Arggh! Issues with starting battery in winter - any solutions?

[swampdog]

EODGuy, your install looks great. Without crawling under the LC, I can't really visualize where you chose to make that hole. Can you explain where to find the spot from above?

It somehow seems wrong to have to replace the Toyota battery, which has a 3 year warranty, with a battery that one has to pay for. If this happens again, I likely will do that as well. The original lead-acid battery in my Kubota tractor lasted 20 years - wish I could find more like that. Most AGM batteries are probably good. My preferred brands are Optima, or better yet, Odyssey, if one can find the right size. I checked and could not find an Odyssey listed for the LC.

 

[basicxj]

EODGuy, your install looks great. Without crawling under the LC, I can't really visualize where you chose to make that hole. Can you explain where to find the spot from above?

It somehow seems wrong to have to replace the Toyota battery, which has a 3 year warranty, with a battery that one has to pay for. If this happens again, I likely will do that as well. The original lead-acid battery in my Kubota tractor lasted 20 years - wish I could find more like that. Most AGM batteries are probably good. My preferred brands are Optima, or better yet, Odyssey, if one can find the right size. I checked and could not find an Odyssey listed for the LC.

I believe a group 48 might be the one, but I am still in the research phase. The external dimensions are within a mm or two with the Optima DH6 which EOD Guy installed in his Land Cruiser. Odyssey’s fit guides haven’t been updated for a while.

 

[EOD Guy]

The best way to explain it.......... if you look closely at the photos, on the black hybrid battery trim piece, you'll see where the chuck of the drill was rubbing on the plastic. in other words...... I was as close to the plastic trim piece as possible when drilling the pilot hole. The approximate location can be determined by the distance from the "chuck mark" and the features in the trim and drill straight down with a 1/4 pilot bit. I didn't measure anything as the underside wasn't restricted.

 

[dato6966]

Last week I was travelling when we were getting minus 34C where I was, my LC was completely dead after sitting overnight in the motel parking. It's 18 months old with 35,000 Km. In winter I carry a basic toolkit and jump starter battery pack so no great problem getting going. Tested the battery & it was toast The one I had in my 2022 Tacoma lasted about the same time. No more junk battery - - it is now replaced with the Optima..

 

[LCNorth]

I give a battery one chance after going flat, charge it to full capacity if it goes flat again, it gets replaced (unless I left something on to cause the drain) IMO, the cost of a new, high end battery is not worth the frustration of being stranded by a dead battery.

This right here. And the issue isn't limited to Toyota's. My Land Cruiser has had zero issues in the cold, but I had a battery go bad on my Mazda CX-30. Went dead once, I had it tested and charged back up. A couple of months later it went dead again and I replaced it. No issues since! It seems this is a place OEM's feel they can easily cut $.

Then again, I had a Wrangler where I replaced the battery with a fancy AGM and it was crap didn't last long at all. Replaced it with a plain old Interstate and it was problem free. There seems to be a wide range of QC across the board!

 

[SJR]

Has anyone tried lithium PO4 starter batteries or will they void warranty. And are the OE batteries AGM?

 

[basicxj]

This right here. And the issue isn't limited to Toyota's. My Land Cruiser has had zero issues in the cold, but I had a battery go bad on my Mazda CX-30. Went dead once, I had it tested and charged back up. A couple of months later it went dead again and I replaced it. No issues since! It seems this is a place OEM's feel they can easily cut $.

Then again, I had a Wrangler where I replaced the battery with a fancy AGM and it was crap didn't last long at all. Replaced it with a plain old Interstate and it was problem free. There seems to be a wide range of QC across the board!

Absolutely true they cheap out on OEM batteries. They have a lifespan of between 8-18 months, so at 18 months you were probably lucky.

What AGM did you put in your Wrangler?

 

[ultane]

Has anyone tried lithium PO4 starter batteries or will they void warranty. And are the OE batteries AGM?

When they first hit the scene in motorcycles years ago, people soon discovered that I frigid weather, they won’t crank the motorcycle engine. Owners would have to turn something on on the motorcycle to draw some current from the battery, which heated it up some, and allowed it to crank the engine.

Also, Lithium batteries require a specific charge profile from the charging system in the vehicle, or you will never get it charged to more that ~80%, so they said back then.

