overseas battery set ups

[edesoto Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close edesoto]

Hi,

My brother in law passed away a few months ago and he left my sister what I believe to be a 90 series Land Cruiser Prado. I don't know which year is it exactly. I've seen that it has a diesel engine and 2 batteries. Right now, the batteries are dead and need to be replaced. I'd like to know what are the correct specifications for the batteries (size, cca, etc) as the ones currently in place are mismatched and are surely not the correct replacement anyway.

Thanks in advance,

Ed

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Re: Newbie here...

The two batteries won't be the same anyway.

The main battery (i.e. the one the car came with originally), is just a regular battery, giving a high output for starting the car, but being pretty useless when the alternator isn't charging it. So this you should be able to replace with exactly what you have in there, or alternatively, just go into a battery store, tell them what car you drive and they should have the size on file.

The second battery is most likely a deep cycle battery. This won't have as high an output, so won't be good at starting the car, but it does have a much longer life when not being charged, which is why people connect fridges upto them. This one, you should just be able to physically measure and then ask at the battery store what a good replacement is for your needs

[edesoto Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close edesoto]

Re: Newbie here...

Thanks!

[two+four Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close two+four]

Re: Newbie here...

Hi Ed, welcome to the Forum, Given your location I doubt many of us will have a chance to pop in and offer to help you in Person.

There is one other possibility, Car that are made for Europe and other cold climates often have two Cranking batteries connected in Parallel. I do not know for certain if this was done for the older Prado's but it certainly was true in the 120 and current 150 series.

You will need to have a look and see if the battery is on an after market battery tray and/or if there is some form of isolator fitted between the batteries. If these are present it will be a dual battery system like xlr8 mentioned. If they are not it could be a second cranking battery. Do you know were the Prado was first bought?

Neil

[edesoto Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close edesoto]

Re: overseas battery set ups

Thanks Neil,

It seems like a factory setup, the trays look the same and look like they came like that from the factory and the batteries are behind each headlamp. I would not know what an isolator is so I don't know if there is one in this setup, nor would I know where was the Prado first purchased. I do know that they are sold by Toyota here, so maybe there's a good chance it came like that from Japan, although it wouldn't make much sense since this is a very hot and humid climate here.

I'll try and post pictures later on so that you can see...

Thanks again