BATTERY UPGRADE??

Looking for advice or reviews please— anyone go with an interstate AGM ?

Also- I couldn’t find any new posts on LITHIUM so I made this post.

Is it a possible or a good idea to swap the battery with a Lithium, maybe a 120ah from kickas$ products? I don’t know if that would require anything else with it or if any of you know about that. The alternator puts out around 14.2 or 14.1v . Just wondering if a lithium could be a direct replacement that might last about 9years?

thanks Merry Christmas

 

I just went with a diehard from advancing auto, fit perfectly, now at 5 yrs and going strong.

 

I'm 3G so may be a little different but....
Not sure you can run lithium without a change to the charging system. I looked at it and it wasn't worth it for me.
AGM should be fine.

 

Thanks.

 

Also - Lithium is more susceptible to heat.
If we had trucks where they put the battery behind the rear seat and it was in the air conditioned cabin, then I'd think about it. But under the hood, I think you are setting yourself up for expensive batteries with short lifespans.

 

Lithium batteries don't work as well in cold weather. Starting capacity would be greatly affected.

 

I recently purchased the Costco Interstate AGM. I was able to use the stock hold down.
I removed the voltage boost mod I installed for my old X2 AGM. I don't think this battery needs it.
Too new to review other than install.

 

Why do you want a new expensive battery? What do you want that you don’t get with a regular ordinary Costco or Walmart battery. Also don’t buy a battery based on hoping to get 9 years out of it or however many years. There are too many variables that affect battery life. The same battery’s longevity will vary greatly based on numerous factors.
If you get 5 years out of a battery consider yourself good. Some will get more, some will get less. If you want to base it on anything get a battery with the longest warranty.
I use mostly Costco battery’s. Every single one has lasted at least 5 years. At 5 years I just replace the battery as part of my routine maintenance. I don’t wait for it to fail. 5 years it gets replaced. Works out to be about $20 a year. That’s cheap. No hassles , no problems, easy peasy.

 

Reposting this - again.

My '09 Tacoma was built in November of 2008.

In October of 2014 (6 years) the OEM Group 27F battery died. I almost died when I saw what Toyota wanted for a replacement. That day, I spliced 2" of AWG #6 wire onto the negative lead where it attaches to the inner fender. According to my notes, this cost me <$20 for wire, the correct size butt splice, and heat shrink tubing. This enabled me to use a non "F" battery in my truck. The next day, I bought a Walmart Group 27 Deep Cycle Marine battery for $87 in Massachusetts, and I changed the battery in the Walmart parking lot. In November of 2021 (7 years later), while the battery load/resistance tested OK at Advance Auto Parts, I decided that I was pushing my luck, and bought my second Group 27 Deep Cycle Marine battery from Walmart. This time it cost me $92 with Florida's state tax. I am still running that battery today.


EverStart Lead Acid Marine & RV Deep Cycle Battery, Group Size 27DC 12 Volt, 740 MCA = 937.5 CCA - I see that the price is now up to $94.

You do you. However, despite the forum-know-it-all predictions of short circuits and the need for a $300+ AGM battery every 5 years in every vehicle (you guys crack me up); in the 10 years that I have been running with the extra 2" of negative lead, and Marine Deep Cycle batteries in my truck, I have had no DC or battery related issues!

MY total cost for batteries in the 15 years that I have owned my Tacoma has been <$200.

Misc bits of relevant information;

From Google:
"Marine batteries feature thicker internal lead plates than car batteries. This allows them to discharge energy over a longer period of time. Housings are also typically larger than an equivalent car battery, with extra plastic protection since boating environments are not nearly as smooth as on-road driving."

From me:
"I like Marine Batteries because they have two post types for each terminal. There is the typical "car battery post," and a bolt post which uses an (included) nut to secure the connection. I use the typical post for connection to the vehicle, and the bolt for connection to my battery tender, or I could also use it for high current accessories (winch, etc.)"

