Help me pick a new battery

[AJB0009]

2021 Toyota RAV 4, 2.5L. 78k miles. Original battery in it yet, group 48 / H6 AGM.

Has start/stop, but we disable it each time we start the vehicle.

It still starts every time, but through the colder months, it is definitely turning over slower in the morning. We have a few long road trips planned this summer and fall, so I figure I would go ahead and put a new battery in.

Some options I have found (all AGM):

• AC Delco (Amazon): $180, 3-year warranty
• Walmart: $190, 4-year warranty
• Motorcraft: $230, 3-year warranty
• Toyota: $270, 7-year warranty, pro-rated after 3 years

I like the AC Delco just due to the low cost. Should be a quality battery, right?

Walmart has the longest 100% warranty. Obviously, the most places nationwide to get warranty coverage. I, personally, am a little gun shy of Walmart batteries now. My daughter recently bought a Maxx, and it didn’t even make it a year. They didn’t want to warranty it either because it still “tested good” with their little tester thing at the store.

I have always had great luck with Motorcraft batteries, for many decades. Though, I have never used one of their AGM.

The Toyota is the most expensive, but has the longest warranty, albeit pro-rated.

I looked at others too (Interstate, Die Hard, Napa, Auto Zone, Sam’s Club, Batteries Plus). I did not see a reason to consider any of those.

Over thinking is what we do best here on BITOG, right?

 

[cptbarkey]

What are the procedures to warranty the battery from Amazon?

 

[charbaby]

Have a true “Load Test” done on your battery and see how healthy it really is. If it shows any signs of weakness, get a new battery of your choice and one you trust that makes you sleep well. Most parts stores do a load test for free.

Any battery brand & level(Economy-to-MAXX) can have a bad one now & again. I think your daughter was just unlucky with the MAXX & with W*M, sad to say! …I have only had great success with EverStart MAXX batteries as well as AutoCraft batteries from Advance Auto Parts. And in fact, good luck with most batteries in general.

I’ve have had vehicles that had undiagnosed (couldn’t find) electrical draws that caused batteries to fail early or not enough juice to start the engine due to the draw. However, like your daughter’s situation, my battery showed to be “GOOD” after a full charge. So it was my vehicle that was the issue, not the battery.

 

[iCurious]

Walmart or Costco.

 

[rstsco]

2021 Toyota RAV 4, 2.5L. 78k miles. Original battery in it yet, group 48 / H6 AGM.

Some options I have found (all AGM):

• AC Delco (Amazon): $180, 3-year warranty
• Walmart: $190, 4-year warranty
• Motorcraft: $230, 3-year warranty
• Toyota: $270, 7-year warranty, pro-rated after 3 years

I like the AC Delco just due to the low cost. Should be a quality battery, right?

Walmart has the longest 100% warranty. Obviously, the most places nationwide to get warranty coverage. I, personally, am a little gun shy of Walmart batteries now. My daughter recently bought a Maxx, and it didn’t even make it a year. They didn’t want to warranty it either because it still “tested good” with their little tester thing at the store.

My experience in September 2023 with buying a WalMart battery is rather abysmal. I decided to proactively replace the battery in my 2020 Ram Lone Star with 8,500 miles due to the brutal Texas heat. I bought the battery, installed it, and took back the core. That night, a massive hailstorm came through, totaling the truck! I will never replace another battery unless it's actively dying or dead. I blame WalMart for my poor choices.

My research at the time showed their batteries were excellent, but I didn't get a chance to personally find out. Good luck.

 

[Rand]

Walmart or Costco.

costco is terrible now. 100% prorated no free replacement period.

I'd probably buy at sam's or walmart. Although previously AAP had decent deals with coupon codes.. I think they are excluded now.

 

[bdcardinal]

What are the procedures to warranty the battery from Amazon?

Curious about this as well. In my line of work, even though parts houses sell Motorcraft batteries, the warranty is only good at that place. We can't get reimbursement for a Motorcraft battery sold at OReillys or Rock Auto (not even sure if they carry them).

