Toyota RAV 4 batteries from the third generation experience less load when starting the engine thanks to intelligent starting systems. The engine starts at 100-150 rpm, which prolongs the life of the starter and battery. For earlier vehicle releases, the requirements for the power supply become more stringent.

Battery for Toyota RAV4.

Main characteristics of the battery for Toyota RAV4

Crossovers, starting from the third generation, are available only in a 5-door version with various engines and do not have permanent all-wheel drive.

The main characteristic, battery capacity, depends on the type and power of the engine and can be in the range of 45-100 A/h.

All models use batteries with reverse polarity, which means the “+” terminal is located on the right side.

The power supply provides 12 V under load and has small dimensions of 23/17.5/22.5 cm. For most models, a capacity of 60 A/h and a starting current of 550 A are sufficient.

Story

The first generation Toyota Rav 4 appeared in 1994, borrowing the base from the Toyota Corolla. First of all, the car was focused on outdoor activities, as its name suggests. Rav (Rav) means “Recreation Active Vehicle”, which is translated into Russian as “a car for active recreation”, and 4 indicates a four-wheel drive car (4x4).

Find out the charging time of your battery

In 2000 The first generation was replaced by the second. The differences could be seen with the naked eye. A tangible positive aspect was the huge selection of trim levels and engines. From 2003 to 2006, the model was produced in a restyled version.

Toyota Rav cars

In parallel, at the end of 2004 - beginning of 2005, the 3rd generation of the SUV appeared, and the car underwent some changes - all-wheel drive could now be turned off, and the three-door version disappeared. The third generation was produced until 2010. and in 2011, it was replaced by a restyled version of the third generation, which consolidated the success of the car, establishing its position in the market, and was produced until 2013.

In 2012, the 4th generation Toyota Rav 4 was introduced, delighting car owners with a new appearance and a huge variety of trim levels and engines.

The designers of the Toyota automaker report on the development of the fifth generation of the car, but it has not yet appeared on sale, so it is believed that at the moment there are only 4 generations of Toyota Rav 4.

Salon Toyota Rav 4

Battery selection

When purchasing on your own, you need to remember that Toyota RAV4 uses Asian-type batteries with reverse polarity, in which the positive terminal is located on the right. Crossovers with diesel engines require batteries with a capacity of 95-100A/h.

For cars of the first and second generations

Cars of the first generations did not consume a lot of electricity, and therefore they were equipped with batteries with a minimum capacity. But the seat made it possible to install batteries of larger dimensions than those used by the owners of these cars - batteries with a capacity of 60 Ah (24.2x17.5x19 cm) or more.

Toyota RAV4 of the first generations was equipped with the following batteries:

• capacity 45 A/h;
• dimensions 23.8x12.9x22.5 cm;
• starting current - 330 A.

The battery seat was located near the right wing of the car.

For the third and fourth

The next 2 generations of crossovers received batteries with a larger capacity, 60 Ah and dimensions of 23x17.5x22.5 cm. Separate batches were equipped with a 70 Ah battery measuring 26x17.5x22.5 cm.

Vehicles with diesel engines, regardless of generation, were equipped with a JIS standard battery with a capacity of 90-100 A/h and dimensions of 30.6 x 17.5 x 22.2 cm.

Diesel crossovers produced in Japan were equipped with a Furukawa Battery brand battery with a capacity of 90 A/h and a starting current of 735 A.

Battery selection criteria

First of all, the dimensions of the battery are taken into account, which must correspond to the seat. Depending on the configuration, it may differ.

The reliability of fastening the power source is ensured by the presence of a lower side and a clamping bar on top. The second most important parameter is the capacitance corresponding to the crossover model.

The third parameter is the maximum value of the starting current. The fourth is the date of manufacture of the battery. The newer it is, the longer the battery will last.

Technical characteristics of engines for Toyota RAV 4

The famous car designer from Japan produced 4 restyled models of the mentioned SUV. The first generation, created on the basis of the classic Toyota Corolla, was produced from 1994 to 2000 with a two-liter engine. The second generation model, whose production lasted from 2000 to 2005, was distinguished by a wide variety of configurations. The line includes modifications with an engine capacity of 1.8-2.4 liters. The third generation of crossovers was produced in series from 2005 to 2010. The volume of the power unit varied from 2 to 3.5 liters.

At the beginning of 2013, a new restyled model appeared on the world market. The basic equipment of the vehicle includes gasoline and turbodiesel engines. The table below shows the technical characteristics of the fourth generation car in the basic version. Knowing them, the motorist can easily choose and buy a battery for Rav 4.

Cars of the mentioned brand with other power plants of greater performance are also available for sale. On the domestic market, dealers offer the basic configurations shown earlier in the table.

Review of the best models and their approximate cost

For crossovers with a gasoline engine produced before 2013, it is difficult to find original batteries.

It is possible to replace them with the following models:

• A-Mega Ultra 62 Asian type with a capacity of 62 A/h and a starting current of 610 A, a 3-year warranty at a price of 5,700 rubles;
• Varta Blue Dynamic (D47) of Asian type with a capacity of 60 A/h and a starting current of 540 A at a price of 6,200 rubles;
• Rocket SMF 75B24LS with a capacity of 50 A/h, a starting current of 470 A and a cost of 6,300 rubles.