From http://everstartbattery.net/
"EverStart is a battery brand exclusively distributed and sold by the retail giant Walmart. Its developer and manufacture is the Milwaukee based company Johnson Controls. Though not that popular, Johnson Controls is a giant company producing automotive interior systems including electronics and batteries....

... marine or deep cycle types are capable of delivering constant rate of energy for a longer period of time. So if you need long lasting power for your vehicle or even household power needs, this is the best type to choose."

 

AGM with a voltage boosting diode. More than enough for most applications and should last for several years.

 

I replace mine every 5years too , and never wait for it to fail. It’s time for a new one & I was going to get that AGM Interstate. I just wanted something as long lasting and reliable as possible. Just seeing if there’s anything better out there. Thanks for all the replies, I’ll probably get that interstate and this AGM charger off Amazon. Plus I’ll consider the marine battery idea the other guy posted too and just ask him how the extra ground wire helped? Thanks

 

937 cca and the price looks good to me!! Thanks!! What was the 2” of extra cable for? Maybe I missed something but I read it twice, sorry about that. I was guessing the terminals are on wrong side but u didn’t need extra cable for the positive wire? Thanks

 

Toyota makes the negative wire that attaches to the inner fender as short as possible so that they can save $0.002 on the manufacturing cost of every vehicle, AND to force you into buying a "-F" battery at a +30% price premium.

Add two inches to that negative lead and you can mount either an "-F" or a "non-F" battery in the stock battery tray. There was nothing for me to do to the positive lead because on my truck it reached either the front or the rear of the battery without issue. [EDIT - I see that the OP had to add to his positive lead too] There are no downsides to this modification on the Gen 2 Tacoma; assuming that you can either manage a quality splice, or use a longer cable.

This is what my battery installation looks like;

 

I towed a camping trailer with dual Marine/RV deep cycle batteries in it, and they took a beating and lasted for years. Recharged them via the towing vehicle connection while underway (through the 7-pin connector), and with an automatic charger at home. They always took recharge from dead for years without an issue, and also tolerated the rough roads into primitive camp sites as well. I always got at least 10+ years of service from them before they started to decline in charge-level recovery. The last ones had built in charge indicators: Push a button and small LED's indicated the charge level/status and very accurate. (green, yellow and red)

 

The best upgrade you could do is to actually relocate the battery to inside the bed or inside the cab. Heat is what kills most batteries.

I used to work at an Interstate battery store and some of the longest lasting batteries I ever saw were from cars where the battery was in the trunk. One Lexus came in on the OEM 10 year old battery that resided in the trunk.

 

Good to know the positive terminal still reaches, thanks!! I think that’s what I’ll do too.

 

I live in the southwest desert and had previously ran OEM Toyotas batteries that lasted a year before replacing. Upgraded to an AGM battery (along with the alternator voltage booster). Still going strong after 18 months.

*don’t mind the birds nest. I’ve cleaned all that up with the Garmin PowerSwitch

 

Hard NO to Lithium in this application. Freezing weather will kill a Lithium battery unless you install an appropriate heat mat which will still flatten the battery if not driven regularly. Heat is the enemy of Lithium batteries as well. They make the most sense in a motorcycle where weight matters along with size and volume or possibly a racecar that is track driven.

An AGM from Walmart will serve you well for 4~6 years depending on use. Interstate will have a similar lifespan. AGM batteries are used in military vehicles for a good reason. They don't self-discharge very fast and take heat and cold abuse better than other options today.

 

Agreed - In AZ our heat kills batteries in 18 to 24 months.
My 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid had the battery located in the trunk (which was air conditioned). I replaced that battery in 2019 and then a few months later ended up selling the vehicle.

 

The original battery in our 2005 Tacoma lasted 9 years, and I replaced it with an 84-month group 24 (they didn't have a group 27) from the local NAPA store. It's still going strong at 10+ years. If / when it fails, I'll probably consider an AGM battery. Just depends on cost & availability.