Buying aftermarket battery

[nookandcrannycar]

MISTAKE BY TECH -- ASSIST MGR OF WAL-MART SAID MAY USE INSURANCE

I made post #9 and most of the ones before it at a Starbucks. I had driven 63 miles after leaving Wal-Mart with the new battery installed. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, everything was 'cleared up excet I had this new roughness at idle that wasn't there before the battery install. After leaving Starbucks after post #9 I drove about 20 miles on surface streets. It didn't get any better. I pulled into the Kroger grocery store parking lot and shopped for just a few items. When I returned, I decided to take a picture of the new battery. I popped open the hood of my Yaris...AND I NOTICED THAT THE AIR FILTER BOX WAS APART WITH THE AIR FILTER EXPOSED. I assume the box had to be opened to get the old battery out. The new battery was installed, and the TECH PUT THE AIR FILTER BACK BUT DIDN'T FIT THE BOX BACK TOGETHER AND THUS DIDN'T PUT THE CLAMP ON. I SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER AND RECLAMPED IT. The IDLING got a LITTLE bit better. I did a few inteernet searches re this subject. My conclusion was that the first thing to do (car wise) is replace the air filter. I drove back to the Wal-Mart and talked to the Assistant Manager (Manager off), and we left it that I would ask a Toyota dealer what the next thing to do would be and then pay her a visit tomorrow (she's expecting me).

******What damage could have occurred by driving 63 miles with the air filter housing split open like that?******************

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

MISTAKE BY TECH -- ASSIST MGR OF WAL-MART SAID MAY USE INSURANCE

I made post #9 and most of the ones before it at a Starbucks. I had driven 63 miles after leaving Wal-Mart with the new battery installed. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, everything was 'cleared up excet I had this new roughness at idle that wasn't there before the battery install. After leaving Starbucks after post #9 I drove about 20 miles on surface streets. It didn't get any better. I pulled into the Kroger grocery store parking lot and shopped for just a few items. When I returned, I decided to take a picture of the new battery. I popped open the hood of my Yaris...AND I NOTICED THAT THE AIR FILTER BOX WAS APART WITH THE AIR FILTER EXPOSED. I assume the box had to be opened to get the old battery out. The new battery was installed, and the TECH PUT THE AIR FILTER BACK BUT DIDN'T FIT THE BOX BACK TOGETHER AND THUS DIDN'T PUT THE CLAMP ON. I SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER AND RECLAMPED IT. The IDLING got a LITTLE bit better. I did a few inteernet searches re this subject. My conclusion was that the first thing to do (car wise) is replace the air filter. I drove back to the Wal-Mart and talked to the Assistant Manager (Manager off), and we left it that I would ask a Toyota dealer what the next thing to do would be and then pay her a visit tomorrow (she's expecting me).

******What damage could have occurred by driving 63 miles with the air filter housing split open like that?******************

Chances are it is just a coincidence and that no damage was done. There is a TSB about running rough after disconnecting the battery that pegs the throttle body needing cleaning as the culprit. Disconnecting the battery clears the short term fuel trims, so the ECM has to do some relearning. If the ECM got used to a dirty TB, it can take quite a while for it to be happy with it again.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Chances are it is just a coincidence and that no damage was done. There is a TSB about running rough after disconnecting the battery that pegs the throttle body needing cleaning as the culprit. Disconnecting the battery clears the short term fuel trims, so the ECM has to do some relearning. If the ECM got used to a dirty TB, it can take quite a while for it to be happy with it again.

Thanks! It is a little better this morning. While I was at Wal-Mart getting the new battery the four words 'ECM needs to relearn' kept running through my head, so I wonder if I skimmed that thread at some point. Lippitt posted a link to my other post about this and I followed that to two links posted by Altitude...one of which brought me to a post by yaris-me that reads "run a good fuel system cleaner". I know that thread wasn't specific to idle behavior after a battery disconnect, but if my idle doesn't return to what it was before the battery replacement would 'running a good fuel system cleaner' help my specific idle issue? If so, is there a 'good fuel system cleaner' that you would recommend?

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Thanks! It is a little better this morning. While I was at Wal-Mart getting the new battery the four words 'ECM needs to relearn' kept running through my head, so I wonder if I skimmed that thread at some point. Lippitt posted a link to my other post about this and I followed that to two links posted by Altitude...one of which brought me to a post by yaris-me that reads "run a good fuel system cleaner". I know that thread wasn't specific to idle behavior after a battery disconnect, but if my idle doesn't return to what it was before the battery replacement would 'running a good fuel system cleaner' help my specific idle issue? If so, is there a 'good fuel system cleaner' that you would recommend?

A fuel system cleaner won't help. Pick up a can of throttle body cleaner. The best way to clean it is to unbolt it so you can easily clean the entire inside of it.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

A fuel system cleaner won't help. Pick up a can of throttle body cleaner. The best way to clean it is to unbolt it so you can easily clean the entire inside of it.

Thanks!

[nookandcrannycar]

I left to get gas right after making the post directly above. I hit a fair number of red lights, and the rough idle was gone....smooth as silk...must have finished the process CT described in post #12. I thought the new battery would make SOME difference (the issue with the radio would go away, and the dome light might get brighter).....but not this....the change is wonderful....I've read posts re similar changes, but didn't think they'd happen to be because I didn't have the same experience when I replaced the OEM battery with the first new replacement 3 years ago. The car now has so much more zip, the difference is just amazing. I don't plan to use it much unless I need to pass, but I'm glad it's there. The interference re the radio is gone and the radio is pulling in stations like it used to. The dome light is a bit brighter. The steering is amazing. I was worried that there was something wrong with the rack or perhaps the bearings were worn, but I now think it must have been the electric power steering not working in optimal fashion with the old battery not dead but operating far from optimally. The steering is fine now....all the previous issues I was having have disappeared. The clutch feels as though it has more life left as well.

I drove to Gullo Toyota (just so I could feel 100 percent certain that the Wal-Mart tech's screw up hadn't damaged my Yaris) and spoke with one of the service writers. He said that if Wal-Mart had left the housing open and in the position they did AND had also not put the air filter back that some damage might have occurred with that scenario, but not with my scenario. He said the worst that could have happened in my case (given that I noticed what Wal-Mart did and corrected it) is that the Check Engine light could have been tripped.

I also arranged for my new replacement tires (same as the current ones -- Firestone FR710s) and will have them installed on Wednesday and the current set of 4 will hit 85,000 miles right before they come off the car.

[Astroman]

Please try to post your threads in the correct thread section. It's getting old moving all the stuff from the "general discussion" when this was more in the DIY/Maintenance/Service related. I've moved it to the proper sections