Gasoline

The largest range of batteries is available on the market for Toyota RAV4 crossovers with a gasoline engine. Main indicators of a battery with reverse polarity:

When choosing a model, in addition to price, you should take into account:

• correspondence between the dimensions of the battery and the landing area under the hood;
• battery capacity that satisfies the energy consumption of all vehicle devices;
• the magnitude of the starting current taking into account operating conditions (for areas with severe frosts, the value should be increased by 20%).

Varta Blue battery (Czech Republic) with a capacity of 60 A/h.

Diesel

Diesel-powered RAV4s require powerful batteries. The best option in terms of price/quality ratio is the Rocket SMF 115D31L product, which has a capacity of 95 A/h and a starting current of 790 A.

Powerful battery Rocket SMF 115D31L.

Price issue

When choosing a battery, it is necessary to take into account the operating conditions of the vehicle. You should not buy an expensive battery with good starting current if the machine is used in a hot climate. For old domestic cars or foreign cars, a cheap option is suitable (“Tyumen Bear” (55Ah) – 3100 rubles, “Vozhak” (55Ah) – 2900 rubles).

Expensive battery models are suitable for high-class cars and are needed for operating the car in low-temperature conditions - for regions where it is -30-40 degrees in winter (Varta (55Ah) - 5100 rubles, Bosch S4 (55 Ah) - 5500 rubles).

You need to buy batteries from trusted suppliers and avoid options with lower prices from dubious manufacturers.

Battery diagnostic methods

The readings of the amount of charge in the battery by the on-board computer should be treated with distrust at first. A digital multimeter will provide reliable information if you follow the measurement rules.

Engine running

The voltage level at the battery terminals when the engine is idling should be within 13.5-14 V. In frosty weather, within 10 minutes after starting the engine, the battery voltage can reach 14.2 V. This phenomenon is caused by a drop in battery charge when simple, especially at negative temperatures.

If the voltmeter readings are within 13-13.4 V, you need to make sure that the generator is working and clean the surface of the battery terminals. If, with a connected load, the voltage is below 12.8 V, you should contact a specialist to check the battery.

When muted

Battery voltage measurements with the engine off are carried out when preparing the car for long trips.

Voltage readings:

• 12.5-13 V - indicate normal battery charge;
• 11.8-12 V - indicates a discharged battery.

Based on the voltage, it is possible to approximately estimate the degree of charge:

• 12.1 V - corresponds to 10%;
• 12.5 V - indicate 50%;
• 12.9 V - 90%.

How to charge correctly

Modern devices automatically maintain the required level of charge current. For manually operated devices, it is possible to reduce the recovery time by increasing the current.

In these cases, the current supplied is 33-35% more than the recommended value. This charging mode should not be used regularly as it will shorten the battery life. Its use is justified only in emergency cases.

Checking the battery charge.

Self-replacement battery

A modern battery is a functionally complete device that can be replaced by a person without special knowledge. During the replacement process, the car radio may be blocked and you will need to activate it with a code.

The fourth and fifth generations of RAV4 use IBS technology, which includes a sensor on the negative terminal of the battery that monitors the number of battery replacements and condition. This technology contributes to economical battery consumption and longer service life.

Removal

To remove the battery you need to do the following:

• turn off the ignition, open the hood;
• Use a 10mm wrench to loosen the fastening of the upper battery strap;
• remove the wire from the negative terminal;
• unscrew the connector from the positive terminal;
• remove the clamping bar;
• remove the battery by pulling it towards you and up.

Installation

Installation steps are performed in reverse order:

• place the battery on the landing pad;
• attach the clamping bar;
• connect the wire to the positive terminal;
• connect the negative wire last;
• tighten the fastening nuts.

Tips and tricks to extend your battery life

Battery life depends on its type and operating conditions. If you use a serviced battery, then you need to check the electrolyte level and its density 2 times a year.

If the parameters deviate from the recommended values, adding water or electrolyte will be required. Maintenance-free devices must be replaced with new ones when the parameters go beyond the permissible values.

To extend the life of any type of battery, we recommend:

1. Avoid deep discharge of the battery, especially in conditions of negative temperatures, which require increased power output for the operation of lighting equipment, heated windows, seats, etc.
2. Avoid trips of less than 10 km, during which the battery does not have time to restore its charge.
3. When parking for more than 10-15 minutes, turn off all types of electrical energy consumers, incl. engine.
4. Limit starter operation to 10-15 seconds in winter. If necessary, repeat starting the internal combustion engine - pause between attempts for at least 30 seconds. Before starting, warm up the battery by turning on the high beam lights for half a minute. To reduce energy consumption when starting, depress the clutch.
5. Keep the battery case and terminals clean, eliminating self-discharge currents.
6. Regularly check the battery mounting to eliminate vibration.
7. Fully charge the battery once every 2 months in winter, once per quarter in summer.

Following these recommendations will allow you to extend the battery life to that specified in the technical data sheet or exceed it.

What to do if the battery is dead?

On a RAV4, if the battery is dead, you won’t be able to unlock the doors with the standard key fob. It will be possible to open the driver's door only with a mechanical key, having first treated the cylinder with VD-40 lubricant.

As for starting the starter, the easiest way is to recharge using a good 220-12 volt charger. It is important to pay attention to the polarity when connecting, otherwise there is a high risk of damage to the electronics. The current must be supplied 35% more than the rated current.

Another effective way to revive a battery is to “light” it from another car. The wires must have sufficient cross-section.