fog on the inside of the windows. All modern cars had protections for when the temperature is too cold. Then when everything warms up from the heat of the engine the AC turns on to dehumidify
Rodents. If you have mice around use mouse bait/poison blocks in and around the car. Put few pieces around the engine where mice can nest. This is very important if you store it over winter outside. Inside my garage if I do want to store it I use red hot chili pepper powder, don't laugh LOL. Sprinkle some around the car in a continuous line, draw a rectangle, They will not cross that line. LOL. I even sprinkle some inside my house AC compressor during the winter, stops them from eating the wires or nesting. Very costly. Question, will disconnecting the battery harm the computer in the long run? does it have to go through re-learn modes and such to get back to normal?
Yep! Rodents are responsible for at least 10-15 chewed up car at work every spring and fall and the stranglers in between! Worst one I’ve had was a brand new 4Runner TRD pro not even 1000 miles and that one was really bad. Regarding computers there’s no harm in disconnecting the battery for storage. Storage doesn’t happen every week. I’d rather you disconnect things than have a dead battery or dying battery for computers
Hello AMD, Due to COVID, I had to leave my 2017 Prius Prime for 7.5 weeks garaged with the 12 volt battery still connected. I had planned to only leave for a few weeks but travel restrictions prevented me from returning. I now find that the keyfob won't open the door so I suspect that the 12 volt battery has lost charge. If I try to plug in to re-charge via my apartment's level 2 charger (220 volts), will this also recharge my 12 volt battery? There is no 120 volt AC receptacle close by so I can't use a trickle charger to recharge the 12 volt battery that way. What would you suggest? Thanks much! Doug
Hi! It should charge the battery as well. If not try jump starting the battery with a jumper pack or another car if possible get the car started and drive it for half an hour
Never thought about it until watching your always expert videos but why don't the car makers just put a disconnect switch near the battery under a cover that is easy to get to? Would also help in high crime areas.
That is a question that has been debated with the manufacturer before. The answer was not direct but production cost and value to the consumer were the reasons they don't put things like this in their production cars.
@@TheCarCareNut True. But if I was stupid enough to pony up for those useless heated seat I sprung for (My fanny heats those seats up just fine) I think I would blow the dust out of my wallet for a few bucks for a "kill" switch that would actually do some good.
Awesome tips, the only thing that I would compliment this great video from experience on storing a lot of cars is if one is storing the car more than 3 months , it is a good idea to add a fuel stabilizer and fill up the tank with fresh gasoline. The modern Ethanol mixed gasoline mandated nowadays by the EPA attracts moisture because H2O gravitates to Ethanol , the result : varnish buildup in tight fuel passages possibly causing the fuel pump to lock up and the fuel injectors to clog.
Thank you for watching my video! You bring an awesome point that comes from experience! Thank you for your valuable input!
Aware of this. Thanks.
The really ideal solution for storing a modern vehicle indoors for more than a month is to keep the 12V battery charged by plugging in a "smart" charger (like the CTEK) before leaving. When you return to your vehicle, everything will work perfectly and you won't have to reconfigure a lot of settings.
This would also apply to a hybrid?
Unfortunately, the car is parked in a condo garage with no outlets near the car. So battery maintainer is out.
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I was happy to see the flat spot warning right at the beginning. A family member was medically ineligible to drive his car for what turned out to be several months. It made flat spots on all the tires, and driving a few days didn't help. Four new tires was needed to get them right. Great idea about taping the plastic bags over them, too!
I'm surprised I don't see objections about the battery situation, though: technically, the alternators are capable of recharging a nearly dead battery. They can't do it without wear and tear to the battery and alternator though, so your advice is still exactly right. A 100 amp alternator will not put out more than roughly a hundred amps, even into a short circuit, because that limit is what it is capable of producing with 14V excitation voltage at any rpm. The inductance of the windings (which are on the AC side of the bridge) exactly balances the increase in EMF as rpm increases above roughly half the alternator's design speed. At full rated output the alternator quickly becomes a _lot_ hotter than it was designed to be; okay for a few minutes but destructive as the heat builds.
