Battery - 'splain like I'm 5 yr old

I need to put a new battery in my 2005 SR5 @179049 mi

I'm on limited budget and have several costly repairs pending. I live north of Boston and it's damn cold. I do not understand the difference of value and batteries (and only inclined to learn the minimum at this time). Can anyone make a recommendation on easy to obtain hardy battery brand that isn't going to break the bank? I see recommendations that I should just go to Walmart or Costco....

Thanks!

 

Pretty good recommendations. Everstart Maxx or AGM is what I'll probably be going with next. Original Panasonic holding up well.

Now go clean your room.

 

I won’t over think it. Just get one at Walmart or wherever it’s convenient. They are pretty much all the same. Have a great day and stay warm.

 

I typically go with one from the dealership. Just got one there for around $150 to replace the original battery in my 2019 which lasted 5 years (actually, it was fine, didn't fail. Just wanted to replace it due to age and miles). I understand the inclination to go low-budget, but as heavily as you rely on your battery in the winter, you might end up wishing you had spent the extra dollars. A good battery will last 5+ years, after all. So look for a long warranty, and one that hasn't been sitting on the shelf for years.

 

I'll vote for Walmart as well. I put one in my 2013 back in '22 and it's been great. It was single digits the other morning and it cranked like normal and fired right up. I think I paid like $120 at the time.

No sense in overthinking it. There are only a few companies that actually manufacture batteries, they're just branded differently. Project Farm did a test on batteries, the Walmart Everstart did quite well and outperformed more expensive batteries.

 

Ditto this, Most of these stores get their car batteries from Johnson Controls. Johnson Controls Power Solutions is the world's largest manufacturer of automotive batteries, supplying approximately 154 million every year to automakers and aftermarket dealers.

 

Walmart EverStart Maxx with prorated replacement

 

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Unthinkingly going to Walmart is exactly what I want to do, I feel I've been granted permission

 

Yeah, for what you are looking for it will be perfect. If you delve any deeper it can become quite the conversation and you wouldn't be able to go Walmart to get it. lol.

 

Do you plan on a voltage booster as well for the AGM? I am planning on an AGM but do not know anyone who has also used a voltage booster to get the most out of it.

 

I use a voltage booster on my AGM, still need to trickle charge now and then since i don't drive a lot but the booster helps. Voltage booster is a must for larger capacity AGM's as well as trickle charging.

 

It's kind of what's steering me away from it. Had an Everstart Maxx before in a Camry I had without any issues. I'll probably end up with the Maxx. I also see the Everstart AGM went back up another $30.

 

I think for a basic battery, use case and on a budget, AGM is a bit pricey and introduces some considerations like voltage, charging that we rather not mix in here for OP.

 

I vote Costco, although their warranty just dropped to 3 years, that's a 3 year no questions asked guarantee.

 

This.

 

Battery rarely go bad within 3 year.

 

A valid point but they sell Interstate batteries for $110.