Key Takeaways The i-FORCE MAX hybrid system combines a turbocharged engine with an electric motor, giving Tacoma Hybrid owners a different set of maintenance priorities than a conventional gas truck. The hybrid battery is designed for long term durability, but certain habits help preserve its performance over time. Regenerative braking changes brake wear patterns, often…
A Toyota hybrid battery is one of the more durable components in any modern vehicle, but it’s also one of the least understood. Most owners know it’s there and that it’s important, but few have a clear picture of what to expect from it over the long haul, and the difference between a hybrid battery…
Cleveland Heights summers bring humidity, sun-baked traffic along Mayfield Road, and air conditioning use that runs from June straight through September. What a lot of hybrid owners don’t realize is that heavy AC use and hot pavement can quietly reduce fuel economy by a noticeable margin, and a quick efficiency check that costs little to…
Last month, a 2019 RAV4 Hybrid arrived at our service bay with a hybrid battery warning light that had been on for three weeks. The owner had ignored it, assuming it was a minor sensor issue. After inspection, the cooling fan was completely packed with dust, pet hair, and debris, causing the battery to run…
A Toyota Camry Hybrid owner came into our service bay last month after noticing a persistent fuel economy drop on her daily US-322 commute between Mayfield Heights and downtown Cleveland that had not recovered despite the arrival of warmer spring weather. She had attributed the winter efficiency loss to cold temperatures and assumed it would…
A Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came into our service bay last month after the owner noticed a significant and persistent drop in fuel economy that had developed over the winter and showed no signs of recovering as spring arrived. She commuted daily on US-322 between Mayfield Heights and downtown Cleveland and had attributed the efficiency loss…
A Toyota Camry Hybrid came into our service bay last month after the owner noticed his fuel economy had dropped nearly 20 percent over the winter and hadn’t recovered heading into spring. He commuted daily on US-322 between Mayfield Heights and downtown Cleveland and assumed the cold weather was permanently to blame. What we found…
