Came back from a 10 day trip, 4R battery was dead, arg. Hooked up the battery charger, would not take a charge. Tried a number of setting and left for 30 minutes, still nothing. Actually had to hook jumper cables from the 4R battery to the deep cycle, then the battery charger to the deep cycle, then it would take a charge, through the deep cycle. Left it like that for 30 min, then hooked it up directly to the 4R battery until complete. The 4R battery was so dead that the charger would not recognize it to charge it, hence why I had to use the other battery in-line with it to give it that little juice 1st.

I had left on one of the rear tail door light, it drained every last bit! Guess I will make sure to double check those from now on!

Thanks - A good reminder that the system will not turn the lift gate lights off (if in the "ON" position) after a period of inactivity as it will with the other interior lights if a door is left open.

That is your 4Runner's way of warning you not to leave it behind when you go on a trip.

Actually, if you leave the interior lights in the "On"--not "Door" position, they will stay on until such time you switch them to "Off" or "Door". A door left open will only cause the lights to shut off if you are in the "Door" position.

You are correct. That is what I meant to covey, but did not put it as clearly as you did. Just have to remember to put those tailgate switches in the "Door" or "Off" position if not using them for "tailgating".

Thanks for the clarification. I thought that I may have had it wrong.

Mine was dead after coming back from 10 days of Christmas vacation. I can't tell what caused it either.

Gotta love the second battery install though. First time it actually came in handy.

Really? No lights left on? My 1st thought was the 12v outlet, but then I remembered it is not 'live' with the key off, so I knew it was a light left on or something 'not good'. Besides the lights not much that can kill the battery. Could something with the 2nd battery install be causing a slow/low draw?

Never mind, I forgot that I hardwired the radar detector to an "always on" in the overhead light panel. I left it on. That's what you get for being to lazy to fix a mistake I guess.

Good argument for interior LEDs.

The 5th gen no longer has the ability to automatically turn off interior lights that were left on? Or was this a special circumstance?

BTW, are they still using the big Panasonic batteries in the 5th gen?

My Canadian LE had a Panasonic in it.

On the back hatch lights there are 3 settings, Door (on with Gate open / off with Gate closed), On (always on no matter Gate position), and Off (never turns on with door open).

I had set the switch to 'on' when reaching in the back from the 2nd row, never turned it back to 'door'. I guess if you are tailgating or camping and using the lights it would be annoying to 're-activate' them every couple hours if the system shuts down the lights.

I also left on the front driver map light a few weeks ago. It did not shut that off either. Personally I would like the lights to turn off after a certain amount of time, could even be 12 hours. That is enough time for daylight to return (unless you live in the arctic) but also not enough time to drain the battery.

Are you going to replace the battery now it's been weakened or are you going to take a gamble. They look like expensive batteries, I'd probably milk it.

I doubt it will have any effect on the longevity of the battery. It will stay.