Toyota Truestart Batteries

I received a mailing from Toyota about a deal on their Truestart
batteries, and as it happens, I need a new battery for my 2000 Camry.

Not surprising, since this is the 5th winter, and I've never had a
battery last thru 5 winters in all the cars I've ever owned.

I have a Sears around the corner, and I've had replacement Diehards
which I'm not really a big fan of. I think they are overpriced, but the
only worthwhile thing SEEMS to be their warranty. Someone mentioned to
me that one of Pep Boy's batteries was just rated very high, and I have
a Pep Boys right across the street from my local Toyota Dealer.

I do plan on keeping the car for a few more years, so a cheap battery
won't be good for me in the long run.

Toyota wants $80 (plus tax) installed. The best Diehard is about the
same thing, with the higher rated Pep Boys battery about $20 less.

It's not really about the money, I'd spend the extra $20 if I knew for
sure that I was getting something really better, and not just paying for
the name. After all, if the battery lasts 5 years, it comes out to $4 a
year for the better battery, if it really is better.

If you've had experience with this, do you think the Toyota battery is
worth it?

"Steve" <Steve@IHATESPAM.com> wrote in message
news:Steve-1A5C34.15531214032005@comcast.dca.giganews.com...[color=blue]
>I received a mailing from Toyota about a deal on their Truestart
> batteries, and as it happens, I need a new battery for my 2000 Camry.
>
> Not surprising, since this is the 5th winter, and I've never had a
> battery last thru 5 winters in all the cars I've ever owned.
>
> I have a Sears around the corner, and I've had replacement Diehards
> which I'm not really a big fan of. I think they are overpriced, but the
> only worthwhile thing SEEMS to be their warranty. Someone mentioned to
> me that one of Pep Boy's batteries was just rated very high, and I have
> a Pep Boys right across the street from my local Toyota Dealer.
>
> I do plan on keeping the car for a few more years, so a cheap battery
> won't be good for me in the long run.
>
> Toyota wants $80 (plus tax) installed. The best Diehard is about the
> same thing, with the higher rated Pep Boys battery about $20 less.
>
> It's not really about the money, I'd spend the extra $20 if I knew for
> sure that I was getting something really better, and not just paying for
> the name. After all, if the battery lasts 5 years, it comes out to $4 a
> year for the better battery, if it really is better.
>
> If you've had experience with this, do you think the Toyota battery is
> worth it?[/color]

Assuming that the batteries have comparable power - CCA, price, store
convenience, and warranty are the decision factors.

Toyota dealers used to sell Interstate batteries, which I have used in the
past. They had no problems lasting at least 5 years and rarely saw
defective ones. I don't know if the Truestart batteries are supplied by
Interstate.

I have also used Diehards with pretty good results, although I did have
Diehard that failed to hold a charge after about a week.

The reason I buy batteries from Toyota dealers and Sears is that they are
both located throughout the country and common enough that I could get a
warranty replacement even if I'm on vacation. This is more of a convenience
factor for me.

Pep Boys is relatively new in the Chicago area so without doing some
research, I don't know how many outlets there are.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Steve wrote:[color=blue]
> If you've had experience with this, do you think the Toyota battery is
> worth it?[/color]

The Truestart battery isn't the same as the OEM battery. The OEM
batteries are generally Panasonic. Truestart batteries are made by
Johnson Controls (makers of Diehards, Duralast, Energizer, Everstart,
Motorcraft, and Pep Boys Prostart, among others).

Battery life has much, much more to do with the way the battery is
treated (depth and number of cycles, and temperature extremes) than it
does with who makes it.

In dealing with lead acid batteries I would make my decision on how long the
battery sitting and slowly discharged. Lead acid batteries will start to
sulfate if left in an uncharged state for even a few days. Here is what I
do: I go into auto part stores with my digital meter. A fully charged
battery will be 12.70 volts or higher. If it's over 12.85 it was probably
just charged within 24 hours. If it is 12.5 volts or less is has been
sitting for a few months and may not be fresh and will have started to
sulfate. Whatever you do don't let anyone hook up a charger greater than 15
amp (10 is even better) to "freshen" the battery. That will cut the life of
the battery significantly.

