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2018 Tundra Battery Question

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by nodak67, Feb 2, 2019.

  1. Feb 2, 2019 at 6:22 AM
    #1
    nodak67

    nodak67 [OP] New Member

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    so what is considered a dead/dying battery?

    mine consistently shows below 12.0v on my remote start app when not running (13.1 when running).

    it varies from 11.9/11.7/11.5/11.3 depending on temp and how long since it was last run.

    from what i have read with a grain of salt is that anything below 12.0 on a resting battery is considered a dead battery.

    anyone have any insight from someone that doesn't know much about vehicle batteries.

    thanks
     
  2. Feb 2, 2019 at 6:32 AM
    #2
    Adriver71x

    Adriver71x New Member

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    First .Test your battery with a volt meter and see if your gauge is off. Most auto parts will test your battery free.
    Second. If your vehicle turns over slowly the battery is junk.
     
  3. Feb 2, 2019 at 7:14 AM
    #3
    TuFerLife

    TuFerLife New Member

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    My battery on my 18’ died at only 6 months old and 7k miles. Dealer replaced under factory warranty a couple of weeks ago...
     
    socal147 likes this.
  4. Feb 2, 2019 at 7:28 AM
    #4
    fliberto38

    fliberto38 New Member

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    I would test the battery and verify those numbers. I would be surprised if a battery sub 12V would even start the truck.
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Feb 2, 2019 at 8:54 AM
    #5
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    Yes, a fully charged sitting battery reading below 12.0 V is no good, but mind other factors before discarding. Batts retain only around 50% of their capacity near freezing and drop like a rock the further below 32F you are. You’re prolly dealing with a less than stellar battery combined with cold temps and maybe a tiny drain (alarm). If it’s not giving you any problems, I’d try and hold til spring when the temps warm and retest.
     
    UTTundra likes this.
  6. Feb 2, 2019 at 12:14 PM
    #6
    socal147

    socal147 None Specified

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    Stock is so temporary
    Did you get towed to the dealer?
     
    TuFerLife[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Feb 2, 2019 at 1:04 PM
    #7
    nodak67

    nodak67 [OP] New Member

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    1. it sits outside during the winter
    2. its only driven 7am about 3 miles to work then sits until about 4pm. sometimes it comes home to site until the next morning, some days its driven across town and back 7-10 miles.
    3. last winter didnt have any issues, but this winter with the cold snap we have had its hasnt started twice
    4. thanks for the chart
    5. i am using the remote start app to track the batt sitting charge and once it gets to about 11.3 (when it wouldnt start it was 10.9 or less i think)
    6. the first time it died i put it on a charger overnight on auto mode and 2a trickle charge. the next morning when i took it off the charger it eventually went back below 12v during the day.
     
  8. Feb 2, 2019 at 1:20 PM
    #8
    TuFerLife

    TuFerLife New Member

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    Nah, I charged it once to jump it off. Then it struggled the next few times I had to start it, thankfully I got it to the dealer though.

    I thought they would tell me to kick rocks because I have 13 rigid pods hooked up to the battery, lol.
     
  9. Feb 2, 2019 at 2:58 PM
    #9
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    When it got colder, my 18 started having trouble starting and I’ve had to jump it twice. Dealer said it was probably the remote start draining it. It shows in the 11s both on the dash gauge and with the bullydog if it sits more than a day.

    I have a dual battery kit with odyssey batteries waiting to go in once it warms up a little.
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  10. Feb 2, 2019 at 9:12 PM
    #10
    nodak67

    nodak67 [OP] New Member

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    funny the same remote start is in the 4runner (installed by the same certified compustar dealer and its still on the oem battery after 4 yrs and going on 5 yrs.
     
  11. Feb 4, 2019 at 8:08 PM
    #11
    nodak67

    nodak67 [OP] New Member

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    well took it in today. long story ...

