Causes of premature hybrid battery Malaysia

Dear CHOCoM members...

I've read in almost every conceivable websites and online sources on Toyota Camry hybrid trying to find out the problems associated with the car such as the problem with regard to the hybrid battery and it was really difficult to find one. Virtually, all the owners and car reviewers around the globe have nothing negative to say but sang praises about the car.

Majority of them collectively agree that the car is so comfortable. The owners also vouched for its bulletproof reliability. Another good feature mentioned by the owners is its excellent fuel economy. And not much was said about the reliability and durability of the hybrid battery.

Surmise to say that practically all the Camry hybrid owners around the world were very satisfied with the car except for some unfortunate owners in Malaysia. They have reservations about the reliability of the battery What could be the reasons for the problem?

If you refer to the Camry hybrid battery survey that I just put up in the group - as of 3:51 pm today a total of 31 respondents have said that they had no problems with the traction battery but 4 owners have claimed that they have replaced prematurely the main battery under warranty- What is the reason for having the battery problem?. Are the batteries supplied in Malaysia of low quality?

I don't have the answers but my wild guesses are that the style of driving of Malaysian drivers is different. I believe that the Malaysian drivers of Camry hybrid are of a different age category. Here, most of the owners and drivers of the hybrid are young people of the age of 28-40 years old compared to the States where the buyers are senior citizens or people in the age range of 50 to 80 years old. Those in the US drive slow and they use the car mainly to commute. But the young Malaysian drivers tend to drive the Camry like a sports car and they drive nothing short of 150 km/hr along the North-South Plus highways all day. I believe the fast driving plus heavy revving really put a strain on the hybrid battery and that probably causes the battery to have a short lifespan.

Another possibility is the extremely hot weather in the country. The Panasonic battery although very durable could not possibly withstand the hot and humid weather in the country. To aggravate the situation some drivers always prefer to use the eco mode or the electric mode as much as possible to extract better mileage from the car. This too could be the reason why batteries in some cars in Malaysia go kaput earlier than expected.

I would just like to point out that the problem with the battery is still not very alarming. Still, only a handful of owners are rather unfortunate to have the problem with the hybrid battery. The majority of the owners are extremely happy with the performance of the car. I am personally enjoying my hybrid and I hope it will continue to be problem free for at least another 5 years.

Happy motoring..

The problem with UMW Toyota

Dear much respected CHOCoM members...

I really find it difficult to write this post. I really don't know where to start, and don't know how to actually convey my mood or set the tone of the text. I will, however, try my best to be very objective and not too emotional ...

Do you still remember the email that we sent to UMW- TOYOTA Malaysia on the 28th of SEPT. regarding Camry Hybrid on several issues pertaining to 
1. Out-dated Mirror link
2. Spongy brake system
3. Low-quality sound system
4. Low-quality paint job
5. Outdated map
6. Outdated head unit

And today ... after a few weeks, I called up their executive by the name of En. Ariff who stoically pointed out that they had deliberated the issues at length and have decided not to meet us as a group because there is nothing new to discuss. In other words, they were saying the issues that we have raised were non-issues and they were nothing new to deliberate. Hence, there was no need for a meeting.

I will release the content of the letter which will be sent to me via this channel for all of you to see once I managed to get hold of the reply from Toyota headquarters (All these remarks here were based on my tel. conversations with En Ariff.)

From my discussion with Mr. Ariff and the manner of how UMW -Toyota Malaysia deals with its customers my conclusion is that UMW Toyota Malaysia is just too big, too insensitive towards its loyal customers. To me, they have forgotten that we are the customers who have built the company to become a multi-billion dollar company. I believe they have lost touch with their customers base in Malaysia.

If you asked me personally whether I would buy a Toyota again after this fiasco? My answer, for now, is NO. A big NO. Not that Toyota is not a good car- it really is -but the PR aspect of the company i.e- the principal agent for TOYOTA which is UMW. I will not buy a Toyota from UMW Toyota anymore. Period... They just should learn to be more modern in their customer outreach. As for members of CHOCoM, the decision is ultimately yours.

Dr. Salleh
President
CHOCoM
Camry Hybrid Owners Club Malaysia

(For your information, the current President of UMW Toyota is Mr. Ravindran Kurusamy who coincidentally studied in the same university as me in the United States)

The New Camry Hybrid 2019

Dear CHOCoM members...

Tomorrow the so-called new Toyota Camry will be shown at all Toyota dealers in Malaysia. The new Camry is labeled as the "Beautiful beast". I don't know whether this 2019 model is truly a beast but its design language is surely a big departure from the old which is a conservatively designed model or more or less the uncle or "Pak Cik" type design.

