How to freshen up a battery?

[bowlofturtle]

My dad's camry has a leaking terminal and well its from 2017. Its a 24F and he just happen to noticed i had a 24F used battery sitting my garage.

He wants it for his car. I don't have issues but its been sitting there for 4+ years. I told him it could be dead as well. I use it every now and then as my 12v supply to test a sensor. Last i check it still had like very low 12v.

My plan was to leave it on the trickle charger at 1 or 2 amp for a few days and then install it in his car. Its a Walmart $50 cheapy if i recall correctly. Not sure if its worth it to open up and add water.

 

[JMJNet]

You need to charge it and put it on a Load tester (NOT Voltage tester) to test the health.
That is the better and proper way to see if battery is still healthy to be used.

 

[Urshurak776]

A 24F value battery (1 year warranty) is like $69 at Walmart. I would just get him that, or splurge for the Platinum and the 4 year warranty.

Last thing you want is for him to get stranded somewhere because you tried an old battery. Just my .02.

If you do have access to a load tester, then maybe?

 

[f355spider]

You need to charge it and put it on a Load tester (NOT Voltage tester) to test the health.
That is the better and proper way to see if battery is still healthy to be used.

This. In addition, if required, you would want to desulfate it with an appropriate charger.

At the minimum, I would top it up with distilled water, and put it on a microprocessor controlled battery tender, not an unregulated trickle charger, before placing back in service.

Battery testers are super cheap now, everyone should own one.
https://www.amazon.com/ANCEL-BA101-...pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_cp_pd_hp_d_atf_rp_2_t

Click the coupon in the listing and you get 40% off, so net is $24. If you are patient, it drops t $21 or $22 a couple times a month.

 

[bowlofturtle]

A 24F value battery (1 year warranty) is like $69 at Walmart. I would just get him that, or splurge for the Platinum and the 4 year warranty.

Last thing you want is for him to get stranded somewhere because you tried an old battery. Just my .02.

If you do have access to a load tester, then maybe?

I'm with you but my dad is Mr frugle/cheapo. He doesn't mind the break down because I'll most likely be forced to go save him.

I don't have a load tester myself. I'm thinking AutoZone might.

 

[JavierH19]

Toyota batteries are a hidden gem. Very cheap for the very long warranties they have. If it's at 12v that's not bad. It didn't lose much charge in all those years and it's likely still good. My local toyo dealer has a 60 month warranty group 35 for 113 and 24f for 132.

 

[Urshurak776]

Toyota batteries are a hidden gem. Very cheap for the very long warranties they have. If it's at 12v that's not bad. It didn't lose much charge in all those years and it's likely still good. My local toyo dealer has a 60 month warranty group 35 for 113 and 24f for 132.

Ironically, my mother-in-laws 2005 Camry is on it's 4th battery. 3 Toyota batteries lasted forever. My brother-in-law just put in one from Sams Club a couple months ago. Bet it doesn't last anywhere near as long in the Florida heat.

Crazy that those Toyota batteries lasted 8 years each in the Florida heat.

 

[JavierH19]

Ironically, my mother-in-laws 2005 Camry is on it's 4th battery. 3 Toyota batteries lasted forever. My brother-in-law just put in one from Sams Club a couple months ago. Bet it doesn't last anywhere near as long in the Florida heat.

Crazy that those Toyota batteries lasted 8 years each in the Florida heat.

I believe it, I'm pretty much convinced they're the best batteries at this point. I've got two interstates an ac delco and a duralast. Although none are Toyotas I'll switch everything to truestarts once they go all go out. I believe the warranty only applies to toyota but that's fine I bet they'll still last 5+ years anyway.

 

[Urshurak776]

I believe it, I'm pretty much convinced they're the best batteries at this point. I've got two interstates an ac delco and a duralast. Although none are Toyotas I'll switch everything to truestarts once they go all go out. I believe the warranty only applies to toyota but that's fine I bet they'll still last 5+ years anyway.

I think my MIL got a Duracell from Sams Club? No clue who makes that for them. She's 81 years old, so doesn't drive a whole lot. I changed her oil with a PG filter and Supertech 5W-30 Synthetic HM near valentines day. My wife said that she has driven a whopping 800 miles since then......

Edit: East Penn makes Duracell batteries.

 

[JavierH19]

I think my MIL got a Duracell from Sams Club? No clue who makes that for them. She's 81 years old, so doesn't drive a whole lot. I changed her oil with a PG filter and Supertech 5W-30 Synthetic HM near valentines day. My wife said that she has driven a whopping 800 miles since then......

800 since last year of February? yeah that's not much and although it's great to be able to do that at 81 I'm afraid she might have a medical emergency. In my old neighborhood there was an elderly couple in their 70's who went on a trip and never came back. 2 weeks later family members came to the house to clear it and someone asked how they were. Turns out the man had stroke and they both died in the crash. Word got around and many in the neighborhood including us left flowers at their doorstep with their photos. At that age even if I could drive I don't think 'd want to. Not so much about dying myself as that's going to happen anyway but I just don't want to hurt anyone else and God forbid the accident I caused kills a single child. They said no one else died at least but a car did crash into them at a lower speed when trying to brake but had minor injuries only. But by then I'd force myself to be in something driverless.

