Switching from the original flooded battery to AGM - any re-programming required?

[Art_in_CO]

My 2024 Limited 1500 battery - only 10 months old - went so dead I couldn't even unlock it with the key FOB and had to use the manual key. It was flat bedded to the dealer who told me I wasn't driving it enough even though I showed them on my app that I had driven it 60 miles over the past 6 days.

Anyway, I've ordered an Odyssey H7 AGM to replace the original battery. My experience is that when you discharge a regular lead acid battery that much it may come back to life, but only for a couple months before it dies forever.

Question: Is there any kind of re-programming required because I'm switching from Flooded to AGM??

Thanks.

 

[BWL]

No

 

[imahnu17]

My 2024 Limited 1500 battery - only 10 months old - went so dead I couldn't even unlock it with the key FOB and had to use the manual key. It was flat bedded to the dealer who told me I wasn't driving it enough even though I showed them on my app that I had driven it 60 miles over the past 6 days.

Anyway, I've ordered an Odyssey H7 AGM to replace the original battery. My experience is that when you discharge a regular lead acid battery that much it may come back to life, but only for a couple months before it dies forever.

Question: Is there any kind of re-programming required because I'm switching from Flooded to AGM??

Thanks.

I’ve been running an autozone AGM for over 2 years and no issues whatsoever.

 

[RamDiver]

A less than 1-year-old battery is dead already?

I would keep an eye on that, you may have a parasitic draw to fix.
What are your average daily/monthly or bi-monthly distance and/or use time?

An AGM will not help if your use is too infrequent or short trips. An AGM may be less tolerant than a SLA battery.

Many of us who have intermittent use or frequent short trips insufficient to recharge the battery have installed a NOCO 2D in the engine compartment. There are likely several threads here to read on the topic.

Recharging and load testing your original battery will tell you definitively if it's worth keeping or not. Just be sure to use a toaster-style battery load tester like this $18 unit from HarbourFreight.

.

 

[BossHogg]

Question: Is there any kind of re-programming required because I'm switching from Flooded to AGM??

I have a different opinion because the recharging profile differs between flooded and AGM batteries. AGMs need a slightly higher recharge voltage to get the battery to 100% of capacity. In a vehicle set up for a flooded battery, your AGM may only reach an 80% recharge level.

There are BCM settings for the battery chemistry that can be changed by AlfaOBD. Read through this thread about AGM and AlfaOBD settings.

AlfaOBD and AGM Batteries

Hi All, So the original lead acid battery finally died in the truck after 6 years of good service. So as a replacement i installed an Interstate AGM battery hoping for 6 or more years of good service. I know enough about battery chemistries to relaalize that AGM batteries really do not like to...

www.ramforum.com

When I replaced the two batteries in my 2015 3500, I replaced them with AGMs and changed the settings. The recharge voltage, when the batteries were detected as not fully charged, went up to 14.4 volts, compared that to a maximum of 13.9 volts with flooded batteries.

 

[ibike]

So what are the oem batteries? I just assumed they were AGM’s since they had a blanket around them. Why the blanket if not to protect the AGM from the heat?

 

[Kickboxer]

You can just change it, no computer changes are necessary.
But as mentioned, you have something else going on, the battery
should not fail, maybe e-torque is at fault.

I suppose the dealer will say, we have never seen that before...

 

[BuschLatte420]

60 miles in 6 days is more than enough, this past winter I left my truck in the driveway for a month maybe longer without starting it. I remote started it and it fired up like nothing. This is in a 2022 (2+ year old stock battery)

 

[Dean2]

Just to clarify = AGM batteries can absorb a lot more amps without overheating, and is why they can charge faster than lead acid which can only accept about 10 amps without overheating. AGM do not need more voltage, to charge properly. In fact, voltage must not exceed 15 volts or you will damage an AGM and potentially ruin its.​

Here’s How to Charge an AGM Battery and Why It’s Different | Interstate Batteries

Absorbed glass-mat batteries offer incredible performance, but you could ruin them with them with the wrong battery charger.

www.interstatebatteries.com

How to Charge an AGM Battery and Why It’s Different​

Date Published: July 24, 2023 Youssef Sleiman

Date Revised: December 04, 2023

Absorbed glass-mat batteries deliver top-of-the-line performance, outperforming both regular and enhanced flooded batteries. They’re quickly becoming the preferred choice of battery for car makers. AGM batteries also work well on boats and in RVs because they can serve as both a starting battery and a deep cycle battery. AGM deep cycle batteries can run a long time between charges without ruining the battery itself.

