Battery Replacement

[Lexington]

Hi All

My battery is almost 7 years old and I’m seeing signs that it’s starting to go and needs to be replaced. It currently has the Toyota TrueStart 24F battery. I’ve considered replacing it with the same battery but I do have LED strips on my headlight that every once in a while will turn itself on and drain the battery. It doesn’t happen often though. It usually occurs when after turning it off but don’t close the app and it will sometimes come back on. Also, if I’m camping over the weekend, just opening the door on and off also drains it enough so the car won’t start. In the past the battery still had enough juice to start but now it needs a jump. Maybe a new TrueStart battery may be enough to resolve this issue but was thing maybe I should upgrade my battery that has an higher RC rating or something a little more durable in regards to power drains. My 4Runner is a daily driver and I do occasional off roading. Besides the LED strips I don’t have any other electrical devices that I run.

What would be a good alternative battery that you would recommend.

Thanks

 

[propain]

I use SLI24FAGMDP X2Power Car and Truck Battery | Premium AGM | 840CCA | Group Size 24F for my 16' TRD Pro

X2Power Car and Truck Battery | Premium AGM | 840CCA | Group Size 24F

 

[Hungryhawk]

I suggest repurchase the same. A light on will drain any battery with enough time. If your existing battery has worked well for you, I see no reason to change.

 

[ArthurKotb]

I use the Toyota 84 month TruStart battery. I have room in my '04 for the group 27. I put this one in December, only the 3rd one in 22 years. They are really good batteries. I put a group 27 in the wife's '99 Sienna in 2019 and it's still going strong. 84 months is an excellent warranty.

 

[RC57]

I recently bought a battery at the dealer for my sister's Avalon. (She insists on dealer parts and service.) To my surprise the Toyota brand battery cost the same as other brands at the car parts places.

 

[wcjeep]

Replaced the factory battery with Costco AGM. Starts faster now.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

I use SLI24FAGMDP X2Power Car and Truck Battery | Premium AGM | 840CCA | Group Size 24F for my 16' TRD Pro

X2Power Car and Truck Battery | Premium AGM | 840CCA | Group Size 24F

Best battery I've ever owned. First one lasted around 9 years. Buy once, cry once.
Coincidentally I just replaced it yesterday. It would still start, but was laboring pretty hard. Voltage was still holding, so the door locks were working, but putting a load tester on it showed around 200 CCA.
They've gone up about 30 to 40 bucks since I first bought one back 2016, but still worth it imo. Unfortunately most people can't afford it, or will just scoff at the cost.
My reasoning is a wet cell in an off road vehicle is weepy and will start eroding shit. If your 4Runner is just a grocery/errand/family trip mobile, with no offroading, a standard wet cell is most likely good enough.
Duracell is making pretty good "middle of the road" budget batteries. My Son has had one in his 1st gen Tundra for a couple years now.
Also, I can't deny that the Toyota True Start batteries are good as well.

 

[ArthurKotb]

Duracell is making pretty good "middle of the road" budget batteries. My Son has had one in his 1st gen Tundra for a couple years now.

East Penn Manufacturing makes Deka batteries. I've used them in my boat for the trolling motor; excellent batteries. East Penn makes them for Duracell and also private brand for NAPA. The various farm stores carry Deka as well as a lot of marinas.

 

[RC57]

While my dealer sells Toyota branded batteries, I checked my 2024 and found it is a Panasonic battery. :shrug:

 

[5thToy]

While my dealer sells Toyota branded batteries, I checked my 2024 and found it is a Panasonic battery. :shrug:

The OEM Panasonic battery is not available for sale in the US as a replacement.

 

[Bmnorm2]

Best battery I've ever owned. First one lasted around 9 years. Buy once, cry once.
Coincidentally I just replaced it yesterday. It would still start, but was laboring pretty hard. Voltage was still holding, so the door locks were working, but putting a load tester on it showed around 200 CCA.
They've gone up about 30 to 40 bucks since I first bought one back 2016, but still worth it imo. Unfortunately most people can't afford it, or will just scoff at the cost.
My reasoning is a wet cell in an off road vehicle is weepy and will start eroding shit. If your 4Runner is just a grocery/errand/family trip mobile, with no offroading, a standard wet cell is most likely good enough.
Duracell is making pretty good "middle of the road" budget batteries. My Son has had one in his 1st gen Tundra for a couple years now.
Also, I can't deny that the Toyota True Start batteries are good as well.

I understand the purpose of AGM for high discharge cycle reliability/longevity. I also know the cost and the current difference too.

Is an AGM advantageous for regular use?

 

[gordonp]

Is an AGM advantageous for regular use?

IMHO "Yes".

Here's my thinking: when I buy a battery, like everyone, I'd love a super-long life. But it seems I rarely get that: my 2021 TRD Off Road factory Panasonic only lasted 2yrs.

So, I tend to buy the warranty, because my experience shows that I'm going to need it.

And in my neck of the woods, Costco offers the best warranty, and it's on their AGM batteries. Thus, I find greater peace-of-mind, actual improved life, lighter weight, no-spill, higher CCA and Reserve to all be positives even for a Daily Driver. Maybe even especially for a Daily Driver.

