Replacement battery vent cap? Covered by vehicle warranty?

[CZroe]

I have a 2011 Toyota Corolla that I purchased new on December 6th, 2011. When I took it in for service today the dealer pointed out that one of the two plastic caps that cover the electrolyte vents in the battery cells was missing. They checked the levels and said it was "fine" but that they didn't have a replacement, couldn't get one, and couldn't do anything but suggest a new battery. The car had to be less than a year old when it disappeared because there was already a pretty thick layer of dust where the cap would be while there was essentially none under to other cap. It hadn't been missing too long though because the layer of dust was obviously not as thick as the layer around it and the electrolyte level was only slightly lower than the other cells.

I've already checked at some scrap places and the battery model appears to be too new to get a replacement cap that way. Plugging the holes with something else doesn't sound like a great idea because it needs to vent. Also, I can see that the ventilation under the other cap connects two holes and isolates one so it would be hard to DIY, especially without knowing the reasoning and engineering behind it.

The battery label says that it is a Toyota part with a Toyota part number but made by Exide. Exide doesn't seem to sell parts and Toyota already said they couldn't get it. The other batteries I see on their website have very different looking covers.

Any suggestions? If it were a battery I purchased a year ago I would expect it to be covered by the battery's warranty. Should this be covered under the vehicle's warranty? They never suggested that it was at the dealer.

 

[NutBucket]

I would argue yes. If there's no sign of you tampering with it then its on them IMHO. As stupid/nit-picky as it is you are certainly justified if you want to call corporate.

 

[LTC8K6]

I would wonder where it went and whether it might have popped off from some sort of battery or charging system problem.

Those caps are usually tight fitting.

I'd also wonder if I was being scammed.

 

[CZroe]

I would wonder where it went and whether it might have popped off from some sort of battery or charging system problem.

Those caps are usually tight fitting.

From my experience today, I see that the ones on retail batteries are tight-fitting but I can pull the remaining one off of this plain-looking OEM battery with little effort. The only thing holding it on is the tension of the plastic that fits in the holes. There are no clips or snaps. The top of the battery is also flat without them where these sit on top instead of nesting in like other designs I saw on retail batteries. I've never had any other electrical or starting issues even with the slight loss of electrolyte, so I think everything is fine.

I'd also wonder if I was being scammed.

I did. That's why I looked so closely at the dust. It's definitely been gone for a little while and did not disappear when they looked at it today. It is possible that they took it off last time I was there when I had my tire replaced (road hazard coverage; nail in the sidewall).

I did make a fuss when they left a lug nut off after a tire balancing the visit prior to that, but the technician reporting this is actually a friend of mine. It's still possible that the other guy who got in trouble over the lug nut took it to screw with me back when I got my tire replaced, but it is relatively loose-fitting and I don't doubt that it could have fallen off.

 

[CZroe]

I would argue yes. If there's no sign of you tampering with it then its on them IMHO. As stupid/nit-picky as it is you are certainly justified if you want to call corporate.

Probably just have to rant locally to get it covered, I just didn't want to do that if 1yr battery replacements were not normally covered by warranty. Considering that I can't get the cap, I look at it less as a little plastic cap that I shouldn't need to replace and more as a whole replacement battery that I should need to buy, so I don't mind complaining if need be.

I'm contacting Exide just in case they can get the cap. If not, I'll talk to the dealer again.

 

[Vetterin]

Just go to the dealer and walk around the lot looking at new cars. When you get to the corollas just pop the hood on one and take the cap. Will I go to hell for thinking of this....probably! Would I do it if I was in your position..........DEFINITELY!

 

[weadjust]

Go to Sears, Wal-Mart, are some place that sells a lot of batteries. They will probably give you one off of and old battery. The auto/tire guy gave me some when I needed some replacement caps for a small six cell jet ski battery.

 

[CZroe]

Go to Sears, Wal-Mart, are some place that sells a lot of batteries. They will probably give you one off of and old battery. The auto/tire guy gave me some when I needed some replacement caps for a small six cell jet ski battery.

I doubt I'll have much better luck than I had with the salvage yards and auto parts stores. This type of battery seems too new to end up there except in a new vehicle crash where the good battery would probably be salvaged whole.