Bryan

"Steve" <Steve@IHATESPAM.com> wrote in message
news:Steve-1A5C34.15531214032005@comcast.dca.giganews.com...[color=blue]
>I received a mailing from Toyota about a deal on their Truestart
> batteries, and as it happens, I need a new battery for my 2000 Camry.
>
> Not surprising, since this is the 5th winter, and I've never had a
> battery last thru 5 winters in all the cars I've ever owned.
>
> I have a Sears around the corner, and I've had replacement Diehards
> which I'm not really a big fan of. I think they are overpriced, but the
> only worthwhile thing SEEMS to be their warranty. Someone mentioned to
> me that one of Pep Boy's batteries was just rated very high, and I have
> a Pep Boys right across the street from my local Toyota Dealer.
>
> I do plan on keeping the car for a few more years, so a cheap battery
> won't be good for me in the long run.
>
> Toyota wants $80 (plus tax) installed. The best Diehard is about the
> same thing, with the higher rated Pep Boys battery about $20 less.
>
> It's not really about the money, I'd spend the extra $20 if I knew for
> sure that I was getting something really better, and not just paying for
> the name. After all, if the battery lasts 5 years, it comes out to $4 a
> year for the better battery, if it really is better.
>
> If you've had experience with this, do you think the Toyota battery is
> worth it?[/color]

I replaced the original battery in my 1998 Sienna last fall with one from
Sam's Club. I selected it because it was comparable with the OEM and had
removable caps... thus allowing me to check the water level.

--

"Steve" <Steve@IHATESPAM.com> wrote in message
news:Steve-1A5C34.15531214032005@comcast.dca.giganews.com...[color=blue]
> I received a mailing from Toyota about a deal on their Truestart
> batteries, and as it happens, I need a new battery for my 2000 Camry.
>
> Not surprising, since this is the 5th winter, and I've never had a
> battery last thru 5 winters in all the cars I've ever owned.
>
> I have a Sears around the corner, and I've had replacement Diehards
> which I'm not really a big fan of. I think they are overpriced, but the
> only worthwhile thing SEEMS to be their warranty. Someone mentioned to
> me that one of Pep Boy's batteries was just rated very high, and I have
> a Pep Boys right across the street from my local Toyota Dealer.
>
> I do plan on keeping the car for a few more years, so a cheap battery
> won't be good for me in the long run.
>
> Toyota wants $80 (plus tax) installed. The best Diehard is about the
> same thing, with the higher rated Pep Boys battery about $20 less.
>
> It's not really about the money, I'd spend the extra $20 if I knew for
> sure that I was getting something really better, and not just paying for
> the name. After all, if the battery lasts 5 years, it comes out to $4 a
> year for the better battery, if it really is better.
>
> If you've had experience with this, do you think the Toyota battery is
> worth it?[/color]

Bryan wrote:
[color=blue]
> In dealing with lead acid batteries I would make my decision on how long the
> battery sitting and slowly discharged. Lead acid batteries will start to
> sulfate if left in an uncharged state for even a few days. Here is what I
> do: I go into auto part stores with my digital meter. A fully charged
> battery will be 12.70 volts or higher. If it's over 12.85 it was probably
> just charged within 24 hours. If it is 12.5 volts or less is has been
> sitting for a few months and may not be fresh and will have started to
> sulfate. Whatever you do don't let anyone hook up a charger greater than 15
> amp (10 is even better) to "freshen" the battery. That will cut the life of
> the battery significantly.
>
> Bryan[/color]



I need to get a battery tester. I have a car with an eight year old
battery. It started fine and ran a week ago. A few day ago, the
battery would not turn over the car. I put the battery on a charger and
it is fully charged in a few minutes and starts the car just fine. If
the car developed a short and drained the battery, I don't think it
would be fully charged in just a few minutes. Can I assume the battery
is on its last legs?

[color=blue]
>
> "Steve" <Steve@IHATESPAM.com> wrote in message
> news:Steve-1A5C34.15531214032005@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
>[color=green]
>>I received a mailing from Toyota about a deal on their Truestart
>>batteries, and as it happens, I need a new battery for my 2000 Camry.
>>
>>Not surprising, since this is the 5th winter, and I've never had a
>>battery last thru 5 winters in all the cars I've ever owned.
>>
>>I have a Sears around the corner, and I've had replacement Diehards
>>which I'm not really a big fan of. I think they are overpriced, but the
>>only worthwhile thing SEEMS to be their warranty. Someone mentioned to
>>me that one of Pep Boy's batteries was just rated very high, and I have
>>a Pep Boys right across the street from my local Toyota Dealer.
>>
>>I do plan on keeping the car for a few more years, so a cheap battery
>>won't be good for me in the long run.
>>
>>Toyota wants $80 (plus tax) installed. The best Diehard is about the
>>same thing, with the higher rated Pep Boys battery about $20 less.
>>
>>It's not really about the money, I'd spend the extra $20 if I knew for
>>sure that I was getting something really better, and not just paying for
>>the name. After all, if the battery lasts 5 years, it comes out to $4 a
>>year for the better battery, if it really is better.
>>
>>If you've had experience with this, do you think the Toyota battery is
>>worth it?
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

ma_twain wrote:[color=blue]
> I need to get a battery tester. I have a car with an eight year old
> battery. It started fine and ran a week ago. A few day ago, the[/color]

Eight years is way past the average lifespan for lead acid auto
batteries.

Just replace it.