4Runner Battery Replacement

It is hard to see the numbers right here, but it reads 12.89. There is a better shot down the page.

5th Gen 4Runner Battery Replacement Guide. Odyssey 34R Battery – Overview and Battery Swap Install

For the complete overview and specs on this battery as well as the Odyssey group 31  and the Northstar group 31, check out the overview and what to know before buying a battery page.

The Odyssey uses absorbed glass mat AGM technology to offer the characteristics of two separate batteries. They can deep cycle as well as provide a normal cranking power. It is almost as if a champion long-distance runner and a world-class sprinter are one and the same person.

Odyssey group 34s are fully capable of providing engine cranking pulses in excess of 2250 Amps for five seconds as well as 400 charge/discharge cycles to 80% depth of discharged (DOD). A typical starting, lighting and ignition SLA battery can do one or the other, but not both. Odyssey group 34s  will do both provide short duration high amperage pulls or low rate duration drains.

In order to achieve the full cycle life of Odyssey batteries in Cyclic Applications, the charge current must be a minimum of 40% of the battery’s 10-hour rating. Odyssey provides a column chart for you to check this against. Please refer to your odyssey battery instruction and technical manual for detailed and technical instructions of the recommended charge profile for the Odyssey group 34s you’re running in your 4Runner (if you need to charge your battery). Odds are, you will not need to charge upon arrival.

Odyssey 34R-PC1500T Truck and Van Battery

• CCAs (Cold Cranking Amps): 850
• RC (Reserve Capacity): 135
• Ah (Ampere Hours): 67.5
• Weight: 51.5lbs

The group 34 battery

There are a few different group 34 options out there, make sure you grab the right one.

• Odyssey Group 34: Check Price

Good Portable Battery Jumpers

If you are not quite ready to spend the money on a good battery and you find your battery dying on occasion. Get a portable jump starter. You will have this forever and it will save your ass one day.

• Noco GB40 (1000Amp – 12V): Check Price
• Noco GB40 Case: Check Price

StarkPower makes some of the biggest and best LiFePo4 12v and 24v batteries out there. You can absolutely depend on their 600A portable jump. In the situation of our 4Runner, 600A should be more than enough for a jump depending on the situation. If you are in Alaska with a completely dead battery, that would be another story, another overview on that coming soon.

Testing Panasonic Battery (OEM)

Pictured Above – Testing OEM Panasonic after about 3.5 Years.

As I tested the battery upon start, the voltage was dropping immediately to about 5-6 volts and then bounced back up to 14v. I am no battery expert by an means, but from what I have researched if your battery drops below 10 volts, the battery is bad or on its last legs and needs to be replaced. When the battery bounces up to 14.2V-14.7V, that is good and means your alternator is charging your battery.

The battery should be bouncing down to about 10v and then back up to about 14v. I was absolutely ready for a new battery and I noticed it every time I started the 4Runner. The battery was clearly on struggle street every time I clicked it over. The difference in the new Odyssey is night-n-day and is such a refreshing feeling knowing that I have dependable power under the hood.

The stock Panasonic in our 4Runner is built to last around 5 years but many people have seen some push into year 8 or beyond. It really depends on your application and how you use your 4Runner. If you are not running any aftermarket, power-consuming parts like headlights, lightbars, fridge, winch, air compressors, etc, then you might be fine with a stock set-up. If you are running any aftermarket parts, do yourself a favor and buy a good battery.

With the Odyssey group 34, you can expect to see a 12-year design life and a 3 to 10-year service life. Odyssey batteries save you time and money because you do not have to replace as often as opposed to a battery like the stock Panasonic.

Faster charging and superior cranking

The Odyssey battery features a five-second cranking power which is double to triple that of the stock Panasonic battery in your 4Runner. Even when the temperature is as low as -40°F -40°C, the group 34 Odyssey battery outperforms many conventional sized batteries. The Odyssey has no limitation on the inrush current regardless of your constant voltage charging (alternator or independent charger). If your Odyssey for some reason does die, it does not need to charge as long as most conventional size batteries need to charge for.

Ready to install out of the box

Odyssey’s are shipped fully charged and ready to install out of the box. If the Odyssey‘s voltage is 12.65 volts or greater simply install the battery in your vehicle and you are ready to go. If the battery is below 12.6 volts, you will need to charge it, following the instructions in the owners manual and technical manual. Charge boosting will not damage it, even if the voltage reads higher than 12.65 volts.