A piece of really sad news for CHOCoM members is that the new model will not include the hybrid variant. This is because the new Pakatan government (PH) has decided not to continue the tax incentive deduction as practiced by the previous BN government. The importation of the hybrid model from Thailand or Australia will surely result in higher prices which will definitely make it very uncompetitive in view of the more luxurious cars like C200 or the BMW 318 in terms of pricing.

The new Camry will be sold at RM 189 K without insurance as compared to the "old hybrid model" which was sold only at RM 163K. Some of us even managed to secure the car at 155K after huge rebates. The prices sold in Malaysia is not far off from established competitors like Mercedes C 200 which can be bought at RM 210 K or the Passat 2.0 Turbo with GTI engine at RM 160 K and BMW 318 at RM 190 - 200 K.

CHOCoM members could also rejoice that the new Camry is sold with the old 2.5 V engine rated at 184 PS at 600 rpm and 235 NM at 4,100 rpm. This old engine is also coupled with old 6-speed Aisin manufactured transmission. What a disappointment it is !!! ...But I'm not surprised by the action and thinking of UMW Toyota Malaysia headed by NAU graduate (a US graduate) Mr. Ravindran.who is more concerned about maximizing profit at the expense of the more demanding consumers.

However, those in Thailand would rejoice as their car comes with the new 2.5-liter Dynamic Force Engine with 208 PS and 252 Nm of torque with new eight-speed automatic transmission. The performance of the new Camry with this new engine is expected to be more refined and efficient.

Would I upgrade my "old car" and get the new Camry 2019? The answer is a big NO ....NO. I'm just not eager to get the car with an old engine and transmission and sold at a premium price. I would gladly get a Mercedes C 200 or the VW Passat with its 2.0 Turbo engine at a much cheaper price instead. Sorry UMW Toyota you have not made a wise decision...

Beautiful Beast-Camry Hybrid

Dear CHOCoM members..

Today is 15 /12/2018 and I was contemplating of getting rid of 100 grams of my excess weight by jogging around Putrajaya but the weather did not permit me to do that as it was raining cats and dogs.

Instead, I decided to visit Toyota showroom in Bangi to see the all-new " beautiful monster" to see for myself how beautiful the beast is. I drove to section 7 of the academic town and parked my car about 60 meters away from the Toyota dealership...

I walked straight into the showroom and there was the beautiful monster greeting me and smiling at me arrogantly...I immediately invited myself into the car and jumped onto the seat behind the steering wheel and gawking at the handsomely designed instrument clusters.
..Wow!!... the instrument panel looks much more inviting and more luxurious and executive compared to the old model that we are driving...the interior is definitely more upmarket and more expensive and can be mistaken for a low specs Lexus.. While enjoying the instrument cluster suddenly a piece of paper with a colorful brochure appeared in front of my face with a gentle voice reminding me that the car sells for RM 189,000...I think the salesman by the name of Kelvin was trying to make me think twice and I don't blame him as I was sloppily dressed...

I noticed the exterior of the car is also more dynamic and the paint job was much better compared to our car... The quality of the paint job is outstanding and it was very glossy and lustrous and comparable to paint job on continental cars like Peugeot and Mercedes

I also love the center console of the car with its perfect height and makes it very comfortable to rest your arm on a long journey... I noticed that the car also comes with an electronic handbrake which we all love compared to our footbrake...

Overall, I think the car looks handsome but it is still not worth the premium price that UMW Toyota is charging us.. If the car comes with the new engine like the dynamic force,I think CHOCoM members could consider buying it...I love the Camry but I don't adore UMW Toyota... I feel that Toyota Japan should buy out UMW and give us all the latest offerings. We the consumers and loyal buyers of Toyota products deserve some rewards through the state of the art offerings by Toyota Japan like what the buyers in the US are getting.. Tenkiu.

First problem of Camry hybrid (Water -pump)

Dear at CHOCoM members...
I've just collected my car a while ago after spending overnight (the car not me) at Toyota service center to replace the water pump. The water pump has gone kaput at 85 K kilometers and 4 years of life. This is indeed a rare problem for Camry hybrid.

The mechanical part of the water pump is still good but the electronic part has been damaged by an irregular surge of voltage from an unknown source... My habits of immediately switching off the air-con on to full blast after starting the engine could be the cause ...I'm not very sure... It was just my conjecture.

My advice to members is not to meddle with the electrical system/power voltage of the car. Jump starting the car is also not encouraged...

PS 4 for Camry Hybrid

Dear CHOCoM members

I've been using PS 4 tyres for more than 2 years (55k). So far I'm fully satisfied with its sharp performance. Despite being a performance tyre, the ride comfort and quietness have been outstanding. The only problem that makes me have a reservation about continuing it's usage is the steep pricing. It costs more than RM 500 a piece and you multiply that by 4 and you know how much we have to spend on a new pair of shoes.
I also believe that it's rather an overkill if I continue using the tyres on Camry when the car is actually meant for ride comfort. Why spend so much money on tyres when you're just driving a family sedan? I think the main reason is probably we are satisfying our cravings for something branded ..
If you look at my tires I have a few more thousand kilometers at hand before I need to change the tyres. My next choice would probably be something cheaper like Korean made tyres or Sime tyres/ Continental tyres. Most likely it would be a Hankook..

