GX460 & GXOR B.S. thread (21 Viewers)

[Rednexus]

The battery should be lasting a lot longer than that. I've typically gotten 5-6 years out of Everlast batteries from Wal-Mart (although the "Max" versions). Since then I've switched to Odyssey AGMs in everything. We have one in our camper that sat totally dead for months, outside, over the winter due to a parasitic draw - a few hours on a NOCO Genius charger and it is still living a few years later (although, the CCA did reduce a bit). Most any battery you buy in the US is actually made in the US as well.

If your rig is killing batteries every few years, you probably have a parasitic draw somewhere, or perhaps an issue on the charging side (although the parasitic draw is more likely). My GX was eating a battery every couple of years....after hours of running load tests with a multimeter, I figured out that the rear cargo area dome light had a short in it and was always drawing down the battery. It pretty rarely caused the battery to die, but dramatically reduced their lifespan. Sitting with the doors locked, there should be no more than 50 mA of draw on the battery. With my dome light issue there was around 150 mA of draw on the battery.

 

[Hehena]

The battery should be lasting a lot longer than that. I've typically gotten 5-6 years out of Everlast batteries from Wal-Mart (although the "Max" versions). Since then I've switched to Odyssey AGMs in everything. We have one in our camper that sat totally dead for months, outside, over the winter due to a parasitic draw - a few hours on a NOCO Genius charger and it is still living a few years later (although, the CCA did reduce a bit). Most any battery you buy in the US is actually made in the US as well.

If your rig is killing batteries every few years, you probably have a parasitic draw somewhere, or perhaps an issue on the charging side (although the parasitic draw is more likely). My GX was eating a battery every couple of years....after hours of running load tests with a multimeter, I figured out that the rear cargo area dome light had a short in it and was always drawing down the battery. It pretty rarely caused the battery to die, but dramatically reduced their lifespan. Sitting with the doors locked, there should be no more than 50 mA of draw on the battery. With my dome light issue there was around 150 mA of draw on the battery.

Well, it didn’t. I replaced it. It’s not magic or confusing to me.

I’ve really gotta stop posting on forums. I am

 

[Rednexus]

Well, it didn’t. I replaced it. It’s not magic or confusing to me.

I’ve really gotta stop posting on forums.

Replacing one expensive battery that prematurely died with another expensive battery, without checking for the presence of an electrical issue that may have led to the demise of the first battery, certainly IS confusing for me .

The $80 multimeter I bought saved a premature death for my new Odyssey and has been very useful for other vehicle- and non-vehicle troubleshooting tasks. That's not "magic", it's physics.

 

[Hehena]

Replacing one expensive battery that prematurely died with another expensive battery, without checking for the presence of an electrical issue that may have led to the demise of the first battery, certainly IS confusing for me .

The $80 multimeter I bought saved a premature death for my new Odyssey and has been very useful for other vehicle- and non-vehicle troubleshooting tasks. That's not "magic", it's physics.

you win

i just realized how clueless I’ve been

 

[ericm979]

My Odyssey started dying after five years, so I’m trying the X2 from Batteries Plus this time. Anyone have experience with them?

I have had one for a year and a half. It's been fine. I did install a mod to the charging circuit to boost the voltage to what an AGM needs to fully charge. The different chemistry requires about .5v more.

 

[ericm979]

Of course things could always be better. Typical battery got me 3 years, AGM, 5.
The aggregated cost over five years amounts to $72 per year. In CA that’s not even a tank of gas.

The X2 is a pricey bit of kit for sure. Replacing lead/acid batteries more often is likely more cost effective. But I'd rather put something in and forget about it for a while. And the X2's extra capacity might come in handy at some point. While a used GX is a deal compared to a 4runner, it's still an expensive vehicle. If we were pinching pennies we'd be driving Xterras.

 

[Hehena]

I have had one for a year and a half. It's been fine. I did install a mod to the charging circuit to boost the voltage to what an AGM needs to fully charge. The different chemistry requires about .5v more.

