Got a dual battery set up? Read this!!!

[Pearl150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pearl150]

I have an Altitude 150 with an ABR Sidewinder tray and the mounting bracket for the AC pipe was moved from its original position but it is not in contact with anything so hopefully all is well in years to come. It may have moved 10 mm in total. Closer to the engine. Plus you bend a part of the original bracket out of the way, that is mounted to a oval shaped block of aluminium. It is noted in the installation instructions not to unbolt this piece of OE bracket as gas comes out! Cool. However what I did notice is some small grey tee off cap above this boss is very close to the battery that I have installed. Optima D34 Yellow top. I would admit things are a bit tighter under bonnet of this car compared to the Hilux variants that I have had in the past. Three Zone Air Con. Do I really need it? yeah.

[Wazza2 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wazza2]

I have a d4d gxl and fitted the tjm tray with 105 a/hr batt earlier this year. I unclipped a couple of the aircon pipe mounts as i bent by hand the pipe. Made sure i had something to bash my hand into rather than over do the bending and kink or crack the pipe. I reckon it is 10mm closer to the engine now.

In this position the pipe clip into the inner guard wont fit back in. It's just too much of a stretch and wont clip back in.

Before we do Gibb Rvr rd and the cape next year I'll be finding a spacer of some sort so it can be mounted properly. If I lose the aircon then corrugations and heat will be the least of my problems!

[flyology Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close flyology]

I spoke to the business that installed the second battery in mates Prado, they had pictures and described to me what happened. I did not asked for pictures as I am sure they would not want something posted on the internet that showed a mistake they had made. Mate has not taken his own pictures. What they described to me that has caused the damage was the two a/c pipes that run on the driverside of the vehicle had rubbed together, quite likely due to travelling on corrugated roads. Where they rubbed together is down from the air filter, where the pipes "Tee" into the lines to the rear a/c unit. There is one pipe that has a blue stripe and a green stripe on it, very close to these. I do find it difficult to believe that over 5 grand of damage has been done, as when the pipes rub together and the gas leaks out, I was under the impression that there is a pressure switch that turns the a/c off when there is no gas/pressure in the system.

I have not named the business that fitted the tray, as to be fair, they have come to the party and are willing paying for all repairs, plus giving mate a substantial discount on next purchase.

My suggestion would be if you have fitted a second battery, check that the a/c pipes are not touching each other, or anything else.

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

They are probably about right on the quote as when I was looking into "repair" prices before doing my install, I found out that the bottom pipe we all move for our batteries runs to the rear of the car and is about $750 worth from Toyota (not including shipping which they will probably charge you for on top) alone. When you add to that the cost of the dryer unit that apparently needs to be replaced when exposed to the atmosphere, the re-gas, all the install work to put it in and the cost to rectify the faulty battery install and ensuring it doesn't happen again then you would probably be looking in the vicinity of $5K.

I'm not interested in the install photo's to name and shame the installer (as it seems they are going to make the problems right without drama, which is all you can ask from them), I would just like to see them so we can look at what they have done and make sure no one else is going to suffer the same fate, particularly the people like myself who have done their own install and don't have a company to go back on for a warranty claim.

[Ages Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ages]

I will be checking mine to make sure that its all good.

[CJW001 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CJW001]

Just checked mine, there is about 10mm between bare ally and battery tray. The piece that comes close is covered by corrugated plastic

[ptnlinda Member Find all posts View Profile Close ptnlinda]

TJM appear to be onto this. Had a ring yesterday asking me to call in so they could check the instal of the 2nd Battery tray etc to ensure all was fitted correctly. I asked if it was to do with the A/C piping and they said it was. Good to see they being Pro Active.

[outback7 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close outback7]

I have a 150 Prado. Had the extra battery put in the back in a battery box, ARB compressor then where the dual battery was. Awesome in every way. Had it all done by ##########.