 

[y_p_w]

Ironically, my mother-in-laws 2005 Camry is on it's 4th battery. 3 Toyota batteries lasted forever. My brother-in-law just put in one from Sams Club a couple months ago. Bet it doesn't last anywhere near as long in the Florida heat.

Crazy that those Toyota batteries lasted 8 years each in the Florida heat.

For that application, I'd think the best batteries would be something like a Panasonic (or similar) OEM batteries that are made in Japan. With service caps/knobs and white semi-translucent housing with min/max level markings to replace lost water. I haven't seen an American made battery like this since the early 80s, although those usually had flush-mounted caps without any knobs (needed a screwdriver to take off/tighten).

Obviously a lot of new cars end up in a dealer lot for some time without being driven/charged and they have to be able to survive that. These factory style batteries might have a lower CCA rating, but that's not going to be a problem in a warm climate. And some dealers actually sell these factory style OEM batteries.

 

[Urshurak776]

800 since last year of February? yeah that's not much and although it's great to be able to do that at 81 I'm afraid she might have a medical emergency. In my old neighborhood there was an elderly couple in their 70's who went on a trip and never came back. 2 weeks later family members came to the house to clear it and someone asked how they were. Turns out the man had stroke and they both died in the crash. Word got around and many in the neighborhood including us left flowers at their doorstep with their photos. At that age even if I could drive I don't think 'd want to. Not so much about dying myself as that's going to happen anyway but I just don't want to hurt anyone else and God forbid the accident I caused kills a single child. They said no one else died at least but a car did crash into them at a lower speed when trying to brake but had minor injuries only. But by then I'd force myself to be in something driverless.

No, February 2025 (couple months ago.) She sticks pretty local to her area and will drive to her two sons homes maybe one or twice a quarter (maybe 20 miles or so.) She's still in pretty good shape.

 

[FoxProTwisty]

The only load test it needs is the load demanded by starting the car. Charge it up and see if it will turn the engine over. Then let the alt do the rest for 10 min. Then take it back out and let it sit on the bench for at least 2 days. If it doesn't discharge in that time and still floats above 12v, you're probably good to go.

 

[BHopkins]

You definitely need to pull the caps and check fluid level. If the plates are still submerged, top off with distilled water and charge. If any of the plates are exposed, then the battery is not worth the effort to try and charge.

Clean up the outside of the batter real good so the dirt isn't creating a short between the terminals, and slowly draining the battery. I like the Noco battery acid cleaner. It has an indicator in it, so you can see when acid is neutralized. Spray it on. Wait for the foam to change color, and wipe off. But since your dad is so cheap, I'm not sure I would bother using the battery cleaner.

As others have mentioned, properly charging it with a charger that will do a maintenance cycle is probably best. But if not, your trickle charger is better than nothing.

 

[Lubener]

My dad's camry has a leaking terminal and well its from 2017. Its a 24F and he just happen to noticed i had a 24F used battery sitting my garage.

He wants it for his car. I don't have issues but its been sitting there for 4+ years. I told him it could be dead as well. I use it every now and then as my 12v supply to test a sensor. Last i check it still had like very low 12v.

My plan was to leave it on the trickle charger at 1 or 2 amp for a few days and then install it in his car. Its a Walmart $50 cheapy if i recall correctly. Not sure if its worth it to open up and add water.

His best bet is just to buy a new battery. Unless your battery has been on a tender most of the time, it likely is going to leave him stranded somewhere.

 

[Ranger83]

I believe it, I'm pretty much convinced they're the best batteries at this point. I've got two interstates an ac delco and a duralast. Although none are Toyotas I'll switch everything to truestarts once they go all go out. I believe the warranty only applies to toyota but that's fine I bet they'll still last 5+ years anyway.

O

Thread 'Toyota brand batteries'

Sep 20, 2023

Who manufactures Toyota labeled 12 volt automotive batteries?

• oldcodger
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Automotive Electrical

 

[gman2304]

Toyota batteries are a hidden gem

I believe this. The Lexus branded battery in my wife’s es350 is 7 years old this month. I do hook it to a maintainer for 24 hours about once a month.

 

[Donald]

This. In addition, if required, you would want to desulfate it with an appropriate charger.

At the minimum, I would top it up with distilled water, and put it on a microprocessor controlled battery tender, not an unregulated trickle charger, before placing back in service.

Battery testers are super cheap now, everyone should own one.
https://www.amazon.com/ANCEL-BA101-...pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_cp_pd_hp_d_atf_rp_2_t

Click the coupon in the listing and you get 40% off, so net is $24. If you are patient, it drops t $21 or $22 a couple times a month.

I have that Ancel. I know when I input the battery capacity in MCA the display is absolutely wrong. That has me wondering about the regular CCA display.

 

[nobb]

Those cheapo Chinese chargers have a surprisingly potent repair function. However, IMO the best way to desulfate a flooded battery is to give it a nice shake, top up the water, leave the caps open, and apply an equalizing charge of 15.5 to 16V then let the plates boil. About 12 - 24 hrs depending on how sulfated it is.

 

[y_p_w]

Not sure how legal a Pakastani style battery restoration would be in the United States.