On the alternators. The newer alternators on Toyota’s say around 2007-2009 and up barely produce any amperage at idle and it does so by design to reduce drag on the engine and reduce emissions. That’s why starting the car and let it idle for 15-20 minutes after jump starting it won’t really charge a dead battery back up like it did in older cars
I just cleaned the headlight lens on my 2005 prius. Used a $20 bottle of silica whitening toothpaste I had on hand and a brush attachment for the drill. Warm water and clean cloth! Worked so well and much easier than anything I've seen. Thought I'd share.
@ The Car Care Nut - thanks for this video. Before I went out of the country in 2019 to see family, I asked my Toyota dealership if it would be alright to leave my 2011 Toyota Prius sit for 2 weeks. All of my maintenance is done @ this dealership. No one knew the answer. I ended up leaving it with my daughter to drive but unhappily so as she has totaled 2 vehicles. Wishing this was available or found you sooner! Great videos, always to the point and no fluff. Really appreciate it.
2:43 Tire flat spot - It has been said to raise your car enough to get the tires off the ground by putting 4 jack stands at the proper places . I would even liberally spray 303 Protectant on them as well as on the inside of the tire to keep them from drying out .
Wow! Once again, GREAT advice! I won't store my car but wont drive it NEAR as much & mine sits outside.. I wondered what I should do being a hybrid. And ur analogy of charging a battery is spot on!
I do share my life between 2 different places 6 months at the North 6 months at the south. I do all these things which you have mentioned and recommended and is a must do the tires the oil change and the battery disconnect. The brakes do get rusty and i always clean them before i start with a brash to get some rust down it helps. Major issue is the AC! Nobody can start my cars while i m not there and if they don't work the pipes are getting porose and start losing refrigerant anytime i have to refill it. My car is old and i was thinking to buy a Toyota Hybrid but listening to you i will conceder very well if i ll get a Hybrid!
Good advice! In addition, when I store my Mustang over winter in my unheated, unpowered pole barn, I add plastic bags over the exhaust tips, keep the hood open and place mothballs and dryer sheets around the engine bay. I also place mothballs under the rear axle. Keeps the mouse nests away!
I used to use a car cover, until one Spring I removed it and found a nest in my CAI made from the firewall insulation and droppings all over the engine!
Fresh gas to full and fuel stabilizer added.
I remove the battery and keep it in my warm basement and charge it when the voltage drops to 12.4V.
The windshield wash system and reservoir gets drained.
I also give it a good wipe down with spray ceramic wax to protect the paint and wipe it down during storage, if it gets dusty from my generator-powered workshop activities at the other end of the building
This video is gold for me, as I'm working in oil industry and leave my car sit outside for about 1 - 1,5 months till I come and take care of it for 3 - 4 weeks.
Very well explained Love it .. I also did buy some rats trap around my garage. Rats could live in the engine and cut those wires like what my friend had experienced..
I thought my storage techniques were pretty strong until I watched this video. Great idea with masking tape over the trunk and sunroof to stop water and debrie from entering the drain channels. Keep up.the awesome work AMD, love the technical aspect of your channel as it helps us nerds understand the level of engineering that goes into these hybrid beauties!
Thanks! I often store my Tundra and do have a nice cover (it’s huge). I didn’t think of disconnecting the battery and overfilling the tires...life is good! “Take good counsel and accept correction-that’s the way to live wisely and well.” -Proverbs 19:20
as an owner of 4 toyota prius your information is awesome. Thanks!
Thx for all your good advices, I flushed my Toyota Tundra 2018 transmission fluids at my toyota dealership. I can feel the difference.
Greetings, Amd! Love your channel. Hey - on hybrids with Li-Ion batteries, and let's talk phev - ie, R4P where we have come control. How about keeping the battery at about 50%? Say, 15 - 20 miles predicted on the EV range, or "50%" on the toyota ap. I understand that Li-ion batteries love to spend life in the 1/2-ish range.
