[woodgraf]

Hello, my 12v battery died in my 2012 highlander hybrid w/ 52k miles.

We were told it can only be purchased and replaced by the Toyota dealer ($300); is this true?

We jumped the car to try and get it to the dealer to replace the battery. I made one stop along the way and it died. Had it towed to dealer.
The dealer told me in addition to the battery, it had blown two fuses and this was due to the act of jumping it! They are costing $500.

Of course none of this is covered under my 75k extended warranty, AND the fuses are being shipped in with no ETA. The dealer has had my car for 8 days now.( thank goodness I did not get rid of my Sienna w/ 175k miles)

This leads me to believe I can't even jump the car without causing damage despite the owner manual describing how to jump the car?
I have had toyotas for 30 years: 79 corona, 91 4 runner, 99 Sienna and am discouraged that I bought the '12HiHy

 

[sweeneyp]

Uuhhh what fuses blew?

And no, you can get a equivalent battery anywhere its sold (on the top of my head, 51R sounds familiar). That's no different than a normal car, its just not an as common battery.

 

[woodgraf]

HI,
The dealer said the act of jumping the car blew fuses in the "front" and "back" .

They also said the batter for the 2012 is a "sealed" battery given it's kept in the back of the car. I called "batteries and more" , Schucks, OReilly, Midas and a few locally owned car parts stores. They looked up the battery for my car to order it in and said it would cost $300.
Just wanted to verify the price and is putting a new battery in a hard thing to do in this car? It's just the 12v battery. It seems crazy that I can't replace a car battery on my own, but the manual says take it to the dealer..

 

[ukrkoz]

OK, for starters. It is not a common battery. it is a deep cycle battery. It is sealed and vented. It has a thermistor attached to it to control battery tem and a hydrogen gas exhaust tube. reason beaing, it is in the trunk, so NO gas collection there is supposed to happen.
Aftermarket replacement battery is Yellow Top Optima. They now make them with venting provision. I bought mine from Sam's for around $170 for my TCH. There are some other options folks use, technically, any deep cycle made for discharge battery with vnt will do, as far as it fits and terminals match. Dem cables are rather short to run to opposite positioned terminal.
Ok, not that I am such a nice guy and have 2012 myself, I actually stepped down, got to the battery and 100% it is deep cycle with vent.

 

[ukrkoz]

https://www.amazon.com/Optima-Batteries-8040-218-YellowTop-Purpose/dp/B000MSDKMA

Also call Optima and find out, which model has vent. As they do have them for vent tube now. Thermistor, you simply GENTLY peel off, after connector was unplugged, and place onto the new battery.

 

[woodgraf]

Thanks Ukrkoz!

Wow, Wish I would have subscribed before the tow. Really appreciate your reply and photo!

 

[ukrkoz]

Of course. As you can tell, Optima does come with vent attachment. I also saw article by Optima Jim, he's regular at TCH forum and Optima rep, saying "Optima now comes with vent". Why it is not listed on their site beats me, but phones are for that.

 

[ukrkoz]

Photo above is from Prius forum. Maybe they make one for Prius and not for Highlander. Considering that this battery is basically a back up 12V storage, I'd go for Prius one for HiHy. Once again, it is a basic back up power source for electronics, so a smaller size won't do much difference.

 

[43st]

Can you post the part number ukrkoz?

 

[ukrkoz]

For? 12V?

https://www.google.com/search?q=YELLOWTOP®+D35&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Take your pick. I bought mine for my TCH 2 yrs back at Sam's. But I rigged it to work with factory vent. I have tools to do so.

 

[43st]

Ok, thanks. The OEM 12v in our 2012 is still strong, but I'm trying to be prepared for the event when it comes. The Toyota part is a Furukawa S55D23L, but as you say, none of the aftermarket suppliers seem to publish part numbers on the replacement. The D35 does not have a vent and is physically larger than the OEM, but it fits apparently.

Browsing these forums you just find people saying use this brand or that brand, which is not really useful for ordering an actual part.

 

[ukrkoz]

Correct. personally, when I bought mine there was not much choices in deep cycle batteries that will fit. I think, now there is Duracell one that is 40 bucks cheaper and will do the job. Once again, has no vent. But that is not obstacle to me, I make one. So I'd have gone that route.
As of size. It's same battery I have in my TCH. Both mine, in TCH and in HiHy, are Panasonic, not sure why your search showed furukawa. But who knows. Anyhow, YTO battery fit as replacement just fine, I noticed no sizing differences.
Here in Seattle area there is fella that sells Optimas on craigslist for $120 a pop. Says new.
My OEM Panasonic, made in 2006, is still running. I set it as gate opener back up battery and it works fine. for 2012 you are looking at easy 5 or so more years. Those batteries have no real load on them. Just keep connections clean and sealed.