Life of original battery

[ajctchr]

I was just wondering how long my original battery will last. I have an 03 H/L with 28,000mi. Do they put a 4 or 5 year battery in at the factory? Can anyone give me a ball park figure on how long they had their original battery before replacement? Thanks!

[toobroke]

Originally Posted by ajctchr

I was just wondering how long my original battery will last. I have an 03 H/L with 28,000mi. Do they put a 4 or 5 year battery in at the factory? Can anyone give me a ball park figure on how long they had their original battery before replacement? Thanks!

Running a 03 Highlander also and no problems with the battery. Was -27 C and the Highlander would not start but the battery turned the engine over no problem.

[jkaram7]

I have an '01 highlander and I have the same question.

[LifeTech]

Getting 5+ years on an O/E battery is getting your moneys worth.

Toyota generally warranties the battery for the length of the original warranty.

I find that the Japanese built Toyotas with The Panasonic branded batteries last very long . Hard to find this battery here in the USA.

I find that the Toyota Dealer replacement battieries are budget poor grade made of course by a domestic battery maker just rebranded to say Toyota on it. Never liked these batteries. Two years of use is about all yu get before it loses cranking power.

I like My Interstate Batteries. I skip the rest. Tried them all.

Remember there are only several battery manufacturers here in the US that make all the brands that you see out there.

i.E. Sears does not make the DieHard battery like so many people think.

[columbusyota]

I had the Panasonic battery in my '02 highlander. I was told by Toyota that it is rated for 36 months. I replaced it at 3 years so I'm not sure how long it would have lasted

[LifeTech]

Originally Posted by toobroke

Running a 03 Highlander also and no problems with the battery. Was -27 C and the Highlander would not start but the battery turned the engine over no problem.

Just curious...yu said your H/L would crank but no start?

-27 Celsius? wow where do yu live?

If I lived in Fairbanks or Anchorage, Alaska for example, I would always have my Mobil 1 Synthetic with 0w30 grade. And definitely an Engine Block heater installed. And make sure my antifreeze was approx 75% ratio for sure. Maintain a Full tank of fuel with a quality Gas Drying Agent.

It just has to start now!!

[gedwards3]

My 04 Highlander was delivered in Jan. 04. During a routine service in Dec. 06, the dealership discovered my battery was almost dead; HOWEVER, I live in South Florida. The summer heat just kills batteries here.

[hl]

The original is in my 2002--45,000 miles

[rcwebb]

Just replaced the original battery in my Tundra after it died without any warning. Started just fine when I left to go to lunch but when I came out of the restaurant, it wouldn't even turn over. Couldn't even get it to turn over with a jump. Luckily this was a certified used truck. I had to buy a battery, but not pay for the tow to the dealership. The service manager said if one cell goes dead, you can't jump the battery. I believe he wasn't just trying to make a sell because he didn't even have a battery in stock that would fit in my truck. The courtesy van drove me to a store so I could buy a battery. The dealer only charged $11 for the lift and to install my battery. I thought that was pretty good service.

The original battery was 3.5 years old.

[Dove]

I'm a newbie, and this was exactly the question I came in to post. I have just over 51K miles on my 2003 V6 4x4. Had my 50K mile service yesterday and got a "battery test" ticket from the service dept. The test indicated my battery was running at 403/550 CCA.

Battery replacement is highly recommended


LifeTech, you say you like the Interstate battery. Anyone else have a recommendation on a replacement battery?

[siennabram]

From past experience, both my 1994 Tercel and 2000 Sienna original batteries lasted just over 6 years. In both cases, the batteries were fine one moment then were completely dead with no warning signs. I'm going to replace the battery for my 2005 Highlander if I get to the 6 year mark to prevent history from repeating itself.

[Tom Hock]

[quote=rcwebb;578210]Just replaced the original battery in my Tundra after it died without any warning. Started just fine when I left to go to lunch but when I came out of the restaurant, it wouldn't even turn over. Couldn't even get it to turn over with a jump. Luckily this was a certified used truck. I had to buy a battery, but not pay for the tow to the dealership. The service manager said if one cell goes dead, you can't jump the battery.

I don't understand how a dead cell in your battery would have any effect with a jump start. The battery used for the jump start completely bypasses your in-car battery. You could completely remove your battery and a jump start would work.

