Has anybody killed a battery yet?

I'll present an alternative theory, OP did you special order your vehicle or did the dealership have it in stock??

I work at a dealership and premature battery failure is pretty common amongst all brands that I've worked for, most of the time when we look back into the vehicles history we find it was an old unit when sold. Since your Tacoma is a 6spd manual in BLUE its a unique and really cool ride for sure, but its one of those units that often takes months to find a home.

If it sat at the dealership for 2-3 months before you bought it then there's your answer right there.... very few dealerships are good about starting their cars every week to keep them charged, most will have units sitting in storage for 3 months even a year without being started. When you completely drain a battery and then let it sit empty for months at a time the battery will not last very long.

BMW had so many problems with this (they us lithium batteries that are more sensitive to letting them sit) that they now make all of their dealerships test the battery, NOT when the vehicle arrives as part of PDI, but right before the customer signs paperwork in finance as part of the final delivery to ensure their battery is still good.

 

My battery went out at dealer while I was getting routine 15k maintenance. They called me and asked if I was having trouble with battery, and said they tested it, and it failed. So they replaced it under warranty.

 

I had mine replaced before I even made it to the 5k service. Turns out it had a bad cell. That was also the cause of my uninitiated trip reset as ive got 30k on the clock now and it hasn't happened since. Dealer was cool about it, pulled in without an appointment after it died on me for the first time. Replaced and sent on my way, been good ever since.

 

I won't buy anything from Walmart

 

When I need a new battery I'll be buying it on a Sunday, thanks for info!

 

When my battery died I didn't want to pay more for the battery specified for the TRD.

I found a mod on TW where you fit a commercial group 31 battery instead

I did and it was a lot cheaper and it has lots of power

 

Mine died at about 18000 miles or 9 months. Dealer towed it in and replaced the battery with no problems.

 

I noticed my tacoma would cut off after a few minutes in accessory mode to save the battery. The battery was low on water, I topped it off. Now have no problems.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-LCD-Cig...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I ordered one of these so I can monitor my battery/alternator.

 

Cheap and easy, i like it. I already had an odb2 blue tooth adapter and the torque app for my phone, so that's one of the ways I verified I was not getting enough juice.

 

i revived a couple of batteries with a CTEK battery charger from Amazon.
there's a lot of good reviews on it. if you let the water in the battery go below
the metal plates and fill it back up with water, the battery will still charge but
have less capacity now. if you don't like to monitor batteries then get the sealed
type.

 

I'll have to check with the shade tree mechanic where I buy my Interstate batteries from and see if they make a sealed battery. I would rather have a sealed one myself.

 

I've only used Optima Red top batteries in my vehicles , the exception is my 02 Tacoma its got a battery installed by Auto Club . That battery only lasted 31 months before it died and got a new one replaced by Auto Club . Wet cell batteries do not last long out here in the Desert and you're lucky if you can get 2.5 yrs usage out of one

Edit ..The batteries you get from Auto club are from Exide

 

UPDATE

Local dealership covered it under warranty. I disconnected my light bars but left them mounted, they said "we imagine the premature failure was due to the light bars drawing power even when they aren't on, but cannot prove that since they were not hooked up". Translation: we tried to dodge this warranty claim, but couldn't.

 

Your dealership is ridiculous. So if you plug something into the cigarette lighter does that mean you could damage the battery?

Tell them to shove it up their a**. And go somewhere else.

 

If I had another dealership that could cover warranty work within an hour of me, then I would. I accepted my new free battery and went on my way.

 

sounds like that advice came from the receptionist at toyota.
sometimes they like to try to help too.

 

My original battery went at 30k on my 2012 prerunner. My understanding is heat and cold can kill the battery with the best safeguard to ensure the battery is always 100% charged. I installed an onboard schumacher trickle charge/maintainer, zip-tying it to the fuse cover. I then ran a short extension cord to the grill and zip-tied it to the grill, leaving enough to tuck the plug-end back so it cannot been seen. I periodically plug it in when when I leave town for a couple of days (1-2x per month). 60k miles now no issues.

 

Is it just me or does it look like your battery is very tight with that hold down?

 

I STUPIDLY left the key on one night and didn't use the truck the next day. When I tried to start it I got nothing but the "clicks." Jump started it and charged it overnight with a professional charger (not a Tender). However after 12 hours on the charger the truck would still just barely start. I then drove it 150 miles and at the end of the trip it still would barely turn over and I had to jump it several times after it would sit awhile. Started to go to AutoZone to get a new battery but decided to call my dealer and see what they would do (if anything). The tech said to bring it by and he would check it for me (they are 40 miles away). He showed me on his gauge that the battery was basically dead, took 10 minutes to install a new one (which he said was better than the factory unit), had me sign a warranty form, and sent me on my way. Truck was 18 months old and 20K on the clock. I must add that even though my Tacoma was an early 16' (mfg. 11/15) I have had great luck with it so far. The dealer has performed all the TSB's I learn about on TW with no questions asked. Next week they are going to change out my license plate lights as one has discolored.