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Dead battery-Normal or Complain? New truck

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by EIRE1916, Jan 10, 2020.

  1. Jan 10, 2020 at 7:42 AM
    #1
    EIRE1916

    EIRE1916 [OP] New Member

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    Hi

    I’ve a brand new truck, it’s exactly 8 months old.

    I went on vacation and for two weeks and it’s been in my driveway since, today I go to start it and battery dead.

    I am in New England so it’s below freezing or thereabouts daily, however my 3 year old Mercedez started up no issue and laying up the same amount of time.

    should I complain to the dealer, it’s under warranty, or expect this of a Tundra if it’s out in the cold and not started for 2-3 weeks?

    also, I just noted that while the truck is running at least, the radio screen never shuts off, you can switch off the radio but the screen in the console remains on, is that normal? In the Merc I push the console/radio off and the screen will turn off
     
  2. Jan 10, 2020 at 7:48 AM
    #2
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Outside of Weird, TX
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    TRD Pro grille, 2018 LED Headlights, Undercover Flex bed cover, Neoprene seat covers, Bed/tailgate mats, Power tailgate lock, auto headlights, illuminated key switch
    Complain...loudly. If you can't get it started to take it to them, you may have to test your ToyotaCare roadside assistance. Pretty certain they will not bring a battery to the truck, but you can contact the dealer and see what they say.
     
  3. Jan 10, 2020 at 7:49 AM
    #3
    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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    Demello / SOB Fab Bumpers, SuperWinch, WKOR sliders, RCI skids, Baja Designs lighting, Billy 6112 and 5160 w/ CB +2, JL Audio with Alpine HU, DD 10" Exhaust, LED headlights, Rago fab mounts, 35” BFG, HAM radio
    it is well documented that OEM batteries are junk. Personally, I swapped to a Northstar from Batteries Plus. The most your dealer will do is replace it under warranty with another junk battery.

    Regarding the screen staying on when you turn off the radio, that is normal. There is a separate procedure to turn off the screen.
     
  4. Jan 10, 2020 at 7:50 AM
    #4
    Trooper2

    Trooper2 Premium Lone Star Member / SSEM #13

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    Houston, TX (Suburban South)
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    2007 Tundra 5.7 L Double Cab TRD 2WD
    TSS 20's with Cooper ATP ll's, N Fab 3 Step Nerf Bars,, Pioneer AVIC-8100NEX, Masters Tailgate Replacement Latch with Camera, 1" Maxtrac Shackles, LED Interiors/Brake/Reverse/Cargo/Fog Bulbs, Fumoto Drain Valve, Toyota Aluminium Oil Filter Housing, TRD Shift Knob, Courtesy Door Projector LEDs with Toyota Emblem, Console Tray and Lower Divider.
    MAKE THEM WARRANTY IT!!!
     
  5. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:01 AM
    #5
    RitcheyRch

    RitcheyRch New Member

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    Like said, make them warranty it. The new battery will be better than the one that came from the factory.
     
  6. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:02 AM
    #6
    Hobbesdsm

    Hobbesdsm New Member

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    Warranty it, than change to whatever battery after warranty runs out. I still have the original battery for over 4 years and recently still tested good.
     
  7. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:12 AM
    #7
    Fiesta346

    Fiesta346 New Member

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    See if you can buy a better battery yourself and get them to reimburse you...
     
  8. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:19 AM
    #8
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 Looks clean even when its dirty!

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    Have them warranty it, it will buy you time to save for a northstar 27f.
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  9. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:20 AM
    #9
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    I’d have them replace it with brand new, immediately remove that battery and replace with AGM and sell your new Toyota one to recoup some costs of new AGM...
     
    plumber802 likes this.
  10. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:23 AM
    #10
    Stig

    Stig New Member

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    14 days without charging, in cold temps could be towards the limit. But should be able to sit for a few weeks and still start. That is only if the battery started sitting with a full charge. Too many short trips prior to sitting can cause even the best batteries to have starting issues.

    Always a good idea to hook up a charger/tender if it's gonna sit for more than a week.

    You could probably call the dealer, they will give you a new battery.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2020
    BrandonL812 likes this.
  11. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:30 AM
    #11
    panicman

    panicman Everyone remain calm.

