how long before your battery is dead?

[paddlenbike]

When my 4Runner sits for a week without driving it, the starter will spin noticeably slower than usual. After 9 days it needs to be jumped. I am currently using a 3-year old Napa Orbital battery (similar to Optima) and it has eaten an Optima about every three years. (Optima is getting a bad wrap these days, so who knows...) Everyone keeps telling me that modern cars will draw a battery down that quickly when not driven, but I have my doubts. How many vacationers do you know that fly out for 9 days to come back to a dead battery in the airport parking lot? It doesn't seem like a common occurrence to me.

I do not have any full-time power electrical system mods--everything I have added electrical-wise turns on with the ignition.

[4x4mike]

I am of no help as my junk never sits for more than 2 days and starts strong (except for when the starter contacts went bad). I can be of help if you need to get a new battery. What do you think about your alternator? Might be worth the time to have your system load tested. Most places do it for free.

[RobG]

While my 93 is far from a modern vehicle my old Red Top would only last about 2 weeks max before needing a jump.

Switched to a Sears Platinum (AKA Odyssey) and have let it sit over 3 weeks with no noticeable loss in power. Not sure how relevant that is to your situation but it is the best battery I have had yet.

Glad to Here you are making a speedy recovery.

[4x4mike]

I had 2 different red tops in my Chevy and after 5 days of sitting it would need a jump. Sometimes up in Tahoe in the winter it would need a jump in the morning. I replaced it with a Sears Platnium and never had a problem. It was a very nice battery and with core it was around $160 out the door. I was going to swap it in the 4runner when I sold the truck but the battery wouldn't come close to fitting in the 4runner.

[paddlenbike]

My alternator seems strong, putting out somewhere around 15V at the battery with the engine running.

Rob, it seems to me I was having the exact same problem on my '94 V6 and I also ran Optimas on that truck. Maybe I just need to get away from the spiral cell type of battery.

Thanks for the offer Mike, I am not planning to do anything about it just yet. One of those dashboard solar panels would probably work well for the airport parking lot scenario.

[garrett]

my optima red top used to go dead in a few days, but i finally found the source of the drain (i had made it where the rear window was able to be operated any time). i reversed that wiring back to original and now it doesn't drain. can't tell you how long it lasts now though, at least a week. it usually doesn't sit more than 7 or 8 days though. good luck.

[MTL_4runner]

FWIW, my truck will sit for as long as a month and still have enough juice (in summer) to fire up the truck just fine. Winter up here can drain even a good battery pretty quickly so the time of year is an important part of the equation. I'm also using a bone stock OEM Toyota battery.

[Good Times]

Ken,

I've had a collection of dual yellows (prob gone thru 4 or 5) and they weren't the "best" in longevity when not used often. Since my 4runner was decommissioned from dd use early in its life, I finally gave up on the Optimas and now use the Sears Platinum Die Hard (Odyssey) batteries. I have two and had them installed in Aug 08. I've driven my 4runner a total of 6 times now since and it still starts like a champ!

I say pick up one of these and you'll be happy!

[4x4mike]

My alternator seems strong, putting out somewhere around 15V at the battery with the engine running.

Rob, it seems to me I was having the exact same problem on my '94 V6 and I also ran Optimas on that truck. Maybe I just need to get away from the spiral cell type of battery.

Thanks for the offer Mike, I am not planning to do anything about it just yet. One of those dashboard solar panels would probably work well for the airport parking lot scenario.


Alternator needs to be tested under load.

[CJM]

I sell batteries thru AAA as a contract (among other things) for a living.

1. You live in cali you will get 3 years or less out of a battery, heat kills them.

2. Depending on what you have in there (is it a 24F or a 35 series battery) it may be the wrong battery.

3. Modern cars I have noticed have a huge drain, I cannot figure it out really-however our trucks shouldnt have that much unless you have a stereo system, or other high drain devices-remember your HU, amp and such are usually wired to be on ALL the time. Also, your computer and HU are always on period-how do you think it remembers w/e? However get this-I have one of our older exide batts in my T100, it has never failed to start or needed a jump and I drove it literally a dozen times in the past 6 months at most, probably less. But I have an old ass HU and nothing is powered when they truck is off unless I leave it on.

4. Napa isnt exactly a good battery and neither is optimas-junk imho. Sears platinum, Odyssey, and such are VERY good batts. Regular old sears is pretty good, so is deka, and interstate. Exide is crap, thats all we used to carry and they switched cause they kept dying. Whomever makes napa is so so, walmart, pepboys, autozone, etc arent the greatest either/ The maker counts for so much more than you think.

5. Not driving your car and the battery drains means you have a constant drain and recharge cycle-not a good thing. Eventually this causes a bad cell or the battery will no longer accept a charge.

I would say that your battery is probably toast. CHeck it without a load for the alt and turn on your highbeams and fan on all the way and see-shouldnt dip more than about 13v or so. But I say its toast, buy yourself a sears platinum, oddessy, or similar. Other thing is you need a modern tester to check them. We got new ones last year-other ones we used were 12 years old-new one can detect everything-battery good, bad, needs charge, bad cell-find someone who has one and WATCH them peform the test. Dont trust napa/autozone or w/e.

