Dead Battery at 8 Months/10,000 Miles

I was out on appointments today and I got done with an inspection and hopped back in my truck and it wouldn't start. I called the dealership and they suggested holding the key fob close to the starter button but it still wouldn't start. They gave me the number for Toyota Roadside Assistance and I called them and it sounded like they would just send someone out to either tow me or jump me. Luckily, the guy I had an appointment with had a portable jumper and he hooked it up and it started right up and I drove home, just 2 miles or so. I came home and hooked it up to a battery charger but it didn't read like the battery was dead. I think the rear bed light (on the upper rear cab) was on but I thought it always went out after a minute or so after shutting off the truck. I made sure the switch is off to the bed light now. That seems to be the only thing I can think of other than the battery being a POS. Am I on the right track?

 

I would get a code reader to see if any codes are popping up .

 

My battery was bad at the one year point after sitting on a vacation week in cold weather. Dealer tested it and replaced it hassle free with a 84 month battery.

 

Batteries can die brand new or 10 years later. It’s just part of owning a vehicle.

 

I'm somewhere between buying a code reader and a portable jumper. After shelling out as much for this truck as I paid for my first house (yes, I'm that old guy now), I was hoping to get past eight months before the nickel and dime BS starts. I do have a portable jumper but it's on my 40-year-old boat but luckily it has two batteries so if one takes a crap, I can flip a switch and keep going. I guess I can check with the stealership and see if they'd charge me to scan the codes. Grumble…

 

Just have the battery load tested at a parts house.

They will also scan for codes

Both free services

If the battery is bad, IIRC Toyota will warranty it

I'm assuming the truck is 8 mth old and you've done no wiring mods to blame a discharge on.

Also. I don't think there will be any codes.

 

No mods, other than a tonneau cover and a CarLink. One thing I didn't mention was that I was getting an error message on the display saying something like "check charging system." Heck, maybe the alternator took a crap?

 

I would buy both a code reader and a battery jump pack. Code readers are always useful. I would get one that is ABS and SRS capable especially since Autozone won't scan those codes. Every car we have has one of those little Lithium batter jump packs. They have saved my daughter several times while she was away at college. Used it on my tuck as well. Just remember once you put it in your truck to charge it at least once a year. BTW my OEM battery lasted a year before I replaced it. I went aftermarket with an AGM, but under warranty the dealer should take care of everything

 

Many thanks to all---good common sense advice, just needed reassurance. Last night I actually checked out and for less than $100, it might be cheap insurance and maybe I can help someone out with it someday as well. I have a call in to the dealer to see if they will charge me to check it out. If so, I will definitely pick up a jumper. I have a two hour trip tomorrow and I just don't have a lot of confidence in it right now.

 

you would own a charger, jumper, multimeter, code reader, and have warrantied what is warrantyable. That is part of any vehicle. Batteries die. It sat on the lot.

if someone pays $40k for a sub $20k chassis re used from 2005, then they have $7 for a multimeter.

pulled over and jumped a dead car that had been sitting for 4 hours on the side of the road. Theres that option as well. Or manual push start.
AAA is another option of waiting and not carrying what one should carry.

 

Should still be under warranty...hows that nickle and diming you?

 

sure. once is a fluke. twice is a pattern. three times is a repeatable pattern.

it's a vehicle. things happen, you make mistakes, leave things on that shouldn't be.

but it's also why you bought new. for that shiny warranty that fixes everything that goes wrong.

 

At the ripe old age of 59+, I bought my first Toyota because, well, it's a Toyota. A warranty is great, but I wasn't looking forward to using it. Nor was I thinking I needed a backup plan. I drove two Volkswagens 500,000 miles (combined) and never needed a backup plan. I'm not beating on this truck---I absolutely love it and I'm hoping this is just a fluke. I just wasn't ready for this. Was it the bed light that stayed on that killed it? I dunno and maybe I never will. It was my last stop on a 150 mile day when it died, so I'm thinking the battery should have had a pretty good charge if things are working as they should.
I just received a 15% off coupon at Harbor Fright so I'm off to the races. Dealership still hasn't called back and my local Harbor Fright is next to an AutoZone, so I'll see if they can check the battery and charging system.
THANKS!

 

i have seen toyota batteries go out prematurely.. could happen to anyone unfortunately

 

I’ve bought a brand new battery before and after a week it had a bad cell. I would chalk it up to a little bad luck . Get a new battery and enjoy the truck.

 

The battery in my ‘22 has been so intermittent. This really shouldn’t be an issue for these newer trucks. I had an f250 that sat for 2 weeks in the -20°F Iowa winter and it started first try.

 

It's hard to predict electronics, especially car batteries. The most expensive name brand battery I've ever bought died in just about 1 year. I've seen them last close to 10 years before. I'd be disappointed in one that only lasted 8 months but sometimes stuff like that happens. You were just unlucky.

 

The issue with battery health is the history.

When its delivered to the dealer, it has a 30 second drive from the trailer to the parking spot, then shut off. Dealer tech then brings it in 30 second drive. Some techs like me charge it, or run it while doing inspection. Some don't.

Then it goes back on the lot and sits for days, weeks or months. Some dealers charge them, some don't.

Then when its time for delivery, 30 second drive to the wash bay.

Ideally 2 hours before the customer arrives for delievery it should be charging in my opinion.

 

I just got back from my local dealership and after testing, they tell me the battery is "100% and batteries are never 100%." They did say that with all the electronics on these things, it doesn't take much to run them down. I did pick up a portable jumper and I'll be charging it shortly and taking it with me from here on out, just in case. Happy ending!

 

Toyota started going downhill in 2005 if not earlier. What you see in the US is not what they sell in the rest of the world for demanding use. They know how to do it. But they don’t.

same thing with VW. But VW doesn’t claim or ride a reputation of reliability. They try new things whether they work or not. And change things. There are more updates from VW than Toyota.

If you sell it later, the value is high.

Warranty typically means charge the battery and test it to avoid replacement. If it passes, no replacement needed.