Agm Battery Shortages

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
My battery has lots of corrosion and is leaking. It was also manufactured in May 2009, so I'm guessing the used dealer put it in as a refurb or something last year. I'm wanting to upgrade to an AGM battery, but there appears to be a pandemic-related shortage.

Costco says Interstate just informed them they had to cut production of AGM batteries a couple months ago. They say they don't know when they will get any in size 35.

Advanced and AutoZone are both out of theirs. Napa actually has them, but they only have an 18-month warranty, vs the three years for those I already mentioned.

Walmart shows none available. Pep Boys has the Champion available, with an impressive 48 month replacement warranty for $153+. So it looks like that's the winner by default.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
My battery has lots of corrosion and is leaking. It was also manufactured in May 2009, so I'm guessing the used dealer put it in as a refurb or something last year. I'm wanting to upgrade to an AGM battery, but there appears to be a pandemic-related shortage.

Costco says Interstate just informed them they had to cut production of AGM batteries a couple months ago. They say they don't know when they will get any in size 35.

Advanced and AutoZone are both out of theirs. Napa actually has them, but they only have an 18-month warranty, vs the three years for those I already mentioned.

Walmart shows none available. Pep Boys has the Champion available, with an impressive 48 month replacement warranty for $153+. So it looks like that's the winner by default.
So what's the difference between AGM and Interstate ? ?
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
My battery has lots of corrosion and is leaking. It was also manufactured in May 2009, so I'm guessing the used dealer put it in as a refurb or something last year. I'm wanting to upgrade to an AGM battery, but there appears to be a pandemic-related shortage.

Costco says Interstate just informed them they had to cut production of AGM batteries a couple months ago. They say they don't know when they will get any in size 35.

Advanced and AutoZone are both out of theirs. Napa actually has them, but they only have an 18-month warranty, vs the three years for those I already mentioned.

Walmart shows none available. Pep Boys has the Champion available, with an impressive 48 month replacement warranty for $153+. So it looks like that's the winner by default.

I was just in my local Costco last weekend looking to see if they had a 34R in AGM. I saw a lot of 35's but didn't notice if they had the AGM version.

Whether you end up going with Costco, Pep Boys or somewhere else, why not upgrade to the larger 24F size that they used to put stock into Xterras? More power and it should drop right in.

Comparison:

Group Size
35 AGM
Cold Cranking Amps 650
Cranking Amps 800
Voltage 12
(RC) Min @ 25 Amp 100
Amp Hours (Ah) @ 10 Hr 55
Length 9 1/16
Width 6 15/16
Height 8 7/8
Weight 40.7

Group Size 24F AGM
Cold Cranking Amps 710
Cranking Amps 885
Voltage 12
(RC) Min @ 25 Amp 120
Amp Hours (Ah) @ 10 Hr 70
Length 10 15/16
Width 6 3/4
Height 9
Weight 45.2

In this Costco / Interstate example, a 24F costs $5 more and weighs 5 lbs more, but you get +60 CCA, +85 CA, +20 RC and +15 Ah.

So what's the difference between AGM and Interstate ? ?

AGM is a type of battery:

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/blog/what-is-an-agm-battery-and-whats-the-big-deal

Interstate is a manufacturer of batteries.
 
Last edited:

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
I was just in my local Costco last weekend looking to see if they had a 34R in AGM. I saw a lot of 35's but didn't notice if they had the AGM version.

Whether you end up going with Costco, Pep Boys or somewhere else, why not upgrade to the larger 24F size that they used to put stock into Xterras? More power and it should drop right in.

Comparison:

Group Size
35 AGM
Cold Cranking Amps 650
Cranking Amps 800
Voltage 12
(RC) Min @ 25 Amp 100
Amp Hours (Ah) @ 10 Hr 55
Length 9 1/16
Width 6 15/16
Height 8 7/8
Weight 40.7

Group Size 24F AGM
Cold Cranking Amps 710
Cranking Amps 885
Voltage 12
(RC) Min @ 25 Amp 120
Amp Hours (Ah) @ 10 Hr 70
Length 10 15/16
Width 6 3/4
Height 9
Weight 45.2

In this Costco / Interstate example, a 24F costs $5 more and weighs 5 lbs more, but you get +60 CCA, +85 CA, +20 RC and +15 Ah.



