Where To Buy Car Battery

What Do I Need To Know When Replacing A Car Battery

The first thing you need for your 12-volt car battery replacement is the right group number. The battery size group number, or case size, prescribes basic dimensions agreed upon by vehicle and battery manufacturers. There are a few dozen group numbers for various vehicle applications, usually consisting of two numbers or a letter and a number . The right group number ensures your new battery will fit the space your vehicle manufacturer has allotted for it, with the positive and negative posts on the correct sides and in the proper place to reconnect the battery cables. If you can’t find the battery group number in your owner’s manual, you can Google it, or simply look at your existing battery. It should be there somewhere.

Remember that the group number speaks primarily to case size. Cranking power and reserve capacity aren’t directly related. Car manufacturers typically recommend the minimum cold cranking amps for your model, and sometimes the reserve capacity in amp hours. Again, if you can’t find amp hour info in your owner’s manual, use the existing battery as your guide. We wouldn’t go under the manufacturer’s CCA and or Ah minimums, because even if it works fine the replacement battery will wear out faster. It’s generally safe to go over, though you’ll likely pay more.

In many cases, upgrading to an AGM car battery isn’t necessary.

If you have a newer car packed with bells and whistles, an AGM battery would be a good idea.

What Causes Car Batteries To Go Bad

One of the primary battery killers is beyond any individual’s immediate control, and it was the same 20 or 30 years ago. That would be climate, or at least ambient temperatures. No battery, whether it’s AAA alkaline, mobile-phone lithium or 12-volt automotive, likes extremes in temperature. They don’t like subfreezing temperatures, and they like 100 F even less. Automotive batteries, whatever the type, are going to generally last longer in Portland, Oregon, than in Alaska or Phoenix.

The biggest controllable threat to your battery’s life is excessive discharge. If the battery charge level drops to the point where you need a jump to start your car, you’ve already done damage. Allow that to happen multiple times and your battery won’t be long for this world. Put another way, the shallower the average discharge, the longer a 12-volt battery will last. Automotive batteries of all types last longest if they consistently stay near a full charge. That’s one reason it’s hard to over-battery your car. The larger the reserve capacity, the smaller a given discharge is, relative to the total available energy.

If you have a car battery that sits for long periods often, a battery maintainer is a wise investment.

There’s a simple solution to this discharge problem, of course, if it’s practicable to apply. That would be a battery maintainer or trickle battery charger, which feeds your battery a low-grade charge even when the car is parked.

How To Buy A Car Battery

Your cars battery is an integral part of your vehicles electrical system. When it fails, youre not going anywhere. The time to consider your next battery purchase is before you need one, as batteries sometimes fail with little warning.

Heres how to buy a car battery and what you need to know about getting the right one for your vehicle.

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How Many Cold Cranking Amps Do I Need

The official rule of thumb for cold cranking amps is one cubic inch of engine displacement means you need one cold cranking amp. However, unless youve done some engine modifications, theres an easier way to find out. Just check your owners manual.

The manufacturer has a recommended minimum cold cranking amp for your vehicle, and this is what is best to use. Keep in mind you can always get more cold-cranking amps without and drawbacks. You dont need to find a battery with the EXACT amount of cold-cranking amps that the manufacturer recommends.

You should also keep in mind the temperature of where you will be driving when deciding how many cold cranking amps you need. Youve probably heard that its harder to start your car in the cold. Theres a ton of truth to this.

To help you out, you can get a battery that has more cold cranking amps. So, if you live up in Alaska or somewhere else it gets extremely cold, it wont hurt to get 100 or 200 extra cold-cranking amps on your battery to make sure you can start your car on even the coldest winter nights.

Find Your Battery Group Size

Car batteries are all sorted by a group size. It indicates the measurements of the battery case as well as the orientation of the battery terminals or posts. In order to find the right battery for your car, youll need to know the group size.

Step 1: Check for the group size on your old battery. If the battery that originally came with your car is still in it, look for the group size on a label on the battery.

The label may be on the top or on the side of the case.

Group sizes are typically a two-digit number and may be followed with a letter.

Typical side-post battery group size numbers are 70, 74, 75, and 78.

Typical top-post battery group size numbers are 41, 42, 48, 24, 24F, 51, 58R, and 65.