Thanks - and I hope this still finds you, as it's been a while.
I also recommend if storing outside; put fairly good tarp that is at least 2 feet wider and longer than the car with the corners weight down. That keeps grass and weeds from growing up under the car. This is assuming that you aren't storing on a paved surface.
Clearly it is a great great channel ! Thanks a lot for this ton of info !!! I am buying a 2019 Lexus IS 300h and a bit concerned about all I hear about the 12v depletion… as I usually leave the car for a month in summer. I’ll check the fuse stuff.
Hi, thanks for the great info. Can you please do a video on tightening chassis bolts (and maybe suspension bolts as well) as an occasional maintenance activity? I noticed Toyota schedules it for the 5 year 100k km (~60k mile) mark. Would be good to know which bolts and tightening to what torque values. Many thanks.
Hey man, could you possibly make a video talking about the tire pressure monitoring system and indicator on 2012-2017 Toyota Camry’s? How to take light off etc, as well as anything to do with reading and clearing OBD codes.
A comprehensive video on tire pressure monitoring is coming up soon. I’ll go over all details from how it works to how to DIY service it
By disconnecting the 12v system will the car's computer take some time to relearn your driving preferences...how long? Always with the great tips, learned a lot from this video.
The newest cars won’t get affected by disconnecting the battery. Some of the older ones will lose their memory but relearn after one or two drive cycles
One additional thing I do is make sure the gas tank is full and add fuel stabilizer. If the tank is not full changes in temperature can cause condensation - water is added to the gas.
Great video! Long live to this channel!
Hi AMD, Thanks for the info about storing your vehicle, but I was gonna do it a little different and wanted your opinion. I plan on storing my 22 Camry hybrid in Florida during the summer months while I am back up north, I have a garage without a garage door, like an elaborate carport. My intention was to use the Toyota remote connect app on my phone, and start the car once every couple weeks or once a month and let it run for 10 minutes, which is the program running time, do you recommend this?
AMD
Regarding long term storage and oil changes, any thoughts regarding the utilization of a possible "Clear Flood Mode" option. Whereas since the engine oil has drained into the pan with minimal lubrication in the engine over period of months. I have also read where you could remove the fuse that controls the fuel pump there by allowing on to push oil through the engine without combustion. Long term storage and start ups appears to put the most wear on an engine. This and oil changes where the filter is designed to mount sideway or upside down prohibiting one from pre filling the oil filter. Your thoughts?
Love your site, your intelligence and your humble pragmatic approach to helping the average Diyer. I currently own two 2023 GX460s and a 1996 LX450 like new with 85K on the clock and look forward to maintenance updates on Mrs AMD's GX460
Cheers and God bless
I drive my 2006 in the summer and my 99 crv in the winter and store each in my garage. I start them up at least once a month and drive a little bit just to move the tires and make the transmission shift and I run the AC. I make sure I brake a lot to clean off the rotors. I didn’t know about 45 psi for tires, thanks for that!
Since I drive so little, I do a once per year oil change for each car and use synthetic oil. I’m talking less than 5000 km’s for each car. I have wondered though if I should put some fresh cheap oil for storage and pitch it after storage, or do clean oil for storage and then don’t change, or do like I do. Doesn’t driving the car on the highway at operating temperature boil off gasoline in the oil, and clean off fuel injectors and valves etc? I find it hard to believe that if I do that before storage that much gas would enter the oil. The injectors would have to be slowly leaking into the intake manifold and then dribbling into the cylinders.
I also store it with a full tank of gas and I use fuel stabilizer.
I also make sure I leave the parking brake off so it doesn’t stick.
In addition to cover the car if left outside, wash the car first and dry the car before the cover is put on. A cover over a dirty car will scratch the paint due to influences of the wind that constantly moves the cover despite the protective liner, if any. Better yet, wax the car after washing it. Kind regards, Willem.
