Sluggish start - bad battery? Battery brand suggestion

I just noticed today and my 01 tacoma (2.7, 2wd) isn't starting as it usually does. it kind of drags. It starts on the first attempt but it seems like it's lacking power.

The battery was in the truck when I bought it - 2012, and I'm not sure how long the previous owner had it in when I bought it.

I put the charger on it and it showed a low percentage. I charged it up to 95% and then tried it, same thing happened. After a couple starts, I put the charger back on and the percentage showed 65%. I'm assuming the battery needs to be replaced.

If this is the case, what is a good, affordable battery to replace it with?

Again, its 2wd, I don't have any added lights or anything like that.

Thank you.

 

If you are just daily driving it then I would just get what AutoZone or the other local shops have in stock. I bought the Duralast Gold about four years ago and so far it has taken everything the Texas summer has to throw at it, on top of that I put about 3000-5000 miles a year so it does not get exercised as much as it should. Just my $.02

--Dan

 

I have had good Luck with Interstate and Deka batteries.

 

Hey Dan,

Thanks for the suggestion. I was looking into O'Riley auto's super start platinum batteries but after reading negative reviews, they were a no go. I looked at Autozone and their Duralast Gold series - they got good reviews and I went with that.

I tested my alternator and it works fine. Put the new battery in and all is good. Thanks.

 

I just replaced my GF's Duralast battery after she bought it two years ago. And had it replaced once because it wouldn't start her car after a while.

Flash forward to last week and her car won't start. The starter is fine.

We charged it to 12+ V then put a load on it. It dropped to 7.7 V. Horrible. Again that battery was less than two years old.

Hope you have better luck.

 

I bought the Toyota battery. Just at $100. Great battery, 2 years old works my starter way faster than my previous one. BTW when my last one went out, it was w/o warning. Starter was dragging that morning, that afternoon after work, no start, had to get a jump to get home.

 

My OEM battery on my 04 lasted 9-10 years. 115k miles.

 

Had the AC Delco Pro 7 year when the truck was bought new. That one lasted 9 years. $125 for a replacement.