Need Suggestion For Rav 4 New Battery

[JaneAusten]

Hello....

I'm from the US, living in the UK. I have a 1998 Rav 4 auto that has been a dream. I work at home, so I don't use it a lot. I bought it used in 2002. It has never had a new Battery since its purchase. With the cold weather these past months, the Battery has met its fate and I need to get a new one. In America, I know the exact Battery I would put in it (not a Toyota brand one, but one that over the years has been a super brand). It's not sold here. Can you please recommend a decent (UK) battery for me to buy to put in it? A brand that has a record of reliability? Any information would be greatly appreciated. I am probably taking it into a smaller chain of shops (not the dealership) so something that might be found reasonably easily.

Thank you!

Rose

[IanXT4]

If you are going to a small chain of shops they are likely to only have a favourite "house" brand (or two) that they get special volume deals on. Everything else will probably be special order and much more expensive. Typically these establishments want their customers to return happy so their brand choices are usually very sensible. You could call them see what they recommend and do a sanity check of those brands on the internet.

I think Toyota's choice of Battery size in the Rav is on the small size (capacity wise) and because of size constraints its not possible (without throwing £100's at specialised AGM batteries) to uprate it significantly.

Therefore I think any brand of Battery is going to suffer after a few years.

Personally, I would buy the cheapest the local shop recommend that comes with a 3 year warranty, I would expect to pay around £50 for a Battery from a local motor spares supplier. (Double that from Halfords !!)

Then if you are looking for reliability replace it every 3 - 4 years.

[bothwell_buyer]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I was just looking at batteries sold from a well known racing/performance car specialist who also sells from their website....and small lightweight batteries are being sold at prices up to and above £2000 !!!

Better to follow what IanXT4 says, unless you really want to spend extra money on a higher capacity Battery.

[Heidfirst]

The Toyota Fixed Price Promise section on Toyota.co.uk says that a Battery from a dealer for a petrol RAV4 should be £70 & for diesel £90 & I believe that includes fitting.

[three5]

Hello....

I'm from the US, living in the UK. I have a 1998 Rav 4 auto that has been a dream. I work at home, so I don't use it a lot. I bought it used in 2002. It has never had a new battery since its purchase. With the cold weather these past months, the battery has met its fate and I need to get a new one. In America, I know the exact battery I would put in it (not a Toyota brand one, but one that over the years has been a super brand). It's not sold here. Can you please recommend a decent (UK) battery for me to buy to put in it? A brand that has a record of reliability? Any information would be greatly appreciated. I am probably taking it into a smaller chain of shops (not the dealership) so something that might be found reasonably easily.

Thank you!

Rose

Hi Rose,

Have a look at: http://www.advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/toyotacarbatteries.html#rav4

The Toyota batteries do seem to last a long time and we hear few complaints about them. If you want something different, VARTA batteries have a good reputation. The link above has a facility to enter your registration number so that you are sure the Battery is the right size. It also gives dimensions. I'm on shaky ground here, but isn't the Battery tray in the petrol and diesel versions the same? If so you could always fit the diesel Battery for a bit of extra capacity. Definitely check the dimensions first though - a "power bulge" in the bonnet over the battery would ruin the RAV lines

[atkiman]

I've had varta batteries in both of my RAV's and they've always done a good job.

[Offroadster]

I just had a new Battery fitted to my T180 by my local Toyota dealer. ...£86.00 fitted, cheapest available other than Halfords but the one they recommend was low on power

[andy031964]

Hi

I have just fitted a new Battery to my Rav 2004 ended up getting it from Toyota dealer for £50 much cheaper than Halfords !!!

[anchorman]

I think Kingo will send a Battery out by post.

[bothwell_buyer]

I think Kingo will send a battery out by post.

The postman doesn't do batteries as they tend to be acidic (the Battery and not the postman). Howver couriers etc deliver and I'm sure Parts king will arrange delivery within 4 hours to Wiltshire.... if he can arrange next day delivery on a Sunday to Glasgow !