need help diagnosing starting issue

2016 Tacoma sport. Battery specs below. I've noticed this issue this winter when I have my seat warmers on full blast on my way to work. I usually have the car idle in the parking lot for a few min before turning it off before I go in. The seat warmers on the whole time. Also have my headlights on auto so they are on, along with the heater too. And I do usually eat lunch in my car but I just bear the cold because I don't want to waste gas. So it's never turned on. But anyway this winter when I've gotten into the car to go home after work when I've had the seat warmers on in the morning, it has been starting sluggishly and then yesterday it didn't start at all. I just had my 15000 serivce done and the battery checked out. Any ideas what the problem could be? Is this battery not very powerful maybe? Ever since I've had the truck it starts sluggishly if I've turned on the radio for 30 min or so without it running. Once it starts to get a little cooler it'll start sluggishly after 15 min of that. The first time I went too long and had to jump it I took it to the dealer thinking I had a bad battery and they said it was fine and I shouldn't run the radio more than 15 min without starting the engine for a bit. Anyway, any advice would be appreciated. I'm hoping that even though maybe this battery isn't bad per se that maybe it just kind of sucks?

Part #: 28800-03044
Made by: Johnson ControlsBattery Group, Inc. USA
Distributed by : ToyotaMotor Manufacturing

CCA: 582 amps
Reserve Capacity: 125 minutes
Group: 24F
Recycle: Pb

 

Following. I have the same issue with my 2017 Sport no seat heaters for me though. Happens while the truck is garaged and outside.

 

I cannot help you with your battery issue but you realize you only burn between 1/3 and 1/2 gallon an HOUR when idling only? That's like .80 cents an hour.

 

yeah, I don't know any particulars of the amount used....but you are right I probably shouldn't be sweating that. Ever since I've gotten this truck though it's made me kind of anal about watching the gas mileage meter and I hate watching that go down sitting in a running car at lunch. Ha. I know it's dumb.

 

A few bucks in gas beats a dead battery when it's freezing cold out though.

 

No doubt, it does for sure. This isn't my problem in this thread though. I already learned that lesson.

 

If it's the original battery it's probably time for a new one. They seem to make these things to last just over the 36k warranty, but cold weather probably accelerates that. Try this - Have a friend give you a jump from their running vehicle. If it starts easily you know it's probably the battery. I'd have them check my charging system when it was replaced as well.

 

That's your problem.

If you are going to sit in your truck longer than ten minutes with anything on, start it.

I came home one evening planning on going back to work and left my truck running. (This was years ago and it was a gas guzzling GMC.) And then I changed my mind. The next morning I walked out to a nicely warmed truck that was still running. Sheeeeesh.

The gas gauge hadn't moved.

SB

 

It started up really fast yesterday when it was jumped. The problem is the battery doesn't test as it's bad. I'm just wondering if my issues is because it's a little low on CCAs possibly.

 

I just noticed you're using the seat warmers without it running. Sorry, read through to fast. Those seat warmers chew through battery life. You really need to run the engine while those things are on. You're battery is probably fine, but if you want to use those warmers while it's off you'll need a significant upgrade. How long is your commute? Is it long enough to recharge the battery?

Edit - Your alternator doesn't really charge the battery much at idle, but the battery won't discharge from accessory use while idling. If you have a short commute and don't get the engine into a good charging range (2k+) long enough the battery will discharge over time.

 

no I’m not using them with the engine off.... I get to work and the engine is idling for a few min before I turn it off and go in. I only have sluggish starts or not starting at all like yesterday in that scenario. Seats on high...then few min of idling then turned off....8 hours later it stuggles to start. Usually temp in 30s or lower.

 

I've measured the voltage at idle and it was enough to charge the battery. Short distances however can kill a battery because it doesn't charge long enough.

 

Which battery is larger, 24 or 27, I forgot. The battery may be undersized for what you're doing to it, but it's not undersized for the truck. Also in winter, the battery will be more sluggish than when it's warmer, this is normal. Conclusion, your battery is fine, but if you continue to discharge it without charging it, then you're going to have the sand problem again. Especially in colder weather.

 

27F is larger than the 24F, in the 2nd Gen they gave you the larger 27F when you got the Tow Package.

 

holy cow how did someone not steal that thing, crazy

 

Yes, it will produce voltage at idle, but not the amps needed to charge a discharged battery. You would need to check the alternators amperage output to test it at idle and under load to see the difference. This is a pretty good description and shows ways to test.

 

You said you had the battery "checked". I'd assume that they filled it with distilled H2O at that time also.

I just checked my 2016's battery this fall (2yrs old) and it took about a cup of H2O... They will "off gas" and lose water over time.... Gotta keep it full.

Good thing to check guys, if you haven't already..!

2 Yr old battery should not normally be weak unless abused or unmaintained..!!

 

Because I live in the middle of nowhere. It helps.

SB

 

Yeah, I'm thinking it's just a little undersized since I only have issues when running the seat warmers at full. I wonder if I had the 27 if none of this would be happening. I guess I probably do need the dealership to check the alternator before it runs out of warranty though! Is there an official recommended battery? Doesn't say a thing about that in the owners manual which is really odd to me. But this battery like my original posts says is 582 CCAs and I don't see too many people recommending any that low when I do a search....

 

Get the dealer to drop in a 27 on their dime since you're having BS issues and it shouldve came with a higher cap battery to handle the load of extra electronics.