That said, AGMs do need to recharge.

So, of course, charging one of the most advanced lead-acid batteries available would be different from charging a regular car battery.

​

How to charge an AGM battery​

Before anything, take off any jewelry, put on safety glasses and go to a well-ventilated area or outdoors.

1. Plug in your AGM-compatible battery charger. Follow any other instructions for your specific charger.
2. Connect a backup power supply to the onboard diagnostics OBD-II Port.
3. Disconnect the car’s negative terminal and wrap it with a glove, rag or anything to prevent it from touching any metal. The negative cable is usually black, but you can also look for a minus (-) symbol on the cable as well.
4. IMPORTANT: Select AGM or Absorbed for the battery type on your charger. A smart charger may detect the voltage and battery type when you connect it, but don’t leave it to chance. Select 12 volts to match the voltage of your AGM battery.
5. Connect the charger to your car battery posts. Again, check the indicator lights and make sure they’re set to AGM or Absorbed.
6. Start the charger and wait two to eight hours to fully charge your AGM battery.
7. Disconnect the charger from the battery when it’s done. Your charger’s indicator light will signal when it’s done charging the battery. Again, avoid letting the charger’s clamps touch the battery’s loose negative clamp.
8. Reconnect the car’s negative terminal to the battery. Disconnect the backup battery. Now you’re ready to hit the road with a fresh start.

Charging your car battery will warm it up. If it gets too hot, the water inside the battery evaporates. In turn, the liquid inside gets more acidic. That means the battery’s insides corrode much faster. The solution is to charge your battery slowly. You want to raise its charge without raising its temperature.

What’s an AGM battery charger?​

AGM batteries have special charging needs. Some battery chargers offer an AGM or Absorbed setting to meet those special charging requirements.

An AGM-compatible battery charger sends more amps into a lead-acid battery while keeping the voltage less than 14-15 volts. AGM chargers go through the three charging phases (bulk, absorption and float) just like a regular charger. However, a regular charger could exceed 17 volts when charging a battery.

The Guardian battery charger is safe for AGMs!​

Pick up the smart charger that guards your car battery’s life, the 4-amp Interstate Guardian battery charger, available on Amazon.

BUY ON AMAZON


AGM batteries can absorb more current than a regular car battery, which is why they can recharge faster. It takes time to charge regular batteries. They need slow, low-amp charging to prevent overheating — and they need more volts to push through their internal resistance.

AGM batteries don’t have nearly as much internal resistance, which is how they absorb 30, 40, even 50 amps at a time instead of a regular battery getting stressed out at more than 10 amps.

This is also why an AGM battery needs special charging.

Regular battery charging can break AGM batteries. Regular batteries need 15-17 volts to get the same amps. However, voltage greater than 15 volts can overheat an AGM and generate enough pressure to pop its safety valve. That one-way valve is supposed to relieve excess pressure from the harmless gases that come when a battery’s charging. Too much voltage becomes too much pressure, and pop. Without an airtight seal, an AGM will dry out in hours.

Then you’re in the market for a new AGM battery.

Bottom line: Do not use a regular battery charger for an AGM battery. Make sure you use the AGM or Absorbed setting. If you’re not sure, don’t risk it.

How long does it take an AGM battery to recharge?​

About two hours to eight hours, depending on the AGM battery’s power specs, how drained it is now and the charger’s amps. AGM batteries usually will charge significantly faster than a regular, flooded battery.

Recharge or replace that AGM battery? Let’s test yours.​

Take your AGM battery to an Interstate All Battery Center or any location where Interstate is sold for a fast, accurate battery test.

FIND A LOCATION


A good rule of thumb: Divide a battery’s amps by your charger’s amps to get how many hours it’ll take to charge it.

AGM batteries tend to have more amps than a regular lead-acid battery. That’s why you have AGM deep cycle batteries or AGM dual purpose batteries. An AGM battery can hold more amps than a typical car battery. You can see that in the high amp hour (Ah) ratings an AGM battery has compared to a flooded battery of the same size. An AGM can also handle a high-amperage charge from a heavy duty battery charger.

The MTZ-48/H6 is an AGM battery with a 70 Ah rating. A small, 5-amp AGM-compatible charger could refill it in 14 hours (70 amp hours / 5 amps = 14 hours.) On the other hand, a 20-amp charger could charge it from zero to full in 3.5 hours. A regular car battery couldn’t handle charging at 20 amps for more than 20 minutes, let alone three hours.

