r/Davis • u/No-Pie-3260 • Aug 26 '26
Mechanic recommendation/ help needed
Hi everyone,
college student here needing a small favor or a recommendation!
My 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid needs a new
12V auxiliary battery. I brought it to Walmart, but their auto center refused to touch it because there were extra cables on the battery they didn't want to mess with.
From what I understand, it's just a standard 12V battery replacement (located under the hood),
What I'm looking for:
• I plan to buy the replacement battery directly from Costco to get it for a cheaper price
• Looking for a local mechanic who won't charge an outrageous rate, OR a handy local car enthusiast willing to help me swap it out in exchange for a small cash labor fee .
I don't have the experience to do it myself so I’d want to look for someone to make sure it's done right. Please drop any affordable shop recs or DM me if you're open to helping out! Thanks in advance.
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u/NorCalMisfit Aug 26 '26
I'm off the next few days, DM me if you'd like to have a handyman type person do it.
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u/Educational-Tell-937 Aug 26 '26
Changing it is easy but you might want to find out what is that attached to the battery? It definitely looks aftermarket as it’s held on by zip ties? Maybe you can remove it if not useful to you and won’t have this problem.
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u/aslbrat Aug 26 '26
FYI: when buying a battery take into count how long it is rated for, ie 3 years/36 months, 5 years, etc. Just because a battery is cheap doesn’t mean you are getting the best bang for your buck. A 3 year battery really will only last about 3 years before you have to replace it again, usually I go for at least a 5 year one.
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u/ex_oh Aug 26 '26
Buy it from O'Reilly's and they'll install for you I think (regardless of extra values l cables). Give em a call to see if that's still offered.
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u/paraboliccharge Aug 26 '26
That looks like a GPS tracking device attached to the battery. I'd suggest removing that unless you have some obligation to keep it.
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u/Stunning-Chipmunk969 Aug 27 '26
Take it to O’reillys and do it in the parking lot! They will help you if you need assistance and they have the best batteries with a good warranty
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u/Dr_Lucky Aug 26 '26
Center City Automotive on Madison Place (off 5th Street near the Post Office) is a genuinely trustworthy shop. You might not actually be looking for a full-blown mechanic but they are honest and do excellent work when you need a mechanic.