ONLY at Keith Pierson Toyota as low as 0% 36 months on Camry, Corolla and RAV4.
Has your car battery ever died on you? If so, you understand how stressful and annoying it can be — especially when stranded on the roadside. The battery in your Toyota is a critical component; it stores and supplies the power to start up the engine and run its many electrical and electronic systems.
Over time, battery efficiency gradually decreases with use and exposure to the elements, affecting its ability to accept and hold charges and start the engine. Consequently, monitoring, maintaining, and replacing your battery when necessary is essential to keep it in optimal condition. But the question is, how long will a car battery last?
Defining a Toyota Battery’s Service Life
The lifespan of your Toyota battery depends on its type. Conventional lead-acid and hybrid batteries have different lifespans due to their different operating principles. Here’s a quick overview of how long each type lasts:
Conventional lead-acid batteries
With proper maintenance, these batteries can last between three and five years. You use conventional lead-acid batteries in cars that run at least partially on gas. They utilize a combination of lead and lead dioxide plates submerged in a liquid mixture of one-third sulfuric acid and two-thirds water. While the car’s running, the alternator works to recharge the battery, but it’ll slowly lose its charge when it’s not in use.
Hybrid batteries
Hybrid batteries usually last 10 to 15 years. Some hybrid vehicles, such as the Prius, use two different batteries: a conventional lead-acid one and a lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride hybrid one. Meanwhile, the Mirai has hydrogen fuel cells and a conventional battery. You must replace the conventional battery every three to five years, but the hybrid one lasts much longer.
Factors That Affect a Toyota Battery’s Longevity
Although your Toyota battery’s service life depends mainly on its type, numerous factors can affect its longevity. Here are a few to keep in mind:
The climate you live in
Extreme heat and cold can significantly decrease your car battery’s life span. Hot climates, such as those here in Jacksonville, Florida, can cause water to evaporate from the battery’s liquid electrolytes and accelerate corrosion inside the battery. Conversely, cold temperatures below 32 degrees can reduce your battery’s strength by up to 35%, making it work much harder to get your car started.
How often you drive
Contrary to popular belief, the more you drive your car, the better off your battery will be. The battery can drain if you take it out infrequently and leave it idle. Taking it out for a 30- to 40-minute drive each week allows the battery to charge up and maintain its capacity.
Your car accessories
Using your car’s accessories can impact your battery’s longevity, as doing so draws power from it. To maximize your battery life, avoid running the radio or air conditioner while idle, and double-check that all lights are off when you leave the car.
Your car care schedule
Routine battery maintenance is an essential part of your car care schedule. At our Keith Pierson Toyota dealership, our technicians can visually inspect the battery, clean its cables and clamps, and check its electrolyte levels and voltage to ensure it’s at the correct charge.
Tips to Help Extend the Life of Your Toyota’s Battery
While regular car maintenance is your best defense against an old or weak battery, these quick tips may help you get a few more months out of yours.
- Minimize the number of short rides: Try to do all your errands at once so you’re not taking multiple short trips. This helps your battery charge fully each time.
- Park in a garage: Scorching sunshine and frigid weather are terrible for car batteries. Store your car inside a garage to protect it from extreme temperature fluxes, if possible.
- Clean off battery corrosion: Corrosion appears as white or granular buildup around cable ends and terminals. You can remove it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and baking soda, then coat the connectors in petroleum jelly.
- Secure your battery in the mounting bracket: Ensure the battery is snugly fit in the bracket to avoid internal damage when driving on rough roads.
- Turn off lights and unplug devices: Avoid anything that drains your battery while your engine is idle. Turn off headlights and internal lights, and unplug any devices you’ve been charging in the USB port.
- Regularly inspect the battery: Check it often and get an expert to inspect it during regular maintenance. Watch out for signs of a failing or near-dead battery, such as slow startups, low or flickering lights, and warning lights on the dashboard. If you recently replaced your battery and are still having problems, you may need to have your alternator inspected.
Battery Services Offered at Keith Pierson Toyota
Our battery services typically include an inspection of the battery and its cables and terminals and a thorough cleaning. We also perform open circuit voltage and load tests and treat the battery terminals to help prevent corrosion. Battery cables are essential for transferring power to the entire vehicle. Replacing them can provide longer battery life and optimize alternator operation.
We provide a complete battery replacement service that includes removing the old battery and installing a new one, cleaning the battery holder, and properly tightening hold-down clamps and cables. This service enables proper alternator operation, quicker engine ignition, and peace of mind that your car will start when needed. We’ll also treat the battery terminals to help stop corrosion.
Schedule Your Next Toyota Battery Service at Keith Pierson Toyota
Do you need car battery maintenance? Are you looking to replace your current one with a genuine Toyota battery? Or are you simply curious about our technicians’ opinions on the matter? Whatever the case, our team at Keith Pierson Toyota is here to help. Our painstakingly trained technicians can provide the best advice and service regarding your Toyota. Contact us to schedule your battery service appointment and get answers to all of your questions.
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