Google How to Jump Start a Promaster. Very convenient jumper cable connections under hood on driver side. You can get a battery at almost any place that sells batteries: Walmart, O'Reilly's, Auto Zone, etc. jump start promaster van

 

Hi,
I just replaced the battery on my 2014 a few months ago - surprising how long they last.

I just used a battery from Costco - worked fine and not expensive. I think Costco gets them from Interstate Battery.

Gary

 

I just used a battery from Costco - worked fine and not expensive. I think Costco gets them from Interstate Battery.

Interesting. Here in Canada, Costco only lists an expensive Energizer-labelled AGM for the PM. That's kinda weird since we also have Interstate stores up here. When I replace mine (nearly 6 yrs-old now), I'll probably go with Interstate.

 

Gary, do you recall the specific replacement battery model/number? I'm on deck for one too!!! Keeping a battery jump pack in the van until...

 

Don't remember off hand, but will take a look this afternoon.

Gary

 

The Interstate battery I got at Costco a number of years ago for my 2008 Forester didn't hold up (3-4 years) as well as the EverStart batteries I've gotten at Walmart (5-6 years). CR has listed the EverStart as a best buy for years, not so with Interstate. Most batteries sold here are made by Johnson Controls or Exide. FWIW, Interstate, DieHard, Optima and supposedly even EverStart are made by Johnson.

 

Batteries Plus has a 20% off coupon " AUTO20 " until the 23 when added to cart it works. Order online pickup in store.
Duracell Ultra Gold Flooded 900CCA BCI Group 49 Heavy Duty Battery - SLI49H8M at Batteries Plus

 

Thanks Gary,

Still not sure if ALL PM's came with AGMs or not! Your new one IS an AGM, and I think that is what my '14 has too. I'll check out Costco on my next trip!

Look like this is the same one at Costco... (may be of use to the OP)

Funny, my (2) house batteries (recently upgraded to LiFePo) were H8 AGM's. They worked well for 6 years, but a whole different type of service... they still work in my garage but don't seem to have the OOMPH they had when new.

I got my H8 AGM's at Advance Auto. They were a great deal at the time, but I don't think they offer them anymore. Seems like they now have a 3 year replacement warrranty on a DieHard version of the same battery for $239.

I note with interest, that screw down copper lug on your negative terminal...I've used the same ones for lots of heavy duty connections in the van and for Ham Radio!

 

Costco is good, or you can buy the same battery at Interstate stores if that's more convenient for you. Interstate also sells H8/49 FLAs. But it can't hurt to replace the stock maintenance-free FLA with an AGM. Folks have been charging their deep-cycle AGM coach banks off the PM alternator for years.

The stock PM battery is Group H8/49. Interstate also lists Group H9/95R as a PM option, which is an even bigger battery with a larger footprint. Seems like that could be a real squeeze.

 

Chuckling here. I got all excited reading all of your recommendations, until i realized:
I need somewhere that has places all over the US, including near my home. In case of problems / service / warranty.

The nearest COSTCO to my home in the UP - Marquette, MI is 684 miles! So I won't be doing COSTCO (unless it is an Interstate and they install it - which I don't think they do.)
The nearest Batteries Plus to Marquette is 269 miles in MI, or 147 miles in Wisconsin! So no Batteries Plus either.

We have arctic type winters up there, so I called my mechanic of 35 years in Marquette and I basically have only two options if I use him for service which I definitely do! He said to get an Interstate Battery, which is what they use - with high cc amps, AGM MTX 49 H8, or if can't get that to get a brand from AutoZone who they have a reciprocal agreement with. - Looks like the one GaryBIS has

The Dodge dealers up there do not even sell Promasters. To have warranty work done I had to go several hundred miles to Wausau, Wisconsin.

 

You need to shop around Walmart and they install located everywhere even in Marquette.
EverStart Platinum AGM Battery, Group Size H8 (12 Volt/900 CCA) $169.84

The robot or human is the Walmart link something ai did.

Robot or human?

 

fwiw
Dodge Journey not sure of the year, but with the same engine and transmission came with a smaller size battery, IIRC gp 26, 525 cca.

But buy what your comfortable with.

 

fwiw
Dodge Journey not sure of the year, but with the same engine and transmission came with a smaller size battery, IIRC gp 26, 525 cca.