Step 2: Check your owners manual for a group size. Look under the specifications section in your owners manual.

The battery group size as well as other pertinent battery information will be in the specs.

Step 3: Search online for the group size. Use an online resource to determine a battery group size for your car.

Find an online resource such as AutoBatteries.com to find the group size.

Input your vehicle details including year, make, model, and engine size.

Youll be presented with the group size and CCA result when you submit the information.

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The 11 Best Places To Buy A Car Battery In 2021

When you step out to your car on a cold winter day, you want it to start. Heck, you want it to start even if its a nice day out. The truth of the matter is, when you need to go somewhere, the last thing you want is a car that cant get the job done.

The good news is, often getting your car to start again is often just a matter of buy a car battery. But when the time comes to replace your car battery, youll find yourself asking where is the best place to buy a car battery?

The truth is thats there are pros and cons to each place, so keep reading, and well help you find out the best place to buy a car battery.

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When To Replace A Car Battery

Expect to replace your cars battery every three to four years or sooner if you live in a hot climate. Signs that your car battery is in trouble include dimming headlights, the engine has trouble starting or the vehicle backfires.

Instead of being surprised when a car battery fails, occasionally test its strength using a multimeter to determine its effectiveness. Fully charged batteries should measure 12.6 volts and above or 13.7 to 14.7 volts with the engine running. Any readout under 12.6 volts means its time to replace the car battery.

To make your battery last as long as possible, keep the battery terminals clean and free of gunk buildup, and ensure that all connections are secure.

Check out all of the batteries available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how to buy a car battery, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

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Signs That Your Battery Is Low

A lot of drivers dont know their battery is low until their car wont start. Luckily, there are some warning signs that your battery needs to be replaced.

One sign is if its taking your car longer to start. Youll hear the engine cranking for longer and the ignition not turning over as soon as it used to, which means the batterys charge has gotten weak.

Along the same lines, you may also notice that your interior lights arent as bright as they used to be. In some cars, a dashboard light that looks like your battery will turn on when its low or has low battery fluid.

Another sign to look out for is damage. If your battery is cracked or has started corroding, youll be able to see it just by looking at it. Sometimes, youll even smell it since it gives off a pungent sulfur smell.

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Best Places To Buy A Car Battery

Over the past few decades, technology has been growing significantly. Now and then, new inventions find their way into the market intending to make our lives better. Take a look at the vehicle industry, for instance.

Today, you will find different vehicle models being released into the market to meet peoples transport needs. Long ago, vehicles depended on peoples workforce to start. Luckily, that mode of operation has slowly faded away. Today, you only need a key, and youre good to go as cars have batteries and alternators to perform the hard task.

Therefore, a cars battery remains a crucial component in every vehicle. The electric cars, for instance, depend on this component to start, as well as, run from one point to another.

A shallow digging over the internet will tell you that the battery, especially for EVs, is the most expensive component amongst all the vehicle parts. Therefore, when it comes to buying a new battery to fit a car, drivers are always scared of landing on the wrong or fake battery.

Where is the best place to buy a car battery? There is no straightforward answer to this query as there are many places you can buy a new battery for your EV or petroleum/diesel car.

For instance, you can order your battery online via platforms such as Amazon. Also, you can buy the battery at your local battery distributor or auto-repair shop. Also, you can liaise with your mechanic to secure a perfect battery for your car.

How To Select The Best Automotive Battery For My Car

• Cranking Amps is the measure of the battery’s starting power. Choose an automotive battery that matches the vehicle’s requirements by consulting your vehicle’s owner or repair manual.
• Choose a battery with higher CCA if you live in a climatic condition where the temperature gets considerably low as the chemical process in the battery’s cells slowed down.
• Never choose a battery that has Ah rating lower than your existing battery or as mentioned in the manual.
• Battery with higher Ah rating will work, but if you choose a much higher rating battery, it will lead to slow charging and load on the alternator.
• A battery purchased within 6 months of manufacture is considered as fresh & keep your warranty card safe to avail replacements.

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At Any Firestone Complete Auto Care Location

A car battery is either good or its dead, especially during winter when your battery is most likely to call it quits. Dont let a dead battery keep you at home or stuck on the side of the road. Visit any local Firestone Complete Auto Care for a free battery check today! Well keep your car running smoother, longer with a simple preventative inspection.

