Battery for the Tacoma

So, I just got back from an auto shop after having them install a new battery.
On the way back, I notice the VLT on my ScanGauge are showing numbers less than my 4 year old battery I just replaced. 13.3V-13.8V. The old factory battery went anywhere from 13.4-13.8V.

I pop the hood open just to make sure I got the right battery and I see that they installed this one:



Is that battery ok for use in my Tacoma? Or should I go back and make them swap it out for a battery with more CCA? If the latter, how much CCA should the battery for the Tacoma produce?

 

It's always nice to have more CCA, but the main question is how old is the "NEW" Battery they sold you? Where I work we sell Batterys so when it's time for a new one I make sure it came off the truck that day. You could drive around and see if the volts go up due to the alternator charge. I also notice they didn't remove the month and year stickers under the battery tie down bracket, that is to let them know when it was sold for warranty purposes. I'd look into that, like I said where I work sells batterys and warranty for 3 years, at 34.5 months I got a new free battery because I had a cold starting issue. Good luck

 

By the way, my 99 Tacoma had 550 CCA and 680 cranking amps

 

Yeah, I noticed they didn't pull the dates off but I left them on incase I do return it.

As for the date of mfg. of the battery, where would that info be found?

 

Here is where mine is located, manufactuer date of 11/2008(green sticker) I think interstate batterys use a different method

 

You are indeed looking not at the battery, but at the alternator's output when the engine is running. To get a better look at the battery itself you need to measure the voltage w/ the engine off. Being a 12v Battery it should be around there. If you are getting down around 11v or below then your bat is probably getting old or your alternator isn't working to well. Take a voltage reading on the battery when you park at night and another in the morning. If there is a significant change in voltage then the battery isn't holding a charge.

If you are in doubt, before forking out a couple hundred bones for a decent battery, take it in and have a load test performed. They charge up the battery completely and measure how well it holds up to a load. This could help tell if it is the battery or if your alt is sub par and just not charging it.

 

yeah, your SG is not giving you info about your battery, its the volts being put out from your alt