Battery shot?

Hey guys,

so I have a 2018 with 49k miles on her. Out of the blue this morning my truck wouldn’t turn over. Loud rapid clicking and nothing. Got it jumped in no time with cables. The positive terminal had blue gunk on it. So I’m thinking the battery is shot. Is this normal for a 2018 with semi-low miles? Seems soon for this kind of crap.

Also, would this still be under warranty? I bought it new 03/18.

 

Batteries are a crap shoot. Don't know about warranty, I'd think under bumper to bumper yes, but not after that.

 

Blue stuff is corrosion.
Pull the terminals and clean the connectors and posts.

 

Good point, definitely should be cleaned either way.
Also electrical mods will affect battery life if they have lots of amp draw and/or you're running the battery down while not running.

 

2018...2 years/22K...replaced under warranty

 

I had a post a couple months back in like March of 2020. I just bought my 2020 in January and the battery was bunk. I kept trying turn it over but nothing would give! I went back a Toyota Certified dealer for a replacement battery. Was free with my warranty. 2 weeks later, another bad battery. Bad luck I suppose, but they replaced it again! So far it's been 3-4 months on this (3rd I guess) battery. Could just be shoddy work and dwindling Quality Assurance.

 

Depends on the battery & use over time I had a 12 year old battery Finally die finally die on one of my show cars bought it from kragen auto parts I keep the Terminals disconnected Terminals disconnected When it sits & clean them when installing it to drive as for warranty unless you bought an Extended warranty most expire at 36k miles 3 years so at 49k I would say no not coverd.i use interstate battery’s But on my Tacoma is new with only 5k Miles so won’t be changing mine for awhile

 

The factory batteries don’t last very long, from what I’ve seen on here a lot of guys have gotten about 3 years out of em at the most, some a bit more.
My 16 died at the 3 year mark about 42k miles and thats considering I wasn’t a heavy user(lights on all the time, audio/bass real loud, etc.)

I don’t believe the warranty will cover it since it’s considered “routine maintenance” or something like that, you can still try and see what they can do for you?
I’m not sure wether the warranty is based off the mileage of the vehicle or the years but 2 years/ 49k miles is pretty soon in my opinion.

 

49k no warranty


I'd clean them up and see what happens.

 

It’s hit and miss with factory batteries, some report no issues with their batteries many miles later, mine died at 22k miles, truck was completely stock.

 

Pull the battery. Take it to a parts house and have it load tested. If it tests good, reinstall, clean terminals, see what happens.

Call dealer and ask re:warranty. Batteries warranty on time, not miles, when you buy them on your own. Don't know how Toyota treats them. Hopefully time like the industry standard.

If you need a battery, the correct Interstate at Costco will probably be your best buy, but they don't install.

What would be interesting is to know is who makes Toyota labeled batteries. If it's a hodge podge or single vendor. @Jeff Lange , any input?

 

Thanks guys! I took a wire brush to the blue corrosion but still had an issue. I will call about warranty. If not, if I take it to auto zone or similar, will they check the voltage and determine if I need a new one? And if so... do they install?

ive been running the A/C a lot so not sure if that does it...

 

OP, being in CT I think you should expect longer from the battery. It's not like we had a horrible winter recently.

My 2010 puked the original battery January 2019, almost 10 years. Clean the corrosion on your posts, use a dab of dielectric grease, and charge er up

 

Take the posts off..clean inside the clamps too and then do what I posted just now.

Autozone or Advance will be able to load test it and make the call..and yes if you buy a new one they should install free but IDK about presently with Covid19.

Come visit us on the NE BS thread man, welcome aboard!

 

Load test, not 'check voltage'. You can simulate one at home if you have a DVM, but theirs will be more thorough

They do. But unless you have no alternative sources, they will also be a fair amount higher than places like Costco or Sam's. Even AAA may have a competitive price if you are a member, and they'll come to you.

Battery removal/installation is a simple task unless you have a physical condition that makes lifting it out and in difficult.

Not at all.

The primary function of the battery is to start the vehicle. The alternator produces enough current at the correct voltage to support 100% of systems operations + 'extra' to recharge the battery.

 

i wouldnt doubt it. my sequoia at the beginning of the year had the battery just up and die. left us stranded, good thing we was at the mall, and interstate is right down the street. picked up a new optima, then when i took the sequoia in for its service i told them about the battery and they reimbursed me for the new batt. so it all worked out. they told me that basically its just a luck of the draw. when these new vehicles is made they have these new batteries thats just been sitting on the side that they pop in. so it couldve been slow drained.

on the flipside? if this was my truck, put that badboy in gear, roll it down and bam; kickstart. moral of the story? cant beat manual trans.

 

While I haven't seen the corrosion, it often continues under the insulation where you can't see it. This greatly increases the resistance. When in doubt replace both cables.

 

The battery falls under the 3/36 warranty, with 49K you are long past it.

 

take tools to change the battery to Costco, make sure they have the battery in stock, pull out the old one and wheel it in and get the new one and exchange and install.
one stop shop...that's what i did anyway.

 

Same situation as you.

My factory battery went out at 43k. I replaced it with one from Costco thsts 700 something cycle with a 3yr warranty. I have a volt meter in cigarette lighter it read 9 volts when it should be 12-13 or better.