What Are Some Tips For Buying Car Batteries

• You should refer to the manual, which arrives with the car, to check the type and size of battery the automaker recommends.
• While purchasing the battery, its manufacturing date should be checked which should not be more than 6 months.
• Car batteries with at least 2 years of warranty are considered ideal for daily usage and the same should be purchased.
• If you are residing in hill stations and cold areas should check the Cold Cranking Amperes of the battery before purchasing it.
• After the batteries have been selected, the dealer should be asked to do a voltage checking of the battery.

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How To Choose The Best Place To Buy The Battery

Therefore, if your replacement is urgent, you must choose a physical store as opposed to the online stores. Online stores may take time to deliver the battery as opposed to the physical stores.

Secondly, youve to consider the price tag. As stated earlier, online stores, especially, may offer varying prices on a similar product. The case is also typical in physical stores. Therefore, you must choose a store that has batteries that meet your budget.

Well, the price differences may be minimal but can save you a massive amount of money in the long run. You must also consider the battery warranties. Although most battery brands come with a warranty, some auto stores add exclusive warranties on their stores. Therefore, you must utilize such warranties for the sake of the future.

Some stores do offer free-installation and delivery services to clients who shop on their platforms. Utilizing such services can mean the professional installation of your battery, especially if youre new to the world of vehicles. You should consider stores that offer such after-sale services as they can save you time and money in the end.

Lastly, consider the stores reputation. Today, you can dig into the companys reputation online. You can find the stores reviews online, both good and bad. The online reviews can help you choose the best of the best auto store to acquire your cars battery.

Battery Replacement & Service At Ira Toyota Of Danvers

Were proud to offer full battery services to drivers around Danvers, Peabody, and Salem, MA. The skilled technicians in our service center can tackle all your service and routine maintenance needs, from battery replacement to transmission repair.

To help make your visits to our service center convenient and comfortable, we offer courtesy shuttle service, work stations, free Wi-Fi, a complimentary café, and a free car wash.

To learn more about how long car batteries last and all your service needs, contact us at Ira Toyota of Danvers today.

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Best Car Battery For 2021

Old school? Maybe, but no automobile is going anywhere without a good 12-volt battery.

• See at Walmart

Despite all the noise about electric cars and their high-tech, high-voltage batteries, conventional 12-volt batteries remain the biggest chunk of the $100-billion auto battery market. That’s partly because every vehicle needs one, even those newfangled electric cars, which use dependable 12-volt systems to power lights, ventilation fans, radios and so on. Familiar 12-volt auto batteries will remain important for a long time.

Whether your car is powered by electricity or gasoline, there’s no single component more vital to its consistent reliability than the battery. If you’ve noticed that car batteries don’t seem to last as long as they once did, your observation may not be far off the mark. The increasing number of electrically powered systems in the typical automobile — from heated and cooled seats to start/stop auto shutoff systems — puts an increasing strain on the battery, particularly in extreme climates.

There are more 12-volt battery technologies than ever before: traditional flooded lead-acid, gel, absorbed glass mat, lithium and more. Shopping for a car battery can be complicated. But the day your car won’t start isn’t the best time to begin that process.

What Is The Best Car Battery For My Car

The best battery for your car is one that is the correct group size, meets or exceeds Cold Crank Amps , Cranking Amps , and has the longest warranty period.

Car batteries can be expensive. A car battery can cost up to $300 at your car dealership. While the cost to charge the battery in some luxury vehicles goes up to $500. Yet, the typical price for a new battery online falls in the $75-$150 range. Let’s take a look at some of the best places where you can buy cheap car batteries.

While we all want to save money, don’t be tempted to buy any battery brand’s lowest grade. If you are buying your battery online, you are already saving money.

Rember that all battery brands, including AutoCraft, Bosch, DieHard, Duralast, EverStart, or Interstate batteries, normally have three grades:

Avoid buying the cheapest car battery if you plan on keeping the car for a long time. Cheap batteries tend not to last very long, and they have the shortest warranty period.

Economy batteries can fail within two years.

The same manufacturer makes some of the best and worst car batteries.

When buying a replacement car battery, there are a couple of parameters you need to make sure the new battery matches. Besides the fact that you need a 12-volt car battery, make sure the new battery meets these specifications.

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