 

[iCurious]

costco is terrible now. 100% prorated no free replacement period.

I'd probably buy at sam's or walmart. Although previously AAP had decent deals with coupon codes.. I think they are excluded now.

I dont really use the warranty. Costco is usually the cheapest. But if you want warranty it would be Walmart.

 

[Zee09]

Gone here now except one 30 miles away...Pep Boys.... Manny, Moe, and Karen
Free Installation in the parking lot, member deals, and great service..
Best price in the area.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

If it was me and my Toyota, I would forgo the AGM and buy a Walmart Everstart Lead Acid 550 CCA battery for $109 with 2 year warranty and if it acts up change it out for a free replacement befor the 2 years is up.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

1. Buy the new battery from WalMart. If you have any problems, they are, by far, the easiest to work with in my experience.
   
   
2. Buy a TOPDON BT200 (https://www.topdon.us/products/bt200) and check your own battery from time to time. Maybe once a month?
   
   
3. Buy a Noco GENIUS1 (https://no.co/genius1) and leave it connected to your battery whenever you're not driving the car. It will maintain and "de-sulfate" the battery continuously.
   
   
4. Insulate your new battery when you install it - https://www.designengineering.com/cell-saver-battery-insulation-kit/
   
   
5. Sleep well.

I have a 2019 Toyota Tacoma with THE OEM, lead-acid battery in my truck. The TopDon testing shows it's, effectively, just like new. My truck starts perfectly.



Ed

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

An AGM from Walmart.

 

[AJB0009]

Curious about this as well. In my line of work, even though parts houses sell Motorcraft batteries, the warranty is only good at that place. We can't get reimbursement for a Motorcraft battery sold at OReillys or Rock Auto (not even sure if they carry them).

Can you comment on current level of success with Motorcraft AGM batteries?

 

[QwikKota]

Walmart Everstart Platinum AGM

 

[Leo99]

I put a Walmart Everstart into my 2020 RAV4. My understanding is that it's not AGM. Get one with handle. It's very heavy! Was very easy to replace in the RAV4.

 

[bdcardinal]

Can you comment on current level of success with Motorcraft AGM batteries?

Outside of the recall ones that weren't Clarios, they seem to be the same as any other Clarios AGM battery.

 

[TacoFergie]

X2 (Batteries Plus) or Odyssey has been my go-to batteries. Had an X2 in my Tacoma for 8 years that survived multiple well below 9v discharges while gone on deployments. It always recovered with no issue and survived -20F to 100F+, not garaged. I traded that truck in with that battery last summer. I've got an X2 in our Subaru Ascent and just put an Odyssey H8 in my F150. The Motorcraft H6 AGM that was original in my F150 did not hold up, but I think that battery is undersized for the truck personally.

They are both made by EnerSys and they are absolutely top quality. Keep an eye out for 20% off sales on Napa for an Odyssey, that would take the price below $300 for a fantastic battery.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I just hit up Coatco and be done with it. Yeah, they changed their warranty policy, but last time I took one in they just handed me a new one. Guy told me it is up to them how they honor the warranty.

It was all because a few bad apples were bringing in good batteries just prior to end-of-warranty-period.

 

[QwikKota]

I put a Walmart Everstart into my 2020 RAV4. My understanding is that it's not AGM. Get one with handle. It's very heavy! Was very easy to replace in the RAV4.

They have to say Platinum on them to be AGM, I believe. I edited my post, not Maxx. Apologies.

 

[TmanP]

I have, twice, been able to get O'Reilly to price match Walmart on the Super Start Extreme (Everstart Maxx equivalent). I first did this in fall 2019, and then a few months ago as that 6.5 year old one was starting a bit harder when particularly cold. If you can do this (worth a shot) it'd be my vote - you get an East Penn battery and easy returns, if need be.

I saved almost $100 - $235 retail for the Superstart, and the Walmart price was $139. Otherwise, my next plan was to go to Walmart and be done with it for $139, but it was worth the call for me.