10k service later, dead battery

I just had 10k service performed by the dealer and a few days later I got a dead battery. Coincidence or did they screw something up? Couldn't start my truck after work, starter kept clacking but not turning. I then turned off all the lights and radio and a minute later tried again. It started cranking slowly and in about a third or fourth try engine finally started. Drove it home (15 min drive), turned it off. Tried starting it again about 2hrs later, same thing, could barely start it. Could the battery be really dead or am I possibly drawing current somewhere? I mean what could they possible eff-ed up at 10k mile service?

 

More than likely the battery is shot, it’s under warranty so you have that or you can get a bigger replacement battery but a 27 or 31 does require a bigger tray.

 

The sensitivity in Tacoma owners is ridiculous lol

The truck is under warranty still, let them deal with it. Most auto stores will test battery for free, if youre really skeptically of the dealer now.

 

Sometimes the battery wasn't made that well and perhaps a cell or interconnection has failed. If you have a friend with a voltmeter you can do a quick test. If the truck is off voltage should be over 12V and if it's running it should be some number over ~13.5 (this can vary depending on engine speed and other factors).

 

Batteries start sulfating when it sits for weeks . Who knows how long your truck been sitting at the dealer.
My rule of thumb is, charge and desulfate when you get it home. A Battery Minder does a good job. An alternator cannot 100% fully charge a battery. You will need a battery charger.
I've never had a problem with factory batteries. When I picked up the truck, it sat on charger and started desulfating at 80%. This was a truck at 2 miles on odometer.

My other car has a Diehard AGM going 7 years. It runs through desulfating cycle every couple months.

 

It's not the sensitivity. I just don't trust the dealers. The first time I took it to them for a service they eff-ed up my TRD skid while doing an oil change, a few days later my battery dies, go figure. I'd rather do it myself rather that taking it to the butchers, lol. Said that, I disconnected the battery for the night and will try starting the truck tomorrow morning. If its the battery, it won't start (hopefully), then I can either buy a better better battery or take it to my trusted dealer (20 miles away) vs the one that serviced it (2 miles away). I hope it's the battery, I don't want to deal with current drawing dilemma.

 

They will reimburse you for the tow.

 

I know, I should've gotten one of those battery charges a loooong time ago, lol, too let now. If it's the battery I'll have the dealer replace it with a Panasonic one, otherwise I'll let them replace it with whatever Toyota approves and get the charger and call it a day...

 

If you have a multimeter, check across the battery terminals. If it's below 12.1, it's no good.

 

Testing the voltage of a battery isn’t a tell tale sign it’s bad. You must do a proper load test to see if it’s a bad cell.

 

Reconnected the battery this morning, same thing, engine hardly cranked. Decided not to waste any time and drove the truck to my trusted dealer. They took it in right a way and an hour later I was on my way with a brand new battery, covered under warranty. It's good to have friends in right places .
Merry Christmas everyone!

 

that should last around 3 to 4 year. mine did 2 years 10 months, just died in time

 

I hope so. If I still have the truck by then, I'll look in to something more robust like Panasonic.

 

Dealer replaced mine with their 84 month battery, but noticed started sounding really anemic lately .. to be fair they did the replacement almost 2 years ago..
Probably gonna go with AGM when this one dies

 

clearly you fell for the ole dealership sabotaged your battery under warranty gag. I would go in and complain.

 

Dead battery at 10,000 miles? Fuck that fuckin bullshit. You need to rip their ass at the stealership. I have 73,xxx on my original 2016 battery.

 

You have a 2019 and the battery died...………….Oh hellllll no...…….. make them replace the battery.

 

Friends in the warrenty department? Fuck sakes