 

[allanvt]

Our 2024 LC does not like winter. Already last winter, it would not start on cold days, even with the block heater plugged in. Only after putting a charger on the battery for a day or so would it again start. The same thing this winter. Even at minus 10 Celsius (about plus 14 F) it won't turn over. It did this a few weeks ago during a cold snap, and now did it again. TIme to get the charger out again.

I would hook up a trickle charger directly to the battery, but where to run the cord to the outside? I doubt that there is space for a larger battery. Maybe one can buy a better quality battery; if so, any specific suggestions? Any chance that Toyota has a warranty on these batteries? Any thoughts on possible solutions appreciated.

Here in Vermont I have had no trouble starting my LC at all. She cranks over just fine and starts within the first revolution. It's been down to 0° several times. I am putting Mobile 1 oil in.

 

[Below32]

Has anyone tried lithium PO4 starter batteries or will they void warranty. And are the OE batteries AGM?

Lithium batteries are awesome for a camper/trailer where a BVM can be installed to maintain optimal battery health. They absolutely suck in cold temps to the point that some lithium batteries actually have internal heaters in them.

The last battery I installed in my truck had one step up cranking amp than spec just because of the cold temps. Not sure if that would cause a problem with any of the other systems. My truck was close to 30 years old and aside from the fuel injection system, there weren’t really any electronics on board to speak of especially compared to the vehicles of today.

 

[ultane]

Here in Vermont I have had no trouble starting my LC at all. She cranks over just fine and starts within the first revolution. It's been down to 0° several times. I am putting Mobile 1 oil in.

Welcome to the asylum.

 

[ultane]

Lithium batteries are awesome for a camper/trailer where a BVM can be installed to maintain optimal battery health. They absolutely suck in cold temps to the point that some lithium batteries actually have internal heaters in them.

The last battery I installed in my truck had one step up cranking amp than spec just because of the cold temps. Not sure if that would cause a problem with any of the other systems. My truck was close to 30 years old and aside from the fuel injection system, there weren’t really any electronics on board to speak of especially compared to the vehicles of today.

Welcome to the asylum.

 

[ultane]

Here in Vermont I have had no trouble starting my LC at all. She cranks over just fine and starts within the first revolution. It's been down to 0° several times. I am putting Mobile 1 oil in.

Your 12 volt battery doesn’t cause a starter to spin. It just provides power to the ECU’s, which allows the traction battery to start the LC.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

I'd recommend you have Toyota load test the battery, with multiple heavy discharge events your battery is probably cooked with at least a weak cell or two or maybe even a dead cell. Others have gotten them replaced under warranty in the US at least by Toyota when they test bad.

Mine was just fine at 2 degrees Fahrenheit bout 10 days ago,.....that is -17 C. Wife already knows to simply plug my built in Deltran tender in weekly. Esp if you live with seat heaters and steering wheel heater on continuously, battery is in a chronic discharged state. That is almost certainly a failing battery, nothing to do with theL C and cold weather.

 

[SJR]

The OE battery AGM?

 

[basicxj]

The OE battery AGM?

I don't believe so.

 

[ultane]

The OE battery AGM?

No, it is not. It is a flooded lead acid battery.

 

[SHCKR]

Here we go. Only sat for one day at about 20 degrees fahrenheit, dead as a rock .
Broke the positive battery terminal cover trying to get to it with the jump pack. 3 start tries, no luck.
Every time I'd connect the jump pack, all the lights, seats, infotainment, etc tried to turn on and immediately "trip" it again.
Turned off the lights and then tried again and it started.

1700 miles on the car. I wonder what the dealership is going to tell me. On a related note, how do you open the lift gate when the battery is dead?

New video · Monday, Jan 26 ð¬

 

[basicxj]

I believe there is a manual release inside.

The best/easiest way would be to jump the vehicle and open the hatch to access/recharge the battery once it is running.

I am sad to see you had issues, so a trip to the dealer to test the battery and have them replace it might be in order.

 

[SHCKR]

I believe there is a manual release inside.

The best/easiest way would be to jump the vehicle and open the hatch to access/recharge the battery once it is running.

I am sad to see you had issues, so a trip to the dealer to test the battery and have them replace it might be in order.

I wonder if I can work out some kind of drug deal with them on a yellow top