Cranfield Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 I am changing both 069 batteries on my Toyota Surf, one is quite "flat" and the other is not much better. Three jump starts in the last week is too many. Checking local sources I am getting quotes between £99.99 and £125 each. This price obviously includes fitting, but I can buy a good brand online for less than £60 delivered. My question is, as these batteries are in tandem, if I change them one at a time, can I assume I will have no radio code type problems ? Basic question I know, but unbelievably (as a motor owner for 51 years) I have never changed a battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 (edited) Yes you are correct as they are in parallel assuming you do them one at a time you wont have any radio code issues etc. Before buying two batteries it may be worth just changing the known bad one as it may be pulling the other one down. Edited October 10, 2017 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dellbert Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Check the battery cables first to make sure there isnt a problem with them charging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted October 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Thanks for the good news that I should have no radio code issues. When I bought the vehicle one battery was "original", but the Dealer had to buy a new battery as the other one was dead. So since I have had it there has been one new battery fitted and one poor one remains. The test showed one to be just about dead and the other not much better, I was told that the strain on the better battery will drag it down quite fast. My idea is that if I have two new batteries (5 year warranty available) then they should last a lot longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Personally I would buy one battery now and replace the oldest and then another one next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dellbert Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 best to replace like for like in pairs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 If ones dead and you put another good one on the dead one will drain the good one if left so need to do them both at the same time. The joys of dual batterys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 If the tests say that one is jaffed and the other not far off then i think you have the answer. You will probably find as the weather gets colder they will just give up one day. Take off the really dead one first, the other should have enough juice to keep the radio and such coded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 I changed battery in my L200 this year ( single battery) and the guy in shop said as long as its off for no more than 5 mins you will be okay. He was right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted October 14, 2017 Report Share Posted October 14, 2017 Or..... Use a set of jump leads on the terminals to one of the spare batteries whilst you change the other. That way no loss of power at all :-) Also guessing the radio code card isnt in the owners manual/wallet in the glove box. Always chuckled when we first had cars coming to us for deriving with their stickers up side window proudly staring that the vehicles radio was Security coded to find the code card still with the Service Book in the glovebox...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-dot Posted October 14, 2017 Report Share Posted October 14, 2017 My solution... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbbracken Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 bought set of two for hilux £110 posted off ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy4454 Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Change the pair together, if one of a bank of batteries is faulty it will keep the alternator kicked in more than is required and this will cook the new battery, atb Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike737 Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Do both batteries serve the same function? I only ask because on my Transit, one was for starting, and the other ran the ancillaries. So my ancillary battery died, but the van would still start. The radio needed the code putting in. Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Change the pair together, if one of a bank of batteries is faulty it will keep the alternator kicked in more than is required and this will cook the new battery, atb Steve The alternator is always going irrespective? It will put in a constant 14 ish volts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy4454 Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Its not the voltage that is the issue, when an alternator is producing 14 volts the current will be less than 5 Amps, with a faulty battery the current will be held higher than the good battery needs and that's when you get overcharging. Atb Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedark Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 bought set of two for hilux £110 posted off ebay Are they any good? Can you PM me a link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.