Check Charging System Warning Message

It's not going to charge until alternator is rotating.

 

I bought my 2018 Tacoma SR5 last week brand new.Waiting for my wife this morning listening to the radio for 10 minutes turned key forward to start and check charging system came up too with large battery below it. I know owners manual said not to do it for long periods of time.I called dealer they said no problem unless starter was draging trying to start or slow cranking.But that wasn't the issue fired right up no problem.It must be like an idiot light. LOL. Don't listen to radio without truck running.They also told me there were a lot of other things drawing power too not just the radio. So how does a person know that the system is not over charging and that is why it is coming up?

 

That is normal for that screen to come on like that, if the truck is running and it comes up then you have an issue.

 

Ok thanks I feel better about that now.

 

Have not tried yet, but using the radio at the drive-in scares me. Anyone use radio for 2hrs?

 

Drive-ins still exist?

 

Wish my local Drive-In had not closed a few years ago, was alot of fun.

 

A battery indicator LED was all that was needed or the message should have read running on battery power only, not "Check Charging System". The message in the middle of the screen telling you to check your charging system that when cleared still shows back up during the same time you are trying to do something like reset TPMS is just piss poor engineering. Tapping off the tachometer circuit is all the more that was needed to know the engine isn't turning and a charging voltage is not required at that point so once the message was cleared that should have been the end of it. Instead, you make people question what is going on during a process listed in the book to reset the tire pressure sensors without mentioning this will be on the display. I'm very mechanically inclined and more so, electronics is my background, but I ended up getting a volt meter out for no reason to check this. Again... piss poor engineering.

 

I agree, this is bad design. Have a new 2020 and will be having them check the battery on the first oil change. If this is normal it shouldn't show a warning, plain and simple.

 

When the message came up, I checked battery voltage with truck not running. Measured 12 volts. Cranked truck and got tad over 13 volts. This proved that charging system is putting out. Glad to read all the replies. Makes me feel better. Glad to find tacomaworld!!!

 

welcome!
It is kind of alarming, but we also get that it is looking for voltage while the engine isn't running.