Costco Interstate batteries(24f)

[Jeff_DML]

anybody running the Costco version of interstate 24f for at least a few years and happy, i.e. no issues?

Full details:

I replaced the original battery in our 4runner with an Costco interstate battery a year and half ago. I went to drive it yesterday and the battery was dead so I had to jump it. I did not leave any lights on as far as I can tell.

I work from home so I dont drive a lot and when I do usually pretty short drives. We did just recently drive it to go camping which was 2.5 hours each way so figure that should of charged it up.

After bumping it and driving it around it sort of holding a charge, barely turns over but does, so I am figuring that means my alternator is working.

Costco said they do not have the AGM version so I would need to stick with the standard 24f so wondering if I should. 1.5 years is pretty disappointing.

TIA
Jeff

 

[TOYO74]

6 years on my first Costco Interstate 24F, 2 years on the second and so far no problems. I have used them on previous vehicles and not had any problems. 5th Gens do have parasitic draw that will discharge a battery if not driven regularly. However, I think 1.5 years is not normal for these batteries . Have you tried putting a charger on it? Also, places like AutoZone, etc. will test it for free.

 

[Jeff_DML]

6 years on my first Interstate 24F, 2 years on the second and so far no problems. I have used them on previous vehicles and not had any problems. 5th Gens do have parasitic draw that will discharge a battery if not driven regularly. However, I think 1.5 years is not normal for these batteries . Have you tried putting a charger on it? Also, places like AutoZone, etc. will test it for free.

thanks for the reply.

I could put a charger on it but it dying on me does not give me a lot of confidence. I dont drive a lot but I do drive it, most it sits is a couple of days.

I am going to put a trickle charger on it, will take awhile to charge back up. Need to go to costco was thinking of swapping the battery then but might wait if it keeps a charge.

 

[mrblah]

thanks for the reply.

I could put a charger on it but it dying on me does not give me a lot of confidence. I dont drive a lot but I do drive it, most it sits is a couple of days.

I am going to put a trickle charger on it, will take awhile to charge back up. Need to go to costco was thinking of swapping the battery then but might wait if it keeps a charge.

You need to upgrade to AGM and you have to charge it or drive it (at least 15 min a day).

When i was on disability for 6 month, i had a hard time keeping my batteries charged (drove it once a week). Back to work now (15 min commute), battery stays charged and charges fine.

 

[DAW89446]

Any warranty left on that battery? It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with a battery warranty, but it seemed they were around two or three years.

I had a battery crap out on me on my Subaru Outback three or four years ago, took it back to Carquest, and it was replaced free, including the tech installing it for me. The battery that died was between 1.5 and 2 years old.

 

[Jeff_DML]

Any warranty left on that battery? It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with a battery warranty, but it seemed they were around two or three years.

I had a battery crap out on me on my Subaru Outback three or four years ago, took it back to Carquest, and it was replaced free, including the tech installing it for me. The battery that died was between 1.5 and 2 years old.

yes, warranty is 3 years. You just give it back to you for credit what you paid. They do not even check if good or not like a normal costco return. From previous experience you need to do yourself.

 

[DAW89446]

I’ve always heard good things about Costco and Interstate batteries in general. But today’s batteries take a beating in modern vehicles. So any individual battery that comes off the assembly line weak will be the one that dies in somebody’s car or truck, giving the brand a black eye.

Unless you want or have a need for something like an Optima or a two battery set up, if it were me I’d just go the warranty route.

My nearest Costco is a three hour drive away north or south (Reno, Nampa, Idaho), so I buy from my local Carquest. Pretty much all batteries are made by Johnson Controls or East Penn anyway.

 

[Superjet]

I have some aftermarket stuff and a 55ma current draw after everything falls asleep. That is fine for a daily driver, but I started to work from home and was having battery issues. Each time you drain the battery, it kills off a little bit of it's life. I installed a quick disconnect and hung it out the front grill to a battery tender jr for awhile

I finally dropped the money on a decent battery. Hybrid Battery.


There are coupons out there for 20% off. I have not had any issues since.

 

[seatia]

I've been using Walmart batteries for years, no problems and the warrantees are second to none. And they are everywhere.
The 4R sits unused for 2 or 3 weeks at a time with no issues.
The heat in S Florida is brutal on batteries, but have had no problems.

