Replaced 12v battery with Optima

[F8L]

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

The one possible problem is dis-assembling the Toyota positive terminal assembly. If you don't have a bench vise it will take a lot of hand strength.

Why do you have to disassemble it? There is only 1 nut that holds it to the positive battery terminal and that unscrewed rather easily. Once that piece is disconnected the rest is a snap. Just make sure you put the positive battery terminal on correctly. Since the terminal opening is tapered I messed up and was putting it on wrong (it was SUPER tight) until someone made me aware of my mistake so I flipped the terminal over and it slide right on.

[djasonw]

I too had to eventually replace the OEM 12volt battery and prior to purchasing a replacement I did some research. I did read about the Optima battery but upon learning of the slight mod with respect to the positive terminal I decided to buy the OEM. I was able to get a new one delivered for $128.00 from a dealer in the midwest. At first it was difficult to have delivered because all the dealers I called refused to ship it as they claimed it was HAZMAT. Go figure!! Anyway, it was a pain to install but my friend who is very handy with tools assisted me with the surgery. Patient is doing fine.

[F8L]

Originally Posted by djasonw

I did read about the Optima battery but upon learning of the slight mod with respect to the positive terminal

Good to hear you eventually got what you needed. Shipping can be a pain sometimes.

With the kit supplied by eLearning takes care of the issue with the positive battery terminal. In fact, it is such an easy swap that you are not doing any real extra work than you would installing an OEM battery. You simply remove 1 extra screw that connects the positive battery terminal to the distribution block (the piece under the red plastic cover).

Since the 12v battery is not used for engine cranking purposes I felt a higher capcity deep cycle battery would give me bettery performance over the long haul compared to the stock unit. This has a lot to do with my stereo system and the depands it places on the battery.

[richard schumacher]

Originally Posted by F8L

Why do you have to disassemble it? There is only 1 nut that holds it to the positive battery terminal and that unscrewed rather easily.

I was not so lucky: on mine that nut was virtually welded onto the bolt. Even with my big ape-ishly strong hands :_> a vise would have helped.

[F8L]

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

I was not so lucky: on mine that nut was virtually welded onto the bolt. A vise would have helped.

Ahh. I wonder if others have a similar problem.


I bet Billy Mays sells something that would have loosened it for ya!

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by djasonw

...upon learning of the slight mod with respect to the positive terminal I decided to buy the OEM. I was able to get a new one delivered for $128.00 from a dealer in the midwest...

Please let us know which dealer you bought the battery from, because it is unusual to find one that will ship this item. Does $128 include the shipping cost? If not, what was the final price?

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

I was not so lucky: on mine that nut was virtually welded onto the bolt. Even with my big ape-ishly strong hands :_> a vise would have helped.

I agree; when I did this on my 2001 a few years ago (without having access to a vise) it was not easy to remove the nut.

I have an idea for those owners who also don't have a vise: what if you pull up the red plastic cover and loosen the large terminal nut prior to removing the positive terminal from the old battery? In other words, use the old battery as the equivalent of a vise.

[gussom1]

Originally Posted by Patrick Wong

Please let us know which dealer you bought the battery from, because it is unusual to find one that will ship this item. Does $128 include the shipping cost? If not, what was the final price?

I agree; when I did this on my 2001 a few years ago (without having access to a vise) it was not easy to remove the nut.

I have an idea for those owners who also don't have a vise: what if you pull up the red plastic cover and loosen the large terminal nut prior to removing the positive terminal from the old battery? In other words, use the old battery as the equivalent of a vise.

I agree the old nut was a real bear to take off, your suggestion worked. For the person looking for the battery check out Amazon.com. The prices change right now it is around $141.00 including shipping. I have seen seen it as low as $129.00 shipping included.

[jayman]

Originally Posted by Patrick Wong

I have an idea for those owners who also don't have a vise: what if you pull up the red plastic cover and loosen the large terminal nut prior to removing the positive terminal from the old battery? In other words, use the old battery as the equivalent of a vise.

You might bugger up the + post, but since you're replacing the battery anyway, who cares

[richard schumacher]

Good idea and worth trying. (In my case it didn't work: the entire assembly twisted off the post.)

[F8L]

Originally Posted by Patrick Wong

I have an idea for those owners who also don't have a vise: what if you pull up the red plastic cover and loosen the large terminal nut prior to removing the positive terminal from the old battery? In other words, use the old battery as the equivalent of a vise.

I thought that was how you were supposed to do it? I took that whole assembly off before removing the positive battery terminal as the last step. Maybe that is why it came right off for me?