I have a 2015 and replaced my battery in Oct 2020. I got 5 years out of mine. I noticed when I would go to start the engine it was cranking slow. Had the battery tested and it was testing low voltage. Sam's club had them on sale so I replaced it. I didn't want to take a chance being stranded somewhere in the cold. Now my 2004 4Runner's Panasonic battery was 11 years old when I traded it in and was still going strong. I don't think the newer batteries last that long anymore. It's been a long time since I bought a battery. You used to be able to get a battery with a 5 year full replacement warranty. Sears used to have a 7 year warranty on their top of the line die hard batteries.
Stock Panasonic Battery Life
- Thread starter vondy21
- Start date
larrylegend
New member
I am still on my original battery on my 2015. I live in Indiana, so I'm likely due for a replacement.
One thing to check before buying a new one is the price of a replacement from the dealer. I bought 2 batteries, 1 for my old 99 4Runner and 1 for my old 2011 corolla, and both times the dealer was cheaper than the local parts store. Also, both batteries came with a 5 year warranty.
One thing to check before buying a new one is the price of a replacement from the dealer. I bought 2 batteries, 1 for my old 99 4Runner and 1 for my old 2011 corolla, and both times the dealer was cheaper than the local parts store. Also, both batteries came with a 5 year warranty.
vondy21
New member
Dealer wanted $169 for a battery. 7 year warranty, I'm guessing that was a prorated warranty but didn't ask.
I've considered and AGM but there seems to be much debate over whether the 4Runner can send enough volts to charge them. I don't want to mess with the electronics. Don't really want to spend that much either but Batteries+ does have the Duracell AGM for around $200 with 48 month free replacement. Just don't know enough about the charging issue. May stick with the regular Duracell.
I've considered and AGM but there seems to be much debate over whether the 4Runner can send enough volts to charge them. I don't want to mess with the electronics. Don't really want to spend that much either but Batteries+ does have the Duracell AGM for around $200 with 48 month free replacement. Just don't know enough about the charging issue. May stick with the regular Duracell.
I just replaced mine, 3.5 years and 49k miles. I was going to get AGM too but ran into the same discussion about the charging issue(also had a tough time finding them). So decided to just get a interstate from costco.
Also I might of shortened the life my OEM battery with pulling too much charge from the battery with air compressor and accessories.
ElectroBoy
Banned
As previously stated, there are only a few battery manufacturers in the US. I’ve been buying standard starter batteries from Costco for many years and have had great luck with their pro-rating policy. Replace before failure.
Currently the Costco batteries are Interstate. Interstate does not manufacture, they are a distributor of batteries made by Johnson Controls, Exide, and Brookfield Business Partners, snd others. I’m not sure how Brookfield factors into this. But I’ve read articles that said Johnson Controls used to supply about 65% of the Interstate stock, but recently they are not and Exide is producing most.
The Costco website today lists a standard flooded Interstate 24F for $89.99. Three year warranty. And an Interstate AGM for $159.99, but temporarily out of stock.
Currently the Costco batteries are Interstate. Interstate does not manufacture, they are a distributor of batteries made by Johnson Controls, Exide, and Brookfield Business Partners, snd others. I’m not sure how Brookfield factors into this. But I’ve read articles that said Johnson Controls used to supply about 65% of the Interstate stock, but recently they are not and Exide is producing most.
The Costco website today lists a standard flooded Interstate 24F for $89.99. Three year warranty. And an Interstate AGM for $159.99, but temporarily out of stock.
1000MPH
Senior Member
I just replaced my 6 year old RAV4 Panasonic battery with one from Costco.
With the Topdon battery tester, the old one tested at 43% health (Bad-replace). It continued to start the car without issues but I was concerned about stranding my GF. For the hell of it I tested the brand new one before use: Health: 100% (Good) 88% charge. I threw it on a battery maintainer overnight.
As I expected, the RAV4 does the same as the 4R, it dies right after starting for the first time.
With the Topdon battery tester, the old one tested at 43% health (Bad-replace). It continued to start the car without issues but I was concerned about stranding my GF. For the hell of it I tested the brand new one before use: Health: 100% (Good) 88% charge. I threw it on a battery maintainer overnight.
As I expected, the RAV4 does the same as the 4R, it dies right after starting for the first time.
I posted about battery testers awhile back...
Incidentally, if the dealer told me I needed a new battery for my RAV4 I would’ve thought he was full of crap. It’s working fine. But I’m actually going to replace it this week.
I noticed that too when I installed my new battery, you know why it does that?
1000MPH
Senior Member
Maybe an internal diagnostic test.
