98 Avalon Battery Replacement

<Kent at Eureka, CA> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
Do any precautions need to be taken before disconnecting or
reconnecting the battery that would effect the alarm/security or any other
computer system on my 98 Avalon? Someone told me that they couldn't start
their car after replacing the battery and had to do something with the car
door and ignition switch and battery hookup.

The original equipment battery is a Group 24R. I have been told that
they don't make a 24R any more. I have been told to use a Group 35 instead
but it is physically smaller. Someone else says use a 24F but that is also
a different size. Anybody have any recommendations from personal
experience?

People who do not post in text mode will be tarred and feathered.

I found an exact replacement premium battery for my 98 Camry V6 battery at
Advanced Auto Parts. It was a 24F with the proper orientation of negative
and positive. Check out their website.

I recently saw a premium 24F at Wal-Mart, but I am not sure if the positive
and negative terminals are on the correct side.

You may have to reset your receiver security (I replaced my receiver with an
aftermarket, so I am not sure), but I had no problem starting my 98 Camry V6
XLE after replacing the battery. Some people who reversed the negative and
positive terminals damaged their electrical system, but if you get it
correct you should not have problems. See your Owners Manual for more
information on this subject.

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 10:35:42 -0800, <Kent at Eureka, CA> wrote:

> Do any precautions need to be taken before disconnecting or reconnecting the battery that would effect the alarm/security or any other computer system on my 98 Avalon? Someone told me that they couldn't start their car after replacing the battery and had to do something with the car door and ignition switch and battery hookup.

If the radio has a security code set, make sure you either know that
code and how to reset it, or clear it out before you start.

They make battery trickle chargers that plug into the lighter socket
to supply those memory loads while changing a battery. You could
cobble one up with a small Gel-Cell battery and a tail light lamp in
series - if you accidentally short or ground the cables while working
the lamp acts as a current limiter.

> The original equipment battery is a Group 24R. I have been told that they don't make a 24R any more. I have been told to use a Group 35 instead but it is physically smaller. Someone else says use a 24F but that is also a different size. Anybody have any recommendations from personal experience?

The only difference between a 24 and a 24R is the terminal
polarities are switched - See if your battery cables are long enough
to reach while swapped, that's by far the simplest solution. Buying a
longer ground cable once will save you trouble every time the battery
needs changing.

They make other dual-terminal batteries (side and top post) that
will fit and work. Sometimes they provide a riser that clamps to the
bottom of the battery like a booster seat to get it to the same
height...

But all battery makers have substitution plans to cover almost any
car with a restricted offering of 12 - 20 different basic batteries -
they lose money if they can't get one to fit in your car and the
competition can. And they lose money if they have to make 40 discrete
sizes and the competition can cover the range with 20.

There's no problem using a battery that's physically smaller as long
as it meets the CCA and Reserve Time needs of the car, and you can
clamp it down in the tray properly.

--<< Bruce >>--