I'm not surprised the PM battery is bigger than the engine itself needs. It's bigger because it's a cargo van. A delivery van that stops and starts frequently puts extra strain on a battery. Also, various electrical accessories may get added to cargo vans (radios, lights, lifts, etc). I don't see why you couldn't get by with a smaller battery in a camper conversion as long as you don't power extra accessories with it. Although I'm not sure a smaller battery would be a whole lot cheaper.

 

Gas Promasters (up to my ‘20 at least) all come with a sealed flooded battery. The confusion comes because of the obvious lack of fill caps but they are there hidden away. All the diesels did. One with AGMs for some reason. I would never buy an AGM, personally unless I had a need to mount it on its side and even then I would think twice. Flooded are simply better batteries for every reason you can possibly think of other than checking the electrolyte level (which you can’t do with a sealed flooded anyhow). Flooded batteries typically have more power, last longer and cost far less than AGM’s.
AGM’s are, as usual, just another marketing trick to fool people into paying more for less.

 

I hope someone else can help with this. Every single battery dealer from any company has said that a 2014 2500 gas Promaster high roof needs an AGM battery. Something is not computing here.

 

Kov is correct per the owners manual they recommend maintenance free. All the online manuals say the same.

 

Please be more specific as to which battery, with a link.

 

Very interesting discussion...

Almost every site where you put in your vehicle and it tells you what batteries are available leads you to an AGM as a PM 3.6L standard battery. AutoZone, Advance Auto, Walmart, etc

When you do search for an H8 flooded battery, the price seems to be between $180 and $200. AGMs seem to price at $229.

But a Costco H8 Interstate AGM at $185 seems like a good deal. AGMS all seem to come with a 3 year full replacement warranty.

 

I want the best battery for temperature tolerances, reliability, longevity, etc. I would rather pay more for these than save $ and lose out. .. Thank you

 

Hi,
Not sure this answers your questions, but this link gives interstate batteries take on batteries for the PM...

{myvehicle.title} battery results | Interstate Batteries

www.interstatebatteries.com

If you just look at the H9 and compare their best lead acid to their only AGM,

AGM

• 36 month warranty
• 950 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
• Group Size H9
• Mounting Flexiblity
• Absorbed Glass-Mat (AGM)
• 2X the life of conventional flooded batteries
• Plenty of power for accessories and plug-ins - even while the engine is off
• Superior starting power

$260 MSRP


The flooded lead acid

• 30 Month Warranty
• {CCA} Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
• Group Size H9
• Our best flooded, non-AGM battery
• High-cranking performance in cold to moderate climates
• Meets or exceeds vehicle starting needs

$230 MSRP

So, it looks like for the Interstate Battery offerings, the AGM has better stats at a slightly higher price.

For some reason they don't list cold cranking amps on some of the flooded lead acid.

The stats above are for the H9 size battery, which are a little bigger and have a little more capacity than the H8's, but still not sure if they really fit.

To the best of my knowledge, any flooded lead acid or AGM when charged is good for very low temps. We get -20F fairly often and the van always starts. Our van with its new AGM was sitting in the driveway during the the latest -46F!! night - we were in San Diego, but it started just fine when we got back.

If someone knows if the H9 will fit in the PM, that would be good to know.

Gary

 

For those of you wondering about the difference between an H 8 and an H 9 is that, from what I have learned today, The difference is that an H8 is gas, and an H9 is Diesel. .... Hopefully my source is correct.

 

It won't fit in my diesel at 15.5" long.

 

H8 and H9 appear to be different sizes. See DIN CODE COLUMN.

Your local Walmart has an AGM that will fit. If it isn't the best battery in the world you can replace it in 4 years instead of 6 or maybe 6 instead of 8. Whatever.

 

Battery designations have nothing to do with how they are used... the different battery groups reflect different dimensions and terminal configurations.

In general, a bigger battery has more CCA, etc. It is possible that an H9 was used in the PM diesel, but not because an H9 is designated for diesel use.

(interesting.. the battery 83G cited seems to not be available in many places, and most of New England!)