Mark4runnar
Member
I got 10 years out of the Panasonic (s) in my LandCruisers and 5 years out of the OEM in the 4 runner
ElectroBoy
Banned
That looks like a good tool to add to my collection. Which Topdon model is that?
ElectroBoy
Banned
A lot of newer cars do this. It’s due to the slow build-up of gunk in the throttle body that the ECU compensate for as it learns how to maintain the proper engine idle. The compensation value is stored in volatile memory. When the battery is disconnected that data is lost.
I have a fairly new 4Runner and I’ve never had that stalling problem, probably the TB is pretty clean.
A really good explanation was provided by [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] in this post:
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/2589998-post8.html
1000MPH
Senior Member
It’s a Topdon BT100. I got it on sale for $45.
Amazon.com: Car Battery Tester 12V Load Tester, TOPDON BT100 100-2000 CCA Automotive Alternator Tester Digital Auto Battery Analyzer Charging Cranking System Tester for Car Truck Motorcycle ATV SUV Boat Yacht: Automotive
My TB is clean, just did it recently.
I agree it probably has to do with learned data stored in the VRAM, but I think it shuts off first time as part of a test routine.
I’m surprised you said it’s never happened to you, what’s the longest you’ve gone with the battery disconnected?
I can see TB position sensor data on the ScanGauge, wonder what normal is.
Amazon.com: Car Battery Tester 12V Load Tester, TOPDON BT100 100-2000 CCA Automotive Alternator Tester Digital Auto Battery Analyzer Charging Cranking System Tester for Car Truck Motorcycle ATV SUV Boat Yacht: Automotive
My TB is clean, just did it recently.
I agree it probably has to do with learned data stored in the VRAM, but I think it shuts off first time as part of a test routine.
I’m surprised you said it’s never happened to you, what’s the longest you’ve gone with the battery disconnected?
I can see TB position sensor data on the ScanGauge, wonder what normal is.
Jetboy
New member
My brother is an engineer at Interstate. I think what you said is correct. (He's a process engineer for logistics - like you said, they don't manufacture inhouse).
What's funny here is that Interstate also is the supplier for North America Toyota parts. So the battery you buy at the dealer is the same one you'll get at costco. Just a different sticker and a likely bigger markup. They've been pushing a promo deal through Toyota and Honda to push them to test customer batteries and upsell them. So it's no surprise dealers are pushing new batteries along with air filters now.
Incidentally - my Panasonic OEM battery lasted about 4 years and I thought it was dead, but had another issue where the wireless relay for my winch control was slowly draining the battery because I left it energized by accident. So if I didn't drive for a few weeks it would be dead. I replaced it, but this past week the battery in our RX350 crapped out. That car is so hands-off that you don't know it's gone until it wont even crank and only has 11.5 volts. I assume it has some sort of voltage sensor in the start circuit. It never hard starts. Just start, start, start, then zero crank. So ... the OEM panasonic was still sitting around, ran it though a repair cycle on my battery charger, it tested good and is now back in the RX for probably another few years. It's now almost 7 years old.
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ElectroBoy
Banned
Yeah, there’s probably some proprietary self test and initialization at first start that we’ll never figure out. I don’t know why mine never has stalled yet. I’ve had my battery disconnected for 3 days at a time 7 or 8 times while installing the Old Red auxiliary meter, Anytime front and rear cameras, various lighting mods.
What’s kind of a pain is that the emissions readiness drive scenario gets reset and it can take weeks of driving to stumble upon it. Unless you deliberately try to execute it in a low traffic area before getting a smog test.
For Subarus, at least the older ones, it’s recommended after battery replacement that you let them idle for about 10 minutes while the ECU hunts and tries out different settings. The idle is really low, chugging and pulsing and almost dying. It sounds terrible. I just wind up driving it for a while but at every stop sign it stumbles and wheezes. You gotta keep keep it alive with the pedal so it doesn’t stall in traffic. After a little while all is well again.
At least our 4Runners don’t do that.
ElectroBoy
Banned
It’s kind of amazing that the Panasonics are so robust. I wonder if anyone has published how they do it.
Edit: I replaced my previous two OEM Panasonic batteries at 5-6 years. They didn’t die, always started, but got real sluggish in cold weather.
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2112 R
New member
20k miles.
About 2 years.
I accidently let the OEM battery completely die/drain 2 times and with all the jolting and rocking all over the place while hitting the washboards hard and a number of rock piles the battery just won't hold a charge anymore.
Dropped an AGM in there and has been good for the past 2 years no prob.
About 2 years.
I accidently let the OEM battery completely die/drain 2 times and with all the jolting and rocking all over the place while hitting the washboards hard and a number of rock piles the battery just won't hold a charge anymore.
Dropped an AGM in there and has been good for the past 2 years no prob.
