How To Choose The Right Car Battery
Your car battery is one of your electrical system’s most critical parts, so getting the right battery replacement is essential. But car batteries aren’t universal, and picking the right one can be confusing. So, what should you look for when it’s time to replace your battery?
First, your battery has to physically fit into your car’s battery tray. Batteries can vary in size! Consult your owner’s manual for battery size guidance.
Second, you want to be sure that you’re choosing a battery that will be powerful enough for your vehicle. Consult your owner’s manual and see what it suggests is the right number of cranking amps and choose a battery that fits within those parameters.
Third, you may need to consider cold-cranking amps or the amount of power it takes to turn over the engine in freezing temperatures. This is especially important if you live in a colder climate. It can make the difference between your car dying or starting on a cold winter day.
Finally, you’ll need to decide whether a maintenance-required or a maintenance-free battery is the best option for you. While a maintenance-required car battery, which requires regular electrolyte monitoring and top-offs, is cheaper on the front-end, maintenance-free batteries are a lot more hassle-free and don’t need much attention. Ensure you’re ready for the commitment if you decide to save money and go for the cheaper option.
How Do I Pick The Right Battery
Installing an incorrect battery can adversely affect your vehicle’s electrical system. Knowing the type of battery to buy is sometimes daunting. Consult with your car mechanic or your vehicle owner’s manual.
What you should consider when comparing batteries:
- Battery type. Batteries are either conventional lead-acid or a more advanced AGM design. Most cars use a conventional battery. Some luxury car models use AGM batteries because they’re spill-resistant and better able to handle repeated discharging and recharging.
- Physical size. Group numbers represent the physical size, configuration, and type of battery. To play it safe, choose a battery with the same group number as the original battery you’re replacing. This ensures a secure fit and no cable or terminal issues.
- Cold-cranking amps or amp-hour rating. Always install the proper CCA or Ah rating. Installing a battery with a lower rating than recommended, you may experience electrical system problems. Choosing a battery with a higher rating works if it fits properly. However, this is usually unnecessary and may have a shorter service life in hot climates.
Remove The Battery Clamp
The battery clamp holds the battery in place. Unscrew it with a wrench or socket to move it out of the way. Frequently, the battery clamp will be three pieces that are attached but independently mobile. So, if the clamp seems stuck at first, try to move the clamp’s sidearms up and down to remove them from the battery tray at the bottom. Once they’re free, the entire clamp will quickly come off.
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Your Vehicle Struggles When Starting
Have you noticed your engine taking longer to crank than it normally would? Perhaps the lights begin to flicker or you hear an unusual noise when you turn the key? These are all indicators of imminent battery failure. Before your car has a chance to fail you, consider bringing your vehicle to an expert for a starting system inspection or a battery replacement.
Your Car Battery Can Become Worn Down In As Little As Three Years
Although batteries can last for five years or more when properly cared for, most car batteries will become worn down and inefficient within three years of everyday use in normal conditions. Just like your computer or smartphones battery becomes less efficient with every charge, your cars battery gradually deteriorates every time its charged up by the vehicles engine. After three years, its normally time to install a replacement.
After four or five years, most car batteries will be almost completely unreliable. Old car batteries can present a number of safety and reliability issues. Luckily, its easy to identify if your cars battery is nearing the end of its lifespan.
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Your Battery Is Older And Triggers A Dashboard Light
Wouldnt it be easier to tell when you needed a battery replacement if your car gave you a sign? Thankfully, most cars do just that. Your dashboard battery light is designed to illuminate when your vehicle senses a battery or starting issue. When all else fails, you can also rely on the age of your battery to provide an estimate of when it may need to be replaced. The average car battery will last three years, though this could be affected by your battery brand, vehicle type, areas climate, car care, and driving patterns.
How Often Should You Replace A Car Battery
WHEN youre shopping for a new car, which features do you pay the most attention to? Most of us judge a car based on its engine capacity, its fuel efficiency, its size or the level of comfort it offers.
Few of us, on the other hand, pay much attention to our cars battery.
As one of the most important parts of any modern vehicle, your cars battery manages a massive range of tasks and devices, from starting the engine to powering in-car computers.
In addition to changing your oil, replacing air filters and other general service tasks, taking care of your cars battery is one of the most effective ways to ensure your car runs smoothly and without any problems.