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    Just curious- what do they do at dealerships with sustained sitting and cold weather?

    Do they do anything preventative, or just replace dead batteries as needed?
     
  12. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:35 AM
    #12
    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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    A decent battery should hold a charge adequate to start the vehicle for months. I charge up boat batteries in October and don’t use them until March... never a problem with a high quality battery.
     
    okietundra18 and NewImprovedRon like this.
  13. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:37 AM
    #13
    Johnsonman

    Johnsonman New Member

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    Yeah you need to complain and probably ask for a New battery, not just an overnight trickle charge.

    This should never have happened, no matter what folks say about new car batteries from toyota being of poor quality.

    Plus there may be more at play here that caused that, I'd ask they check it out carefully.

    Luck and enjoy those Toyotas. : ^ )))
     
  14. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:39 AM
    #14
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    A charged battery won’t freeze until around -30f(ish) whereas a half charged battery will freeze around 20f. I’d assume the OP had a small parasitic draw and combined with the low temps, froze the battery, damaged a cell and here he is...another possibility is the heat of the summer actually beat up the battery and the cold finally killed it. Heat murders batteries but it’s the cold that the symptoms usually present themselves.
     
  15. Jan 10, 2020 at 8:51 AM
    #15
    truefunk

    truefunk New Member

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    Battery I my recently traded in 2017 Sequoia died, in oct of last year, still under the 3 yr warranty, took it in and it was a dead cell. Service took care of it and replaced under warranty.
     
  16. Jan 10, 2020 at 10:42 AM
    #16
    WILLINH

    WILLINH New Member

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    I have had 2 Toyota truestart batteries. 1st one was six years old and sold the truck, still worked well. The second one was 5 years old and I traded the camry and that was still working good.So I will buy another. My daughters 2014 Tacoma's battery died 3 1/2 years old, dead cell. It seems the batteries from the factories are crappy. The batteries you buy from Toyota (truestart) are better quality.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2020
    Sunnier likes this.
  17. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:44 AM
    #17
    J.A.T.O.

    J.A.T.O. New Member

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    My OEM batt started leaking badly and left me stranded once. I bought the truck new in 2013 and the battery lasted close to 10 months in northern Mississippi. I’ve seen leaky batteries on other “new” Toyota’s as well.

    I guess Toyota can’t get everything right lol
     
  18. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:26 PM
    #18
    Joe333x

    Joe333x Member

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    Only had my Tundra a month or two, no problems yet but I had a battery on my Subaru go during warranty. They replaced it but had to sit and wait while they tested it. The battery they replaced it was was crap too. I ended up just replacing it myself with a Optima yellow top. I know people say Optima is not good anymore but it was definitely better than the OEM. I'll probably just replace the stock battery if it dies during warranty rather than have to sit at a dealer to get another OEM battery. I always carrier a jumper pack and cables just in case. Two things manufacturers always cheap on out is batteries and tires, they will just go with what is cheapest.
     
  19. Jan 11, 2020 at 8:42 AM
    #19
    Bigbird57

    Bigbird57 New Member

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    X2 27F FTW!
     
    Tierhog likes this.
  20. Jan 11, 2020 at 11:11 AM
    #20
    Phishindude

    Phishindude New Member

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    I went away for two weeks and my truck had a hard time starting. It was in the garage with temps around 60F. Pretty sure I have an indicator light on now for a low batt. Haven't been able to get to the dealership. When I do I have a punch list for them. Cam tower seepage, rear diff seepage, battery, and the windshield is cracked.
     
  21. Jan 11, 2020 at 11:27 AM
    #21
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    Yeah, the dealer will replace it. Even if you don’t complain, but take it in for scheduled maintenance the dealer will, if the do all scheduled work, run a diagnostic and figure out it’s bad. They did this on mine, even though it not had a failure. The only bummer was, it took a long time because they had to run some specific test to send to Toyota to get reimbursed for the battery. That took a while.
     
  22. Jan 12, 2020 at 6:29 AM
    #22
    Fourknights

    Fourknights Goin Coastal

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    Definitely take it in, my truck just sat for 6 weeks and fired rights up.
     
    AZBoatHauler likes this.

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