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Car Battery Buying Guide

When our car batteries run smoothly, our daily lives run smoothly as well, but like any other thing, a car battery can’t run forever and eventually needs a replacement. Waiting until the car breaks down due to a dead battery is not always the best idea, but this is exactly what most of us would do. In cold winter days a dead car battery spells disaster.

Car battery is the heart of your car. It stores energy in a chemical form, which is later transformed into electrical energy, providing power to all of the electrical components of the vehicle. Car batteries can get old or fail if power items are left turned on after turning off the engine. When having troubles starting your vehicle and if it’s been centuries since you’ve replaced your car battery, you should probably consider buying a new one.

How to buy the right car battery?

Picking the right car battery can sometimes be quite exhausting. The following hints will guide you through the decision-making process and will make your battery buying experience less stressful.

  1. Learn about the battery that is currently in your car. The best way is to read your car’s owner’s manual which specifies the size, age as well as the type of your car’s battery. You can also consult an expert at the local auto supply store to help you determine the proper characteristics of your car battery.
  2. Find a battery that hasn’t been on a store shelf for more than half a year. Battery’s age is determined by the date stamp code, which provides the battery’s manufacturing information and can be found on the battery cover. It is written in letters, which stand for months, and digits that stand for years.
  3. Reserve capacity is an important parameter to be considered when shopping for a new car battery. It measures how long a car battery can run using its own power if the car’s alternator fails.
  4. Find information about cranking amps (CA) and cold cranking amps (CCA). CCA actually stands for battery’s ability to start a car in temperatures below the freezing point, while CA indicates the current your battery provides for your car when temperatures are close to the freezing point.
  5. Consider the difference between maintenance free and low-maintenance car batteries. Maintenance-free car batteries cannot be opened or refilled and do not require any distilled water. Low-maintenance batteries, on the other hand, have caps on top and thus require the addition of water. This type of batteries is recommended for vehicles driven in hot climates.
  6. Check out the warranty. Look for a long free-replacement period. The majority of car batteries include the free-replacement period and the prorated period that comprises only partial reimbursement.
  7. Recycle the old battery. Car batteries can easily be recycled into new products. When buying a new battery, you will probably pay extra charge, which can later be refunded if you bring in your old battery.
  8. Car battery replacement can be dangerous and is better to be left to professionals. Some auto supply stores may also install the battery for free if it is bought there.

Buy a new car battery before it gets completely drained! CarLock virtual mechanic provides a real-time insight into your car’s electrical system and alerts you in the event of an unusual drain of your vehicle’s battery.