Battery, my head is spinning after reading for a week

[FrontRange4Runner]

The Costco battery I have sat in my Subaru for over a year without being started (ok 1 time for 30 seconds about 6 months in, just to move the car). It easily started the vehicle after all that time. My point being that there are many good options out there which don't involve any extra work or money. If you are not going into the great unknown, you probably don't need a $300 battery. If corrosion annoys you, there are things that will prevent it. Unfortunately, I have heard that the OEM Panasonic batteries are hard to find. No dealers around me carry them. Worst case, you buy a cheap battery now, avoid trouble from the wife, and pick up something more to your liking later...

 

[adam2562]

Terminals are correct on mine, this is a 34R-PC1500, no need to pull wires or stretch/extend them at all. The R means reversed terminals.

Price was $255, shipped directly to me, from Apex Battery (High Quality Low Price Battery: SLA, UPS, Motorcycle & More | ApexBattery.com).

I've ordered 3 from them so far, they were great with the first two, but the last one was delayed due to something with their ordering system. Their ordering site is clunky, but its safe.

Not sure what Sears is selling them for, probably pretty close to that though, and they are indeed the same manufacturer for both brands, so either will be good. I'd go with whichever is cheaper/easier to get.

when i search this battery.. i find other options like a T after the 1500 and an RT after the 1500 and DT..

 

[Cheers!]

the "T" is their extreme series.

It's the fancy one to get as it is the AGM offering by Odyssey.

 

[adam2562]

the "T" is their extreme series.

It's the fancy one to get as it is the AGM offering by Odyssey.

I found we need the RT. apparently it's the reverse.. I guess even though it has 34r in pn

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Okay, so the R stands for reverse terminal layout and is a standardized part code for "group 34" batteries, as well as all the other "group" battery specs. If you look at my battery, the positive terminal is on the left at the top of the battery, it is a group 34R. This is a group 34 NOT R battery:

As you can see, positive is on the wrong side! In case you wanted to know what the other letters mean in the Odyssey-side of the part number, here ya go:

S – stud post
T – SAE post
L – left positive
DT – dual terminal
MJ – metal jacket
MJS – metal jacket with stud post
MJT – metal jacket with SAE post
LMJ – left positive metal jacket
LMJT – left positive metal jacket with SAE post


This battery fit nicely in my vehicle, I used a ¼" pvc spacer (from one of my sign board scraps) at the top just to make sure it was super tight when bolted down If you look at Odyssey's website, it clearly states you may need a height adapter, I decided to just make a spacer for the bracket and let the battery sit flush on its tray.

I did not have to change the cables at all, (I think I bent one of them also like someone else previously stated in this thread), and they are not extended either.

Say what you want, but I'm very happy knowing that I have a great battery in my vehicle, one that will never build up acid whatsoever, and I don't have to spray a bunch of red crap all over the terminals or use those worthless felt washers that always fail after a couple years.

This battery isn't for everyone, its expensive and way more than most folks here will ever need, but when I go camping in summer and I have my ARB fridge plugged in, phone and game chargers running, an air compressor for tubes and air mattresses being run daily, as well as lighting and maybe even the radio, I'm happy to know that I have a battery that can take the abuse of being drained well below what a wet cell battery should be drained below (typically around 35% of its capacity).

 

[Swarty]

Just go all out!

I want a larger and a dead reliable battery for that long drive into Alaska in the next coming year or two with a bunch of crap in tow.



Any tips welcome.

Jeff

Go with a LiFePo. No acid, better tem range. You only need a special charger if you are going to let them sit for a long time.
Starter Batteries (Cars, Boats)

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Too bad the motorcycle community is seeing issues with LiFe batteries and cold temps. Slow starts and low cell voltages are what I've seen posted online. The one LiFe I have for my rc plane is very finicky about temps below 32º (yes, I used to fly even in winter! Not so much now.), so it doesn't surprise me.

And that price! Insane!!! Maybe if they had a warranty of 12+ years, then just maybe I'd consider it, but 800 bucks? Its already a stretch for a 250+ dollar battery now.

 

[Cheers!]

Also LiFePo perfom poorly as a deep cycle battery. The s2000 and lotus Elise communities have found if you take good care and never let the voltage dip too low the batteries last 2 to 3 years. If you let them discharge too low due to sitting or using the radio too much they die premature.

The 4runner has a lot of gadgets... It is not a good candidate for a light weight small duty battery.

 

[Friggin Idiot]

I was raised on Die Hard from my dad's dad on down.
There are Die Hard batteries in my boat both for start and deep cycle both more than 4 years old and work just fine even first out of storage on a cold spring morning for fishing (they are on float chargers over the winter though). The 4Runner will get one when the OEM battery wears down a little. I had Die Hard Platinum versions in both the '02 Subaru and '92 Bronco when they were sold to buy the 4Runner, each more than 5 years with no problems.
I tried an Everlast once, it started having problems after about 2 years, although in fairness I had a problem with leaving the headlights on in that GM POS (Saturn).
My dad's tried to save some money going with Walmart's EverStart several times but always ends up doing a warranty exchange after 18-26 mos. He finally caved after the third battery and went back to Die Hard.

FWIW, I've read several other places that Odyssey makes the Die Hard Platinum batteries for Sears.

I have no experience with Optima, but have heard good things about them as well.

 

[nglayton]

Die hard

Diehard Platinum but can't deal with lengthening the wires right now with work and leaving in two weeks.

Um, you know they make Die Hard Platinum's that just drop right in right? Same size as the OEM Panasonic (group 35 I think?) . And they will install it for you. In and out in about an hour.

Seems like that would be easy enough.....Then when you have more time, buy the bigger one and install the dual battery setup, the smaller one can move over to the other side.

Also...I could be wrong but, I think much of the corrosion you pictured is due to bimetal contact between copper and lead alloys. Nothing to do with "acid". Sort of a form of electrolysis just creates a reaction that your photo shows.

 

[look171]

Um, you know they make Die Hard Platinum's that just drop right in right? Same size as the OEM Panasonic (group 35 I think?) . And they will install it for you. In and out in about an hour.

Seems like that would be easy enough.....Then when you have more time, buy the bigger one and install the dual battery setup, the smaller one can move over to the other side.

Also...I could be wrong but, I think much of the corrosion you pictured is due to bimetal contact between copper and lead alloys. Nothing to do with "acid". Sort of a form of electrolysis just creates a reaction that your photo shows.

Got it. Going to do that right now. I don't think there's a need for the dual battery.

 

[Tortule]

You have trouble with aftermarket batteries. You have an OEM battery that lasted 5 years which is average life and it gave you no trouble. You have no special needs as you don't go far off the beaten path. You don't have time or you just don't want to do any mods. Buy an OEM Panasonic. No brainer.

From what I read, the OEM Panasonic batteries cannot be replaced with another Panasonic battery because they aren't available in North America. They only arrive with the vehicle originally and then afterwards the dealership uses a different brand battery that is rebranded by Toyota.