Right on. I’ve got one too

 

[Wildcat Walker]

I'm going on 3 years with my Optima red top and it's healthy, but I know they are not made like they used to so I'm a little torn on what to replace it with. Does anyone in Japan still make batteries? I would pay the extra shipping cost to get one from a country that still believes in quality workmanship. I don't trust this Optima for another year, if I get 5 out of it that's is amazing.

Panasonic, but im not sure how to get one stateside.

 

[iwashmycar]

Panasonic, but im not sure how to get one stateside.

Free with purchase of a new vehicle

 

[Rednexus]

Odyssey batteries are M-USA (by Enersys), with many of them made here in Missouri. Most other M-USA batteries are by Johnson Controls/Clarios or Exide, with Johnson Controls being the better of the two (Johnson makes or made many of the Wal-Mart batteries, which I had decent luck with before to AGMs for the specific benefit of being a combined starting/deep cycle battery. Regarding Exide, I've always heard they are junk, but I've never owned one.

For the other brands, it's honestly hard to know who actually makes them. It looks like the X2 power may actually be made by Enersys for example....if that's true, it would come down the same assembly line as an Odyssey here in MO (the plastic battery cases appear to be identical, just a different color). Regardless, IMO there is a benefit to buying a battery under the label of the actual manufacturer or their subsidiary, as opposed to one that's badge-engineered and sold by a third party.

 

[llm]

finally reinstalled the side step lights, after installing sliders 4 years ago. went with amber so it’s easier on eyes compared to white light.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Truck is getting a CSF HD radiator today. Waiting for the damage.

 

[Wildcat Walker]

Free with purchase of a new vehicle

Or with test drive.

 

[Wildcat Walker]

Odyssey batteries are M-USA (by Enersys), with many of them made here in Missouri. Most other M-USA batteries are by Johnson Controls/Clarios or Exide, with Johnson Controls being the better of the two (Johnson makes or made many of the Wal-Mart batteries, which I had decent luck with before to AGMs for the specific benefit of being a combined starting/deep cycle battery. Regarding Exide, I've always heard they are junk, but I've never owned one.

For the other brands, it's honestly hard to know who actually makes them. It looks like the X2 power may actually be made by Enersys for example....if that's true, it would come down the same assembly line as an Odyssey here in MO (the plastic battery cases appear to be identical, just a different color). Regardless, IMO there is a benefit to buying a battery under the label of the actual manufacturer or their subsidiary, as opposed to one that's badge-engineered and sold by a third party.

I've had several family members work at battery factories. Dont forget about superior battery in KY. They make junk. I had an exide lawn mower battery last 4 years, thats pretty much unheard of.

 

[Hiluxforever]

I've had several family members work at battery factories. Dont forget about superior battery in KY. They make junk. I had an exide lawn mower battery last 4 years, thats pretty much unheard of.

Yeah exides were only lasting a year or so 25 years ago.

 

[Roody]

View attachment 4005728
finally reinstalled the side step lights, after installing sliders 4 years ago. went with amber so it’s easier on eyes compared to white light.

I've been meaning to reinstall the lights on mine too. What did you use to mount them? And which ambers are those? Looks great.

 

[llm]

I've been meaning to reinstall the lights on mine too. What did you use to mount them? And which ambers are those? Looks great.

lights, amber 4 pod version- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0833PX96S
mount- https://www.restlessoffroad.com/product-page/bolt-on-rock-light-brackets

The mounts were expensive and overkill for these lights. if I had to do it again, I'll bolt the pods to some magnets and stick them pretty much anywhere you want. It was a pain finding an area that had bolt holds in the frame, and that couldn't block too much light.

For wiring, I kept the factory harness and just cut off the old bulb holders and wired these in. The fade on/off still works.

 

[Roody]

lights, amber 4 pod version- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0833PX96S
mount- https://www.restlessoffroad.com/product-page/bolt-on-rock-light-brackets

The mounts were expensive and overkill for these lights. if I had to do it again, I'll bolt the pods to some magnets and stick them pretty much anywhere you want. It was a pain finding an area that had bolt holds in the frame, and that couldn't block too much light.

For wiring, I kept the factory harness and just cut off the old bulb holders and wired these in. The fade on/off still works.

Yeah for $50 I'll probably just zip tie or s***rig a mount haha