I just got my oil changed at the local yota dealer, they gave me a printout that said my battery was 550 cca and they tested it to be 454 cca and that I should see about getting it replaced. Does this sound right? Also, ever since i bought the truck about 5 mo's ago, it has to turn over 5-6 times before itll finally start when cold, do you think this is battery related or are all 3.4's like that. Reminds me of how the old cherokee's were but not quite as bad.

 

??????

 

Our 98 Runner has to turn over a few times before it catches too. I have read here that others experience the same. A good rule of thumb for a battery is 1 cca per cubic inch of engine displacement and then double that number for extreme cold as cca is reduced by about half in extreme cold (down to -40). This rule is generally used for older American cars that don't have gear reduction starters like Toyota's do. To put it in perspective 700 cca should be enough to turn over a 350 Chevy in -40 ( and it is) and a 900 cca should get a big block hummin' ( and it does as long as you run 5-30 oil) so 450 cca shouldn't be a problem with the weather you get that far South with a 3.4 ltr engine. I run a 900 in my 72 GMC half ton and it gets below -40 in the winter. I drive it every day and starts after sitting all day at work. No engine loves to start when it's that cold but she cranks and fires faithfully every time. If the cells in your battery are fairly even on the hydrometer test and it holds voltage at or above 10 volts when load tested it's probably going to be fine . I wouldn't replace it unless you think there's a problem. Our 98 Runner still has it's factory battery and it get's darn cold here. It still works great.

 

I went ahead and got another one just to be sure, and I got a 640 cca which was up from the 550 it had, it fires right up now. Definitely starts better, it turns over faster and only like twice before its fired.

 

I may have asked this before, but where are you in AL?

 

Mobile, right down by the gulf.