There is a local outfit that has brand new batteries for $50.00 with a 1yr warrantee.
So far I'm 2.5 years into one of those with no problems but not in a 4R.

Make sure your terminals and cable ends are very clean.
I douse them with a baking soda solution before connection. You cannot always see the corrosion.
Protect the batt terminal connections with grease to prevent oxidation.

 

[bluebullet]

I purchase one from Costco about every 24 months for my 99 SR5. It doesn't get driven much and must have a phantom leak. 1st 2 returns cost me $1. Last one was $20 due to inflation (Let's Go Brandon), but still worth it. I have had even worse performance from AC/Delco.

 

[spartacus]

put a tricle charger on it when not in use for a while.

 

[Fly_over]

Costco Interstate battery failure

Uggggh…. Have replaced 2 interstate branded flooded lead acid batteries in the last year.
1 in truck after little less than 4 years and now a Costco branded Interstate that lasted 9 months and failed. Not run down or needed charge but failed with internal resistance of 27.8 meg ohms! 1st time ever a battery only lasted so little time.
Always used Interstate megatron batteries and did great for a lot of years. Best batteries ever. At least 9 years service
Now in 2024, new Interstates made in the last 3 ish years only have 3 year limited/ prorated warranty. Unimpressed and unacceptable reliability.
Tractors have Deka batteries that at least I can trust. Also have a 2020 Clarios 24F 750cca made battery that is currently 99% healthy and 3.9 m ohm. These are also on Deltran Battery Tenders since they can sit for 2 weeks. Same was true with Interstates batteries if not used for a week. I think intelligent chargers/ tenders are essential for long battery life’s. Provided you use with a quality battery. Use on rec vehicles and ZTR as well.
So , after much testing and hassle, I am done with buying highly unreliable 2023-2024 made Interstate batteries
BTW…2024 Clarios made batteries have 3 year Replacement warranty unlike Costco prorated “warranty “. Was told by Costco could have new battery for $50 after my 9 month old battery failed . LoL. I might not be home next time when Costco Interstate unexpectedly goes belly up.

 

[ejesauer]

My 2 cents (and that's probably what it is worth)...

As others have already stated, your situation calls for a trickle charger. They are cheap and might have helped.

A trickle charger/tender is not for recharging a battery. It is for maintenance of a battery that isn't used much. If you want to try to salvage that battery, you need to check the fluid level and properly correct it (if it is serviceable that way) and put it on a charger; preferably one that can desulfate if it automatically detects the need to do so.

The other thing to do is always check the date of manufacture on batteries, especially those you buy at a box store. If they are more than a month or two old, don't buy it.

Batteries do not last as long as they used to. Partly because of the quality of the battery and partly because of increased demands cars and car owner modifications put on them. Factor in geographical environmental factors like heat, etc and that throws in even more variables.

At any given moment, regardless of the brand name, in reality there are only a handful of automotive battery manufacturers. It can be tough to know who actually made it and how that relates to quality because it seems they are always being bought, sold, merged, etc. Exide, Clarios, East Penn, etc. all make batteries and label them with different brands. If I can find one when I need it, I prefer East Penn made batteries, but that doesn't always happen. I recently had my Tundra OEM battery die on me at the most inopportune time, which is usually the case, and I had to put in a Duralast made by Clarios.

You seem to have gotten 5 years out of your Toyota OEM battery. That is pretty good all things considered. Though a lot of people recommend switching to AGM, in order for it to get the full benefit of the expense of the AGM, you would need to add some things to your electrical system (not difficult) because they have different charging requirements. Only you can determine if that is what you want to do. Personally, if my vehicle wasn't designed for AGM, I'm reluctant to do that unless I need a battery that can take vibration and a beating; such as extreme off-roading and I have a lot of power hungry lighting, etc. Even then, I would go with a EFB battery before AGM if I really needed it and had the option.

