Do You Have Questions About Your Toyota Battery? We Have Your Answers

One could argue that your battery is the most important element of your vehicle. If your battery dies, nothing else matters. But here's the trick: batteries don't really give you any signs of wear or a nosedive in performance. One morning your vehicle starts like normal and the next morning it might just ... not. But don't worry: This is the FAQ about the Toyota battery Alberta drivers have been looking for!

Read below for some simple tips that will ensure your Toyota battery stays in the right condition.

The Toyota Battery Alberta Drivers Want: 5 Tips to Keep Your Battery Working as Long as Possible

[1] Protect Your Toyota Battery Against Cold Temperatures

Nothing ages a battery faster than extreme cold temperatures. Simply put, the cold is absolutely brutal on car batteries. Luckily, there are a couple of things you can do to protect yourself. One, is parking inside a structure (if at all possible). Garages, underground parking lots, etc. It won't keep your vehicle cold-free, but it helps quite a bit. Secondly, plug your vehicle in during times of extreme cold. Most experts agree you should plug in your vehicle if the temperature dips below -15 degrees Celsius.

[2] Take the Highway

This is a little-known fact: your Toyota recharges your battery while the engine is running, but this only kicks in at speeds over 60 KM/h. That means when you're driving in heavy traffic, your battery isn't charging while it's using your lights, wipers, A/C, and speakers. This isn't a huge battery killer or anything, but it's something to be aware of.

[3] The Toyota Battery Alberta Drivers Should Use is a Premium Battery

Outside of protecting your battery from the cold weather, the best thing you can do to ensure a long-lasting battery is invest in a premium Toyota battery. Toyota Premium Batteries are designed, engineered and rigorously tested to maximize performance based on your Toyota's voltage, physical size, and terminal configuration. In other words, it is perfectly compatible with your Toyota's electrical and charging systems.

In what ways is a Premium battery better suited for your Toyota? Great question. First of all, it has a specially formulated electrolyte, which uses demineralized water for significantly reduced water loss and gassing. In layman's terms, it greatly increases maintenance-free battery life. Second of all, Toyota Premium Batteries also feature reserve capacity. This stores energy that can be used the second your car starts, ensuring that you'll have the power needed to start your Toyota in even the most extreme conditions.

[4] Be Aware of Your Battery's Age

Most batteries only last about 4 to 5 years. After that point, reliability can become an issue. So, if you bought your vehicle new, do the math and figure out where your battery is in its lifespan. If you bought your vehicle used, just get it tested to see where it's at in its lifecycle. Keep that juice fresh!

[5] Get Your Battery Inspected by a Toyota Technician

During your next service appointment, ask your service advisor to have your battery inspected. This will make sure your battery is installed the right way with clean, secure connections. Our technicians can also check the cable and battery tray and look for any possible corrosion. Even better: if you have a Toyota Premium Battery installed, you will likely have warranty coverage.

Why Visit Drayton Valley Toyota for Your Battery Needs?

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How to Tell If Your Battery Is Failing

Other than straight up crashing your vehicle into something, there might not be a worse feeling in your vehicle than trying to start it ... and nothing happens. Especially since the situation can be avoided! As long as you pay attention to the signs your battery is giving you, you should be able to take care of the issue before it dies at an inconvenient time. Because it's always an inconvenient time.

Here are 5 signs of a failing Toyota battery.

[1] Slow Engine Crank

Your battery is solely responsible for the power it takes to start (i.e. crank) your engine. Once the car is started, the alternator keeps the car battery going by replacing the power used to start the engine and run your vehicle's electronic accessories. The first sign of battery failure is an engine starting more slowly than usual. You should take note of this immediately, because you might not get a second opportunity before it's dead. If the engine does not crank at all, you'll simply hear a fast clicking sound. This happens when there isn't enough power left to start the engine.

[2] Electrical Component Issues

In addition to starting your engine, the battery also needs enough power to run all the electrical components in your Toyota. These could include the radio, the wipers, the A/C, your power windows and moonroof, your headlights, etc. If any of these features appear to be functioning poorly, check to see if you have a dirty battery terminal. If the terminal is clean, have your battery tested because it might be time for a replacement.

[3] Dashboard Warning Light

Old reliable. Or it should be. The problem with dashboard lights is that many drivers (most, possible?) avoid paying any attention to them. DO NOT DO THIS. If your battery warning light is showing up, there could be an issue with your batter OR your alternator OR another part of your electrical system.

