2005 4Runner V-6 Dual Battery Install

[teotwaki]

There is a kit sold for FJCs and I provided feedback as to the differences with 4Runners. The fenderwell mounting and battery position are a bit different for 4Runners compared to FJCs. The kit has all cables premade. Kit from Dirty Parts in Culver City, CA. Ask for Larry

Optima yellowtop battery mounted on fenderwell using battery tray made to fit, leveled by poly spacers underneath. Leaving room for the hood gas strut was critical.

Control solenoid (200A continuous) mounted to battery tray. Battery control is essentialy manual: Secondary battery in parallel only when ignition switch is on (battery isolated when ignition is off), secondary battery isolated from primary, or secondary battery can be forced in even if primary is dead (self jump start mode). See control switch pix below.

Control switch in cab. Dual color LED: Green when ignition switch on, red if battery is forced across primary battery.

Wiring to control switch through firewall. Main battery lead next to it.

Connection of secondary battery cable to primary battery

Jim

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Is that Wranglers battery kit?

 

[teotwaki]

Is that Wranglers battery kit?

Wrangler does not have a specific kit for FJCs or 4Runners that I ever found on their web site. They use steel battery trays with all-thread rods and a top clamping bar. The tray in mine is plastic and has an Optima specific fit. The 200 Amp relay and control switch appear to be from Wrangler.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Wrangler does not have a specific kit for FJCs or 4Runners that I ever found on their web site. They use steel battery trays with all-thread rods and a top clamping bar. The tray in mine is plastic and has an Optima specific fit. The 200 Amp relay and control switch appear to be from Wrangler.

I should have been more specific... it was the relay & control switch I was wondering about... I noticed the Wrangler logo on the switch, but I couldn't see one on the relay unit. I think you will be very please... I've been running the Wrangler unit on my LC for 5+ years now, never had an issue... worth every penny to have the controls at your fingertips IMHO.

Good work!

 

[teotwaki]

I should have been more specific... it was the relay & control switch I was wondering about... I noticed the Wrangler logo on the switch, but I couldn't see one on the relay unit. I think you will be very please... I've been running the Wrangler unit on my LC for 5+ years now, never had an issue... worth every penny to have the controls at your fingertips IMHO.

Good work!

Thanks! Now that I have the Scangauge II I can watch the primary battery voltage as there is no battery gauge in the 4Runner dash.

 

[asteffes]

Any word on fitting this kit to a Tacoma with the same engine? I'm interested in the tray and bracketry, not so much the wiring kit (I have my own ideas for that.)

 

[DaveInDenver]

BTW, nice forum name.

TEOTWAKI = The End Of The World As We Know It.

You must be a IT dude or programmer? That's what all the software dudes were running around saying at the world when they were reviewing code for Y2K.

 

[Scott Brady]

Nice job, thanks for posting this up

 

[teotwaki]

Any word on fitting this kit to a Tacoma with the same engine? I'm interested in the tray and bracketry, not so much the wiring kit (I have my own ideas for that.)

Probably buy the tray, solenoid, switch and battery, then wire it up yourself. It is basically following this article's design although he located the battery elsewhere:

http://4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/DualBatteries.shtml

Wrangler products solenoid

http://www.wranglernw.com/pc-6420-1008-isolation-relay.aspx

I do not know what brand the tray is. If I get a chance I lift the battery up and look.

 

[teotwaki]

BTW, nice forum name.

TEOTWAKI = The End Of The World As We Know It.

You must be a IT dude or programmer? That's what all the software dudes were running around saying at the world when they were reviewing code for Y2K.

Nah.... more into radio telecom engineering. Besides, it is from an old REM song. Most people think I am some sort of American Indian so you guessed it pretty well!

 

[teotwaki]

Putting the second battery to work

tore apart the rear cargo area and ran two double 10 gauge wires from the secondary battery

through the right rear passenger doorsill cable tray heading up to the front engine firewall

two new outlets next to the factory outlet which is modified for constant power

I bought the house brand outlets at West Marine because you can get three on a bezel cheaper than you can buy three individually. Disassembly is a cinch.

Here is a spankin' new Engel to test the outlets. In 36 hours of running at 38 degrees F the Optima has dropped from 12.5 volts to 12.2 volts