New Battery - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Kyle Hamelin · 12-25-2010, 11:16 PM

I am looking to buy a new battery and I have the 01 LE model. Any suggestions on a make for them? Keep in mind I live in Ottawa which gets as low as -30 degrees at night. Also if i change the battery myself with everything run normally? I've heard of people horns honking and random things like that. Thanks for the help.

Buurin · 12-26-2010, 11:15 AM

Energizer (mfg. by Johnson Controls) from a Wal-mart works reasonably well. On the other end of the spectrum I also have an Optima Yellow Top for when I leave the alternator disabled for extended periods of time in my attempt to save some gas.

I have never had any problems charging the battery in the garage with it still hooked up in car.

01loadedLE · 12-26-2010, 12:29 PM

Just make sure for whatever price range you're looking at to get the battery with the most cca(cold cranking amps). For your climate I would get one that has at least 600cca. You can change the battery without causing problems.

If you have the securikey system or a alarm system on yours then have the key ready in hand to disable the alarm when you put the positive cable on the new battery because the horn will start honking. I put a rag over the horn to muffle it too since I'm in a garage.

If you do not have a portable battery to plug into the cig lighter during the transfer then your radio stations will be reset. If a battery store changes it for you then they would likely have a portable battery to use so your stations will remain set.

Kyle Hamelin · 12-28-2010, 11:27 PM

So I went with an Interstate battery. I heard they have very good battery's. It was a pretty easy install the only annoying part was the rod in the back that you had to put through a loop... It fell off a couple times. The car only calls for 430 CCA to start up so I just went with a 450 CCA battery also I was able to get a new Interstate for 80$ after tax so I couldn't say no!

01loadedLE · 12-29-2010, 05:14 PM

Yah the rod fell with me too once. I'm sure the prices are different there but I got a 625cca battery for my 01 here in TX that cost me $65. You're happy with it is the main thing though.

bail_w · 12-29-2010, 11:18 PM

Costco battery 640CCA group size 35 for 59.99 at California. If you recycle your old battery, you get 9 dollars cash back. So final price its about 65.

Kyle Hamelin · 01-01-2011, 03:03 PM

Wow battery's are much cheaper in America clearly. What kind of warranty do those have? Also the car only calls for 430CCA I think for start up so does putting in a 650CCA really do much if it only requires 430CCA to start up

Buurin · 01-02-2011, 06:46 PM

The one that came with my car was only rated for 310CCA.

bail_w · 01-02-2011, 10:15 PM

costco batteries has a 36 months guarantee warranty and 100 months limit warranty.