[4] Old Age

We mentioned this earlier, but it bears repeating: the Toyota battery Edmonton drivers use only lasts 4 to 5 years on average. So, once you hit the 4-year mark it might not be a bad idea to get it tested to see how much juice it has left. If you're not sure how old your battery is (for instance, if you bought your vehicle used), then you should be able to find the manufacture date on the battery case.

[5] It Smells Weird

If your car has a rotten egg smell, that's a bad thing. This happens when a battery has been frozen, overcharged, or is shorted internally. It vents gas, hence the stink. If you notice a smell, pop your hood. If the smell intensifies for you, have it inspected as soon as you can.

Your Toyota Battery Warranty

How much do you know about the warranty for your Toyota battery? Well, we're here to help because there are a few things you should know.

1. When it comes time to replace your Toyota battery, we offer a complete line of top-quality maintenance-free replacements.
2. Parts and labour for all Toyota replacement Batteries, installed by a Toyota dealer, are warranted for 24 months.
3. An additional pro-rata warranty covers a portion of the warranty replacement cost for Toyota Premium Batteries. This depends on whether your battery was purchased and installed by a Toyota dealer, or purchased over the counter and installed elsewhere.
4. The Replacement Battery Warranty applies only to installations performed on Toyota vehicles by Toyota dealers. For batteries beyond the 24-month period, pro-rata applies.

What is NOT covered by your Toyota Battery Warranty:

1. Batteries that have been opened, dropped, contaminated, cracked, frozen or otherwise damaged.
2. Failures caused by the use of incorrect electrolyte.
3. Recharging of discharged batteries.
4. Batteries that have been damaged due to overcharging.
5. Batteries where the warranty plaque has been altered or destroyed.

Toyota Battery FAQ

How much does it cost to replace a Toyota Battery in Drayton Valley?

At Drayton Valley Toyota, a rough estimate for a battery replacement is around $200. That being said, it changes according to the vehicle you're driving.

However, if you have a Go Card, you'll save 10% on your bill! If you don't have a Go Card, it's completely free to sign up. Just contact us when you book your appointment and we'll set you up.

In Edmonton, how long should I expect my Toyota battery to last?

The average car, truck or SUV battery lasts around 4 to 5 years in Alberta, due to the extreme weather we experience. The key factors that affect the battery drivers use are:

• extreme temperatures
• humidity
• heavy accessory loads
• frequent towing

If you most or all of these apply to your Toyota, you may only get 3 or 4 years from your car battery.

That being said, if you leave your lights on overnight you might wake up with a dead battery no matter how new it is.

What does a car battery do, exactly?

Your Toyota battery has three main jobs:

1. It provides the power necessary to start your engine
2. It provides power to accessories on your vehicle while your engine is off (for a limited time).
3. It powers electrical components within your vehicle, like the radio, A/C, headlights, etc.

Once the engine is running, the alternator takes over to power your accessories and charge the battery.

I don't know much about cars. What do I NEED to know about maintaining or replacing a battery?

You don't need to be an expert, so feel free to relax. However, there are several things you should know to ensure the prolonged health of your Toyota:

• Size: When replacing a battery, take care to make sure the new battery is the same size as the one you are replacing. It's got to be "apples to apples". In other words, don't try to fit a pineapple into the space reserved for a cantaloupe. There were probably better metaphors open to us, but that's the one we're going with.
• Age: No matter how much you use the battery, age becomes an issue eventually. Most batteries, like the one in your current vehicle, will have a date code written on them to tell you how old they are. If your battery is more than four years old, have it tested to see what kind of shape it's in.
• Cold Cranking Amps: When you're having your battery tested, you're really testing its Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) rating. The higher the rating, the more power your battery has when it's forced to start your Toyota in sub-zero temperatures. The rating refers to the number of amps a 12-volt battery can deliver at -17.7 degrees Celsius for 30 seconds, while maintaining at least 7.2 volts.
• Reserve Capacity: In the case of an alternator failure, the Reserve Capacity will give you an estimate of how long your car's battery will be able to run on battery power alone, without the help of the alternator.
• Your Alternator May Be the Problem: If you're having electrical issues with your Toyota (flickering headlights, for instance), it might not be the battery's fault. A faulty alternator can cause your battery to not recharge properly while you're driving. At Drayton Valley Toyota, we can check the health of your vehicle's alternator very quickly. We recommend having it checked every time you change your oil.

Why Visit Drayton Valley Toyota for Your Battery Needs?

You'll save 10% with our Go Card program!

Don't have a Go Card? We'll sign you up for free.