Flat or damaged batteries are one of the top causes for roadside assistance calls, and a huge amount of breakdowns occur because of batteries that are simply too old for the job theyre performing.
In this guide, well break down the facts regarding your cars battery and help you determine when its time to choose a replacement. Well also share car-specific tips to help you get the most from your vehicles battery and extend its lifespan.
BATTERIES CAN BECOME WORN DOWN IN AS LITTLE AS THREE YEARS
Although batteries can last for five years or more when properly cared for, most car batteries will become worn down and inefficient within three years of everyday use in normal conditions.
Luckily, its easy to identify if your cars battery is nearing the end of its lifespan.
IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR CARS BATTERY?
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How Long Does A Car Battery Last Without Driving
The battery can last anywhere from three months to five months on a parked car . If the vehicle is left parked for longer than six months, it may need a jujump start
Age of the battery, climate conditions, and even the type of vehicle will impact how long you can leave a car parked without driving. What permanently damages car batteries are parasitic draws.
If you leave your vehicle parked for a long time, the vehicle still uses a minimal amount of power from the battery. This is known as a parasitic draw. PParasiticdraw is the power consumed by a vehicle even when the ignition is shut off, or the vehicle is parked.
If you plan to leave the vehicle parked for weeks, the best thing to do is disconnect the battery negative terminal. Keep in mind that you will need to lock and unlock the doors manually. Another option is to connect a .
How Much Does A New Battery Cost
The cost of a new, fully fitted car battery depends on the type of car you drive. For example, a car that is start/ stop enabled will need a specific type of battery.Our prices start from just £49 and our technicians will always provide you with a quote upfront.Shop batteriesto get an accurate price for your vehicle.
*Research conducted by Yuasa, July 2016
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How Long Does A Car Battery Last
In this article, you will learn how long a car battery lasts under various conditions.
The average life we share here is based on vehicles that we see in our shop. How long a car battery lasts on your car can vary greatly based on a number of factors, including how often you drive and climate conditions.
Look Out For Corrosion
Check the condition of your battery every so often just by opening up the bonnet and having a look.
Keep an eye out for things like corrosion and stains because, if you see these, then that could suggest your battery is leaking.
Sometimes you will find that there is a build-up around the terminals too. If you see this then that doesn’t mean you have a problem with your battery as such, however, you will need to clean the terminals as the build-up will obstruct the charge.
If the build-up is particularly bad then you ought to hire a technician to clean it for you as they will be able to do a thorough job safely.
However, it is possible to clean your battery terminals at home using baking soda and water. You will need to use gloves and safety glasses if you choose to do this though.
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Is It Time To Replace Your Cars Battery
When was the last time you replaced your cars battery? Whether your car works as new or its lights and other electronic devices are starting to show signs of age, there is no bad time to check your batterys condition.
Changing your cars battery every 2-3 years will keep it running at its best and help you avoid embarrassing roadside or car park breakdowns. Is it time to replace your cars battery?
Thanks for reading. Make sure to stay tuned to the Warrantywise blog, and for more great content throughout 2015!
It Was Jumped A Lot Already
There are a lot of reasons why even cars with relatively new batteries may need to get jump-started. It could be because you forgot to turn off the cars lights, took out the car after a long period of dormancy or there was a problem with the starter. Regardless, if you had the battery jumped more than three times in a single week already than it might just need to be replaced.
Jumping your car battery is quite hard on it and doing it frequently can quickly damage it and shorten its lifespan. Ironically, a damaged battery would need even more jump-starting to work and thus, get harmed further. Not only that, but you might also be ruining your starter and alternator in the process. Save yourself the hassle and risk of costly repairs by replacing the old battery with a new one.
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How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Battery
The cost of your vehicles battery will vary based on the year of your vehicle, model and who youre purchasing the battery from. On average batteries for newer vehicles cost anywhere from $80 to $150. Premium batteries for luxury vehicles can run as high as $200. Keep in mind, that cost doesnt include installation or your mechanics labour. A reputable mechanic shop will probably charge an average of $70 for installation.
How To Prevent Battery Failure
Routine testing and keeping track of your batterys lifespan will give you a clear idea of when to replace a car battery. As your battery nears the end of its life, its time to consider the best battery replacement and budget for a replacement. In the meantime, however, several things can be done to get the most out of your battery life.