[rcwebb]

[quote=Tom Hock;578416]

Originally Posted by rcwebb

Just replaced the original battery in my Tundra after it died without any warning. Started just fine when I left to go to lunch but when I came out of the restaurant, it wouldn't even turn over. Couldn't even get it to turn over with a jump. Luckily this was a certified used truck. I had to buy a battery, but not pay for the tow to the dealership. The service manager said if one cell goes dead, you can't jump the battery.

I don't understand how a dead cell in your battery would have any effect with a jump start. The battery used for the jump start completely bypasses your in-car battery. You could completely remove your battery and a jump start would work.

That is what I thought. I was hoping someone might shed some light on this. I didn't have time to question the service manager further about this, but since the battery was not under warranty, was 3.5 years old, and the manager wasn't trying to sell me one, I figured it might be dead. I haven't had any more problems since replacing it.

[LifeTech]

[quote=Tom Hock;578416]

Originally Posted by rcwebb

Just replaced the original battery in my Tundra after it died without any warning. Started just fine when I left to go to lunch but when I came out of the restaurant, it wouldn't even turn over. Couldn't even get it to turn over with a jump. Luckily this was a certified used truck. I had to buy a battery, but not pay for the tow to the dealership. The service manager said if one cell goes dead, you can't jump the battery.

I don't understand how a dead cell in your battery would have any effect with a jump start. The battery used for the jump start completely bypasses your in-car battery. You could completely remove your battery and a jump start would work.

This is exactly true. The only thing I could surmise is that a corroded terminal was at fault in this scenario causing an incomplete Jump Start circuit. Have seen this many times on a very neglected battery. But then the battery would technically NOT be at fault... and would be serviceable, albeit the rest of the charging circuit being in sound condition.

If a cell IS bad the battery IS no longer chargeable. But the engine is jumpable. A dead cell (One of six; usually an end cell)equates to a DEAD Short! Dead cells are the result of overcharging and low distilled water level and electrolytes( Sulfuric acid solution). Sometimes the battery has been deep cycled too many times or is just old from use. This is fundamental battery stuff.

I buy the Interstate with the longest warranty and Highest Cold Cranking rating that is available for the "Group Size"(Industry Jargon for Battery Type and Dimension). I never ever buy old battery stock older than 3 months sitting on the shelf. I check the date code on the side of the casing before I accept one. Batteries are NOT designed to sit whether Brand new or otherwise. And I bring my VOM to check voltage and if it is not topped off, (standing Voltage of 12.5+)I ask them to trickle for 1/2 hour while I shop elswhere. Any respectable Dealer will do this if yu ask them too for the reasons above.

I tell people who buy used cars to check the battery date code and if it is approaching 3 years to swap it out, even though it might appear fine, and start fresh with something yu know IS Good!

But Interstate stuff has not let me down. I feel Sears Diehards were great 15+ years ago. Now they are made to different specs contracted to another Mfr. Diehards have been plagued with warranty returns and their policy hurts yu in the pocket. They are not rated well although many motorists are brand loyal and accept Sears Marketting at it's best.

You Generally pay for what yu get.

I have gotten more than 7 years with Interstate's with routine care and testing. But, remember there is no battery that lasts forever. No one can put a time frame on a battery. Yu monitor it for capacity, keep it clean and terminals lubed and yu change when it falls below Amp Capac.

There are probably a few other good Batteries out there, but I find Interstate has been consistent with Serviceability. And that leads to confidence when I or my wife go to start the car far from home on a dark rainy night in the middle of nowhere.
I guess I'm Brand loyal in this situation.

FYI, be advised ther are Cold Climate and Hot Climate batteries sold depending on your geographical area.

Many years back, I had a Sears Diehard purchased here in Norteast where I live and took a vacation down in Florida. I had problems with a bad cell always using fluid (going bad).

I warranteed the battery in Fla. and the battery ended up failing in the following winter months because of the Cold climate.

Research showed that batteries ARE regionally designed. Part numbers back this up. This is Industry wide.

I could go on but that's another thread.

Sorry for the long post . I can be long winded. Those reading, know this.

LT

[prae]

I got over 5 years of life out of the panasonic branded original battery in my '01. When I purchased a new one the old one tested at about 350CCA (originally rated at 800CCA i believe), and it was working fine on warmer days.

The fresh battery sure does make a difference on cold starts though