Very good point! Thank you Willem!
Out of thousands of videos on how to do things, I find this greatest easy visual demonstration, thank you,
subscribed looking forward to more videos like this hopefully.
On the hybrid you really recommend some one come and start the car its not possible for us so you advise battery management screen.? Half full. .? And that removal of dccfuse.? Looking at 5 months of storage please advise i love all your advise thank you
CCN you’re very informative, this topic was very educational for me thanks 🙏🏾 bro. I have two questions about hybrids. Is there a proper way to wash 🧽 a hybrid car 🚙, is it ok 👌🏽 to wash 🧽 it at a car wash and if it’s ok should one self wash or run the car through the auto wash ? Thanks 🙏🏾. Much blessings much love CCN.
Thank you for watching my video! So washing a hybrid is no different than any other car. When washing the engine bay don’t use high pressure water directly on electrical connections and components and you should be good.
Very useful information, as usual. Thank you.
Thanks very much for all your videos. Great work. I was especially interested in this one as my 2024 Rav4 Hybrid has an issue where the 12v battery is dead after 7 days of the car being parked in a cold climate and normal driving does not recharge the 12v battery very quickly at all. An hour of driving only brought the battery back to 15% charge. Every few days I have to tear apart the back end, connect my charger and bring it back up to full charge (which takes several hours). So my question is this. Is there anything I can do in settings to reduce the 12v battery usage while its parked? Is there anything I can turn off or disable? Again thanks very much for your great vids. As a first time Toyota owner they have been invaluable!
Was eagerly waiting for this video of yours...
Excellent tips. Thank you!
excellent
I travel for work and my Prius sits outside for 3-5 months at a time. Funny that you mentioned tires, mine were getting old. I worry about the battery.
Hey car care nut, could you please do a video about the newest gen rav 4 hybrid (possible issues etc like the camry video)? Would be a appreciated as I'm buying a new 2021 rav 4 hybrid. Issues to look out for etc... Thanks again for the awesome content.
Hi! I’m working on having that video for January!
@@TheCarCareNut awesome thank you. Enjoy the holidays and hope you and your family stay safe :).
Thanks good benefits
Waiting next video 👍👍👍
Excellent very helpful information as usual from your channel. May I also ask if you can recommend (not necessarily by brand) a type of charger that can safely charge the 12V "auxiliary" battery. I ask as I do very little mileage. Thank you.
Thanks for the tips man. This video will serve as a great reference
I have a Prius hybrid. I don’t “store” it, but I sometimes go a week or two without driving. Is that bad for the car? Should I actually drive it every week, how often, how far, just to keep it in best condition?
I would drive it every 3-5 days around 5 miles. That should keep things taken care of of.
@@TheCarCareNut Hello! Thank you so much for the informative video! I am new to the channel and am enjoying it greatly. Strictly speaking, 5 miles every 3 days translates to ~50 miles per month or ~600 miles per year. While the monetary return-on-investment for a full hybrid over a non-hybrid will increase with more miles driven, is this all one needs to drive (in conjunction with other maintenance like the battery air filter) to maintain optimal battery health?
So the idea is letting a battery sit for a long period of time without any charge discharge cycles is the issue. You could have it sit for the whole year then one day drive the 600 miles that is not a good scenario. However consistency of driving is what’s important
@@TheCarCareNut Thank you! Understood. :-) So in your estimation, consistently driving at minimum ~5 miles every 3-5 days is roughly the minimum amount of consistent driving to maintain optimal battery health through the years (along with all other maintenance, of course)? I intend to keep my car for at least 10 yrs but am nervous about not driving it enough since it's for fun and not work.
Yes that’s the idea.
Thank you so much!
Love your videos
Thank you, I have learned a lot about Toyota Hybrids from your channel. I have a 22 Venza Hybrid and wanted to know if it would damage the car to drive 80 mph on the interstate for a long trip? I live in the country and dont have any interstates near me, but I average 40.4 mpg and don't want to damage this car on my upcoming road trip.
