Battery issue after replacing in my Highlander

Hi all, I swapped out my car battery and now there’s a warning light showing up. Has anyone dealt with this before? What did you do?

Did you make sure the battery is the right kind? For Highlanders with stop/start, you need an EFB or AGM type. If it’s not the right one, you might have issues. Also, some new batteries sit on the shelf for too long and lose their charge. You might need to drive for a while on the highway to let it charge back up. I usually put new batteries on a charger for a day or two before installing them.

@John
Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it!

Jonah said:
@John
Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it!

Double-check the battery type. This kind of warning can happen if you don’t get the right one.

@John
If the charge is low, you might want to use an actual battery charger. A modern charger that works with EFB or AGM batteries is better than relying on the alternator alone.

Yeah, I had a similar issue. Ended up paying more to get the high-capacity OEM Toyota battery. What really annoyed me was that the original battery was only covered for 36 months under the car warranty, even though it’s supposed to last 84 months. The new one at least gets full coverage for 84 months, but it’s prorated.

Make sure you got an OEM Toyota battery. Aftermarket ones can sometimes cause issues.

I seriously hate the stop/start feature on these cars. Why can’t it stay off by default? I’m tired of turning it off every single time I start the car. It’s such a hassle.

Marin said:
I seriously hate the stop/start feature on these cars. Why can’t it stay off by default? I’m tired of turning it off every single time I start the car. It’s such a hassle.

You can buy start/stop eliminators for Toyotas online. They’re about $20–$25 and make it so the feature stays off.

@Vitt
Wait, for real? That’s amazing! Thanks for the tip!

Thanks so much, everyone. I’m really grateful for all the help!

If you’re looking for an AGM battery, try Costco. It’s way cheaper than what the dealer charges.