up to you... IMHO

 

I would change it.

 

With cold weather there I would preventatively. If you're a Costco member check there for their Kirkland-Interstate.

 

I waited too long twice now, when they fail they usually give little warning, change it.

 

Same with my 2009 Tacoma. Hard to crank once, but not twice, as it had no juice left. I got it right the second time and bought a new one and changed it in the parking lot. Each lasted about five years.

 

Believe it or not the hot southern weather seems to be MuCh more of a factor with batteries It would seem
Yes, completely surprised was i

 

If it tested o.k., I'd keep it and just have it tested every few months. Most chain auto parts stores will test it for free. Because the want to sell you a battery, they will not be shy about telling you if the cold cranking amps are below spec.

There is nothing that says a battery has to die when it is 5 years old. Many last much longer. It just depends on how the car is driven, temperature extremes (esp. heat), and whether the battery is abused (run down too low and then not fully recharged).

 

Although not a Highlander, my 2018 Camry died two weeks ago suddenly and left me at the airport in Philly. It was the cold snap that did it. I'd replace it as it's 5 years old and your probably on borrowed time? Got a Diehard Platinum AGM. Heard it's great battery?

 

If the dealer said it’s ok, and lost an opportunity to sell you a new battery, I would keep right on rolling with it. Rarely do dealers turn down a sale if possible.

 

If you live in the South, 5 years might be pushing it. But here in the North, average battery life is 7-12 years. Heat and extreme cold (constantly below -10) shortens the life of a car battery. The cold temps we get here in New Hampshire will show you a weak battery. But overall, this weather prolongs the life of a battery.

 

Get you a simple battery tester to keep an eye on its health. Will let you know its ability to keep a charge, its current cranking amps and also your alternator charging ability. 5 years is old but does not mean it is bad. If you don't mind spending the extra cash as a preventative maint measure I don't see a problem with that. Actual cranking amps go down over time, Would be interesting to see where it is now compared to new. This is the tester I use, I would not purchase it just to find out if your current battery is good or bad, but it is a handy tool to have to use in the future, your cars, family, and Thisneighbors. Help diagnose a crank but no start or no crank, determine if your battery is bad or just your alternator etc.

 

My 2018 will be five years old next month. Last oil change was two months ago. Dealer tested the battery and says it is ok. Do the Highlanders manifest signs of a low battery or just suddenly quit? I live New Hampshire so cold weather is a factor. Replace it now or not?

We had the battery in our Highlander die twice, without notice (unlike an ICE where it will get slow cranking). While it doesn't do much once the vehicle is started, without it it is totally dead. Replace it and you're good to go.

 

15 years on our original Panasonic battery in a 2005 4Runner, and still going strong when we sold the vehicle. It is all about care, i.e. kept the water topped off, etc. Hot climate is a battery killer, as with very cold areas. Our children in Las Vegas are lucky to get 3 years. Love the fact that some batteries are now located in a rear area, away from engine heat.

 

I don't have any experience with Highlanders in particular, but as a general rule, 5 years is starting to get pretty old. If your finances can handle it, I'd buy a new one proactively. And look for one with high CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) - especially since you live in a cold state. Also.... depending on where your battery is located, buying from a seller that offers to install your battery for free may save you some headaches. Hope this helps.

 

I replaced the five year old battery in my 4Runner, as preventative maintenance, with a NAPA Legend and Nine months later it failed. It seems lately that just because it's new doesn't mean it's good. Even though the new battery had a 36 month "free" replacement warranty because the price of the battery had gone up since I bought it they made me pay the difference in order to get it replaced. I would get a portable booster pack to keep in the car, have the battery tested periodically and if it fails you can jump start the car and go get a new battery

 

My wife’s 13 Camry hybrid and my 18 Camry hybrid stil have the original starting batteries. My 14 Tacoma battery died after 7 years, my 07 Camry battery died at 6 years.

I would say in the case of a non hybrid car, I’d just keep an eye on it. If it’s the wife’s car, I’d start thinking about replacing it sometime soon but not tomorrow.

 

My 2018 will be five years old next month. Last oil change was two months ago. Dealer tested the battery and says it is ok. Do the Highlanders manifest signs of a low battery or just suddenly quit? I live New Hampshire so cold weather is a factor. Replace it now or not?

Average life is 5 years, some more, some less, and they do go suddenly because of all the electronic drain on them, not like much older cars. I would be safe than sorry, especially with the cold weather factor.

