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In article <Pbednc9NEbblyRDeRVn-oQ@comcast.com>, Chuck Olson
<chuckolson01@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote:
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> There may be other ways to do the job, but the way I did it was to turn on
> the two map lights in the overhead area above the rear view mirror, and
> switch the center light to "on" rather than "door". Then forget to turn the
> lights off and go away for 3 days. Now normally I wouldn't expect this to
> produce shorted cells in the 12 volt battery, but it now reads about 8 volts
> open circuit, and connecting a small 12 volt 4 amp battery charger produces
> a high current (pins the ammeter needle), and the terminal voltage during
> charge rises to about 10 volts but no further. I have to conclude the Nippon
> Denchi S46B24 battery has two shorted cells, and must be replaced, at a cost
> of about $179 from what I could determine. If I'm lucky, they may have one
> in stock, but I read where one owner had to wait 3 weeks for one to come
> from Japan. I know I screwed up, but aren't shorted cells a fairly unusual
> consequence of draining the battery to a low terminal voltage? I hope I
> learned something here.
>[/color]
Others here will have more insight from Toyota's perspective, but to me
as an owner this sounds like a warranty issue. If your dealer balks,
follow the chain upward. You might have to buy the replacement to get
back on the road, but eventually there should be a reimbursement.

The matter of fault is blurred. I worked for GM years ago, and we
designed in expectation of owners' imperfect behavior. I suspect that
at any given moment there are many cars worldwide with their lights
unintentionally on.

Good luck,
Brent