My Third Gen failed today.

Actually it isn't. If voltage is low, I know there is some type of issue with the battery.... it's not holding charge or it's not being charged. Checking voltage while running told me my charging system is working and the issue was with the battery.

 

How many miles? That seems like a pretty short battery life.

 

I've seen batteries die within 6 months. I wouldn't blame the actual truck. I would blame Toyota for choosing a sh!ty battery maker... but that's a whole other can of worms.

 

People who have a limited understanding of automotive starting and charging systems for 500, Johnny!

Standard 6 cell lead/acid battery with a proper specific gravity in an open circuit state is 2.10vdc at full charge. 12.60vdc at the terminals.

You get 13-14vdc as a result of the charging system trying to replace what the vehicle is taking to operate. People think the alternator is what supplies vehicle power, not fully accurate. The alternator is there to refill and supplement consumption from the vehicle.

It kills me when I see guys still instructing people to test the alternator by pulling the positive battery terminal while it's running. That is a good way to destroy the voltage regulator in the alternator. You can also backfeed other modules and damage them too.

 

I'm not talking about the charging system. Obviously if the charging system shows the correct voltage... It works. The BATTERY can have 12.4v all day long and have no amperage to move it anywhere. It's pretty basic stuff.

You know the battery needs amps to turn the starter, to start the engine, to recharge the battery right? Jumping it and checking for voltage literally didn't do anything but tell you the charging system works. And we're back to having voltage and no amperage.

 

This, kind of...

The voltage of a battery can reveal that something is wrong, however, a load test is the only way to know for certain what the issue is. I.e; a plate has come loose and is laying over and touching another plate, the specific gravity is incorrect (adding water without acid), or the plates are just worn out. If any of those conditions occur, the battery can still charge, but have no CA/CCA to turn the stator in a starter motor. (Which is why you still may hear a solenoid click without start on a perceived fully charged, good battery but no crank.)

 

Newbie here and I get that you were kidding but in case you haven't heard of it the Lemon Law is actually called the "Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act".
I used it once with Ford on an F-250 with fuel system issues.

 

Here in Hawaii, mine and a bunch of local friends batts all went bad in less than 2 years. I think toyota puts crappy batteries in these trucks. Throw in an optima or odyssey and have some peace of mind. I'm running both batteries in my second gen. Optima for starting with the odyssey dual battery setup. Can jump myself if anything goes wrong.

 

"Batteries die in the winter, but they don't get buried until summer" is what I was told. The battery on my 1st gen lasted a good 7 years, but I haven't had one last more than 2 or 3 years in the last decade on any vehicle. Granted I'm not buying top of the line.

 

Welcome to TW!

Thanks for the info!

 

A bad battery may show a good static charge but when tested under load the capacity is diminished. Batteries fail frequently.

 

32K Yes, it does. It happens with batteries though. Sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you don't.

 

It was a joke.

 

Which is key to figuring out if I have a battery problem or charging system problem right? I don't have a battery tester, but I can figure out if my weak battery is due to the charging system not working right? Once you know that you can go to the battery. I'm not sure what's hard to get about this.

 

Sure, if you say so. It's not like I've replaced hundreds upon hundreds of AGM and lead acid batteries, or done troubleshooting on charging systems both 12 and 24 volts. No clue how to tell.

 

Interesting. Always thought it was the other way around. Batteries die in the summer and go to the grave in the winter. Example is how many people are late for work the first time it gets cold from their car won't start. The best example is the person whom garages their car in a warm garage so it starts and they get to work OK, then after work it won't start from sitting outside in the cold.

 

On a side note, how F'ing nice is it to read one of these threads without a certain someone spreading negativity and discontent!!!

 

Sometimes its also the luck of the draw. I have seen identical battery models die at different rates on the same vehicle. I had two 3rd gen 4Runners with the same battery model; one died in 18 months, one after 3 and a half years.