Car Parts For Us

Tips For Shopping For A Car Battery

Batteries don’t last forever and most of us have a cabinet full of replacements in the event our TV remote control dies. Oddly, most drivers are caught by surprise when their car battery dies, or loses enough juice to become practically useless. It’s important to realize that batteries aren’t perfect one moment and dead the next. They show signs that imply they’re getting weak. When you see those signs, it’s time to start shopping for a replacement. Today, I’ll give you 4 quick tips for buying the right one for your vehicle.

#1 – Have A Load Test Performed

There are times when batteries simply drain of juice when your key isn’t in the ignition. It’s called an electrical drain and can happen for a number of reasons (for example, when you leave your vehicle’s inside lights on overnight). So, if it dies unexpectedly, have a mechanic test its ability to hold a charge. It may have drained overnight, yet still be able to hold the charge. If that’s the case, save your money and have someone give you a jump start.

#2 – Know Your Group Sizes

Every car battery has a “group size.” That refers to the model’s size and the positions of the terminals. Different makes and models typically belong to the same group. For example, a Toyota Corolla will belong to the same group as a Nissan Sentra. Both cars will use similar batteries. It’s important that you buy a model in the right group so it’ll fit properly. If you don’t know the group size of your battery, look at your owner’s manual. Otherwise, ask someone who works at a nearby service shop. They have comprehensive manuals that list the appropriate sizes.

#3 – Look At The Date

Car batteries have an alphanumeric code stamped on the casing that identifies when they were manufactured. Typically, there’s a letter and a number. The letter denotes the month and the number denotes the year. For example, “A06″ means that the battery was created in January of 2006. “S08″ signifies September 2008. Knowing that is handy because you should only buy a model that is 6 months old or less.

#4 – Watch The Warranty

Just like new vehicles come with standard warranties, car batteries do, too. But, you need to know what to look for. Each model actually has a full and a partial warranty. The full warranty is important. It indicates the period of time during which you can get a completely new battery if the one you’re buying fails. Forget the partial warranty. By the time it becomes relevant, redeeming it is almost more trouble than it’s worth.

That’s a quick overview of car batteries. As long as you buy them new (or less than 6 months old), stick to the appropriate group size, and watch the warranties, they’ll perform well. As noted above, consider having a mechanic check your current battery before spending money on a new one.

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Car Parts And Mistakes: Cause And Effect

Your vehicle has a way of letting you know when something is wrong. The most obvious signs are the lights on the dashboard, but billowing smoke from your exhaust pipe, lurching while driving, and engine stalls send a clear signal, too. In a lot of cases, drivers will ignore seemingly benign warning signs, hoping that the problem will simply go away. Unfortunately, that often leads to expensive repair work. Today, we’re going to look at 3 red flags that your vehicle raises in order to make you aware of a potential issue. I’ll also briefly describe what can happen if you ignore them.

#1 – Oil Indicator Light

For some reason, a lot of motorists think their vehicle’s oil indicator light can be ignored. Admittedly, few people enjoy lifting the hood and getting their hands dirty while replenishing the oil. But, it’s critical that you do it. If you ignore the light, and the oil level drops, the parts inside your engine will start to grind against each other. That creates excess friction and heat. