Owners of other Toyota or Scion vehicles such as the Tacoma, Corolla, Yaris, Prius, Camry, RAV4, Tundra, Sienna, FJ Cruiser, Venza, Avalon, 4Runner, Sequoia, xB, xD, tC, iQ and FR-S may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The '08-'13 Highlander models all use a Group Size 24F 12V automotive battery.

A few compatible replacement batteries with their part numbers are as follows: Optima 8020-164, Bosch S6508B, EverStart Plus 24F-3, EverStart MAXX-24F, ProStart #  24F600PS and AutoCraft 24F-6.

The tools needed to replace the battery include a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet or a standard 10mm wrench.

The 12V automotive battery is located at the front of the engine bay just behind the headlight assembly and forward of the engine air filter box.

For extra safety, I'd recommend wearing gloves and protective eyeglasses.

Loosen the bolt at the front of the black metal battery clamp or "hold down bar" by turning it counterclockwise with the 10mm socket and 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench.

Set the bolt aside in a safe place.

Lift the battery hold down bar straight off the top of the battery and disengage the metal "J" hook bar from the rear of the battery.

Set the battery clamp aside with the bolt.

Loosen the nut on the "-" negative battery terminal by turning it counterclockwise with the 10mm socket and ratcheting wrench.

Loosen the 10mm nut on the "+" positive terminal by turning it counterclockwise.

Pull the positive terminal straight off the battery post, wrap it in a rag and tuck it away on the side.

Lift the old battery straight out of the engine bay. Avoid touching the battery posts.

Be sure to bring the old battery with you to the store when you buy a new one so that you can avoid paying a "core charge" or "disposal fee".

The auto parts store or a big box retailer such as Walmart will have the old battery properly recycled.

Clean off any debris on the plastic battery tray to ensure that the new battery will rest evenly in the engine bay.

If you can wait a few days for delivery, the Optima 8020-164 "RedTop" has excellent reviews on Amazon.

Lower the new battery down on to the plastic tray with the "+" positive terminal on the left (passenger side) and the "-" negative terminal on the right (driver side).

If you've had a problem with corrosion building up on the terminals, consider installing some felt anti-corrosion washers.

Push the "+" positive terminal on to the positive battery post.

Do not over tighten the terminal nut to prevent from damaging the battery post.

Push the plastic cover back in place over the positive terminal.

Carefully lower the hold down clamp over the top of the battery.

Re-insert the "J" hook at the end of the bar in to its slot on the rear of the battery tray.

Push the "-" negative terminal on to the negative battery post.

Tighten the 10mm terminal nut in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Avoid over tightening the terminal to prevent from damaging the battery post.

Test the new 12V battery by starting the engine and turning on the headlights. Be sure to adjust the time on the clock and set your favorite radio station presets before driving.

For more, check out my other Toyota Highlander DIY Repair Guides.