Buy Car Batteries
If you are the owner of a car I’m sure you’ve discovered that for its maintenance you always need parts. Car batteries are the parts more frequently in need of replacement, so you should know a thing or two about what to look for when you need to buy a car battery. The main features of a car battery that you should keep in mind are the cold cranking amps (CCA), its defining reserve capacity and of course the group size.
First of all you need to make sure the size is right, because otherwise it won’t fit. And it’s not that hard to decide because on the market you can find only four different sizes for car batteries: 37, 75, 34/78 and 65. If you have any doubts or no idea which to choose you will just have to check the car’s manual or ask your mechanic. This is fairly simple.
Next, you should look into the CCA matter. The CCA is important especially if you live in an area with a cold climate that will require your car to start at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. If that’s the case you need to make sure the battery’s voltage is enough to get your car started even at the lowest temperatures. Consumer Reports will be able to direct you towards the car batteries that can offer you a reliable CCA. In addition, you also need to pay attention to the car’s specifications because there’s a certain level of CCA that’s required for a certain car model. This is usually specified in the owner’s manual.
Another feature that should influence your decision to buy a car battery or another is the estimated life span. You should try to find out how long the manufacturer assures you the battery will work before it will have to be changed. You should also try to get an idea of its reserve capacity. In other words: how long it will keep running once it’s empty. If the alternator stops working there should a few minutes when the car runs on battery. That’s why it’s always a good idea to buy a car battery with a significant reserve capacity that will be useful when the car just doesn’t want to start.
If you have sorted out all these details it’s now time to head into a store and look only for the car batteries available that have been on the shelves for a maximum time period of six months. That’s easy to check if you pay attention to the shipping date code on the label. That code contains a letter that stands for the month while the following numbers indicate the year. For example an “A” followed by an 8 stands for January 2008.
Warranty should always be on your mind when you buy a car battery. A great warranty should involve a generous free replacement period and as many months as possible of coverage. Some people prefer a longer replacement period rather than many months of coverage, but that’s all up to you. Usually you will find these details on the battery expressed in months: the replacement period/number of months of coverage (for example 12/84).
Some of us like to get our hands dirty and do the job ourselves. So, if you want to replace the car battery yourself you should buy one with a handle to make your job easier. If you’re wondering about manufacturers, there are plenty on the market. Some reliable examples would be Duralast, Napa or Everstart, but you should consult with your mechanic and decide what’s best for your car.
Post tags: Tags: automotive articles, buy car batteries
