Battery replacement recommendations???

Seems like OEMs dont say definitively if AGMs will work for systems that originally came with a lead acid. Has Toyota weighed in on compatibility?

 

I shared this very recently in another thread where I think I will go with regular lead-acid battery from Walmart when its time. In my case I don't thing AGMs would work for me since my 4R doesn't provide enough to charge AGM. Only at cold start I see about 13.8V of charge. In normal driving its only around 13.3V.






Cold start -



Normal Driving -





Idle after a normal drive -

Engine off -



** I'm not interested installing voltage boost diode as in my books 13.3v vs 14.5v after install is a huge difference.
(Screencap from youtube. Not my pic)

 

I have used the standard one on multiple vehicles, and have never had a problem. I did opt for the one with more CCA's than the factory battery. I live here in the desert, and they have handled the heat very well. Also, hard to beat their return policy!

 

I think I would stay with regular lead-acid battery as the above post #33, until I see AGM that have stated that it can charge with 13.2v ish . Not comfortable to take risk.

 

I would have thought AGM are mainly used by vehicles with Stop and Start at traffic lights.
Low voltage vehicles.

 

It takes the Tundra battery tray, which is bigger to hold the battery. It’s essentially just a piece of plastic. I did this just to squeeze in the bigger group 27 battery.

 

Costco Interstate.

 

There are only one or two auto battery manufacturers in the US. They just put different stickers on them on the way out the door.

I live in TX so the heat is death on batteries. I've bought the high end batts. I've bought the low end batts. They all last right at 3 years, then pffft...

I also found the the high end warranties are so pro-rated they are essentially worthless.

So, In my experience in a hot climate, buy the cheapest battery you can get. It' will save you money, time and aggrevation...

 

What is the CCA of the oem Panasonic?

 

530CCA if I'm not mistaken.

 

Bingo!

 

Costco Interstate Batteries. I had that brand in my 2006 Tacoma. Now for the engine battery on my 2016 RV and Interstate batteries hooked up in series for my RV House Batteries.

 

I've been less than impressed with my second walmart Everstart Platinum.

Had it tested after less than a year of service and apparently losing over 100cca and only charging to a max 12.64v is still good. Sitting in the vehicle it rests at 12.3v which seems low for an AGM.

 

Does anyone know for kicks what kind of battery a toyota dealer would replace with? I am just curious

 

I swapped to a Duracell AGM since. Working well so far and I have a Voltage Booster Pro set to low.

 

The cheapest thing they can get so that they can mark it up and get us everytime.

 

Best I can tell, Toyota true Start batteries are made by Johnson Controls / Clarios.

 

Interstate Interstate Interstate

 

Are you using a voltage booster? Or, are you hooking up to an AGM charger periodically?

I'll have to measure the voltage on mine one of these days. I did recently check the alternator voltage, and it was 14.04v with no load. I'm not sure if that's normal, though.

 

I am using the Voltage Booster Pro. I've got my 4Runner exploded in the garage right now, but as soon as its all put back together I now have the means to check more battery details.

 

Damn. That loss in CCA seems awful to me, especially in less than a year.

I replaced my stock battery 4 years ago with a Diehard Platinum AGM. The plan was to put it on a trickle charger once every month or so, but I had not done so until just this past weekend. I am not using a booster.

I'm half tempted to take it somewhere for a diagnostic. Did you have that done at an auto parts store?

Out of curiosity, do you know what the booster is sending to the battery? Have you ever put a tester on the battery with the engine running to see what the actual charging voltage is?

 

Yeah I'm pretty bummed. At this pace I'll be back to OEM CCA next year.

I had the diag done at Walmart. I had purchased the battery there so no idea if they will only test their batteries.

I just recently got some more battery testing equipment so I'll be able to give you some of my numbers by nextweekish

 

I replaced my battery last month with an EverStart Maxx. 2022 original battery. In Texas batteries last only about 3 years until they just completely stop working. I had a 2013 tacoma before and it was the same story replacing every 3 years. Used to go with Interstate batteries but then they starting getting to expensive at NTB with install that is not needed. Back to EverStart that seem to work awesome for the short time in Texas heat.

 

Shop the battery with the best warranty/return policy. Seems currently, Walmart has the easiest return/exchange and their batteries hold up decently well. Their replacement period is good too-1-4 years depending on battery type. Costco was good but their warranty changed to only 6 months replacement, prorated to 36 months.

 

The replacement interstate battery in my 4runner failed and it wasn’t that old so I replaced it with the Toyota 84 month version. The interstate version was just as expensive as the 84 month Toyota version. I use my Innova 5610 scanner to monitor the battery for performance and the Toyota battery has been great. Using the Toyota 84 month in our 2018 RAV4 too and it’s been a great battery. I’m not wasting my time with anything else now. I’ve lost confidence in most products today.

 

I put in the Costco Interstate because I’m awfully biased but otherwise I’d probably chuck in a Walmart Everstart at the desired price/warranty.

Found out the caps come off the Interstate ones so I can top off as necessary so that’s neat.

 

The hard part is that the warranty requires a tester to say battery bad. Read above where the worker says machine says battery good lol

 

First I have have heard of this. Maybe an isolated incident?

 

Could be, my luck its me haha.

Honestly my expectations could be off as well. When I was ignorant to battery numbers battery was either good, or car didnt start.

Now that I have equipment that shows me how much power I've lost I could be up in arms over nothing.

Kinda like the Blackstone Lab oil aficionados haha

 

I replaced a battery for a friend, took it back to Costco and they didn't even check it (just the receipt). Gave me a new one without issue. But the Interstates don't seem to be as good as they were 10 or so years ago (at least to me).