[paddlenbike]

Those Sears Platinums are expensive at $179, but I'm paying $110 now for the spiral cell type batteries (optima/napa orbital) and they have the same 3-year life as a $60 Walmart battery. So basically I'm getting the worst value possible now.

Here are some things said about the Platinum that seem to apply to my situation:

The P-1 Platinum Automotive Battery from DieHard features 135 minutes of reserve capacity and 880 cold cranking amps. Its corrosion-resistant high quality tin-coated brass terminals provide reliable starting power in all weather conditions. Its rugged, military-grade construction features robust casing for increased compression and offers superior vibration resistance, making it ideal for off-road applications.

Longer off-season storage time - show cars & classic cars

[Seanz0rz]

i bought a platnum, so far its been great! my last battery leaked out of the top. alot.

[reggie 00]

Cant you read the draw on your battery while it sits and the start removing fuses to help identify the source of the draw?

My Red top is killing me too, it will sit for a few days and I'll go out to do something and the thing will be dead. I have an alarm in it so I'm thinking that might have something to do with it.

Im thinking a sears die hard and a solar panel in the dash are up on the list here shortly.

[CJM]

^ Dont buy the batteries with vents for our trucks, try and find the newer ones (I know deka has them) with the side vents.

BTW if your truck takes a 24F what batt did you use? I tried a 34 a long time ago but it wouldnt work and I didnt wanna mess with the cables.

[paddlenbike]

I can't remember what group size is in there now and I probably won't see the 4Runner for at least another couple of weeks. There seems to be a common trend among these optimas though...

[garrett]

Cant you read the draw on your battery while it sits and the start removing fuses to help identify the source of the draw?

yep, thats how i found out where i had a constant draw.

[CJM]

Our trucks can only take 1 of 2 batteries b/c of the side the positive terminal is.

1. A 35 series which is NOT the correct one, it has to low a CCA rating period for even a 4cyl corolla imho.

2. A 24F/34R series (same battery). Usually around 700cca or better.

Anything else is not properly fit, you have your own cabling you did or something aint right.

Heres what I intend to buy unless sears starts making them: http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc1500rt.htm

[Seanz0rz]

i have a series 35. while this is technically not the correct battery, it works great for my application. i will be going to a dual battery setup soon, so i should not have a problem with cca's. plus its never really colder than 20 degrees, and usually never colder than 35.

[CJM]

Yea by you it will work fine, here it gets to cold for such a battery to work.

Did you see my link, odyssey batts now make a "34R" which will work for us as it is the same as a 24F.

[paddlenbike]

After sitting in the garage with my headlights on for 3-5 minutes the battery I was bi*@#$ about earlier went so dead the radio wouldn't even work. This was the last $130 battery I will ever buy, it's back to the $60 specials for me--at least I could get more than 2.5 years out of them. The OEM Panasonic battery that my 4Runner came with lasted far longer than anything else I have used, but I think I recall that they do not meet U.S. environmental regulations so they cannot be purchased separately?

[MTL_4runner]

After sitting in the garage with my headlights on for 3-5 minutes the battery I was bi*@#$ about earlier went so dead the radio wouldn't even work. This was the last $130 battery I will ever buy, it's back to the $60 specials for me--at least I could get more than 2.5 years out of them. The OEM Panasonic battery that my 4Runner came with lasted far longer than anything else I have used, but I think I recall that they do not meet U.S. environmental regulations so they cannot be purchased separately?


I'm sure the dealer has a substitute, why not just buy that? I've been running OEM Toyota batteries for quite some time and never got less than 4 years from one even through brutal winters and having the truck sit for months at a time without use.

[mastacox]

FWIW, I have a Optima Red-Top in my 4Runner and it's always gotten me where I need to go. The battery is going on 5 years old now (I've owned the 4Runner for 3 years, and the PO put the battery in a while before I bought it). I've let my truck sit for a couple of weeks ata a time and it always starts strongly (even when its 15F outside).

I would do the fuse box test, it seems like a lot of you guys have some drains in the system...

[Nick]

I have an Odyssey 1700T battery that I got about 2 1/2 years ago. I've never had to jump it; longest record for it starting when sitting was nearly two months! I will never buy anything else.

The Sears Platinum is the Odyssey PC1500T. Well worth the money.

[Seanz0rz]

my sears platinum just sat for over a month, i started it a couple of times, ran it less than 2 minutes (just to move the truck, so not enough to really charge it, in fact it probably made a huge dent in it) and it always started up no problem. much better than my old autozone battery. it would have been dead in a week

[Crinale]

i dont even know whats in my runner... all i know is the PO put it in, and it starts strong every time... i think it may be a toyota battery... but it usually takes 1-2 cranks to start it, even if its been sitting for a week...

[Good Times]

Sears Platinum (Odyssey rebrand) has been solid for me. Installed last fall right before Pismo and I've only driven the 4runner on 4 trips since the install.

