Battery run down

AMBW · 11-08-2009, 02:34 PM

Does anyone know if the Venza has battery run down protection? I did some quick searches but got conflicting results, Toyota's site doesn't show it.

We had left our Venza I4 parked in our garage for about 20 hours and tried to start it but no go. It would click a bit but then all the dash lights would start to cycle on and off quickly - kind of "freaky"

.

Checked the battery and it was dead, black indicator and all. The headlights were not left on, not sure about the interior lights but I don't think so. We don't have smart key or GPS so the battery issues I've seen in other threads do not apply. Not sure why it was discharged - you wouldn't think an interior light would kill it after 20 hours. My Ford has battery run-down so even if we leave interior lights on it will still start.

Put a trickle charger on it overnight and now it starts but I may take it to the dealer to check the battery (still has a black indicator). Comments?

***TrailDust*** · 11-08-2009, 03:29 PM

Most likely a battery with a bad cell. Just like with OEM tires, manufacturers typically don't put the best of freshest batteries into vehicles. I had to replace the crappy OEM battery in my Highlander after only 18 months. Do yourself a favor and get a new battery now, before it dies completely on you at the worst possible time and place, like they always seem to do....

Hara Smith · 11-09-2009, 12:22 AM

yeah it is true about the factory batteries. They are crap. I had to replace all of my batteries after 14 to 16 month of use. All 4 of them...

TD you mention before in the highlander forum about being disappointed after 18 months. Actually that is the normal life with some of these batteries. Some did better while others did poorly.

My Experience with the Factory battery:

93 Camry v6 SE: Factory Battery lasted 8 months. Brought Sears DH Gold. Lasted the remaining 5 years I owned the vehicle. No problem (I traded in the car)

95 4 Runner Sport: Factory battery lasted 14 months. Brought a Sears DH Gold. Lasted the remaining 5 years . No problem. (I traded in the car)

98 Maxima: Factory battery lasted 15 months 6 days. Brought a Sears DH Platinum. Guess what? Still alive and ticking!!! That's no BS. Only had to recharged once due to leaving the vehicle alone in the winter for 2 weeks. (I still own this vehicle) NOTE: I had plenty of cold days over the years. No problem starting the engine. Aftermarket radio/w amps, alarm and remote engine start. The battery wont die!

2001 Infiniti Qx4: Factory Battery lasted 15 months 2 weeks. Brought a Sear DH Platinum. Lasted the remaining 8 years I owned the vehicle. (I traded in the car) NOTE: I had some very cold nights in VT and Maine. Quick start, no problem!

2008 Highlander: So far I have owned this vehicle for a year. Wondering when this battery will die? After the winter?

No doubt, the factory batteries are not good at all. I have heard plenty of stories from other people about the life span of these batteries. Terrible.

HS

jflarin · 11-09-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMBW

Put a trickle charger on it overnight and now it starts but I may take it to the dealer to check the battery (still has a black indicator). Comments?

Where do you live? Anywhere cold?

Because I did kill my Honda CRV battery by leaving a small interior light on for a week (I was on vacation...) The battery was 1.5 years old. And after a battery is flat, it can NEVER get back it's full power. So next winter, it didn't start the car when it was too cold outside (-15C to -20C). I brought it to the dealer who exchanged it. (Of course I didn't tell him I brought it to a empty state in the previous summer...) That Honda battery must have lasted 6 or 7 years. After that I replaced it with a Cosco battery. It is so cheap (52$ instead of 90$ to 110$). I've had it without problem for the last 3 to 4 years, until yesterday when my 2 years old daughter brought it do empty... So I guess I'll have to scrap the car (It's 11 years old...) or get a new costco battery this winter.

jf

VenzaWatcher · 11-11-2009, 02:39 PM

The original battery in my Honda lasts 7 years already and still goes strong. One of my friends working for Toyota told me that the quality of the parts used in Toyota vehicles has slipped quite a lot due to the aggressive cost cuttings.

Go to YouTube and check the video “Venza side crash ”, you will see how crappy the side air bag is. Such small side airbags are basically designed only for the government crash tests rather than for the real world safety. As a comparison, check the video “2010 equinox side crash” and look at the difference of the side air bags used in that vehicle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hara Smith

yeah it is true about the factory batteries. They are crap. I had to replace all of my batteries after 14 to 16 month of use. All 4 of them...

TD you mention before in the highlander forum about being disappointed after 18 months. Actually that is the normal life with some of these batteries. Some did better while others did poorly.

My Experience with the Factory battery:

93 Camry v6 SE: Factory Battery lasted 8 months. Brought Sears DH Gold. Lasted the remaining 5 years I owned the vehicle. No problem (I traded in the car)

95 4 Runner Sport: Factory battery lasted 14 months. Brought a Sears DH Gold. Lasted the remaining 5 years . No problem. (I traded in the car)

98 Maxima: Factory battery lasted 15 months 6 days. Brought a Sears DH Platinum. Guess what? Still alive and ticking!!! That's no BS. Only had to recharged once due to leaving the vehicle alone in the winter for 2 weeks. (I still own this vehicle) NOTE: I had plenty of cold days over the years. No problem starting the engine. Aftermarket radio/w amps, alarm and remote engine start. The battery wont die!

2001 Infiniti Qx4: Factory Battery lasted 15 months 2 weeks. Brought a Sear DH Platinum. Lasted the remaining 8 years I owned the vehicle. (I traded in the car) NOTE: I had some very cold nights in VT and Maine. Quick start, no problem!

2008 Highlander: So far I have owned this vehicle for a year. Wondering when this battery will die? After the winter?

No doubt, the factory batteries are not good at all. I have heard plenty of stories from other people about the life span of these batteries. Terrible.

HS

Danno09 · 11-11-2009, 05:14 PM

2002 Ford Escape - still using factory battery
2005 Uplander - same factory battery
1997 Venture with 320,000 Kms and 8 year old - sold with original battery still in it.

Saw -40 F/C on my car temperature gauge last winter - plenty cold where I live.

However, the cars are garaged every night.
That is probably key to long battery life - really never need to use rear defroster, and high blower settings.