 

For the record, my 2013 Highlander and I live in the Deep South. While at an independent garage (that I completely trust) having a break job done, just for the helluva it I asked them to check my 5-year old battery. The report came back it was plenty strong. Again, that’s 5 years in the Deep South. We shall see.

 

My 2018 Corolla, battery died on it's 3 year anniversary almost to the day. I was going to a breakfast meeting so I used my hotshot to start it then leaving breakfast had to do it again, drove straight to the Advanced auto to buy one, and the gentleman ask, can I install it for you, which I normally do but he installed it with no issues and it's still going

 

February is nearly behind us. Warmer weather is just around the corner. I would personally go with it until next winter at the least. Especially like someone else mentioned, the dealer didn't say to replace it, they rarely pass on making a sale!

 

I’d change it. My 2018 is on its 3rd battery!! Current one is about 30 months old. Michigan is tough on them.

 

Is it the original battery? If so, replace it.

 

One reason to change on a time schedule is older/weaker batteries tend to be harder on the alternator. They draw more charging current.

 

I've not heard this before.

My understanding is that, as batteries age, they start acting like a smaller-capacity battery, which means that the normal charging rate is now able to cause the battery to out-gas at a much higher rate, and which leads to a greatly-increased rate of corrosion of the terminal clamps and adjacent exposed wire.

True though that having a weak battery might make life harder for components like the alternator and regulator, which are "expecting" the battery to act as a voltage-stabilizing capacitor of sorts!

The corrosion issue itself can necessitate repairs, so when the corrosion even starts to appear I immediately start to think about when is a good time/place/price where/when/at I might want to replace the battery (like when I'm at Walmart, on payday, lol).

My middle-California 2015 Camry went about 5 years on it's original battery before issues surfaced, before any battery terminal corrosion had yet appeared.
It probably didn't help that I often let the car sit unused for 1-3 weeks at a time.

I use NOCO NCP2 battery terminal spray whenever I replace a battery, which is formulated to repel/neutralize any Hydrogen Sulfide gas emitted by the battery. I make sure to soak the spray into any exposed copper wire bundles at or near the clamp. One $8 can will last ten or more years for at least three cars (fixing one corroded clamp or failed wire could be far more costly than that).

Be aware that battery terminals are slightly tapered, so be sure that the clamp bolt is loose enough to push and hold the clamp down hard against the battery, before and while tightening the bolt. Do not over-tighten, or there won't be much clamping tension available the next time your battery is replaced.
Batteries often appear to under-perform when one of the clamps isn't tight, so observe that the clamp can't rotate on the terminal and there is still some gap in the clamp before the bolt is tightened fully (or insufficient clamping tension might result).

 

I have what is called a top Don battery checker and for the $35 it gives you the state of health the amount of cold cranking amps the internal resistance along with other checks. I periodically check my batteries with it or you can go to an auto parts store don't just go to one you might need to go to two cuz they might try and talk you into a battery. But in the end if you do need a battery the best you usually at the farm stores like rural King I picked one up for my 2003 Corolla for $58 it is the correct cold cranking amps and the correct size good luck.

If you want to get a battery tester which is something it's good to have they're about 40 bucks called top Don is a good one it gives you internal resistance cold cranking amps voltage and several other you can check your starter and your alternator with it. Or you can go to the auto parts store go to two of them and get like a second opinion. But if you do need a battery then I find the best price is at rural King or at a farm store I picked one up for $58 for my 2003 Corolla best of luck.

 

You had the battery tested. The result of the test was that it is a good battery. That means it is charged to the right voltage and is holding enough current. Good is good. I had a Yuasa battery last 12 years once. If you're just scared because your battery had another birthday you can keep testing it until it shows weak, then replace it.

 

I have had a Deka battery on my '86-1/2 Nissan truck for 13 years. I connect an automatic charger monthly,as my '88 Toyota gets twice the MPG,despite both having the same sized engine. The Nissan is a 4x4,maybe the cause of the difference. The '88 Toyota has a 8 year old Deka battery,and both are tested every 3-4 months with a load tester.

 

This past fall our 2017 Highlander Limited was in for an oil change. It was 5 years earlier in august of 2017 that we bought the car. They tested the battery and just let us know our battery was borderline and suggested we put in a new one before it got cold. Within that week it would not start one morning. Called my insurance company and they sent out the roadside assistance company to jumpstart it. As soon as the guy gave me the jump I took it over to a Firestone near us and put in a new battery. There was no indication the battery was about to fail at all so my recommendation is to change it now.