Pismo (Oct 08)
Kings Canyon (June 09)
Big Bear (July 09)
Pismo (Sept 09)

The rest of the time it's sat in the driveway with almost no activity. Did start her up a few times just to move the truck so I can work on it. So far I'm pleased with the purchase.

[Crinale]

i dont even know whats in my runner... all i know is the PO put it in, and it starts strong every time... i think it may be a toyota battery... but it usually takes 1-2 cranks to start it, even if its been sitting for a week...


i actually looked at it yesterday, and i was wrong, the battery is a wally world special :-P... i must have been confusing it with the battery in my subaru that was definitely a factory one

[paddlenbike]

I am reviving this thread from the dead. It looks like my 4Runner needs another battery, which is no surprise considering I have let the battery get so low in charge several times in the past few months that it wouldn't start the truck. I looked through my maintenance history and I replaced the OEM Panasonic battery in 2005 when it died after a week-long trip in Death Valley. I used an Optima redtop that lasted until late 2006. Put another one in it that lasted until 2007. Put a Napa Orbital in that lasted until 2009. In this post (http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthread.php?7867-how-long-before-your-battery-is-dead&p=76804&viewfull=1#post76804) in 2009 I said I would never buy another expensive battery again and I dropped in an old-school lead acid DieHard and it lasted from 10/22/09 until today...a solid 6 years. This is the only example I can think of where the cheap product lasts longer than the expensive product. Off to Sears for another DieHard...

[Kryptoroxx]

I run the interstate batteries and have never been disappointed with the life span.

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[paddlenbike]

Ive heard good things about Interstate. I'll check on them now.

[YotaFun]

The most I have ever gotten out of a lead acid battery is maybe 3-5 years, depending on the vehicle. The 4Runner has been a consistent 3 years, the Camry is every 5 (So far, this is battery number 2 on me that I am about to put in).

I would think the hotter weather of Cali would make the battery deplete faster then here in the northeast with the bitter cold to extremely hot and humid days.

[Seanz0rz]

Heard great things about Interstate. I believe they now make the Kirkland Signature batteries at Costco (or at least they did).

I have a Diehard Platinum and it's been a great battery. Just be careful with what charger you put on them, that's how I killed my last one.

[paddlenbike]

You won't hear me complain about getting 5-6 years out of a $60 battery. I was NOT happy paying $170 a pop for gel cell batteries that were lasting just over 1 year.

I picked up a Group 24F Interstate battery at Costco for $82.99. It comes with a free 42 month non-prorated replacement if it dies within that period. Not bad for the money.

Sean, can you explain what you mean on the chargers? I have a battery tender jr that I use if I know the truck will be sitting for a while.

[Kryptoroxx]

The most I have ever gotten out of a lead acid battery is maybe 3-5 years, depending on the vehicle. The 4Runner has been a consistent 3 years, the Camry is every 5 (So far, this is battery number 2 on me that I am about to put in).

I would think the hotter weather of Cali would make the battery deplete faster then here in the northeast with the bitter cold to extremely hot and humid days.


I have never put a new battery in the 98. I bought it with a 2 year old interstate battery in 2010 and it is still under the hood even with it getting the crap baked out of it every summer. Granted when I go back east and it freezes I will probably need a new one quickly.

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[Seanz0rz]

Ken, I have seen and heard that some of the AGM and certainly the Gel Cell batteries need different charging voltages than a standard Lead Acid. I am not sure if I really buy that for the AGM. I killed two die hard batteries that way. I will be buying a new battery charger soon, although it hasn't become much of a problem now that I drive the 4runner regularly.

[paddlenbike]

Ken, I have seen and heard that some of the AGM and certainly the Gel Cell batteries need different charging voltages than a standard Lead Acid. I am not sure if I really buy that for the AGM. I killed two die hard batteries that way. I will be buying a new battery charger soon, although it hasn't become much of a problem now that I drive the 4runner regularly.

Thanks Sean. I read the FAQ for the battery tender jr and apparently it is compatible with AGM batteries. Mine is just a regular sealed lead acid, as far as I know.

[YotaFun]

Granted when I go back east and it freezes I will probably need a new one quickly.

Yup definitely, hear in the Northeast it got brutal cold here for long periods of time, all our vehicles had issues starting in the morning...

[Kryptoroxx]

I got a pleasant surprise. I checked under the hood of my new 08 highlander and while it needed a jump for the test drive they threw in a brand new interstate battery! Very happy with that dealership

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[YotaFun]

Before I left Toyota, our supplier for new batteries was switching to Interstate.
IIRC it was pretty much a relabeled Interstate battery (had Toyota on it but said powered by Interstate or something along those lines)

[toyotech]

I keep all my toys on a tender.

[Kryptoroxx]

I keep all my toys on a tender.
I put my buddies 4runner on a tender when he deployed last time. I need to get one for the 4runner soon as I will be living a mile from the school. If I can't bike it's pretty damn cold and it will take longer for me to get to school taking time warming up the truck.

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