Remember to only charge a car battery in a well-ventilated area and to always protect your eyes and hands. Take off any jewelry.

How do I know if my charger can charge AGM batteries?​

Look for an AGM setting or instructions on how to use your charger with an AGM battery. Check the charger’s case, box and instruction manual.

If the display face of your battery charger shows a setting for AGM or Absorbed, then it’s compatible.

Pick a battery charger from the battery experts​

Available now on Amazon, Interstate Batteries offers smart battery chargers with models ideal for maintaining or full-power recharging.


If you’re not sure, seek out an AGM-compatible charger, either online or from a trusted battery store.

An AGM battery can last years in your car, boat or RV, and keeping it charged with the right battery charger is the best way to make sure you get the most life from it.

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

My 2024 Limited 1500 battery - only 10 months old - went so dead I couldn't even unlock it with the key FOB and had to use the manual key. It was flat bedded to the dealer who told me I wasn't driving it enough even though I showed them on my app that I had driven it 60 miles over the past 6 days.

Anyway, I've ordered an Odyssey H7 AGM to replace the original battery. My experience is that when you discharge a regular lead acid battery that much it may come back to life, but only for a couple months before it dies forever.

Question: Is there any kind of re-programming required because I'm switching from Flooded to AGM??

Thanks.

Why wasn’t the battery replaced under the new-car warranty?

 

[Art_in_CO]

Why wasn’t the battery replaced under the new-car warranty?

The Service Mgr came out of his office & talked to me. He told me that their computer said I'm not driving it enough and that was the cause of the problem. I showed him the driving & running history on my phone app over the past 6 days and his reply was, "well that's what our computer says...." He also said that if the problem persists, to bring the truck back in.

 

[RamDiver]

I have a different opinion because the recharging profile differs between flooded and AGM batteries. AGMs need a slightly higher recharge voltage to get the battery to 100% of capacity. In a vehicle set up for a flooded battery, your AGM may only reach an 80% recharge level.

There are BCM settings for the battery chemistry that can be changed by AlfaOBD. Read through this thread about AGM and AlfaOBD settings.

AlfaOBD and AGM Batteries

Hi All, So the original lead acid battery finally died in the truck after 6 years of good service. So as a replacement i installed an Interstate AGM battery hoping for 6 or more years of good service. I know enough about battery chemistries to relaalize that AGM batteries really do not like to...

www.ramforum.com

When I replaced the two batteries in my 2015 3500, I replaced them with AGMs and changed the settings. The recharge voltage, when the batteries were detected as not fully charged, went up to 14.4 volts, compared that to a maximum of 13.9 volts with flooded batteries.

I remember that thread you referenced and re-read it but didn't see any directions to change any settings with AlfaOBD that support AGM batteries.

I've read numerous discussions about the AlfaOBD option for Battery type, ID 1 to ID 15 but nothing definitive. I wrote to Alexey last November for more details on the battery ID settings but he didn't have any answers.

The battery type setting in my truck is ID #4 for an SLA, I checked this afternoon.

I would be very interested to learn about which settings you changed with AlfOBD to support AGM batteries and more about the supporting evidence.

.

 

[Dean2]

The Service Mgr came out of his office & talked to me. He told me that their computer said I'm not driving it enough and that was the cause of the problem. I showed him the driving & running history on my phone app over the past 6 days and his reply was, "well that's what our computer says...." He also said that if the problem persists, to bring the truck back in.

So how would they know if you had it on a trickle charger when not being used. Your dealer is intentionally finding a way to deny legitimate warranty. Time to find a new dealer. They are supposed to be on your side, the replacement battery is not their cost it is charged to Stellantis. This is the problem we will all see as long as Stellantis is in such deep financial trouble, unless you have an excellent dealer.Just wait till you try to claim something expensive on the extended warranties.

 

[RamDiver]

The Service Mgr came out of his office & talked to me. He told me that their computer said I'm not driving it enough and that was the cause of the problem. I showed him the driving & running history on my phone app over the past 6 days and his reply was, "well that's what our computer says...." He also said that if the problem persists, to bring the truck back in.

Let me be the first to call BS for that dealership info.

Send a PM to @RamCares, they should be able to help facilitate proper support from a dealership for this battery.


There must have been a network glitch, Dean beat me to it, even if he was a bit more mellow than usual.

.

