🔧 Battery Replacement

Your Highlander uses a standard 12-volt battery under the hood. Replacing it means disconnecting the old battery, swapping in the new one, and making sure the hold-down and terminals are secure so the vehicle starts reliably.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.5-1 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Turn the ignition off, remove the key/fob from the vehicle, and keep all doors closed before starting.
• Use care around the battery terminals. A wrench touching both terminals or metal body parts can cause sparks.
• Disconnect the negative cable first, then the positive cable. Reconnect in reverse order.
• The battery is heavy. Lift with both hands and keep it upright.
• If your radio presets or clock reset, that is normal after battery disconnection.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 10mm wrench
• 10mm socket
• Ratchet
• Battery terminal puller (specialty)
• Battery cleaning brush
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Memory saver (optional)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• 12V battery - Qty: 1
• Battery terminal protectant spray - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Turn off all lights, accessories, and climate control.
• If using a memory saver, connect it before disconnecting the battery.
• Open the hood and locate the battery in the engine bay.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Access the battery

• Open the hood and secure it fully.
• Locate the battery and clear any loose covers or intake parts blocking access.
• Take a quick photo of the cable layout.

Step 2: Disconnect the negative cable

• Use a 10mm wrench to loosen the negative terminal nut.
• Remove the negative cable from the battery and move it aside so it cannot spring back into contact.

Step 3: Disconnect the positive cable

• Use the 10mm wrench to loosen the positive terminal nut.
• Remove the positive cable and keep it away from the battery.

Step 4: Remove the battery hold-down

• Use the 10mm socket and ratchet to remove the battery hold-down bracket or clamp.
• Lift the bracket out and set it aside.

Step 5: Remove the old battery

• Lift the battery straight up and out of the tray. A battery is heavy, so use both hands.
• Place it on a flat surface away from metal tools.

Step 6: Clean the tray and terminals

• Use a battery cleaning brush to clean the tray and terminal ends if there is corrosion.
• Wipe the area clean and make sure the hold-down points are free of dirt.

Step 7: Install the new battery

• Set the new battery in the tray with the terminals in the same orientation as the old one.
• Reinstall the hold-down bracket using the 10mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 5 Nm (44 in-lbs).

Step 8: Reconnect the cables

• Connect the positive cable first and tighten it with the 10mm wrench.
• Then connect the negative cable and tighten it with the 10mm wrench.
• Torque to 5 Nm (44 in-lbs) on both terminal nuts.
• Do not overtighten the terminals.

Step 9: Final inspection

• Make sure both terminals are tight and cannot rotate by hand.
• Check that the battery is secure and cannot move in the tray.
• Reinstall any covers or intake pieces you removed.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and confirm it cranks normally.
• Check the dash for warning lights that stay on after startup.
• Reset the clock and radio presets if needed.
• Test the headlights, interior lights, and power windows.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $140-$240 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$210 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.5-1 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.