For long term storage I would expect that you should disconnect the battery on a regular Toyota .
Hello Care Care Nut great video, my question is I'm planning to store my 2017 RAV4 SE over winter. Is been store indoors wash and detail car drove car for 30 mins get moisture out and brakes also add fuel stabilizer top of tank 95% and also inflate tires to 44 lbs . My question is when i disconnect battery over winter and into early spring close to 6 months long winters in Canada what do I need to do to rest on board computers .
Hi! No need to worry about anything for the computers in your car. When you're back in spring, start the car let it run for a bit then take it for a good 20-30 minute drive at speeds around 35-40mph and that should reset everything. You might have to set the clock again and set your radio station presets but that's about it.
I didagree on depleting the Hybrid battery. Lithium batteries prefer to stay at 50%. Degradation occurs at full or empty. Now Toyota Full and empty are not actually full or empty voltage wise but leaving it fully deleted is not a good idea.
Also full gas tank and use fuel stabilizer.
If you have to store a hybrid with lithium-ion battery pack for 6-12 months, what is the best way to store it to minimize damage to battery? Run hybrid battery to 40-60% and then disconnect 12V battery? Is that different if it is a NIMH battery pack? Is there a charger made to connect to hybrid battery to condition and maintain for long-term storage? I don't mind spending the extra time/money. Please tell us the best way to store long-term. Thanks!
Please advice! Thank you. We are planning to travel out of country for 6 months. Should I disengage the Hybrid battery as well?
How about if you put the car on jack stands,and lift the car so the tires are a few inches from the ground?
This is the way I store my car.
Just a thought...Ray...
Hi ray! That works actually best for tires but not everyone is able to do that safely so there’s another option
Your right on that. My grandfather had a 26Nash Roadster, and he used Jack stands, and 70yrs later my dad got a hold of this car and restored it to its natural glory. And thos tires had no flat spots,but we did change the tires because they where the originals. Those where 22inch wheels..
Thank you so much for this info. I am thinking about my college age kid, if he won’t need his car in college.
Awesome video! Thanks
Great video. Should you store it with a full gas tank? If a car uses regular gas, should you store it with the highest octane in it because it's more stable?
I would store it with a small amount of gas if it’s not over 6 months of storage. That way you can get the old gas out quick and freshen it up when you’re back to it. Octane has no effect on gas going stale. If your car takes regular there’s no real benefit From Storting it with premium gas
@@TheCarCareNut - Thanks! I was thinking that having a full tank reduces the possibility of condensation build-up.
I’d use fuel stabilizer and if possible use ethanol free gas. I’d fill it to 1/2. I’d quickly fill it all the way upon return to service.
We were shopping for a used car with low miles. We came across a 3 year old car with only 8,000 miles. That car only had 2 oil changes before coming back to the dealership. I am glad we didn’t get that car, as we don’t know where and how it was stored. Thank you again for information.
Great content
I love your advice and insight. What do you think about undercoatings, rust prevention?
Hi! Undercoating is good for cars in the rust belt. Newer cars that are covered up pretty good it won’t be as much. Toyota truck frames especially could use undercoating to protect them.
@@TheCarCareNut I drive a 2009 Prius in northern NY. No rust at 220k. I did clean, prime, paint under parts that where wearing thin.
I did own a early Corolla in the 70s that had an 1100cc slant 4 and 12 inch wheels. It's probably still running.
We bought a schumacher float 12v charger should we connect it to battery in the rear? This is for 4 months sitting in the garage need a diffinative answer. Called the dealer and he said to do this
Excellent information. Thanks
Great video 👍
Hi i have a 2021 toyota sienna hybrid how should it be stored in the garage for 4 months? Just disconnect the negative to the batterty? We were going keep it connecyed to a float charger, really need help on this getting difference versions from dealer thanks
I would never leave ANY hybrid battery depleted for storage, that is not a good idea... especially for Lithium type hybrid batteries! This is when dendrites form, which are permanent microscopic short-circuits that form DURING DEPLETED CONDITIONS.