 

[Wild one]

I thought the purpose of the IBS sensor was to keep the differant style batteries properly charged whether it be Flooded Cell / AGM or Lithium.
I know of quite a few trucks and cars running around with Lithium batteries,and the IBS sensor keeps them properly charged

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

I've heard allot of different things I did this on my battery replacement, I went W an H8 AGM, removed the plastic on the bottom of the battery tray installed the battery used conductive grease, connected the positive side and negative side on the negative post is the IBS loosen the nut and disconnect the cable for about 1 hour and reconnect, it cleared any data that was in there from the previous battery it worked for me.

Note: Is your 2024 Limited an eTorque or is the Hurricane SSTHO, I don't think this procedure will work these 2 different engine types.

 

[RamDiver]

I've heard allot of different things I did this on my battery replacement, I went W an H8 AGM, removed the plastic on the bottom of the battery tray installed the battery used conductive grease, connected the positive side and negative side on the negative post is the IBS loosen the nut and disconnect the cable for about 1 hour and reconnect, it cleared any data that was in there from the previous battery it worked for me.

Note: Is your 2024 Limited an eTorque or is the Hurricane SSTHO, I don't think this procedure will work these 2 different engine types.

He definitely has a Hemi and I thought the only Hemi available in '24 was an E-Torque.





I'd like to hear from a member who is using an AGM battery and has looked at the Battery ID# with AlfaOBD.

Did you manually set the ID# or did the IBS cause it to switch to something other than ID#4?

.

 

[2019RamInSC]

Just to clarify = AGM batteries can absorb a lot more amps without overheating, and is why they can charge faster than lead acid which can only accept about 10 amps without overheating. AGM do not need more voltage, to charge properly. In fact, voltage must not exceed 15 volts or you will damage an AGM and potentially ruin its.​

Here’s How to Charge an AGM Battery and Why It’s Different | Interstate Batteries

Absorbed glass-mat batteries offer incredible performance, but you could ruin them with them with the wrong battery charger.

www.interstatebatteries.com

How to Charge an AGM Battery and Why It’s Different​

Date Published: July 24, 2023 Youssef Sleiman

Date Revised: December 04, 2023

Absorbed glass-mat batteries deliver top-of-the-line performance, outperforming both regular and enhanced flooded batteries. They’re quickly becoming the preferred choice of battery for car makers. AGM batteries also work well on boats and in RVs because they can serve as both a starting battery and a deep cycle battery. AGM deep cycle batteries can run a long time between charges without ruining the battery itself.

That said, AGMs do need to recharge.

So, of course, charging one of the most advanced lead-acid batteries available would be different from charging a regular car battery.

​

How to charge an AGM battery​

Before anything, take off any jewelry, put on safety glasses and go to a well-ventilated area or outdoors.

1. Plug in your AGM-compatible battery charger. Follow any other instructions for your specific charger.
2. Connect a backup power supply to the onboard diagnostics OBD-II Port.
3. Disconnect the car’s negative terminal and wrap it with a glove, rag or anything to prevent it from touching any metal. The negative cable is usually black, but you can also look for a minus (-) symbol on the cable as well.
4. IMPORTANT: Select AGM or Absorbed for the battery type on your charger. A smart charger may detect the voltage and battery type when you connect it, but don’t leave it to chance. Select 12 volts to match the voltage of your AGM battery.
5. Connect the charger to your car battery posts. Again, check the indicator lights and make sure they’re set to AGM or Absorbed.
6. Start the charger and wait two to eight hours to fully charge your AGM battery.
7. Disconnect the charger from the battery when it’s done. Your charger’s indicator light will signal when it’s done charging the battery. Again, avoid letting the charger’s clamps touch the battery’s loose negative clamp.
8. Reconnect the car’s negative terminal to the battery. Disconnect the backup battery. Now you’re ready to hit the road with a fresh start.

Charging your car battery will warm it up. If it gets too hot, the water inside the battery evaporates. In turn, the liquid inside gets more acidic. That means the battery’s insides corrode much faster. The solution is to charge your battery slowly. You want to raise its charge without raising its temperature.

What’s an AGM battery charger?​

AGM batteries have special charging needs. Some battery chargers offer an AGM or Absorbed setting to meet those special charging requirements.

An AGM-compatible battery charger sends more amps into a lead-acid battery while keeping the voltage less than 14-15 volts. AGM chargers go through the three charging phases (bulk, absorption and float) just like a regular charger. However, a regular charger could exceed 17 volts when charging a battery.

The Guardian battery charger is safe for AGMs!​

Pick up the smart charger that guards your car battery’s life, the 4-amp Interstate Guardian battery charger, available on Amazon.

