12v Battery recommendations.

[roxor99]

Hello again, few of you may remember me from my questions regarding "upgrading" to 17' rims. They are mighy mean and good looking (may post some pics later on).

Now im having issues with the 12v Battery. It cranks quite hard and long, especially on a cold start and after being on hazard lights 5-10min while "parked" in the city streets.

Current (and second ever) Battery is a Varta E11 74Ah. Its around 8 years old (couldn't find the date sticker, maybe its on the back side).

What's the best price to performace ratio Battery I could buy?

Forgot to say, its a 2008 Toyota Auris 1.4 D4D (340000km on the clock).

Also keep in mind that I'm from Serbia,  regarding brands and occasionally cold and long winters.

Could it be that flashing hazards (2 or 3 times) when shutting down or starting up the car is an indicator that the battery is near the end of it's lifespan?

[roxor99]

There you go. For anyone wondering, these are Dezent TW Dark Polished Edge 17'. I think they "sit" quite well. Maybe some spacers and a lowering kit 🤔 

[TonyHSD]

37 minutes ago, roxor99 said:

Hello again, few of you may remember me from my questions regarding "upgrading" to 17' rims. They are mighy mean and good looking (may post some pics later on).

Now im having issues with the 12v battery. It cranks quite hard and long, especially on a cold start and after being on hazard lights 5-10min while "parked" in the city streets.

Current (and second ever) battery is a Varta E11 74Ah. Its around 8 years old (couldn't find the date sticker, maybe its on the back side).

What's the best price to performace ratio battery I could buy?

Forgot to say, its a 2008 Toyota Auris 1.4 D4D (340000km on the clock).

Also keep in mind that I'm from Serbia,  regarding brands and occasionally cold and long winters.

Could it be that flashing hazards (2 or 3 times) when shutting down or starting up the car is an indicator that the battery is near the end of it's lifespan?

Hi, 

just buy what’s is available in your country and make sure it’s the same as the original specs. Good brands are Yuassa, Bosch,  Varta , 

[Mooly]

Hazard lights? Do you mean the direction indicators flash on their own every time you start and stop the engine?

If that is what you mean then that sounds like something else other than a Battery issue. Non standard alarm/immobiliser fitted maybe. 

 

[jcps001]

I recommend VARTA Silver Dynamic E44. I've got one installed manufactured in 2017. Still true and faithful.

[roxor99]

2 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Hi, 

just buy what’s is available in your country and make sure it’s the same as the original specs. Good brands are Yuassa, Bosch,  Varta , 

Thanks @TonyHSD. I saw the 17s you were offering when i was checking ET and fitment. Nice looking 17s, but forgot to respond.

[roxor99]

2 hours ago, Mooly said:

Hazard lights? Do you mean the direction indicators flash on their own every time you start and stop the engine?

If that is what you mean then that sounds like something else other than a battery issue. Non standard alarm/immobiliser fitted maybe. 

 

Yeah, indicators on both sides. It has an alarm, immobiliser (possibly a GPS tracker) which my insurance company fitted. But it doesn't happen with every start or stop. It happens occasionally (let's say once a month). 

[Mooly]

3 hours ago, roxor99 said:

Yeah, indicators on both sides. It has an alarm, immobiliser (possibly a GPS tracker) which my insurance company fitted. But it doesn't happen with every start or stop. It happens occasionally (let's say once a month). 

I would say that whatever is going there is not Battery related. 

 

6 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

It cranks quite hard and long, especially on a cold start and after being on hazard lights 5-10min while "parked" in the city streets.

If you mean the Battery sounds like it is struggling then that is more a symptom rather than the cause. Hazard lights flashing for several minutes may take the 'edge' off the Battery state of charge but I can't see the battery being the cause of the flashing.    

[Red_Corolla]

I prefer to stick to Yuasa & Exide as those are brands who I know to be genuine manufacturers of lead-acid batteries.

Bosch and many others simply apply their label and add a percentage, but use a 3rd party manufacturer. I used to think that Varta made their own, but a bit of research tells me they are actually using the same supplier as Bosch these days (for the UK market, at least):

https://www.batteriesontheweb.co.uk/bosch-versus-varta/

Perhaps an easier way is to look at the guarantee offered. The vast majority have at least 3 years, but good ones come with 4 or even 5.

[roxor99]

22 hours ago, Mooly said:

I would say that whatever is going there is not battery related. 

 

If you mean the battery sounds like it is struggling then that is more a symptom rather than the cause. Hazard lights flashing for several minutes may take the 'edge' off the battery state of charge but I can't see the battery being the cause of the flashing.    

Thanks, will change the Battery and then im at peace with it.

[AisinW]

All 12V wet acid Battery are about the same. Gets the cheapest with longest warranty. 

[fred88]

I'm still wondering about a Leisure Battery, if there's no warranty issues.

[Cyker]

If you mean putting in a leisure/deep-cycle Battery to replace the 12v starter Battery, theoretically it would work and even be preferable for our hybrids - Why Toyota don't do this I don't know.

However, finding one that will fit will be the tricky bit as standard leisure batteries don't usually fit the same standard sizes as starter batteries...

 

[Rhymes with Paris]

The leisure Battery in my old Talbot auto sleeper was a hefty, and large bit of kit.

Soon after buying it I had to replace both the starter Battery, and the leisure Battery.

Both batteries were on one partly corroded tray under the bonnet, one behind the other,a fair bit of weight there.

Also the spare wheel was under the bonnet too, getting a bit crowded in there what with the engine and all.

Unfortunately I did not use the leisure battery to start the engine, so I have no idea why I am commenting when I have nothing useful to add.

[Cyker]

But that's one of the good things about getting old - You can just ramble on about anything and it's perfectly accepted and considered normal; When I do that, people just think I'm crazy    

 

[TonyHSD]

Just been waiting for these comments 😅

[Rhymes with Paris]

Well yes, I do ramble a bit.

And it's good to know we have a few older members on here, as well as the young ones interested in Toyotas and motoring in general.

It doesn't matter when people think you are crazy though, it's the voices that tell me I'm crazy that I worry about.

[Cyker]

Ah them, just tell them they don't know what they're talking about and that they should shut up. That's what I tell them!  

[Wooster]

On 11/3/2024 at 8:14 PM, Cyker said:

If you mean putting in a leisure/deep-cycle battery to replace the 12v starter battery, theoretically it would work and even be preferable for our hybrids....

I've thought this for years. If anyone finds a suitable leisure Battery that will fit an Auris, let me know! I'll be first in the queue.

[Paul john]

I use a Platinum 75ah leisure Battery in my camper and is very close in dimensions to a “standard” 12v.

[Wooster]

8 minutes ago, Paul john said:

close in dimensions to a “standard” 12v.

But, maybe, not close enough. According to Tanya, the OEM Battery is 127mm wide. The 'Platinum 75ah' - assuming you mean this one tayna.co.uk/platinum/s685l - is 172mm wide.

[Paul john]

Just now, Wooster said:

But, maybe, not close enough. According to Tanya, the OEM battery is 127mm wide. The 'Platinum 75ah' - assuming you mean this one tayna.co.uk/platinum/s685l - is 172mm wide.

Yeah. I know… close but no cigar unless you are fortunate enough to have a wide Battery tray. 

[Cyker]

I have a hammer, will that help...?   

[solero]

No need for hammer on the non- hybrids. This is the datasheet for my original exide stop/start Battery fittted to my auris 1.2t cvt. Its 175 wide

[fred88]

But the need for a leisure Battery doesn't exist on non hybrids.