The 12v battery should be disconnected so that the HV battery cannot be discharged by the car during storage, since the contractors in the HV battery are powered by the 12v battery.
The ONLY way the gas engine can start is from the HV battery, so it MUST have sufficient charge in it to start the gas engine, so the gas engine can charge the HV battery.
My salesman suggested removing the ground cable in my hybrid for our 5 month vacation. But the car has two batteries which one?
Please please need storage advise for 2021 sienna hybrid going for 4 months. No one available to start car. Do put a trickle charger on the battery? In the rear of the car, is there a fuse to be removed?
Hello
Have you heard any news on the cablegate faulty that costs roughly $7000CDN for replacement. And Toyota stated that it's not covered under Toyota hybrid system. The cable gate has serious issue with corrosion issue in the areas where there are prompt to often have deep snow. The corrosion seems to affects only on RAV4 hybrid and Prime 2019 and newer models. Toyota only covers the cost of replacement of the cable if the vehicle is under the 3yrs/60000kms warranty. There is class action lawsuit going on at the moment. I hope Toyota agree to make a recall.
Great storage tips. For my 2017 Prius Prime, can you tell me which one is the "storage fuse"? Also, if I run the battery to zero, upon my return, should I plug it in to bring the HV battery charge to 50% before starting it up and driving it for 30 minutes? Should I also force it into hybrid mode during this 30 minute drive to get the engine running as long as possible as well? Also, would filling the gas tank to full for storage help prevent condensation and rust in the tank?
Thanks so much for your great suggestions on long term storage.
On your Prius it’s likely going to be either called DC cut or short pin in the fuse block under the hood. If you’re not using the car as much I would deplete the EV range and drive it as a hybrid only. Once your normal driving is back recharge it and use it as both. I wouldn’t fill the tank as gas goes stale so I would keep a quarter to a half tank then add fresh gas.
@@TheCarCareNut if you store it for a few months in extreme cold temps like we have up here in northern Ontario (Canada) you have to fill up the tank as you will have condensation. Also for a few months storage, I would also suggest a fuel stabilizer..... for years I've done this every winter for my motorcycle & have no problem whatsoever in the spring.
Most gas tanks are plastic these days.
@@TheCarCareNut With motorcycles, at least, it is recommended to FILL the tank before long-term storage. If you leave space for air, that air contains water which will condense when it gets cold enough and cause rust. Wouldn't this be the same with a car?
How about the
1) Handbrake, engage or disengage?
2) Fuel tank, full, half or close to empty?
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE show me how to turn of my seatbelt warning chime....I have a 2020 corolla and 2021 rav 4!
May the lord bless you! Thanks for your excellent free service to many!
Hello , good job with the channel, i really learned a lot about hybrids from your videos. I have a question for you, and i hope you will answer . I`m in the process of buying an Toyota Auris hybrid, but i don`t have an garage , so the car will be parked 99.99% of the time outside. It`s ok , regarding the hybrid battery if the car is parked outside in the sun? In the summer the temperatures will be around 80 fahrenheit to about 95 fahrenheit degrees in the shade,from June to the end of August.
I will drive it , but except the times i won`t, should i expect the hybrid battery to quickly lose it`s life expectancy? Thanks for your time
Hi! Thank you for watching my channel! So you should be perfectly fine with the high temps and your hybrid. However I would advise you consider a few things to help it. First if it’s legal within your area and doesn’t bother you, tinting the windows helps significantly. Another thing that’s even more important is that you maintain the cooling fan filter for the battery keeping the filter clean and making sure you know where the vent is and keep it clear. Also always use your air conditioning in the car as the hybrid battery uses that air conditioned air to cool the battery when needed.