BUY ON AMAZON


AGM batteries can absorb more current than a regular car battery, which is why they can recharge faster. It takes time to charge regular batteries. They need slow, low-amp charging to prevent overheating — and they need more volts to push through their internal resistance.

AGM batteries don’t have nearly as much internal resistance, which is how they absorb 30, 40, even 50 amps at a time instead of a regular battery getting stressed out at more than 10 amps.

This is also why an AGM battery needs special charging.

Regular battery charging can break AGM batteries. Regular batteries need 15-17 volts to get the same amps. However, voltage greater than 15 volts can overheat an AGM and generate enough pressure to pop its safety valve. That one-way valve is supposed to relieve excess pressure from the harmless gases that come when a battery’s charging. Too much voltage becomes too much pressure, and pop. Without an airtight seal, an AGM will dry out in hours.

Then you’re in the market for a new AGM battery.

Bottom line: Do not use a regular battery charger for an AGM battery. Make sure you use the AGM or Absorbed setting. If you’re not sure, don’t risk it.

How long does it take an AGM battery to recharge?​

About two hours to eight hours, depending on the AGM battery’s power specs, how drained it is now and the charger’s amps. AGM batteries usually will charge significantly faster than a regular, flooded battery.

Recharge or replace that AGM battery? Let’s test yours.​

Take your AGM battery to an Interstate All Battery Center or any location where Interstate is sold for a fast, accurate battery test.

FIND A LOCATION


A good rule of thumb: Divide a battery’s amps by your charger’s amps to get how many hours it’ll take to charge it.

AGM batteries tend to have more amps than a regular lead-acid battery. That’s why you have AGM deep cycle batteries or AGM dual purpose batteries. An AGM battery can hold more amps than a typical car battery. You can see that in the high amp hour (Ah) ratings an AGM battery has compared to a flooded battery of the same size. An AGM can also handle a high-amperage charge from a heavy duty battery charger.

The MTZ-48/H6 is an AGM battery with a 70 Ah rating. A small, 5-amp AGM-compatible charger could refill it in 14 hours (70 amp hours / 5 amps = 14 hours.) On the other hand, a 20-amp charger could charge it from zero to full in 3.5 hours. A regular car battery couldn’t handle charging at 20 amps for more than 20 minutes, let alone three hours.

Remember to only charge a car battery in a well-ventilated area and to always protect your eyes and hands. Take off any jewelry.

How do I know if my charger can charge AGM batteries?​

Look for an AGM setting or instructions on how to use your charger with an AGM battery. Check the charger’s case, box and instruction manual.

If the display face of your battery charger shows a setting for AGM or Absorbed, then it’s compatible.

Pick a battery charger from the battery experts​

Available now on Amazon, Interstate Batteries offers smart battery chargers with models ideal for maintaining or full-power recharging.


If you’re not sure, seek out an AGM-compatible charger, either online or from a trusted battery store.

An AGM battery can last years in your car, boat or RV, and keeping it charged with the right battery charger is the best way to make sure you get the most life from it.

Why are you needing to disconnect the negative terminal? Are you concerned that the Charger will damage the electronics of the truck?
I regularly charge my AGM with and AGM charger about every week to "top" off the battery. Without any disconnecting. Have I been lucky so far?
Thanks.

 

[Hagar1]

My 2024 Limited 1500 battery - only 10 months old - went so dead I couldn't even unlock it with the key FOB and had to use the manual key. It was flat bedded to the dealer who told me I wasn't driving it enough even though I showed them on my app that I had driven it 60 miles over the past 6 days.

Anyway, I've ordered an Odyssey H7 AGM to replace the original battery. My experience is that when you discharge a regular lead acid battery that much it may come back to life, but only for a couple months before it dies forever.

Question: Is there any kind of re-programming required because I'm switching from Flooded to AGM??

Thanks.

What happens if you pull the IOD fuse? It should have one and it is located in the TIPM. Should be identified by a yellow holding device that makes it easy to pull. It isolates everything except that which is necessary to run the vehicle. That is the first step that I would take.

 

[sdeeter19555]

Why are you needing to disconnect the negative terminal? Are you concerned that the Charger will damage the electronics of the truck?
I regularly charge my AGM with and AGM charger about every week to "top" off the battery. Without any disconnecting. Have I been lucky so far?
Thanks.

I have a Noco 2d hardwired in my 19...no issues. Even left it plugged in while swapping batteries, didn't lose any settings and no arcing when reconnecting.