AGM is a type of battery:

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/blog/what-is-an-agm-battery-and-whats-the-big-deal

Interstate is a manufacturer of batteries.
That was a nice little read ! I guess if I'm going to add some light's and a couple electronic toy's this should be an upgrade to think about. Thanx !!
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
That was a nice little read ! I guess if I'm going to add some light's and a couple electronic toy's this should be an upgrade to think about. Thanx !!

I would recommend it. In my (limited) experience the AGM batteries tend to last longer, in terms of service life.

And, I would suggest getting the 24F rather than the Group 35 size.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
I would recommend it. In my (limited) experience the AGM batteries tend to last longer, in terms of service life.

And, I would suggest getting the 24F rather than the Group 35 size.

The only reason I'm hesitant to go bigger are issues with the X alternator not supplying correct voltage to correctly charge. I've read that people with that battery have to do a manual charge once a month depending on how they drive, and I'm driving somewhat rarely lately.

It doesn't get overly cold here, and all my lights are LED so they draw much less to start with. I'm not sure I need the bigger size, and I feel like there's less chance of a problem sticking with the 35. I'm open to being convinced otherwise though.
 

JeffPro4x

Hot Pipe
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Glenside, PA
The only reason I'm hesitant to go bigger are issues with the X alternator not supplying correct voltage to correctly charge. I've read that people with that battery have to do a manual charge once a month depending on how they drive, and I'm driving somewhat rarely lately.

It doesn't get overly cold here, and all my lights are LED so they draw much less to start with. I'm not sure I need the bigger size, and I feel like there's less chance of a problem sticking with the 35. I'm open to being convinced otherwise though.
I run a 34r with absolutely zero problems.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
Well now I'm not sure what to do. The plastic "container" that's under the hood will likely only fit the 35. I haven't checked around to find out stock of the 34r or 24f.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
My other concern is that for example Costco's battery warranty says "when used in a passenger vehicle corresponding to or smaller than the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended size and capacity."

While the Xterras had the 24f, the manufacturer recommendation for the 2015 is the 35, so technically the 24f may not be covered.

I feel like if everything's been fine with a 'regular' 35 for all this time, I shouldn't have any problems with a 35 AGM in the future, right?
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
I ended up with a 24f AGM, so bigger than current but still within stock. Even if I had wanted 34r, they don't exist around here currently. Pep Boys was the only place with a 35, and between Advanced, Costco, and AutoZone, I had to drive 25 minutes away to get the last/only 24f that was left.

Duralast Platinum AGM, manufactured 5/2020 in Mexico. 710 CCA, 885 overall. 36 month replacement.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
Update: the battery is dead. Took it back and it has a bad cell. In their region, literally no more exist. Refund is the only option. The search continues.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
Just called the shop I use and they have none [AGM] in stock but can special order !

Thanks. Attempting to do an in-store for a Champion 24f at Pep Boys. The case looks identical to the Duralast anyway, so it's likely the same supplier just with an extra year of warranty.
 

Mar10OR

Bought an X
Location
Burlington KY
Thanks. Attempting to do an in-store for a Champion 24f at Pep Boys. The case looks identical to the Duralast anyway, so it's likely the same supplier just with an extra year of warranty.


You are spot on. Johnson Controls manufacturers both.

Score for an extra year on the warranty!
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
My long search is finally over. Pep Boys never fulfilled the order.

Batteries Plus had both a 35 and a 24f in AGM for their X2 Power brand. I went with 24f, which is expensive at $300, but it's made in the USA, has a whopping 840 CCA, is designed for deep cycle, and best of all has a 5 year full replacement warranty. It was only $20 more than the 35.

Now I need a battery hold down because this thing weighs I more than double the OEM (at least it feels like it).
 
Top