 

Warranty information from Interstate Batteries. Jan 13, 2023 Denver,Colorado

Since, per my Mechanic in Marquette, I need an Interstate battery for him to replace under warranty, I called Interstate about warranties on their batteries, and possible purchase from Costco since they are about $50 cheaper.

Interstate will Not honor the warranty on Interstate Batteries bought at Costco! So if a problem arises before the 36 months it would need to be returned to Costco, the nearest to there being 684 miles away! So, if I do need a new battery, I will be going directly to Interstate for purchase and installation.

 

FYI - Interstate battery with installation:
Today I tried to buy a battery directly from Interstate in the Arvada, CO store and have them install it. They had told me on the phone that it would be $20 to install it. However when they saw that it was a Promaster, they refused to install it! They said they will only install batteries that are in the engine compartment, not inside of a vehicle. (The Promaster has the battery under the Promaster driver side floorboard.)

After many calls to mechanics I was able to get the Dodge dealer in the Golden, CO area to agree that if I brought the battery to them they will install it for $50. !!!

 

They said they will only install batteries that are in the engine compartment, not inside of a vehicle. (The Promaster has the battery under the Promaster driver side floorboard.)

Likely a blanket corporate policy to avoid being sued in the remote chance someone dies from battery out-gassing, with no exceptions made for logic or reality. At the very least, they should make an exception for AGMs, which are considered safe inside vehicles. Chrysler/Ram also has way more lawsuit experience than Interstate. The original gas-PM battery is not AGM, which is why they attached a vent tube to it.

 

You’re making this far too complicated and hard for yourself. Forget the interstate battery. Go to any auto parts store or mechanic or even a Walmart and just buy a sealed flooded battery of the proper size and have them install it. If they won’t install it, go somewhere else. If you have a ‘14 gas Promaster it didn’t come an AGM battery originally no matter what anyone tries to tell you.
Forget all the horror stories you hear and read (even here) about starting batteries. In 6 years and 135k miles I never even had to look at the battery in my ‘14 other than to add accessory wires to it and it never failed.

 

You’re making this far too complicated and hard for yourself. Forget the interstate battery. Go to any auto parts store or mechanic or even a Walmart and just buy a sealed flooded battery of the proper size and have them install it. If they won’t install it, go somewhere else. If you have a ‘14 gas Promaster it didn’t come an AGM battery originally no matter what anyone tries to tell you. ........

See above - original in my 2014 Promaster was an AGM and dated 2013.

 

My agm had a vent tube and it was an agm. All batteries must be vented outside, an agm could go thermal so it is needed. I have had smaller agm's go thermal.

 

Yes, only diesels came with AGMs. Sounds like Chrysler/Ram was being extra cautious with them too. If it's good enough for OEM, you'd think it would be good enough for Interstate

 

It could be a EU regulation, since stella did not change every thing when brought to the US. I know that the H9 goes in a bimmer v8 I and some mercedes H8 in the ducato

 

Picked up AGM MTX 49 H8 from Interstate Sat, took to Dodge dealer for installation, returned old battery to Interstate for refund.

Turns out the old AGM battery was the original in my 2014 2500 gas high top Promaster. It was dated 2013! Wow, lasted 9 or 10 years.

 

NO ‘14 gas Promasters came with AGM batteries, only the diesels. All the gas models came with sealed lead acid which (to a layman) are almost indistinguishable from an AGM! If it was an AGM it would have failed s long time ago.

 

1/16/23 3:55 pm. I just double checked with the manager at the Interstate store. The old battery from my 2014 gas Promaster is an AGM battery dated 2013. Quote from him: "That's pretty typical of an AGM battery."

 

Take everything a sales person tells you with a big grain of salt, their job is to sell you the most expensive battery they can.

Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) – Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) vs Gel – BatteryGuy.com Knowledge Base

 

Just had my Battery replaced by my local mechanic as it was in the shop for a P052 Oil Pressure Sensor failure repair. Might as well let someone else strain their back getting that beast under the steering wheel...

Noticed on about the only cold, single digit temp, morning so far this winter it seemed to turnover a bit slower. Decided not to push my luck since it's in a 2014 (gas) and original and swap it out.

Interstate recommended :

MT-49/H8
Group Size H8
900 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)

• 24 Months Warranty
• 900 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
• Group Size H8
• Our better flooded, non-AGM battery

May it last nearly as long as the original!