New England B.S. Thread

Yup, I am waiting for my $99 Duracell battery to go bad on me, but it is still holding strong (bought almost 10 years ago from Sam's club!)

 

Sheesh, I guess I’m old. I bought DieHard batteries at Sears for 29.99 installed.

 

That’s impressive. 5 years seems to be the max I get lately.

 

Yeah, I got a bit excited, the battery is 9 years old right now, and will be 10 in December. I just tested it with my battery tester at work, and it still has 100% state of health, but the charge is low (SOC at 68%) (I have a short commute, and I think that will ultimately kill it).

 

What are we playing with here?

I'm toying with setting up a 20W solar pannel -> MPPT charger, 1.5 miles is taking its toll. If you're interested I'll let you know how it goes.

edit: I intend to also put in a fridge in a few years so I'll bump up the panel size then, so it's not JUST for that. But I did the quick maths and it's more cost effective to do this than take the longer route.

 

Platinum is an AGM right?

 

Do you have to reprogram the truck if you throw in an AGM? With the Ferd, I guess I'd have to either reprogram myself or take it to the stealership to swap something in the ECU for AGM batteries. Haven't gone down that rabbit hole and will likely stick with normal batteries (truck has 2 so I can't see going the expensive route).

 

AGM is 13.5 volts and most batteries and truck is probably programmed for 12.6 or whatever it is.

I'm not sure. I know part of my setup was going to be an always-on solar panel and mppt controller - that I have to check and make sure will go for AGM but I think the one I'm looking at does.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/agm-battery.746028/#post-26561883

@Brownmatthall throwing you under the bus you have techstream - is that a setting in there? I know it didn't work on my truck but just wondering in a general sense if it's accessible via TS

 

With absolutely 0 legwork on the subject, that sounds like vftuner territory. I know that I can get a version of my tune to allow the truck to run on an AGM which reinforces that. I also have vf tuner though I'll poke around when I have some time

 

If I drive straight from my house to work, about 1.5 miles, but every morning I try and drive a bit further, about 5 miles. I also go food shopping out in Putnam CT every week, to charge up the battery and get the engine up to temp for some time (more than 10 minutes, and the round trip to Putnam is around an hour depending on traffic).

Yeah, let me know what you come up for a solar charger. I take a longer route to work to just get the engine up to temp as well, but it really isn't there for a long time anyway!

 

Same I'm at 1.5 miles but do drive it more often otherwise not just once a week. But it was dead as a door nail the other morning after taking a week off, so I think it's been taking its toll.

Unless you're up around 2k the alternator isn't doing a whole hell of a lot.

 

I am not sure how to make a meme, but like Jeremy Clarkson says, I have a manual transmission, so I like taking it to the max between gear changes!

If you want a good replacement battery, I have had great luck with East Penn batteries (Deka, Duracell from Batteries Plus, I think Exide?).

 

I think the one I got is just a regular style.

 

I didn't do anything with mine, but the truck runs lower voltage on an AGM. If I remember right it's should be 13.8 to 14.2v for lead acid with the alternator turning

I'd recommend toyota for lead acid replacements

 

+1 for toyota last one was like 7 years old when I replaced it. Cost was good. Warranty is like 84 months or something?

 

The stock battery was a Panasonic. The Diehard in my Tacoma and boat have been fine. More important is Advance is 10 minutes away and open long hours vs. finding a dealership.

 

7 year warranty?
The diehard platinum is 4 years.

 

The Panasonics in my wife's 05 Rav4 and my 10 Tacoma lasted 11 and 10 years respectively.

The funny part is my wife's had one no start and the battery jumped up immediately, I asked her if she wanted a new one or not and she decided new one (since she works late a couple of nights a week). I always wonder if the damn thing would have lasted longer.

Mine was stone dead, jumped with my pack but the second I shut the engine of it was back to zero.

 

I don’t remember what brand came in my Tacoma but it completely died right around 5 years. I stopped for gas and it was completely dead after filling up. This one in the 4Runner was struggling the last few days. It was about 5.5 years old.

 

Yup the 84mon batteries from them

I get it, I have to go to the dealership on Saturdays if I need anything cause their hours for parts sucks even more now. My dad just put an 84mon battery from Toyota in his 3rd gen for about $160 OTD. The warranty is 3 year full replacement and pro-rated after that if I remember right.