AGM Battery Upgrade.

Hello,

Has anyone got any info on a file used to flash the ECM so I can use a AGM battery instead of the stock lead acid which the Tacoma only charges at 13.4 Volts. The file apparently changes the charging rate and lets you run the AGM battery which has to be charged at 14.3 Volts. Truck is a 2017 TRD OR .
Any info would be appreciated.
Steve

 

I wonder if you have to use a tune to achieve this or can you change the charging output with a scan tool

 

you have to get a tune. You can’t just change the charging output with a scan tool.

 

Anyone who does tunes for 3rd gen Tacomas with Vftuner can add the settings for you. Our AGM tune keeps the voltage between 14.2-14.4v depending on temperature.
If you need any help, let me know.

 

For what it’s worth I have a northstar AGM in a stock 2017 TRD OR and it has been fine. I don’t see voltages that low though unless I’m just idling. In my experience daily driving and spending at least some time at a constant speed (>= 45 mph) I see voltages of 13.7-13.9 which has been sufficient to keep the battery between 12.5 and 12.7 for the last year ish.

 

charge the battery one a month

 

This.

Depending on your use case, Op, getting a tune won't be necessary. I ran one for years without a tune as well and didn't have any issues.

 

I upgraded to an X2 Power AGM 24F battery (Northstar rebranded for Batteries Plus) last month and re-flashed my truck with the AGM version of the tune I was running. When I put the battery tester on, the alternator was charging at 14.34 volts. But, I'm a KDMAX tuner so going that route was easy for me. You will find people who get an AGM version tune, people who don't get an AGM version tune and put their battery on a charger every couple of weeks to top it off, and others who install it and do nothing more. I haven't seen any issues reported by people who have taken the do nothing route. The only thing I have read is that it may reduce the life of the battery long term.

 

Got to ask why? I have a standard old group 27F battery that's every bit of 5 years old and it runs my plow lift motor in the winter time just fine along with the rest of the gear 3 two way radios 100 watt head lights etc. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

Hey pal can you quickly tell me what’s the benefit of agm? My truck is 7 months old should I installed one too ?

 

I want to hear this too kind of think it's a cool thing to do with a lot of un necessary aggregation.

 

I see you live in Maine. Beautiful state BTW. But cold weather doesn't kill batteries, heat does. It's just that most people don't find out it is dead until it gets cold. A weak battery will keep starting a vehicle. It is extremely rare to get 5 years out of a conventional battery here in GA.

If you run a lot of electrical stuff they hold up better and there is a lot of electronics in newer vehicles. They are similar to a deep cycle battery in that you can discharge them and recharge more times before they die. Not required for most older vehicles. But newer vehicles benefit. Especially those with start/stop engines. They also use a gel like material inside rather than liquid. That holds up better for offroad use.

I haven't gotten more than 3 years out of the last 2 batteries on my F150 and decided to pay $50 more for AGM this time around. It may not make any difference, but I'm tired of being stranded. Going to give it a try. The battery got so low about a month ago that it caused my Ford to go into anti-theft mode and completely shut down. Fortunately, it was in my driveway, but a Ford tech had to come out and reset the trucks computer to get it to start. That cost me $180, which wasn't bad for a house call. Then the new AGM battery was $250. AutoZone gave me $50 credit because it died early and the store manager threw in a 10% discount so that got me to another $180 OTD.

 

Yes it is true hot weather is worse, how ever most people don't plow snow with Tacomas. Generally a weak battery will let you know with a weak start before it just quits. The battery chemistry of an AGM is not the same as the stock lead battery that has to be over come and the cost factor would buy me two lead batteries in 10 years. As for the start/stop yes a higher amp hour battery is needed they might benefit from an AGM and I would guess they probably are standard with a higher amp hour AGM and a charging system to match.

 

I did a writeup on my Group 31 AGM experience here

 

I just recently got an AGM battery. My old battery was going on 4 years and wanted a dual setup of sorts, so I opted for the AGM in the engine bay and old battery in my bed to be charged up by solar. AGM was only $30-40 more and won't have any spillage like my lead acids seem to have. Plus you get the cool factor of telling people you have an AGM battery!