Tyre Options for Camry Hybrid

Morning guys...

One of the most important things in maintaining a car is getting the best tyres. At 85 ,000 kilometers, I'm now considering and deliberating again which tyres to go for my Toyota Camry hybrid. We have been spoilt for choices in terms of the options that we have. Down here, I would list down the best tyres from my own perspectives based on my usage of the tyres and also based on my readings of the reviews of tires by tyre experts.

1. Michelin PIlot Sport 4
If money is not an issue, my first choice would be Michelin PS 4. I've been using these tyres for the last 2 1/2 years and extremely satisfied with its performance. I would always show off a bit around corners in Putrajaya and on B roads if there are Myvi drivers around just to show who's the boss . The best part of the tyre is the wet and dry grips. It will just stick to the road surface like glue when cornering hard. Nothing beats this tyre for overall performace. The only drawback is the exorbitant price which is around RM 500 a piece. I also noticed a bit of "looseness " in term of high-speed stability of the tyre but this could just be my subjective impression. The big surprise that I like about the tyre is how quiet it is for a high-performance tyre.

2. Michelin PS 3
This would have been my second choice. I've not had any experience using this tyre but reviews for this tyre are just exemplary. It's said that this tyre is even better than PS 4 in the wet which is very important factor in rainy Malaysia. We really need good tyres for the wet grip especially in these few months of the monsoon season. This tyre is probably the best compromise for all important aspects of tyre ownership including the price. Heard it can be bought at RM 400 a piece.

3. Continental Premium Contact.
This is the tyre that I used when I was driving the last generation of Honda Accord.I love the tyre for its comfort and dry grip. The tyre is reasonably quiet but not as quiet as the PS 4. BMWs and Mercedes Benzes are known to use these tyres for their luxury cars. The problem with the tyre is the pricing. There's not much difference between this and the Michelin PS 4 and as such the latter is the best option.

4.Goodyear Excellence.

Goodyear used to be the best tyres to have but somehow they have lost the title. Nowadays, not many people have used this brand in their luxury cars.The brand is more popular amongst the A and C classes owners. The price of the tyre hovers around RM 350 which is quite reasonable. The performance of the tyre is mostly average although the thread lasts quite long. I was using this tyre when driving my Honda Civic. Just a mediocre tyre.

5. Bridgestone Turanza ER 33

This is the OEM tyre for Camry hybrid.I love the dry grip of the tyre but the biggest problem is the noise that it emits. This is among the noisiest tyre around and will get even louder towards the end of its life. I actually changed this tyre at 32 thousand kilometers and felt happy about it even though high-speed stability of the tyre is excellent. Another drawback is the comfort which is not that good.

6. Hankook Kinergy Gt

If money is the biggest issue, this is the tyre that I would get for my Camry Hybrid. You can actually get this tyre at around RM 300. I've used this brand on my Myvi and quite happy with the performance. The tyre is not that noisy and handling is not that bad. I've heard that this tyre (Kinergy) is now made OEM tyre for the new Toyota Camry in Japan... Yes, the new Camry that was just introduced recently at RM 189 K.

So, guys , these are my takes on tyres for Toyota Camry. I hope this will help you to some extent to choose the best tyre for your ride. Please comment further to help out our other members to decide the best option.

Happy motoring

The Glory of Camry hybrid Malaysia

Dear CHOCoM comrades...

The glory of the "Kamuri " or the Crown has come to an end for owners of XV 50..Toyota Camry derives its name from the Japanese word Kamuri or Crown which lasted from 2011 until 2018. The new year ushered the new XV 70 known as the" beautiful beast " with its curvaceous shape which reflects the new design language of the Japanese with more aggressive front end styling.FYI, the Camry is also known as the Aurion in Australia and the Daihatsu Altis in Japan.

In the Malaysian market, the Toyota hybrid is endowed with the 2.5-liter ARFE coupled with the Atkinson cycle producing 180 horsepower and 213 n.m of torque at 4500 rpm. Enough power to embarrass a Mercedes E class at the starting point because of its instant torque.

Some of our members are also taking advantage of the end of the era by buying new models like the electrifying Volvo and the awesome BMW G20. Sad for the group but I'm happy for the new owners for getting a better and more expensive ride.

Some members do not know that the same platform (K platform) used in the old Toyota Camry XV 50 is also being used in the beautiful Lexus model like the RX 350. The same platform is also used in the tough heavy duty truck, the Highlander, which is very popular in the United States.

Some owners have cited the probability of the traction battery giving up before the 8 years warranty period as the main reason for buying new cars..

