[WKDiesel]

We bought our highlander in Feb 2016. We only put about 4000 km on it in the 7 months we owned it. We drive it maybe once a week or every other week sometimes.

The battery has died twice on this thing. On our old car the battery could last 2 months without driving the vehicle.

Has anyone else had the issue? The dealership said we aren't driving he vehicle enough.

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

You heard him! get out there and DRIVE!
JK

There are a lot of reports that the battery died prematurely. So maybe it was weak to begin with?
But ther are also a number of things running on the car while the car is off. Sensors and such can slowly drain the battery. Once you have it changed for a new battery under warranty, see if this happens again in your 1-2week interval of driving.
If it does, maybe you need a better quality battery?

 

[TrailDust]

My experience with my 2nd Gen Highlander has been anything more than 10 to 12 days will kill the battery. It's only anecdotal, but my experience in the forums has been with modern cars the batteries last much shorter than in the past. A modern car can have a couple dozen or more computers on board, each one drawing power when the ignition is turned off. The computers, radio, and clock will all draw power to keep the memories from zeroing out. If I'm going to be out of town more than eight days I unhook the battery in my Highlander, and in my older Avalon it's twelve days or more.

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

Ya, that's a good idea to disconnet a post. I would put some tape or cover over the post, cuz I'm spooky like that.
And make sure your keys are with you as remote or prox will not work. When you get back, all you need to do is reset the clock.

 

[sweeneyp]

Also if you keep the smart key in the vicinity (it has to be close, less than 10'; you'll hear otherwise out there, but this particular system's range is short) that keeps the computers on, kill it sooner (as well as your smart key battery).


I still vote weak OEM original battery. Its happened more than a few times.

 

[govie]

I must say that I have been very fortunate because I have not had any issues with my battery. My car is 8 months old with only 1500 miles (600 of which was added last week on a vacation to Myrtle Beach). I travel a lot because of my job so the Highlander is parked at home when I'm away on work assignments. I am gone between 8 to 10 weeks at a time and she starts without hesitation every time I come home.

 

[maybeanotherone]

At 4,000 miles in not quite a year, our HL battery hasn't died. On other batteries I use a Battery Tender Jr. on them when not in use. Has really extended their life.
Especially if garaged, the tender will keep a battery up.

 

[MR2Jedi]

A battery tender is the way to go. As TrailDust said above, there are several components that continue to draw small amounts of power,that add up, even when the car is off.
If the vehicle is sits outdoors a lot, then use a solar powered battery charger. They are relatively inexpensive. If it's garaged, then a wall plug in type will be necessary and will save you money, time and inconvenience.

 

[taco'rolla]

It's quite possible yer not driving it long enough to fully recharge the battery.
Then the battery sits idle for a period already undercharged.
All the while, the 'puter is drawing on the remaining voltage.

Using a battery tender is a good idea.

I use a low buck 12v float charger I picked up at my local Harbor Freight.
I paid $ 5.99 each on sale. So purchased several.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html

They work fine and keep my batteries charged and ready to roll.
Critical because my 4X may sit idle for months between use.
And my car doesn't charge the battery fully
during short jaunts around my town/running the AC Max.

Only issue I had with these cheap chinese made float chargers
was that the leads to the alligator clips became un-soldered.
And so I had to re-solder those for repair.

eh... what could one expect from low buck chinese junk. !? Lol

worth the cost of admission imo
being less costly then the high end tenders
that basically do the same thing.

 

[wth]

It would be interesting to know all the makes/ models of vehicles that needed a jump start at a airport parking lot, after a long vacation. But the battery should hold a charge to start the vehicle after sitting for 2 weeks, if it was fully charged to begin with. Today's batteries are smaller, but there not trying to turn over a old school 400+ cu in v8 with 10-40 oil.

 

[Greasymechtech]

Its time you run the battery dead, you shorten its life considerably.

If in a garage, use a battery trickle charger or tender.