 

[Raizinman]

Just go to the dealer and walk around the lot looking at new cars. When you get to the corollas just pop the hood on one and take the cap. Will I go to hell for thinking of this....probably! Would I do it if I was in your position..........DEFINITELY!

This!

 

[LTC8K6]

There's nothing special about the battery in a 2011 Corolla as far as I can see. Why not just replace it? It seems to be available everywhere I look.

 

[bruceb]

I agree, go to any place that takes batteries in for recycling. You should be able to get the caps easily and most likely, free. Or call Exide and speak to customer service and explain the issue. They may be willing to drop a few in the US Mail for no charge. Or check this web site (they sell them but I do not know if you have to buy in bulk or not)

http://www.flowsystemsusa.com/battery-caps.html

 

[Vetterin]

There's nothing special about the battery in a 2011 Corolla as far as I can see. Why not just replace it? It seems to be available everywhere I look.

I agree! I just looked at the Exide site and it looks like every 35 and 75 series battery that is spec'd for the corolla just has the standard rectangular 3 hole cap.
OP, can you post a picture of the top of your battery or tell us exactly the part # on your battery?

http://www.showmetheparts.com/n2ebattery/#

 

[CZroe]

There's nothing special about the battery in a 2011 Corolla as far as I can see. Why not just replace it? It seems to be available everywhere I look.

It's only a year old and otherwise works great. Who has $100 to throw around over a plastic cap? Not me! Even if the dealer will replace the entire battery under warranty at their cost, I don't think it's worth pressing the issue if a cap is cheaply available, so that's why I contacted Exide (no answer yet) and made this thread.

I agree! I just looked at the Exide site and it looks like every 35 and 75 series battery that is spec'd for the corolla just has the standard rectangular 3 hole cap.
OP, can you post a picture of the top of your battery or tell us exactly the part # on your battery?

http://www.showmetheparts.com/n2ebattery/#

Mine is a three hole rectangular cap, but none of those are like mine. They all have some sort of shroud on the top of the battery that is level with the top of the caps. Mine has the caps sitting on top, protruding higher than the rest of the battery. It's raining, but I will get a pic.

Thanks.

 

[WilliamM2]

I'd get Toyota to replace the battery. I'm suprised you didn't notice it sooner, when you open the hood to check your oil.

I'd also look around the engine bay for stripped paint/corrosion in the area, spilled battery acid is nasty.

 

[CZroe]

Battery says "Part No. 28800-AA010" on it but also says "Distributed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing" NA on it, so it's probably a Toyota part number. It doesn't come up on Exide's site when I search for it nor is it listed on Toyota parts dealer inventories.

I'd get Toyota to replace the battery. I'm suprised you didn't notice it sooner, when you open the hood to check your oil.

I'd also look around the engine bay for stripped paint/corrosion in the area, spilled battery acid is nasty.

Nothing looks spilled. It hasn't been gone too long. The car is new so burning oil isn't a problem and it only gets checked about once every couple months or before a big trip. At 25,000 miles, this was a 5K service between 10K services where it gets a full synth change. If Exide doesn't have a cap for me, I'll be doing exactly as you suggest.

 

[LTC8K6]

All you need is the correct hole spacing, so just about any cap should work okay. You don't have special caps or a special battery. The flush caps aren't really any different.

I would just replace the battery at this point. It can't cost much to get a replacement from Costco or Wal-Mart, etc. Or even from the Toyota dealer.

You are making this overly complicated, imo.

 

[WilliamM2]

Nothing looks spilled. It hasn't been gone too long. The car is new so burning oil isn't a problem and it only gets checked about once every couple months or before a big trip. At 25,000 miles, this was a 5K service between 10K services where it gets a full synth change. If Exide doesn't have a cap for me, I'll be doing exactly as you suggest.

My Toyota has only 35K on it, I still check the oil every few hundred miles. I've seen leaks develop on cars of all ages.

 

[weadjust]

Take any battery cap cut it into 3 individual caps with a dremel tool or hack saw and make them fit you ultra rare special battery.