Buying aftermarket battery

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

MISTAKE BY TECH -- ASSIST MGR OF WAL-MART SAID MAY USE INSURANCE

I made post #9 and most of the ones before it at a Starbucks. I had driven 63 miles after leaving Wal-Mart with the new battery installed. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, everything was 'cleared up excet I had this new roughness at idle that wasn't there before the battery install. After leaving Starbucks after post #9 I drove about 20 miles on surface streets. It didn't get any better. I pulled into the Kroger grocery store parking lot and shopped for just a few items. When I returned, I decided to take a picture of the new battery. I popped open the hood of my Yaris...AND I NOTICED THAT THE AIR FILTER BOX WAS APART WITH THE AIR FILTER EXPOSED. I assume the box had to be opened to get the old battery out. The new battery was installed, and the TECH PUT THE AIR FILTER BACK BUT DIDN'T FIT THE BOX BACK TOGETHER AND THUS DIDN'T PUT THE CLAMP ON. I SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER AND RECLAMPED IT. The IDLING got a LITTLE bit better. I did a few inteernet searches re this subject. My conclusion was that the first thing to do (car wise) is replace the air filter. I drove back to the Wal-Mart and talked to the Assistant Manager (Manager off), and we left it that I would ask a Toyota dealer what the next thing to do would be and then pay her a visit tomorrow (she's expecting me).

******What damage could have occurred by driving 63 miles with the air filter housing split open like that?******************

Chances are it is just a coincidence and that no damage was done. There is a TSB about running rough after disconnecting the battery that pegs the throttle body needing cleaning as the culprit. Disconnecting the battery clears the short term fuel trims, so the ECM has to do some relearning. If the ECM got used to a dirty TB, it can take quite a while for it to be happy with it again.