If outside, plenty of solar options available. Some automakers, for example VW, have 'solar' chargers on vehicles during shipping that either plug into a live 12v cigarette lighter jack, or to the OBD port. Search ebay for it.

Here's my favorite:
http://www.batteryminders.com/12-volt-solar-charger-maintainer-desulfator-panel-scc-015 But, you can buy the charger separately and use any ~2-20watt 12v solar panel you want.

 

[Vulcan05]

At night, my garage glows green. 2009 Yamaha Majesty, 2005 GoldWing trike, 2000 Honda Civic, 2016 Camry. All hooked up to Battery Tender Jr's. The 2010 Vibe I traded in on the Camry had the original battery when I traded it. The Civic and GoldWing have 7 year old batteries. The Yamaha has it's original battery.

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

I did a review on this guy, which works well....
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/3...amping-gadget-solar-charger.html#post11320185

 

[allserene]

We bought two Camrys in the same week in 2007... apart from the sun visor on one of them, the only repairs have been a battery in each car after about 6 years. Toyota batteries are made in Milwaukee by Johnson Controls....a few miles from my house. I take the point about modern cars drawing power when the car is tuned off, and I reckon a couple of weeks in cold weather with an aging battery could be problematic. I leave one of our cars at Milwaukee airport in January and it's usually 8 days and minus 20f...so far so good... I will look at the solar trickle charger for just such a situation...... If I had a lot of trouble with a newish battery, I would suspect the alternator diode is leaking current to earth. and I would check it with a multi-meter..

 

[SilverBullit]

A simple solution....install/connect a CTEK 8 step battery maintainer when not in use.

 

[allserene]

A simple solution....install/connect a CTEK 8 step battery maintainer when not in use.

Can't use it at the airport parking though...solar sounds good for that
I use schumacher intelligent chargers in the garage for the bike and tractor... cheap and they work great
Walmart....

 

[Mergatroyd]

In my long lifetime, batteries have gone from barely acceptable to excellent and then back to mediocre. In the 1950s, the better warranty was 24 months, prorated, and 30 months (2 1/2 years) of realized life was considered quite good. My 1998 Ford original battery lasted just over 13 years. And I have had at least 4 batteries that lasted 10 years. Most recently, one battery lasted about 4 1/2 years and another for 5 years and 3 months. Probably that is as good as we will experience for the forseeable future. The manufacturers and sellers of batteries like more frequent replacement.

 

[allserene]

In my long lifetime, batteries have gone from barely acceptable to excellent and then back to mediocre. In the 1950s, the better warranty was 24 months, prorated, and 30 months (2 1/2 years) of realized life was considered quite good. My 1998 Ford original battery lasted just over 13 years. And I have had at least 4 batteries that lasted 10 years. Most recently, one battery lasted about 4 1/2 years and another for 5 years and 3 months. Probably that is as good as we will experience for the forseeable future. The manufacturers and sellers of batteries like more frequent replacement.

It's depressing to think my life expectancy is the same as a new kitten at best, and my pal is telling me to spend big on my next car as it is my last ! What a thought.
Now I can also measure it in a battery...or two.....
I was going to buy a Camry XLE in Spring, but I think I will buy it now...
Still buying green bananas though...

 

[Zembonez]

Some of my vehicles don't get driven more than once a month at times. I've found the EverStart Maxx (sold by Walmart - made by Johnson controls) has the best staying power of any type I have tried. I've killed every OEM battery I've had and replaced them with these... never had another problem.

OP: It sounds like your vehicle is draining while parked and then not being driven enough to ever achieve a full charge. That will kill a battery in a short time. Solar maintainer/charger is a great idea for you.

 

[TrailDust]

Its time you run the battery dead, you shorten its life considerably.

I have always maintained that each time you drain a battery dead you can take about six months off the life of the battery. It's a rule of thumb that has played out well in 35 years of driving experience.