Dead battery-2 weeks

[stephan07]

Just back from 2 weeks in HI and the 4runner wouldn't start. I've an upgraded X2 group F battery which is 92Ah deep cycle and has been great.

In terms of a drain, just the light from the factory installed remote starter. Is that thing enough to draw down the battery after 3 weeks of non starting it and having some cold weather here in the northeast?

The other pain in the A$$, is you cant open the rear hatch with just the key if the battery is dead. Putting it in the key slot and durning doesn't work. Is there a release from the inside that is mechanical? Without opening the rear hatch I could not access my ARB drawers. They are bolted to the floor. Fortunately I had another Noco jumper in the wife's car and she was home. Those remote lithium jumpers have been awesome when I have jumped others. Have never failed to jump a vehicle including some big diesel trucks.

I may have to see if I have a drain somewhere else, though my fridge and portable lithium "power pack" are in a heated garage and I cant think of anything other than the light that blinks on the remote starter.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

From what I gather deep cycles aren't the best for a starting battery. They don't like short trips or sitting for extended time, especially in cold weather. I have an X2 hybrid starter/deep cycle and I check the voltage quite often and put a tender on it when it's not being used like it should. I have 3 X2s, the hybrid and a deep cycle secondary for my fridge and off road lights in my 5th gen, and another hybrid in my 4th gen. They're good batteries and with a smart charger they always come back up to good voltage and have been good for years now. I don't think the remote start by itself would draw it down that far, but you never know. Good Luck!

 

[jhguth]

the "deep cycle" batteries people talk about in this context are generally all dual purpose batteries with more than enough CCA to start a vehicle, they are just better at being cycled than a normal starting battery.

i'd guess either a drain or the battery isn't healthy

i think you can pop a panel off from the door and get to the latch from the inside, but there is no quick simple release or anything

 

[stephan07]

the "deep cycle" batteries people talk about in this context are generally all dual purpose batteries with more than enough CCA to start a vehicle, they are just better at being cycled than a normal starting battery.

i'd guess either a drain or the battery isn't healthy

i think you can pop a panel off from the door and get to the latch from the inside, but there is no quick simple release or anything

Good lesson to know, cant access my drawer system with the jumpers or Noco jumper in it! Glad it was at home.

 

[Dillusion]

I'm assuming dead battery was the original.

Time to toss it anyways. I don't think I've had much factory batteries last more than a couple years.

 

[jhguth]

The X2 isnt a factory battery, but the factory Panasonic is really good and should last at least 5 years. The X2 is also really good and should last at least 5 years, but it has different charging requirements than what the factory charging system provides so might be damaged

 

[stephan07]

I had the same issue with the original. This is the X2, which is a great battery. I dont use the vehicle often except for off-road camping trips, and summer on the cape sand dunes. In the winter I do drive it when weather is bad, and when I drive to some business sites in upstate NY and Burlington, VT. I run it with studded Nokians.

Dont get me wrong, I love driving it, but I write off a daily as my business vehicle, and don't mind saving the highway miles on the 4Runner. I'll give it a good charge with the Noco Genius charger. Guessing that the alternator may not be able to fully charge the AGM.

 

[Bumbo]

I let my truck sit for months at a time because I only use it off-road, and I have had the starter battery die even with a dual battery setup.

I installed a very convenient quick-disconnect charging port external to the vehicle in the front grill so when its sitting at home, I can just plug in a battery maintainer which charges both starter and accessory battery.

 

[Akkording]

good point brought up about keeping our mini portable jump starters accessible in the cab/glove box and not locked in our drawers.

 

[catrains]

toyota charger is most all the time 13.5volts. AGM does require 15volt charger with a computer to sense the proper charge.
I am not hot on AGM... since you have this AGM you need to keep it on the computer controlled charger because you do not use the runner much in winter in the cold north.
I installed these AGM batteries in $250K sport cars and keep these chargers on all the time. the millionaires loved my work they had no problems. boston area..

since I use my vehicles often I only use lead acid batteries. last for me 7 yrs.

 

[BobsTrail]

Mine ran down after setting almost 2 weeks but our other car was OK. I had a telematics unit from Auto Club that was taking power from the OBDC port when the T4 was off. I did a current check and read 350ma. Removed the unit and the draw went down to 125ma. It sat for 11 days last month with no problem.

 

[Sky]

Don't know if Toyota cuts the power to the OBD port when the car is off.

My Ford Transit van does not- noticed one night when I slept in it the LED was lit up on the bluetooth ODB adapter I leave plugged in to communicate with the Torque app. I don't think the adapter draws much but it all adds up.

EDIT> BobsTrail posted it does stay on while I was typing my post....