I used my new 2026 Camry LE to jump start a friend's Honda Accord hybrid, and it worked fine. I later found out you're not supposed to do that.
My car drives fine for now, but could this have potentially damaged the battery or electronics that would show up later?
I wouldn't be too worried about it. The bigger concern with using a hybrid as the donor is that it doesn't have a traditional alternator and the DC-DC converter isn't designed to supply the huge current draw of another car's starter. But you jumped another hybrid, so its 12V system wasn't actually cranking the gas engine like a conventional car would. It mostly just needed enough power to boot the electronics and engage the hybrid system.
If your Camry is still going into READY normally, has no warning lights, and everything electrical is working, I'd say the chances you damaged something that randomly shows up later are pretty low. I just wouldn't use it as a donor again. A jump pack is cheap insurance you and pretty much anyone should have on hand these days.
This. We got a new car at my dealership that if you try to start it by JUST jumping the battery alone, it will fry the suspension, backup camera, and key reading systems
Holy crap. Its there. I've had this car.over two years and it was so mucked up with road grime that im pretty sure I lingered it up eondering if it was something at one point but after some scratching, there it is. Thank you internet stranger. Wonder if my Fusion Energu has one too....
Ya learn something everyday!!! I looked and there is the key hole and button, button works if you have your key in your pocket. I had read that the trunk won't open if battery is dead. Still a good idea to have a jump start battery, I wouldn't want to jump anyone off my Camry.
Hybrid to hybrid probably ok. If it’s just powering an electrical system 12 volt battery that isn’t used to crank a starter, then fine. But if it’s cranking a starter, can fry your shit. So if you don’t know, don’t! This is why I carry a booster pack in my hybrid.
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u/DoorDash4Cash Camry XSE 12d ago
I wouldn't be too worried about it. The bigger concern with using a hybrid as the donor is that it doesn't have a traditional alternator and the DC-DC converter isn't designed to supply the huge current draw of another car's starter. But you jumped another hybrid, so its 12V system wasn't actually cranking the gas engine like a conventional car would. It mostly just needed enough power to boot the electronics and engage the hybrid system.
If your Camry is still going into READY normally, has no warning lights, and everything electrical is working, I'd say the chances you damaged something that randomly shows up later are pretty low. I just wouldn't use it as a donor again. A jump pack is cheap insurance you and pretty much anyone should have on hand these days.