Best Battery

$295 Deka 9A34R AGM Intimidator Battery

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T3MP22M/?coliid=I2VTS7ODX2GW0T&colid=3313QK6L78XGN&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it


Need a battery spacer though.

 

is the diode attached to or inside the alternator?
Seems like Tundra stays right around 14V.

 

I can’t remember which one I got, will have to sneak out in 20-30 min and verify….

OEM battery went tits up after 5 months of NM hear. The replacement has seen 120+* all the way down to -40*

It is the AGM. Been going strong for 5 years now. Zero issues.

 

It goes into the ALT-S fuse slot in the under hood fuse box in replacement of the fuse. The GM diode requires minor timing (think a pocket knife) to fit.

 

Like this?

General Motors DIODE 12135037-5

DIODE 12135037-5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071913NJ4

 

That's the one!

When you buy and try to install it, you will need to clip a small part off to get it fully seated into the fuse location...like this:

 

Now clip it, clip it real good...

 

For standard lead acid batteries I've always found interstate to be the best and cost effective. My factory battery failed at 2 years, the inner post separated without warning IN the Costco Parking lot.

Bought the Interstate.

And all my other vehicles when I had the option to buy at my convenience, I have tried to go with an AGM. Not sure who makes it, but I've bought 3 at O'Reilly. One is 8 years old and going strong.

 

Walmart Everstart. 3 year free replacement warranty, $98.99. Prorated 5 years. I live in Houston where heat is relentless, I always get about 3.5 years out to them sometimes lucky and get 2 years 11 months and get a free replacement. start cycles take a toll on batteries. The same battery in my boat over 10 years old. I think we can all agree Walmart is everywhere and they don't require a membership. Even if you are out of town there is a Walmart.

 

Do you recall which direction the arrow faces? I'm going to swing by Chevrolet today and see if they have one in stock.

 

Nice reminder Paul, it does matter which way it's inserted...



Arrow points to the right...as in the direction most read...towards the right

 

Thanks!

 

This is my wife’s original battery in her 2015 Lexus RC350. Still working beautifully. Lucky? Sure. Also notice the Power Pulse desulfator. This is from Pulse Tech and they have been supplying the military for years. As a fleet spec writer we were recommended a similar product from this company that uses a small solar panel. Not a good fit for this car. However since it does use the battery power to perform its function the vehicle needs to be a daily or frequent driver. It will run down the battery after a week of inactivity as discovered on my 2017 Sierra, with original battery. Not dead mind you, but watching the voltmeter I could see that it was heavy charging for quite awhile on my next trip. Cold enough winters and hot enough summers in Omaha to give it a good test. Works very well.

 

Are there any risks to the trucks electrical system by replacing that fuse with the diode? If you were to switch back to a non AGM battery, can the diode stay in the fuse block or does the fuse need to go back in?

 

Technically there is some risk as you are replacing a fuse with a GM diode as it eliminates the fuse.

If you buy the HKS version it’s a diode and fuse. Best way to go but much more expensive. It’s a risk based decision - I went GM.

https://www.hkbelect.com/product/438-mk2-micro-blade-5a-electronic-fuse-version-2019/

And if you go back to non AGM just switch back to the fuse. All the diode does it increase the charging voltage.

 

From the dust I assume it's been a long time since you checked the electrolyte levels?

 

Picked up my GM diode this afternoon.

 

Thanks everyone. Going with the Costco one!

 

Would you mind elaborating on this, or pointing me to a thread that discusses it? I have the Batteries Plus X2 power I believe it is, and I never modified anything. Do I need to for proper charging? Thanks!

 

There are quite a few threads on the subject. This is an example of one of the threads: https://www.tundras.com/threads/agm-battery-charging.97564/ but you will find more if you search “ALT-S” on the site.

Simply put, an AGM runs optimally and lasts longer if receives a relatively high charge voltage. Example for an ODX 27F:



Stock, a 2.5 gen Tundra doesn’t put out a voltage in the ideal range for cycle charges. It rarely goes above 14v. It will keep a topped up battery full perfectly fine, but if you drain it with a winch, fridge, etc, an AGM needs more voltage to properly charge and maintain its life.

If you modify what is put in the ALT-S fuse you can increase your alternator voltage by about 0.5v (depending on how you do it). The voltage increase will bring it up to the ideal area for an AGM. The mod is common across Tundras and Tacomas.

The cheapest way to do this is with a GM alternator diode. Less than $10 and generally reliable. There are other options that are adjustable voltage that are more expensive but also have better fusing in place if something in your wiring goes wrong. The HKS version is also specially made for this application vs the GM diode being more of a “hack”.

Hope that helps.

 

O’Reilly sells the GM diode for $4. I had to order it but they got it next day.

 

Personally I'm a huge fan of Northstar

 

And no longer made

Odyssey ODX is now the identical replacement.

 

Thank you @mountainpete

 

Guess I should buy one more for the future

 

I just had mine warranty replaced direct from Enersys and they are now only building the Odyssey brand. Side by side and spec to spec they are identical except for color.

 

It's about $75-76 (100ish AUD) shipped

 

Wonder why they gave it up.....

 

Enersys bought Northstar pre-pandemic and last year decided to merge it all under Odyssey. At least that’s the explanation I received from Enersys.

 

From my experience, products pre-merger are usually better than post-merger (ie. Alienware & Dell). Worried about this Odyssey copy cat's quality.