Toyota 4Runner Replacement Battery
Trucks
- Sponsor
- OPTIMA Batteries
- Location
- Glendale, WI
Did you know OPTIMA Batteries offers direct-fit battery upgrades for most Toyota trucks, including the Toyota 4Runner?
First Generation (1984-1989)
Even going all the way back to the 1984 model year, OPTIMA offers three different batteries for the 1984 Toyota 4Runner- REDTOPs in either a Group 25 size with just top terminals or a 75/25 REDTOP with top and side terminals. We also offer the D75/25 YELLOWTOP with top and side terminals. Which one is the best option? If your 4Runner is stock from an electrical standpoint and you just need a strong starting battery, either REDTOP is a great choice. However, if you have a winch, car alarm, aftermarket stereo system or other significant electrical demands, the YELLOWTOP is the ideal option. Those options remain the same from the 1984 through the 1987 model years.
Starting in the 1988 model year, Toyota 4Runners with the 3.0-liter engine have those three battery options and four more in OPTIMA's Group 34 batteries. Some of the Group 34 batteries (those with 34/78 in the part number) have both side and top terminals and they come in REDTOPs or YELLOWTOPs. As with the Group 25 options for the 2.4-liter engines, the REDTOPs are great if you just need starting power, while the YELLOWTOPs offer both starting and deep-cycle use. The Group 34 batteries are larger and slightly more expensive than the Group 25 batteries, so if you need more power and an OE fit, Group 34 would be the option to take.
Second Generation (1990-1995)
Even though the Toyota 4Runner moved into a second generation in the 1990 model year, the battery options remained the same all the way through the 1995 model year, depending on which engine came in your 4Runner.
Third Generation (1996-2002)
Moving into the third generation, the Group 35 batteries became the options for the 2.7-liter engine, in either REDTOP (starting) or YELLOWTOP (starting/deep-cycle), while the 3.4-liter V6 used either Group 35 batteries or the 34R REDTOP. As with the other Group 34 models, the 34R offers more cranking power and a slightly higher price tag, while retaining an OE fit in your truck. However, by the 2001 model year, the option for the 3.4-liter V6-equipped 4Runners goes back to just the Group 35 batteries.
Fourth Generation (2003-2009)
When the fourth generation Toyota 4Runner came along for the 2003 model year, it brought with it larger engines in the form of a 4.0-liter V6 and a 4.7-liter V8. With those new engines came another three battery choices, between OPTIMA's Group 35 batteries and the D27F YELLOWTOP. The same principals hold true with REDTOPs working great for starting applications and YELLOWTOPs being better-suited for starting and deep-cycle use. The Group D27F YELLOWTOP is a big step up on power though. 830 cold cranking amps and 66AH of reserve capacity (the bigger the number, the more run time a battery can offer when the engine isn't running).
Fifth Generation (2010-2024)
The fifth generation Toyota 4Runner continued with two engine options starting in the 2010 model year, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder or 4.0-liter V6, but the three OPTIMA battery choices remain the same and that continued through the 2013 model year with just the 4.0-liter. However, starting in the 2014 model year, the D27F YELLOWTOP stopped being an option and 4Runner owners chose between OPTIMA's two Group 35 batteries.
Sixth Generation (2025+)
If you need to replace the battery already in the newest Toyota Tundra, there's a good chance it's still covered by the factory warranty. While we'd love to have your business and you may opt to use an OPTIMA battery pro-actively, if your 4Runner is having battery issues already, there may be something else going on that you'd want to have checked out under warranty coverage.
Whatever generation 4Runner you drive, we want to let you know REDTOPs are fully charged at about 12.6-12.8 volts and YELLOWTOPs are fully charged at about 13.0-13.2 volts. Keeping your battery fully charged whenever possible will maximize battery performance and lifespan. We recommend checking battery voltage once a month. If your battery isn't fully-charged, top it off with a quality battery charger and consider charging it more often, if necessary. If your battery is showing full voltage, you can extend that cadence out accordingly.
