Need suggestions/help about batteries and therminals

Good morning! I'm looking to put in a new battery in my 03 V6 Tacoma. It's lagging to start now to the point where I have to jump start it mostly everyone morning now. I have the red top optima battery for 5 years now. I'll be changing the starter too. Also my negative terminal does not tighten all the way now too for some reason. So I'll be changing those too. Anyone change their termals for some new ones? Any suggestions on which ones to get? I have a winch installed plus 2 led fog lights. Also any different batteries recomendations? Any pictures of your current set ups? Thanks a lot.

 

I use marine or military style battery terminals. They are heavy duty and work well.

 

Hi June

I have the yellow top Optima as below and very happy with but its only been a month or so. Starts quicker than my old one. I have 6 aux lights hooked up to it, it's a deep cycle battery and came recommended by my installer. No pics of it installed but here are the specs below.

 

I have the Diehard Platinum for a few years now.

Has been great.

I too and interested in terminal suggestions as I have added a few items to both the positive and negative. It's a bit ridiculous now.

 

Do you have anything connected to the terminals ? Winch, lights etc? I would like a pic of the set up.

 

Not going to get into a battery debate, search for that, but a X2 for mil spec terminals. 2 cable landings each. Winch and some accessories.

I will go this far, my previous "orange top" (don't see many of them) Optima went 13 years, with winch duty. That's on the distant end of typical, but impressive non the less.




Super deluxe quick release "handle" on the clamp bolt.




Terminal covers optional.

 

As far as lead acid batteries go I've had good luck with interstate batteries. I have 2 optima yellow tops on my diesel. I'm not the original owner/installer but the amazing thing is they are date coded 04/2006! Going on 11 years old! I've heard the odyssey gels are good too.

 

I have Marine Terminals on all my vehicles .

I have had Good luck with Interstate and Deka

Since I am close to Deka I go to the factory Store I have had good luck running seconds for 30 years

I have had a AGM 9A34R Just seeing how it goes so far so good 3 years now

Battery it all comes down to your planned use

 

All the posts I liked in this thread are spot on. If you want lead acid, I'd go with Interstate. If you want an AGM, go with Deka, since Sears quit selling the Diehard Platinum.

 

I know I can't find that battery!!

 

if you had good luck with the redtop, why change? get another one i say.

and for terminals, i say use lead-free terminals. they're close to OE style.

and why are you changing your starter? if youre not having any other troubles aside from the battery not starting properly, there's no point in throwing away 150 or w/e for another starter.

 

I use a Napa Legend battery for about 1.5 years. Awesome battery! Much more power than the toyota brand battery before. I run a sub and 4 extra lights off of it.

 

Highly recommend Odyssey batteries. They are pricey but worth every penny in my opinion. Every police car I built in the last 5 years immediately had its factory battery swapped to an Odyssey and a second one added along side that. They hold up to high heat extremely well and come back to life after being drained countless times. I have two of them in my own truck.

 

For those of you that have replaced the battery terminals, how are you removing the ground wire from the factory terminal? I purchased the military spec battery terminal post kit.

$33 Fastronix Military Spec Battery Terminal Top Post Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X36RILW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I noticed the negative terminal that the ground wire attaches to is part of the factory terminal. It also has the small ground wire attached that leads to drivers side fender.
Are you all just cutting that off and putting on another lug?
Appreciate your input.

 

You could, but if the cable end (main and body) is in good shape and there is no corrosion traveling under the crimp or up under the insulation, a little cutting and flattening will do the job. Otherwise just go with new. Just remove the OE clamp bolt and cut the terminal "band" portion off. The piece remaining on the cable will be functionally the same as the ring terminal on your winch cable. You may or may not feel the need to flatten the bend on top. If you look close at my first pic you can see the cut/flattened OE cable end.

 

Most time I am also replacing the cable as well

I just crimp on a New Lug then heat Shrink

 

Thanks for the heads up. I noticed that the sale has been extended to 3/7/20019.

 

I did the same as mentioned above. I cut the loop off, flattened the edges, and use the hole for the original stud as the ring terminal.