Engine mounts on a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — a thud when the engine starts or stops
A thud through the floor as the petrol engine starts or stops usually comes from a mount, not the battery.
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Articles and advice on Toyota and Lexus hybrid batteries. Looking for a repair? Hybrid battery rebuild — price, Prius, Auris and code P0A80.
Electric water pump on a Toyota hybrid — overheating without an accessory belt
Coolant is circulated by an electric pump, not a belt. If the pump stops, the temperature rises even while the petrol engine is off.
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Toyota and Lexus hybrid on STAG LPG — when it runs on gas and when on petrol
Gas feeds only the petrol engine. On electric drive the system is silent, and in winter the switchover comes later.
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Towing a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — a flatbed, not a rope
Drive wheels on the road spin the motors inside the transmission. A long tow on a rope can destroy the e-CVT.
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A click from the battery when a Toyota or Lexus hybrid starts — normal or a fault
One click from the rear after start is the battery contactors. A series of clicks with no READY means diagnostics.
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The EGR valve on a Toyota hybrid — cold jerking and uneven running
Short trips clog the EGR. The engine jerks when cold, and the battery is not necessarily the cause.
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A howl from a Toyota hybrid transmission — when it is the MG2 bearing
A speed-dependent howl that is also heard in EV usually comes from the transmission, not the pack.
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Wheel alignment on a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — how toe raises fuel use
After a kerb, a hybrid can suddenly use more fuel. The cause is often alignment, not the battery.
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The engine air filter on a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — effect on fuel use
A dirty air filter raises fuel use exactly when the hybrid calls for the petrol engine.
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Brake fluid in a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — why it still has to be changed
Energy recovery does not dry the brake fluid. Water in the DOT fluid still corrodes the actuator and the calipers.
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Toyota hybrid service mode — why the engine is forced to run for an oil change
Without forcing the engine to run, hybrid oil is easy to underfill or overfill.
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The power and charge gauge on a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — how to read the scale
The CHG, ECO and POWER scale shows what the system is doing right now. A short charge spike is not always a fault.
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Rodents and a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — chewed HV cables
A chewed orange cable ends in an isolation fault. The car should not be driven on.
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A flooded Toyota or Lexus hybrid — what not to switch on after water
After driving into water, do not switch READY on if it is wet around the battery or in the sills.
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How to start a Toyota hybrid with a flat 12 V battery
The hybrid is silent because the 12 V battery is flat. Jump only that battery, never the orange cables.
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The brake actuator on a Toyota hybrid — a hum and a hard pedal
A long hum from the front and a hard pedal is often the actuator pump, not worn pads.
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Head gasket on a 3rd-generation Prius — symptoms and risk
White smoke and falling coolant on a 3rd-generation Prius should be checked before blaming the battery.
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Inverter coolant in a hybrid — a separate circuit, not engine coolant
Pink fluid in the small tank cools the electronics. It is not a top-up for the petrol engine.
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e-Four drive on a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — how the rear axle works
The rear of an AWD hybrid is driven by an electric motor, not a shaft from the front. It is not permanent 4x4.
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Position B on a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — when to use it downhill
On a long descent, B takes load off the discs. On flat city roads it only raises fuel use.
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Eco, Normal and Power on a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — what they actually change
Eco does not charge the battery faster. Power does not switch off regenerative braking.
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Spark plugs in a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — why they wear differently
Short, cold starts wear a plug differently from a car that runs on petrol all the time.
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Air conditioning in a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — effect on the battery and fuel use
Heat is a test for the cooling system and the AC. How to look after the climate system so the battery does not overheat.
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A hybrid battery after a collision — when to repair and when to replace the pack
Even a small bump can damage the pack case. The safety procedure before charging and driving.
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OBD and hybrid battery apps — what they give the driver and what they do not
Torque, Hybrid Assistant and others — useful trends, but be careful how you read them.
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A high-mileage and taxi hybrid — what to check every 50,000 km
High mileage does not have to mean a dead battery. A check plan for hard use.
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Brakes on a hybrid — pads and discs despite regenerative braking
There is less wear, but corrosion and seizure still happen. What to check at a service.
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Engine oil in a hybrid — when to change it on short trips
Short trips and frequent stops are harder on the oil. Practical intervals for a hybrid.
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NiMH or Li-ion battery — why lithium is better and a swap to Li-ion
Nickel versus lithium in a hybrid. Why Li-ion wins and what an NiMH to Li-ion upgrade looks like in the workshop.
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The e-CVT in a Toyota hybrid — how it works and when it needs service
There are no traditional gears, but the drivetrain still needs service. Symptoms and intervals for the e-CVT.
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A Lexus hybrid — what is specific about the HV battery in RX, NX and ES
A premium hybrid follows the same rules as Toyota, but the pack location and service details differ.
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Fuel use in a hybrid — how to measure it honestly and what the result depends on
Why two fill-ups give different results and how to calculate fuel use without fooling yourself.
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Balancing hybrid battery cells — when it makes sense and when a module should be replaced
A weak cell pulls the whole pack down. Balancing, a rebuild or a module replacement — how to decide.
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PHEV and Prius Prime — charging from a socket and how they differ from a regular hybrid
A larger pack, a charge socket and a different way of driving. What makes a Toyota or Lexus PHEV different.
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The Atkinson engine in a hybrid — how it works on the road and in the city
The hybrid petrol engine is tuned for economy, not for sport. How to drive it on a trip.
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EV mode in Toyota and Lexus hybrids — when it works and how to use it
A short drive on EV alone, with no fuel burned. When the mode is available, how to switch it on and what not to expect.
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The 12 V battery in a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — symptoms, diagnostics and replacement
A weak 12 V battery can imitate hybrid-system problems. Symptoms, simple tests and when to replace it.
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The inverter and DC-DC converter in Toyota and Lexus hybrids — fault symptoms and diagnostics
What the inverter and the DC-DC converter do in a hybrid, typical fault symptoms and what diagnostics look like.
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The warranty on a hybrid battery rebuild — what it covers and what to watch
What to check in a rebuild warranty. Scope, term and exclusions.
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A long stand for a Toyota or Lexus hybrid — how to prepare the car and what to do on return
How to prepare a hybrid for a longer stand and what to do when you come back.
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Regenerative braking in Toyota and Lexus — how it works and how to use it
How energy recovery works when braking. Driving style, fuel saving and battery life.
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Hybrid battery cooling — why it matters and when to service it
What the battery cooling system does in Toyota and Lexus. When to clean the fans and what to check.
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Buying a used Prius or Lexus hybrid — what to look at
Advice when buying a used hybrid. Battery diagnostics and service history.
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A Toyota and Lexus hybrid system service — what to check and when
A service schedule for the hybrid system. What to check and how often — battery, cooling, diagnostics.
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A Toyota or Lexus hybrid in winter and summer — what to watch
Running a hybrid in extreme temperatures. Winter and summer advice — battery, heating, driving style.
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Fault codes in Toyota and Lexus hybrids — what they mean and how to react
A list of common hybrid codes: P0A80, P3000–P3024, P0A93, P0A94, HV isolation, contactors and brakes.
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Hybrid battery diagnostics — how it is done and what it checks
What professional hybrid battery diagnostics look like. What we check and why a regular test matters.
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How to extend the life of a hybrid battery
Proven ways to keep a hybrid battery in good shape for many years. Practical advice from our workshop.
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When to replace a hybrid battery? 5 warning signs
Symptoms that mean a hybrid battery should be replaced or rebuilt.
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Battery rebuild vs replacement — which pays off
We compare the cost and benefit of rebuilding a hybrid battery with replacing it. See which option fits you.
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