@@TheCarCareNut i thankyou for your advices , and keep up the good work sir ! Respect for what you are doing, teaching us amazing stuff about hybrid cars !
Very informative
Thank you for the great insights! I have a 2020 hybrid CHR and I'm planning to store it indoors (shared space) for 2- 3 months, will disconnecting the battery keep my car safe? What can I do to prevent car theft?
Fuel in oil - is it really so big issue?
Isn't it evaporating from oil after warming up engine? Oil have temperature over 90 or even 100C when gas start boiling from much lower temperature. Than gas fumes can be easily sucked into engine via crankcase ventilation system and burned. or I'm wrong?
Good tips,but EV top up not so simple if you are always in slow town traffic,for the last miles uses EV. Result pretty low reserve.
Great storage video!!
Hi AMD, thank you for another quality Toyota content! Let's say there is a 2nd car sitting unused in the garage as lot of work has shifted to home these days due to COVID-19 restrictions. In this case, what is the minimal amount of driving required to prevent a battery from going south? I've been doing 20 minutes of driving once a week. Is that an overkill or is 30 minutes once a month good enough? I'm a bit uncomfortable using battery tenders/maintainers as there have been some (very rare) reports of fires in some garages.
I think a 20 minute drive every week is good. Keeps everything circulating and charged up.
@@TheCarCareNut Awesome. Thank you.
Hi
I drive a car (Corolla hybrid 2020) every day for 20 minutes to work and back, and the multimeter shows 11.9V ?? Why is it not 12.5V and more?@@TheCarCareNut
What happens to a hybrid battery if you store the vehicle in a VERY HOT Garage for three to five months ?
I've read mixed things on it but would like to understand the storage impacts on a hybrid for several years in a row for approximately 6 months in the winter. What long term impacts are expected on the hybrid battery and should I avoid buying a vehicle with that history? Will a pre sale inspection at a Toyota dealer be able to confirm the battery condition from such use if adverse and if the battery is likely to fail prematurely?
very educative. thank you regards
Thank you very helpful
I love your channel thank you
For the first time this year I stored my 2022 V6 Tacoma for six months. The vehicle was stored in a garage and I put the truck on jack stands and disconnected the Negitive terminal. However, I changed the oil at a Toyota dealership drove it 3 miles to the house and put it away. Should I again change the oil when I get home?
Do the gaskets of the compressor get dry and start loose refrigerant if we don’t have someone to turn on the engine with the a/c on? I want to ship a car to Europe and I will use it every summer when I go there. If not I have to find a patent to turn the engine on and off through the internet, I have done that already for other reasons! 😜
for a 2021 Venza Hybrid, would you suggest disconnecting the battery (neg terminal) or removing the D/C Cut fuse. The car will be stored for 6 months. Thank you
Great question. How about it @TheCarCareNut?
Which hybrid of toyota is best for long term storage?
I travel weekly for work. My truck usually sits for 3-10 days, but consistently, I usually only use it for a couple days at a time and then it sits in the garage till I get back the following weekend. Do I still need to treat it like it's being stored or is it being used enough to not need much? I do keep a trickle charger on it when I leave. Thanks.
Hi! Likely in this case you’re good as that’s not really long term storage. But a battery maintainer could be a good idea if you notice your battery going dead.
Thank you amd you’re the best
Was wondering about and looking for info on what to do with the fuel and fuel tank and evap system when storing. Should one fill the tank , leave it empty so on. In Canada there are two types of fuel , one is high butane fuel in winter that does not evaporate in cold weather and summer fuel with a 15 cent surcharge per liter that contains an additive so fuel does not evaporate in hot conditions.. One summer, i stored my Honda with winter fuel and it wound out filling the evap charcoal. Any thoughts on storing my Toyota in winter and the fuel situation.?
Hi 👋🏻 and what about when I have to store it on winter ❄️ what to do ? If is outside 😬🇨🇦
when storing a HV for long period of time, why only charge the hybrid battery to half instead of full bars?