However, for the current owners please not to worry so much because the cost of the battery will definitely come down.It is believed that the price of the battery now is around 6- 8 K. The traction battery in the hybrid will definitely last long but it all depends on how we maintain the car, the way we drive the car and the age of the vehicle.

Hoping that those members who have graduated to please not to forget us but continue to be part of the Camry hybrid community and to continue contributing in terms of knowledge..

Alternative tires for Camry hybrid

Last few days, I was scouting for cheaper tires for my Camry hybrid. I have to be a bit thrifty considering that I'm still supporting my youngest son who is still studying in Korea. I managed to narrow down to some specific tires that I would buy. Amongst them include Hankook Kinergy Gt tyres that I managed to secure at RM 320 a piece. This tire is now an OEM tire for the latest version of CBU Camry in Japan. It's an all-season tire that is good for overall handling for a sporty sedan like Camry hybrid.

I also considered a more sporty and aggressive Indonesian made performance tire of the same brand namely Hankook S1 Noble 1 at RM 330 a piece. The review of the tyre has been good and positive. The tire is very quiet with quite good handling albeit a bit soft in terms of its side wall to cater for a more comfortable ride.

Another tire that I thought of buying was the Primacy 3 that is selling at RM 380 a piece in Kajang. The tire is excellent for quietness and for wet and dry handling and would have been my choice in this economic situation. This tire was very popular in the last few years and is still good for today's need but considered a little outdated.

But my favorite tire has always been PS 4 but money is the prime consideration and also I felt that it's an overkill for a car like Camry. But when I woke up this morning I noticed that my car already has four new shoes, Primacy 4... I thought it was magic or miracle that happened but it was my eldest son who changed my "botak" old PS 4 to the new Primacy 4. This tire is excellent for comfort and quietness. The compound is also very soft but it would last longer compared to PS 3 and 4 because of less rolling resistance. ( One aspect that potential buyers have to take note is that the steering will become lighter unlike the PS 4 which felt heavier and tires felt more planted. If cornering fast is your passion then the PS 4 is your choice. Primacy 4 is more of a touring tire designed for comfort. The confidence of fast corning can be assured if you used PS 4.)

So far I'm quite satisfied with the tires although I still missed the PS 4 handling. Once you have owned a Michelin is so difficult to downgrade to another cheaper alternative. A Mercedes owner would find it difficult to drive another brand. I rate 8/10 for Primacy 4 and 9.6/10 for PS 4).

Tq Dr Irfan, semuga anakku sentiasa di berkati Allah dan di murahkan rezeki.

Causes of hybrid failure Malaysia

Salam to all members...

For all those out there considering to buy a hybrid vehicle, fear no more because the hybrid battery is utterly reliable. In fact, Toyota is giving out an 8-year warranty to all its buyers of hybrid vehicles in Malaysia. However, the lifespan of the battery depends on a number of factors but primarily on the driving habits of the owners...In the real world, on average the hybrid battery will last between 5 to 12 years. But on occasions, the battery will fail prematurely as shown by our CHOCoM respondents in our very own survey. So ...what are the main causes of the failure of the hybrid battery? Why does the battery suddenly die a premature death?

The main factor is HEAT...heat is the greatest enemy of the hybrid battery...The extreme temperatures in Malaysia at 30-35 degrees Celcius on a normal day is just too unbearable for the Panasonic battery in the Camry hybrid to withstand. Those owners (total 16 owners but the number fluctuates) who reported problems with the hybrid batteries actually frequently drive in urban stop and go with air cond. on... This is the main cause of much of battery failure. The hybrid just battery could not withstand the heat generated from the stop and go style of driving.

CHOCoM members style of driving the car furiously at 13O km hour ( I suspect much higher) is also a major cause for premature hybrid battery failure in Malaysia. In the United States, the Camry is considered as a truly family sedan and driven leisurely for most of the time. They usually drive between 80 to 110 km an hour on the highway. That is why the traction battery there lasts for years. Due to its reliability and fuel efficiency, the Camry hybrid is also the choice of many taxi companies.

But in Malaysia, with the average age of Camry owners of between 25- 35 years of age, the Camry is driven differently usually aggressively. With its potent powerplant and instant torque, these young drivers tend to drive aggressively and furiously forgetting that its a family car with batteries in the boot. To them its a Panamera to be driven hard. They really put the pressure on the battery with long journeys and constant high speed. All these factors with high temperature and humidity it can turn even reliable material to fail prematurely.

In short, the main reason why there is a premature battery failure in Malaysia is because of the heat ...This is compounded by our high temperature and very high humidity. Having said that I can still conclude that instances of battery failure in Malaysia are not too high judging from the number of Toyota Camry hybrids sold in Malaysia. The number I think is less than 3 % of total cars sold in the country.