But yes, a tune is the way to bump the voltage up. I know there are voltage boosters, but never looked into it enough to see if they work with the tacoma.

 

My last battery was free and a size up, but for all the banging around I do I am most certainly getting an AGM.

Honestly a trickle charger on all vehicles isn't a bad idea, but AGM is just more ideal for it. Big thing is not to charge it when its stupid hot. You US guys get crazy temps.

 

Wally World 24f agm here with a Noco genius 10 float charger; stock tune. I charge it whenever I remember, which hasn't been in several months.

 

5 years now with the same Northstar AGM battery, in the Canadian arctic. Installed it the day I got my truck in 2018. I’ve never charged it and didn’t get a tune. Works perfectly.

 

Here is part of an article that may help:

Advantages of AGM

1. They are spill-proof

Unlike the traditional lead-acid batteries that freely flood their electrodes, AGM batteries have glass mats that prevent this. Additionally, it is the function of these glass mats to avoid spillage. Rather than absorbing the electrolyte, the glass mats work by holding the electrolyte in place, preventing it from spilling over, even when the battery is placed in odd positions.

2. They have a high-power output.

Because of the way that they are designed, the AGM batteries have minimal internal resistance. This, therefore, enables them to provide sufficient bursts of power when necessary, such as when one needs to start a battery. Due to this feature, these batteries respond better to loading than any other battery on the market.

3. They have a short charging time.

AGM batteries, compared to flooded batteries, charge quickly. When compared to flooded batteries of a similar capacity, the charging rate can reach five times faster with the same power source.

4. They have a longer lifespan

AGM batteries have a longer lifespan than traditional flooded batteries. Moreover, not only do they serve for a more extended period when they perform the same tasks, but they also last longer when they are not in active use. This is because self-discharging is minimized in these batteries, unlike other types of batteries, which is a huge problem. This ensures that one does not have to keep charging them after an extended period of inactivity.

5. They are durable.

These AGM batteries were originally designed to serve the aircraft industry. This means that they have a sturdy design, one that can handle conditions of intense vibrations, just like those in military and commercial aircraft. Because of this property, they are a favorite for high-end motorcycle riders and race car drivers. The sandwich construction method adopted in their design ensures that their internal components do not fall apart. Moreover, they are invulnerable to the subsequent wear and tear that may result from frequent and continuous vibrations. Furthermore, they can withstand extreme temperature variations.

6. They are unlikely to build up sulfation

Sulfation is the property of lead-acid batteries, where there is a gradual accumulation of lead sulfate crystals in the cells. In most cases, it is the cause of failure in lead-acid batteries. Sulfation mostly occurs when the battery is not fully charged, and thus the crystals continuously build up on the plates. When this process goes out of hand, it prevents the efficient conversion of chemical to electrical energy. Therefore, for other types of lead-acid batteries, it is essential to charge them every six months to prevent sulfation. However, in AGM batteries, sulfation is significantly reduced. Therefore, they can be stored for extended periods without needing a recharge.

I replaced my 2 year old OEM battery with the X2 Power. I live in south Florida where it's hot and my truck lives in the driveway. Heat is what really kills batteries. The OEM battery wasn't testing bad...yet...but I noticed the numbers on my tester dropping off from tests when it was newer, so I just went for the new AGM before I got my new topper installed 2 weeks ago.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded. My only reason was because i live in NY and have replaced my OEM battery twice already. I’ve heard that the AGM batteries last a lot longer. My OEM always seems to die at the worst time.

That is the only reason though. I haven’t a lot of accessories on the truck so I was just looking for longer battery life.
I am going to contact the Tuner PapaRee referred me to and get the ECM flashed.
I do intend to install a winch to help people stuck in the winter so a better battery would be good in the long run.

Thank You for everyone’s input! I very much appreciate it!

Steve