COSTCO interstates don't have a great reputation. Personally, I would go to a Toyota dealership and buy a TrueStart OEM if I had the luxury of not being stranded somewhere. They're not perfect, but they're really no worse than any other and might be better in certain respects. I do not know who manufactures them. However, their lower tier TrueStart "True2", which would be an equivalent to the COSTCO interstate battery you listed IMO, is about the same price but has a 5 year warranty. If you wanted to pay more, their higher tier TrueStart EFB battery has a 7 year warranty. EFB (enhanced flooded [lead acid] battery) batteries are between a AGM and regular FLA performance-wise. They are better, more expensive, but don't add the worry of tweaking your charging system. The prices vary by dealership, but my local Toyota dealership shows these OEM 24f TrueStarts at $121.69 and $262.73. I would go get the plain old TrueStart for $122 bucks all day long and put a trickle charger on it when it sits.

True-2 24F #00544-24FT2-530 | Autoparts.toyota.com

Truestart 24F-Efb #00544-24FEF-TS | Autoparts.toyota.com

 

[GrimJeeper91]

My 2 cents (and that's probably what it is worth)...

As others have already stated, your situation calls for a trickle charger. They are cheap and might have helped.

A trickle charger/tender is not for recharging a battery. It is for maintenance of a battery that isn't used much. If you want to try to salvage that battery, you need to check the fluid level and properly correct it (if it is serviceable that way) and put it on a charger; preferably one that can desulfate if it automatically detects the need to do so.

The other thing to do is always check the date of manufacture on batteries, especially those you buy at a box store. If they are more than a month or two old, don't buy it.

Batteries do not last as long as they used to. Partly because of the quality of the battery and partly because of increased demands cars and car owner modifications put on them. Factor in geographical environmental factors like heat, etc and that throws in even more variables.

At any given moment, regardless of the brand name, in reality there are only a handful of automotive battery manufacturers. It can be tough to know who actually made it and how that relates to quality because it seems they are always being bought, sold, merged, etc. Exide, Clarios, East Penn, etc. all make batteries and label them with different brands. If I can find one when I need it, I prefer East Penn made batteries, but that doesn't always happen. I recently had my Tundra OEM battery die on me at the most inopportune time, which is usually the case, and I had to put in a Duralast made by Clarios.

You seem to have gotten 5 years out of your Toyota OEM battery. That is pretty good all things considered. Though a lot of people recommend switching to AGM, in order for it to get the full benefit of the expense of the AGM, you would need to add some things to your electrical system (not difficult) because they have different charging requirements. Only you can determine if that is what you want to do. Personally, if my vehicle wasn't designed for AGM, I'm reluctant to do that unless I need a battery that can take vibration and a beating; such as extreme off-roading and I have a lot of power hungry lighting, etc. Even then, I would go with a EFB battery before AGM if I really needed it and had the option.

COSTCO interstates don't have a great reputation. Personally, I would go to a Toyota dealership and buy a TrueStart OEM if I had the luxury of not being stranded somewhere. They're not perfect, but they're really no worse than any other and might be better in certain respects. I do not know who manufactures them. However, their lower tier TrueStart "True2", which would be an equivalent to the COSTCO interstate battery you listed IMO, is about the same price but has a 5 year warranty. If you wanted to pay more, their higher tier TrueStart EFB battery has a 7 year warranty. EFB (enhanced flooded [lead acid] battery) batteries are between a AGM and regular FLA performance-wise. They are better, more expensive, but don't add the worry of tweaking your charging system. The prices vary by dealership, but my local Toyota dealership shows these OEM 24f TrueStarts at $121.69 and $262.73. I would go get the plain old TrueStart for $122 bucks all day long and put a trickle charger on it when it sits.

True-2 24F #00544-24FT2-530 | Autoparts.toyota.com

Truestart 24F-Efb #00544-24FEF-TS | Autoparts.toyota.com

I've heard that the Costco Interstate batteries are of lower quality than those sold by other Instate dealers. Plus, if you do have a failure, you can only warranty those through Costco whereas if you buy through an Interstate dealer any warranty issues will be covered by any Interstate dealer. My last Costco Interstate battery lasted less than a year before it stopped holding a charge. Fortunately I was able to get a full refund and I ended up buying another one through an Interstate dealer. So far so good on this one but it's only been a few months so too early to tell. My last Interstate battery lasted 7 years and this is in a RV that's not driven daily.