Are there special battery maintainers for hybrid batteries (NIMH or Li-Iion) to use for long-term storage or is the only option to disconnect the 12 V battery or remove the fuse you mentioned?
Hello, I need to ask this question. I have a 2019 Corolla hybrid euro. For five months it sat doing almost noting. First three month my wife would run it 6 times or so and everything was okay. Last two months of thos five its battery died so she couldn't do anything. When I got home and jumped it from another car, it started right off. Its big battery had all bars except one. I was surprised to see that, I thought it would deplete a little. My question is is it bad for a hybrid sit for months although battery was almost full? Thanks a lot
Hi! It’s not healthy for these batteries to sit for months. But a one time deal is ok. If you are going to be repeating this storage say every year I would make sure is started and driven
You didn’t mention one thing. Should we fill the the tank fully before we leave the hybrid car for 3-4 months?
Filling the tank is ok.
I purchased a 2020 Toyota Camry XLE Hybrid new. So it has been on the dealer lot for a long time for being sold in 2021. Will that two years in the midwest sun and winters have messed up the hybrid battery? I'm happy to do things like an early oil change so let me know anything you can think of that is not in the video!
Hi! The hybrid battery is likely ok. But an early oil change is highly recommend in this scenario.
Good
Not using the AC for fall, winter, and spring is like a storage concern. Is it good to run it every so often, even in the winter? Should the temp be set to max cold or doesn’t any of this matter?
Using your AC is advised in the winter to dehumidify the interior to avoid condensation and fog on the inside of the windows. All modern cars had protections for when the temperature is too cold. Then when everything warms up from the heat of the engine the AC turns on to dehumidify
Or does sienna have the dc fuse? Could we do that? Need help soon
Rodents. If you have mice around use mouse bait/poison blocks in and around the car. Put few pieces around the engine where mice can nest. This is very important if you store it over winter outside. Inside my garage if I do want to store it I use red hot chili pepper powder, don't laugh LOL. Sprinkle some around the car in a continuous line, draw a rectangle, They will not cross that line. LOL. I even sprinkle some inside my house AC compressor during the winter, stops them from eating the wires or nesting. Very costly.
Question, will disconnecting the battery harm the computer in the long run? does it have to go through re-learn modes and such to get back to normal?
Yep! Rodents are responsible for at least 10-15 chewed up car at work every spring and fall and the stranglers in between! Worst one I’ve had was a brand new 4Runner TRD pro not even 1000 miles and that one was really bad.
Regarding computers there’s no harm in disconnecting the battery for storage. Storage doesn’t happen every week. I’d rather you disconnect things than have a dead battery or dying battery for computers
Hello AMD, Due to COVID, I had to leave my 2017 Prius Prime for 7.5 weeks garaged with the 12 volt battery still connected. I had planned to only leave for a few weeks but travel restrictions prevented me from returning. I now find that the keyfob won't open the door so I suspect that the 12 volt battery has lost charge. If I try to plug in to re-charge via my apartment's level 2 charger (220 volts), will this also recharge my 12 volt battery? There is no 120 volt AC receptacle close by so I can't use a trickle charger to recharge the 12 volt battery that way. What would you suggest?
Thanks much!
Doug
Hi! It should charge the battery as well. If not try jump starting the battery with a jumper pack or another car if possible get the car started and drive it for half an hour
Never thought about it until watching your always expert videos but why don't the car makers just put a disconnect switch near the battery under a cover that is easy to get to? Would also help in high crime areas.
That is a question that has been debated with the manufacturer before. The answer was not direct but production cost and value to the consumer were the reasons they don't put things like this in their production cars.
@@TheCarCareNut True. But if I was stupid enough to pony up for those useless heated seat I sprung for (My fanny heats those seats up just fine) I think I would blow the dust out of my wallet for a few bucks for a "kill" switch that would actually do some good.
Buy yourself a Quick Disconnect Battery Terminal ($10) problems solved.