Reminder: When you change to AGM, you need higher charging-voltage. I can think of four ways to boost the charge-voltage, in order of cheapness:

• Install a GM diode in your Alt-S fuse location. Essentially this lowers the "sense" voltage and makes your existing alternator work a bit more to boost the output voltage.
  
• Install an adapter-harness, between (4-piin) alternator and vehicle harness. Same as above, it reduces the feedback / sense voltage and "fools" your alternator into increasing output
  
• Install a commercial "switch and diodes" piggyback unit in your Alt-S fuse location. This allows 2 different reductions and consequently 2 different levels of voltage-iincrease. This may prove gentler to your AGM in summer (lower boost) and more-helpful in winter (raised boost)
  
• Buy an aftermarket alternator. These frequently feature higher output, and some are wound specifically to output slightly-increased voltage for AGM batteries.

 

[Saker]

The OEM Panasonic battery is not available for sale in the US as a replacement.

This is quite true.
The replacement batteries from Toyota are not up to the same specs that comes in our T4R’s when shipped.
I found this out when I had my 2014, hence the obvious reason going to an AGM Battery.

 

[ArthurKotb]

While my dealer sells Toyota branded batteries, I checked my 2024 and found it is a Panasonic battery. :shrug:

They come from Japan with Panasonic batteries. I asked the parts department about getting one because my OEM Panasonic was in my T4R for 12 years and still holds a 75% charge. He said no but he wished we could; so do I. That's the best battery I've ever had. I keep it on the shelf in the garage on a battery tender in case I ever need a jump. It's almost 22 years old now and still holds a good charge. The 10 year old TruStart holds a little above 50%.

 

[Coyotegray]

When I replaced the original battery in my 2017, I found that I was killing AGM batteries. Went through several all under warranty. They would last less than two years.

Turns out that over time charging an AGM battery at the standard voltage for a led acid will kill it. They require a slightly higher voltage. I did the mod of swapping the charging fuse with a diode and that did the trick. I just need to put a fuse in line with it.

 

[Lexington]

I use the Toyota 84 month TruStart battery. I have room in my '04 for the group 27. I put this one in December, only the 3rd one in 22 years. They are really good batteries. I put a group 27 in the wife's '99 Sienna in 2019 and it's still going strong. 84 months is an excellent warranty.

ArthurKotb When you say group are you talking about battery size?

 

[Lexington]

They come from Japan with Panasonic batteries. I asked the parts department about getting one because my OEM Panasonic was in my T4R for 12 years and still holds a 75% charge. He said no but he wished we could; so do I. That's the best battery I've ever had. I keep it on the shelf in the garage on a battery tender in case I ever need a jump. It's almost 22 years old now and still holds a good charge. The 10 year old TruStart holds a little above 50%.

Hmmm, I fly to Japan frequently. I wonder if I can buy one here. Just need to find out if they will let me check it in on the plane.

 

[Lexington]

IMHO "Yes".

Here's my thinking: when I buy a battery, like everyone, I'd love a super-long life. But it seems I rarely get that: my 2021 TRD Off Road factory Panasonic only lasted 2yrs.

So, I tend to buy the warranty, because my experience shows that I'm going to need it.

And in my neck of the woods, Costco offers the best warranty, and it's on their AGM batteries. Thus, I find greater peace-of-mind, actual improved life, lighter weight, no-spill, higher CCA and Reserve to all be positives even for a Daily Driver. Maybe even especially for a Daily Driver.

Reminder: When you change to AGM, you need higher charging-voltage. I can think of four ways to boost the charge-voltage, in order of cheapness:

• Install a GM diode in your Alt-S fuse location. Essentially this lowers the "sense" voltage and makes your existing alternator work a bit more to boost the output voltage.
  
• Install an adapter-harness, between (4-piin) alternator and vehicle harness. Same as above, it reduces the feedback / sense voltage and "fools" your alternator into increasing output
  
• Install a commercial "switch and diodes" piggyback unit in your Alt-S fuse location. This allows 2 different reductions and consequently 2 different levels of voltage-iincrease. This may prove gentler to your AGM in summer (lower boost) and more-helpful in winter (raised boost)
  
• Buy an aftermarket alternator. These frequently feature higher output, and some are wound specifically to output slightly-increased voltage for AGM batteries.

Out of curiosity, what happens if you don’t make any modifications? You just don’t get the full potential of the battery?

 

[5thToy]

Out of curiosity, what happens if you don’t make any modifications? You just don’t get the full potential of the battery?

That and shortened battery lifespan

 

[jp.vegas]

Out of curiosity, what happens if you don’t make any modifications? You just don’t get the full potential of the battery?

That and shortened battery lifespan

Also in some instances, it can void the warranty if the battery isn't being charged at the recommended voltage per the manufacturer.

X2 Power in particular was pretty specific about ensuring the battery charging voltage meets specs with regards to explaining the warranty when I bought one of their batteries last summer.

I accomplish the higher charging voltage using the "Voltage Booster Pro" OG module.