Stock battery

So,,, the stock battery,,, pile of crap or bunch of roses ??

Bought my 09 in May 2009, and the battery just died a gory death,,, well it died anyway. 2 1/2 years after purchase, probably 3 years after manufacture, the battery is toast.

Who makes this thing? I realize some of you have quite the number of years into your battery, but not sure if it's all due to my location, but new car batteries only seem to last 3 years for me. Gulf coast heat I guess. When I lived up north didn't really believe that heat was a worse battery enemy then cold, but I have much worse luck with batteries down here in the south then I ever did up north.

Downside to dead batteries without cold weather is that there is very little warning. One or two slow starts, hardly noticable, and then they're dead.

Luckily for me, the Tacoma battery did last about 3 of those slow starts (more then I usually get...) and I was able to get it to the dealer, where it wouldn't start for them to get it into the shop (good timing).

Other good thing is it's a warranty fix and a freeby, but I'll get the same battery I imagine. Also since it's in the shop going to let them fix my windshield kazoo and replace my broken dead pedal, all under warranty of course.

 

I bought my 08 used and the battery died just a couple months ago. It was the original Toyota battery and lasted just over 3 years. After reading bad reviews on the Toyota battery, I decided to go aftermarket. I picked up an Everstart at Walmart, but I wanted to go with a NAPA battery since I have one in my wife's Sequoia and had read many good things about them. Unfortunately, NAPA was closed and I needed a battery right away.

 

Mines stock from 2006 with 190,000 kilometers. Im going to replace it before its a problem.

I guess they just don't build them like they used to (knocks wood).

 

my 05 lasted 6 years,i think being in a garage when not driven helped that though

 

I just replaced mine after 5 years and almost 50K. After truck was park for two days and it was freezing so battery was cranking slower then normal. with incoming freezing temps I did not want to risk it plus I needed second bat for my LC anyway so I went with new Toyota batt. Not sure how long this one lasts but if it does last 5 years I am happy. One thing worth to note I have towing package so battery is 27F and I have 130 amp alternator instead of usual 90Amp

 

i killed my stock battery using my winch too often..i upgraded to the biggest baddest Sears Die-Hard battery that i could possibly fit under the hood..a whopping 1275cca battery

 

Heat kills a battery faster than anything. Living in Texas I would think 3 years would be about average. Seems the hotter the climate you live in the more often your battery will go to toast in a shorter time span.

 

2009 Tacoma and my battery just died last night after two slow starts. I live in Hawaii. I have 22,000 on my truck, but i also do drive a lot of short distances.

 

2007 with just under 70k miles and still going strong on the stock battery.

 

08 Stock battery, still goin strong. knock, knock

 

bought new just after thanksgiving 05

factory battery still going

 

Most automotive batteries have a average lifetime of 3 years. Some last longer, and some don't, but you need to think about it after your third year and the motor doesn't start as quickly as it once did. Batteries today fail quickly, with it working one minute, and it doesn't just a few minutes later.

The only battery that I have seen last longer than average, are those made with AGM, or active gas mat type of battery. One type of AGM battery is the Optima line of batteries. Spending extra for an expensive battery will gain more cranking amps and a longer battery life guaranty, but these batteries also fail after 3 years.

 

Replaced mine in December at a little over 60k miles with an Everstart.

 

Mine died on my 09 with about 3 1/2 yrs service, garage kept...

 

My '09's battery lasted just under 3 years. Got 5 very slow starts before it died.

 

This ^^. I learned this the hard way after I moved to Vegas. Down there I'd be lucky to get more than two years out of any brand/type of battery. As a fleet manager, I was constantly either replacing toasted batteries or dry-rotted wiper blades.

 

I dont think factory battery is bad. I got truck in 2006 and battery is still good. I replaced with another Toyota this year just in case but I use original battery as my secondary in LC and runs fine.
Disclaimer: My truck has Towing package and 130A Denso alternator plus battery was 27F so thats probably the reason why

 

6 years and my battery still has a green eye

 

My 2006 still has the stock battery, 34,000 miles.

 

OP: I think in 2008 Toyota started installing bigger battery to all Tacomas (27F) but only tow package gets 130A alternator. So people with out 4.0 and tow package have over sized battery powered by undersized Alternator. Sounds like recipe for short battery life.

EDIT: would be great if we could swap 180A alternator out of Sequoias