    1. called to get a appointment, was told earliest was next monday.
    2. i took the battery out of the vehicle and drove up to the only local dealer. guess what they wont do warranty work just on the battery, it HAS to be in the vehicle to test
    3. drove back put the battery back in and drove it to the dealer and they tested it for about 3hrs roughly.
    4. luckily they were able to do the test and i didnt have to wait until next week. funny how that works out when you walk in with a battery to get warranty work and they magically can fit you in if you had a vehicle. told them i will be back in 15 mins with the vehicle and they can test it. service desk was kinda taken aback and couldnt back out after i said that. waited the roughly 4hrs it took total for the whole ordeal.
    5. test runs ~75 mins and runs thru 2 cycles. charges then does something and charges again and then does something.
    6. results from the test showed the battery is suppose to have 710 cca, but the test readout showed --- on the cca part.
    7. they replaced it under warranty
     
  12. Feb 4, 2019 at 8:15 PM
    #12
    computeruser6

    computeruser6 Gott Mit Uns

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  13. Feb 13, 2021 at 2:50 PM
    #13
    nodak67

    nodak67 [OP] New Member

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    Yes I am going to necro this thread to give an update.

    Replacement Toyota battery that was installed in feb-2019 is dead again 2yrs to the month. Just up and replaced it with an interstate so I don't have to deal with it anymore.
     
  14. Feb 13, 2021 at 6:56 PM
    #14
    endagon

    endagon New Member

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    I bet this is part of the issue. Ran into this myself. During the partial shutdowns last year I was monitoring battery voltage for the first time and at first thought it was the time sitting but even when driving again it would settle to 12.2v after shutdown. Thought maybe it was the factory battery as it died just shy of 4 years old this past fall. Nope; brand new battery went in at 12.6v, within a week had settled back down to 12.2v just like the old one. Topped it up with the charger and it came down yet again by the next weekend. The truck cranked fine, showed no ill symptoms, stayed between 13.8-14.1v while it was running, yet still couldn't charge itself up. Well I drive 7-8 miles to work every day and you know how it runs, once the coolant reaches 140F it aims for top gear and runs at 1000-1300 rpm through town whenever it's not accelerating. It's probably a combination of lack of amps combined with the short charge time. The alternator isn't making it and the battery isn't taking it. Drive for a half hour on the freeway though and it tops right up.

    I've switched to driving in S5 or now even S4 on the slow snowy work commute and saving 6th gear for trips longer or faster than that and wouldn't ya know, it shows 12.6v every time I shut it off.

    There are so many battery failure threads that I wonder if this has been an ongoing issue that's been overlooked. If the battery is never charged up all the way that's when the sulfidation garbage wreaks havoc on the plates. The new trucks supposedly have a more sophisticated PCM-controlled voltage regulation system. Maybe this is why?
     
  15. Feb 13, 2021 at 7:03 PM
    #15
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    I’ve heard AGM batteries take more voltage to charge and was looking at these.

    https://www.chitown4x4.com/agm-battery-voltage-upgrade.html

    https://www.hkbelect.com/products/toyota/?model=tundra&year=2018

    But like you said, maybe the factory battery needs more too. My voltage will go between about 13.4 to 14.2 while driving.
     
  16. Feb 13, 2021 at 7:17 PM
    #16
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    My boat batteries at full charge typically show 12.8 with motor off and 14+ with motor running. I have 3 different devices monitoring voltage so I feel good about these numbers. I have VHF radio and stereo hooked up to one of the trolling motor batteries. The stereo memory will draw the battery down to about 75% in 2 weeks and kill it in about 5. I did not run the boat for over a month and hooked on my onboard charger and it would not charge battery #3. I thought WTF until I remembered the onboard charger will not charge a battery below a certain voltage. I mention this because some accessories can drain a battery if vehicle is not run or hooked up to a maintainer.
     
  17. Feb 14, 2021 at 5:05 AM
    #17
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Your experience agrees with the statistics on Gen3 Tundra batteries. Simple replacement with another brand is better than expecting a different result. This is a screen shot of owner poll done here:

    Battery Life.jpg
     
  18. Feb 18, 2021 at 9:17 AM
    #18
    nodak67

    nodak67 [OP] New Member

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    more likely its the air injection system running after sitting for a few hours when its sitting out in the -20F temp.

    my 4runner does it in the garage even though the garage is unheated and not insulated and roughly 5-10F warmer than outside temp the tundra is dealing with. if i let the 4runner sit from thursday 5pm until monday at 5am and its this cold, it wont start unless i put a floating battery charger on over the weekend.

    btw i drive my 4runner 15miles 1 way at 73mph to work 4 days a week (4x10 shifts)
     

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