vietalogy

In the market for a new battery since the one I have now is leaking was like that when I bought the car. Was woundering what do you guys suggest? Also I live in Michigan and it can get very cold here.

rx300mm

I bought mine 3yrs ago from Costco, Kirkland brand. Good price and still going strong.

bob2200

I also recommend the Costco Kirkland battery. I had to shim the hold-down bolt with a couple of washers, but other people have reported they didn't need to do that. It could be differences in model years, or I am just more exacting.

jbl-1985

When I had the car serviced last at a Toyota dealership, out of sheer convenience I had them swap out the old battery with an 84 month Toyota True Start unit. So far so good, though I haven't had it that long.

vietalogy

Thanks for the info. Does Costco install them or do I need to bring it home and install?

Was thinking about a optima but don't think it's worth the price.

bob2200

I've never known a Costco to install them. I think I did the installation in the Costco parking lot. They have a core charge and you return your old battery to the tire center for the return credit.

rx300mm

I did mine at home, very easy .

hypervish

X3 on Costco. They sell high quality batteries (johnson control).

JAB

Costco batteries are fine. I also use Sears DieHard.

vietalogy

In that case I should buy it at Costco since Johnson control is a local company.

trhs75

I got my last one (Everstart) at Wal-Mart of all places. Highly rated by Consumer Reports, good price, good warranty. They do sell a "North" version here in Iowa, so I'm sure you can get it there.

carguy07

X2 I have had good luck with walmart batteries, one of the best rated in this size.

hypervish

I have a walmart battery in mine right now. It works perfect, I believe it's been a year since I put it in there. I changed it before my old battery died, the old battery was 5 years old.

trhs75

My daughter's WalMart battery served her well for just under five years. When it died, I took it to the customer service counter (NOT the auto center) with the receipt. The clerk, who was very nice but not the brightest, let me pick out a brand new battery, so I started again with a new receipt and a brand new warranty starting all over again!

code58

Trying not to be negative about this, but I speak as someone who has run quite a few JC batteries and can say from regular testing that they are for the most part a very mediocre battery at best. Problem is, since they've bought a good deal of the competition out, they are the major, and one of the few players left in town. I load test my batteries on a regular basis (every 2-3 months) and charge with a smart charger as necessary and JC batteries, as a rule simply DO NOT hold voltage well, nor do they load test well. My wife's '11 Toyota Camry (which came with a Toyota battery made by JC) has load tested well for it's year + of service but with it showing full charge when we left for 3 weeks over Christmas and New years, upon return a load test showed barely 12.2 V., a 50% charge. There was no drain except for normal parasitic drain from keep-alive components, not enough to hardly show a drop. My experience has always been this very thing with JC Batteries, They may start the car fine, but a load test tells the true story, and it's not a pretty one. Remember, the battery, for a large part only starts the car, from then on the alternator supplies the juice to run things and a jumper battery will start it with sometimes a 1/4 of the cranking amps of you car battery, so the fact that the battery starts the car when you turn the key is a POOR guage of the actual health of the battery. I wish we had the day back when you actually had the choice of batteries that, by load test, showed they actually passed their health check with flying colors rather than the "turn of the key check" which says it started the car, it must be fine. Alas, I'm afraid, for the most part, current marketing flim-flamery has ended that for good.