Whatever replacement battery you choose on replacement, the important thing is to keep track of whats going on with your vehicle and know when you need to test or replace the car battery. You may not experience any warning signs, but a battery test and consistent schedule are essential for preventing sudden failure. Whether you replace your battery every three years or extend its life to six years or more, carefully monitor its power and ability to maintain a charge. This will reduce your odds of being stranded and keep your vehicle powered as you cruise down the road.
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Gofar Doesnt Just Look After Your Battery
A quality OBD2 device like GOFAR doesnt just help you keep an eye on your cars battery it helps you monitor all the important engine and transmission related systems in your vehicle.
In fact, GOFAR can explain all the car warning lights that appear on your dash, and even explain in plain English hundreds of the most common error codes right there on your smartphone via the free app.
Its basically like having a mechanic in your pocket! And if you use it just once to diagnose and turn off the check engine light without having to pay your mechanic the cost of a diagnostic service it has paid for itself just like that.
And the best thing is you can simply leave GOFAR plugged into your cars OBD2 port and it constantly monitors your cars health whenever the engine is running every trip you make, every mile you drive GOFAR is on patrol.
It can even help you out at tax time by giving you a full, accurate record of all your business-related trips. Check out all its features here.
Does Your Cars Electrical System Respond Like It Should
Even a car with a highly defective battery will function properly once its running, since much of the charge for the battery will come from the engine. This makes the best time to test your cars battery shortly after you switch your vehicle on.
Your car can still start quickly, even with a failing battery. However, features that have significant power demands that are powered by the battery, like headlights, may not function as well as they should.
Try starting your car at night with the headlights switched on. Are they dim? If the headlights look overly dim, put the vehicle in park or neutral and rev the engine. If the battery is failing, the headlights will get brighter as you apply the accelerator.
This is a great way to check if your battery is starting to fail. A completely broken battery is even easier to spot: when you turn the key in the ignition or push your cars ignition switch, it wont start at all.
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How Often Should I Replace My Car Battery
On average, car batteries last for three years with normal care and maintenance.
When youre shopping for a new car, which features do you pay the most attention to? Most of us judge a car based on its engine capacity, its fuel efficiency, its size or the level of comfort it offers.Few of us, on the other hand, pay much attention to our cars battery or indeed a car warranty. As one of the most important parts of any modern vehicle, your cars battery manages a massive range of tasks and devices, from starting the engine to powering in-car computers.
In addition to changing your oil, replacing air filters and other general service tasks, taking care of your cars battery is one of the most effective ways to ensure your car runs smoothly and without any problems.
Flat or damaged batteries are one of the top causes for roadside assistance calls, and a huge amount of breakdowns occur because of batteries that are simply too old for the job theyre performing.
In this guide, well break down the facts regarding your cars battery and help you determine when its time to choose a replacement. Well also share car-specific tips to help you get the most from your vehicles battery and extend its lifespan.
How To Check If Car Battery Is Good
Do you know how to check if car battery is good? Here are some things to consider:
- Pay attention to how your car responds when you start the ignition. If it starts without difficulty, thats a good sign.
- If the dashboard lights are dim, it could mean that your battery is not good. Check to make sure your lights, radio, and automatic windows are turned off then start the car again.
- Jumpstart your car. If it works, but then you are unable to start your engine again after driving for a while, then you probably have a dead battery and should replace it immediately.
- Highly-trained mechanics know how to check if car battery is good. Take your car to the nearest auto repair shop and let them perform a battery performance test for you.
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Signs That Your Battery Is Failing
Batteries dont always provide you with clues that theres a problem brewing, but many times they do. Remember that any battery over 3 years should immediately be suspect, as the clock is marching towards failure quickly. Check for any of these items below and if any are present, get the battery tested at AutoZone immediately :
A Slow Starting Engine
Over time, the components inside your battery will wear out and become less effective. When this happens it takes the battery longer to create a charge for the starter and youll have to wait a few extra seconds for the engine to turn over. A slow start is usually the last gasp before a battery kicks the bucket.
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Check Its Lifespan With Electronic Testing
You can check roughly how much charge there is in your battery with the use of an electronic tester.
These are available at a lot of automotive shops. Here you can get a technician to hook the tester up to the car battery.
The tester will give you a snapshot of the condition of the battery, which will help you to determine whether or not it is time for it to be changed.
This car battery test is worth doing whenever you give your car some routine maintenance, or when you are getting an oil change.