We're so confident proper voltage maintenance will maximize battery performance and lifespan, we'll extend the free replacement warranty on your OPTIMA battery by a full year, if you purchase an OPTIMA 1200-series charger from us when you buy your OPTIMA battery.
First Generation (1984-1989)
Even going all the way back to the 1984 model year, OPTIMA offers three different batteries for the 1984 Toyota 4Runner- REDTOPs in either a Group 25 size with just top terminals or a 75/25 REDTOP with top and side terminals. We also offer the D75/25 YELLOWTOP with top and side terminals. Which one is the best option? If your 4Runner is stock from an electrical standpoint and you just need a strong starting battery, either REDTOP is a great choice. However, if you have a winch, car alarm, aftermarket stereo system or other significant electrical demands, the YELLOWTOP is the ideal option. Those options remain the same from the 1984 through the 1987 model years.
Starting in the 1988 model year, Toyota 4Runners with the 3.0-liter engine have those three battery options and four more in OPTIMA's Group 34 batteries. Some of the Group 34 batteries (those with 34/78 in the part number) have both side and top terminals and they come in REDTOPs or YELLOWTOPs. As with the Group 25 options for the 2.4-liter engines, the REDTOPs are great if you just need starting power, while the YELLOWTOPs offer both starting and deep-cycle use. The Group 34 batteries are larger and slightly more expensive than the Group 25 batteries, so if you need more power and an OE fit, Group 34 would be the option to take.
Second Generation (1990-1995)
Even though the Toyota 4Runner moved into a second generation in the 1990 model year, the battery options remained the same all the way through the 1995 model year, depending on which engine came in your 4Runner.
Third Generation (1996-2002)
Moving into the third generation, the Group 35 batteries became the options for the 2.7-liter engine, in either REDTOP (starting) or YELLOWTOP (starting/deep-cycle), while the 3.4-liter V6 used either Group 35 batteries or the 34R REDTOP. As with the other Group 34 models, the 34R offers more cranking power and a slightly higher price tag, while retaining an OE fit in your truck. However, by the 2001 model year, the option for the 3.4-liter V6-equipped 4Runners goes back to just the Group 35 batteries.
Fourth Generation (2003-2009)
When the fourth generation Toyota 4Runner came along for the 2003 model year, it brought with it larger engines in the form of a 4.0-liter V6 and a 4.7-liter V8. With those new engines came another three battery choices, between OPTIMA's Group 35 batteries and the D27F YELLOWTOP. The same principals hold true with REDTOPs working great for starting applications and YELLOWTOPs being better-suited for starting and deep-cycle use. The Group D27F YELLOWTOP is a big step up on power though. 830 cold cranking amps and 66AH of reserve capacity (the bigger the number, the more run time a battery can offer when the engine isn't running).
Fifth Generation (2010-2024)
The fifth generation Toyota 4Runner continued with two engine options starting in the 2010 model year, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder or 4.0-liter V6, but the three OPTIMA battery choices remain the same and that continued through the 2013 model year with just the 4.0-liter. However, starting in the 2014 model year, the D27F YELLOWTOP stopped being an option and 4Runner owners chose between OPTIMA's two Group 35 batteries.
Sixth Generation (2025+)
If you need to replace the battery already in the newest Toyota Tundra, there's a good chance it's still covered by the factory warranty. While we'd love to have your business and you may opt to use an OPTIMA battery pro-actively, if your 4Runner is having battery issues already, there may be something else going on that you'd want to have checked out under warranty coverage.
Whatever generation 4Runner you drive, we want to let you know REDTOPs are fully charged at about 12.6-12.8 volts and YELLOWTOPs are fully charged at about 13.0-13.2 volts. Keeping your battery fully charged whenever possible will maximize battery performance and lifespan. We recommend checking battery voltage once a month. If your battery isn't fully-charged, top it off with a quality battery charger and consider charging it more often, if necessary. If your battery is showing full voltage, you can extend that cadence out accordingly.
We're so confident proper voltage maintenance will maximize battery performance and lifespan, we'll extend the free replacement warranty on your OPTIMA battery by a full year, if you purchase an OPTIMA 1200-series charger from us when you buy your OPTIMA battery.