Pretty impressive storage life. Unlike other conventional car batteries that require a recharge every 6 to 12 weeks, the Odyssey can be stored for up to two years at 77°F 25°C from a fully charged state. These can be stored for two years or until the open circuit voltage OCV drops to 12 V, whichever comes first.

Odyssey Battery Installation

Like normal, safely remove the cables from your terminals (Negative first and Positive second) and remove the battery from your 4Runner. Take a look at the existing cables and terminals for corrosion, acid damage or insulation deterioration and clean or replace if necessary.

Clean your tray and the area around your battery and then prep the area for installation. If you ordered a group 34 and you have a 5th Gen 4Runner you will need the spacer as the group 34 is smaller than the stock Panasonic on the 4Runner.

Position your Odyssey battery in the tray/holder and fasten firmly to the vehicle using the J hooks that were in place from the previous battery. Connect the positive cable from your ignition to the positive terminal. Connect the negative cable to the negative terminal. Tighten the 10mm bolts down on your terminals.

1. Test your new Battery

If you do not own a multimeter, you should buy one. This is one accessory you will want to have. Not only for this install but many installs and mods to come. Multimeters are cheap and serve more than just a purpose for 4Runner mods. They help you around your house in testing batteries and many other scenarios. I have a Kline Tools Multimeter, this one right here. But, there are hundreds of them out there.

Turn your multimeter to DC setting and 20 volts. Test your new 4Runner battery. If the volts read lower than 12.65 volts, you need to charge the battery. If your multimeter is bringing back 12.65 volts or higher, you are clear to simply install and start your truck.

We tested the Odyssey group 34 and brought back 12.90 compared to the stock Panasonic at 12.38. As most of you know, a good battery should test at 12.6 volts. We were absolutely ready for a new power source.

We also tested the battery upon start. Upon starting the 4Runner, our voltage dropped to 10v and then rose to 14.4v which is normal.

2. Replacing OEM 5th Gen 4Runner Battery

Start by removing your terminal wires. Negative terminal first and then your positive terminal second. Once you have your terminals off and clear, remove your battery clamp bracket and J hooks.

3. Clean Surface Area of Battery Tray

Depending on how dirty your engine bay is, clean the surface area of your battery tray. You do not need to clean this area, but why not. You are already in there, so give it a good wipe-down.

4. Add Spacer if Needed Depending on Battery

The group 34 Odyssey battery requires the use of a spacer on the 5th Gen 4Runner. Drop your spacer on top of your OE tray and make sure the two nipples on the underside of the OE tray are locked into place. 

5. Drop New Battery onto spacer (lock into place)

Drop your new battery on top of the spacer and lock the spacer tabs onto the battery. It did it automatically for us. After your battery is in place, you can connect your battery terminals up. Connect the positive cable from your ignition to the positive terminal. Connect the negative cable to the negative terminal. Tighten the 10mm bolts down on your terminals.

6. Add J Hooks and you are Done! Pretty Simple!

Battery Maintenance

Like most batteries produced today, the Odyssey group 34 is rated as a maintenance-free battery. The Odyssey operates a sealed battery, recycling nearly all the gases internally under normal operating conditions. There should be no corrosion of the positive terminal or corrosion to the surrounding area. Odyssey’s are shipped fully charged from the factory but prior to installation, you always want to check voltage. 

To see the full life of your odyssey group 34 it is important that the battery is kept near its full charge which is approximately around 12.8v. 

If you are using a battery jump to boost charge a discharged Odyssey because an accessory may have been left on, it is important to make sure that the charging voltage does not exceed 15v during that charge. A handheld multimeter can be used to monitor this.

Battery Storage

If for whatever reason you need to store your 4Runner, make sure that your Odyssey battery is fully charged. All this really means is that you need to have a running 4Runner and then shut off your engine. The whole time your 4Runner is running, the alternator it is charging your battery.

Once you shut your engine off, your Odyssey battery should be fully charged. But you always want to test if you were going to store your 4Runner to make sure it’s fully charged. Fully charged Odyssey’s can be stored up to 24 months at 77°F 25°C. The voltage will decrease with time and with increased temperature (high or low).

The voltage should be checked periodically. If the voltage drops to 12v from its full charge at 12.8v, which is equivalent to 35% of the state of charge (SOC), it should be recharged immediately to avoid permanent damage.