No need to apologize. There is another battery thread on here where I learned that I can't tell the difference between regular and AGM batteries. I assumed the RAV4 with Start/Stop came with AGM from the factory but that is not the case.
Help me pick a new battery
- Thread starter AJB0009
- Start date
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
Get the Walmart for the warranty. On the east coast it will likely be made by East Penn, which is a good manufacturer. In other areas, Walmart is supplied by Clarios, their AGMs are fine too. Clarios also makes the AGMs for AC Delco, Interstate/Costco, and many others.
But Walmart for the great warranty and convenience. They will even ship to your door, and you just go back to the store for the core return...which you will get as a gift card.
I have purchased four Walmart AGMs in the past three years, all working fine.
But Walmart for the great warranty and convenience. They will even ship to your door, and you just go back to the store for the core return...which you will get as a gift card.
I have purchased four Walmart AGMs in the past three years, all working fine.
Mainstream vehicle batteries are commodities, so what you're buying is the brand, warranty, and service, should they be required.
Choose according to your budget and preferences.
Walmart and Costco tend to be the least expensive, but with the latter, that comes at the sacrifice of a replacement warranty.
Choose according to your budget and preferences.
Walmart and Costco tend to be the least expensive, but with the latter, that comes at the sacrifice of a replacement warranty.
Best batteries I had were AC Delco from a GM dealer. My Saturn battery was replaced after one year by the dealer. The original probably discharged sitting on the lot for months before we bought the car but the second one lasted nine years. The other was a 34/78 dual terminal for the Tempest. It lasted nine years. It was on a Battery Tender for 7-8 months out of the year while the car sat. Now I buy East-Penns from Farm & Fleet, I have three. I also have a Deka that I bought three years ago so I can’t attest to longevity yet. I’d try to find an East-Penn. They supply several private labels. I don’t mind spending $$$ within reason for batteries, tires, brakes, and comfortable shoes.
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f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
For about the last decade, they are supplied to AC Delco by Clarios. Same supplier to Interstate and WalMart.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
The last couple have been EverStart from Walmart. Back before V lockdown, I had one die with no notice. I was at my brother's, 100 miles from home. Took his jump box and went to Walmart. In and out in half and hour. There are Walmarts almost everywhere.
My current recommendation would be NAPA.
I just had an 11 month old Wal Mart Plus battery strand me out in the middle of nowhere.
Ended up getting what was handy since there was no Wal Mart for miles, a NAPA Legend to get home.
The mechanic was nice, threw in an old junk battery he had laying around so I wouldn't be charged for the core and let me have the core, so I could warranty it.
However, since I have the new battery, I don't see the point in doing that. So, it sits in my carport.
Guess I'll have to ponder what to do with it.
I just had an 11 month old Wal Mart Plus battery strand me out in the middle of nowhere.
Ended up getting what was handy since there was no Wal Mart for miles, a NAPA Legend to get home.
The mechanic was nice, threw in an old junk battery he had laying around so I wouldn't be charged for the core and let me have the core, so I could warranty it.
However, since I have the new battery, I don't see the point in doing that. So, it sits in my carport.
Guess I'll have to ponder what to do with it.
The AC Delco battery for the Tempest was bought around 2001. The Saturn was bought in August 2008. The battery was replaced under warranty in 2010 and lasted until 2018, so I got eight, not nine years from it. Both came from GM dealerships. I don’t know who supplied dealerships back then. I got 5-6 years out of two Interstates in the Tempest after the Delco died. I got six years from an Interstate I had in the Saturn after that Delco died. I replaced that one before it died. I was getting corrosion buildout around the negative post repeatedly.
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I would go with the Toyota battery I just installed a tru-start In my Nissan.
I have a '21 Rav also, it has been using a Walmart Everstart for a few years now. I don't recall if it was an AGM, MAXX, or Platinum (I can look if you really want to know).
Over the years, I've never had trouble from this brand in other vehicles.
Last time I looked at prices vs warranty period, Walmart was better than most. Sam's club and Costco can be pretty cheap too if you have a membership.
Over the years, I've never had trouble from this brand in other vehicles.
Last time I looked at prices vs warranty period, Walmart was better than most. Sam's club and Costco can be pretty cheap too if you have a membership.
Thank you and welcome to BITOG!
I don't know how hard it would be to warranty a AC Delco battery purchased at a new car dealer. That, and at least the ones I've have been looking at are made in Korea, and I'm looking for something made in USA.
At this point I would rather get a battery made in Korea than one made in the USA
Why do you hate American workers? That and the East Penn batteries that everyone wants are made in USA. Not sure on AGM batteries though, they seemingly come from anywhere and I think are more rebadged than regular batteries.
I threw an east penn in my daily a few months ago. My experience with johnson/clarios has always been that they last about exactly until the warranty expires. The couple of east penn units I bought over the years, are still kicking around.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
Batteries are fickle products. I have had the exact opposite experience. Both East Penn flooded batteries lasted less than two years, but all my Clarios are going strong. Many years past their warranty period. But I don't trash East Penn, they can make a bad batch here and there, just like any manufacturer.
That has been my experience too. For the last three batteries I bought they have been DieHard silvers and they have all lasted 40 years before I changed them. So you never know
4 years
Patman
Staff member
4 years isn’t that impressive. I have 10 years on my Civic’s original battery and 8 years on the Corvette’s
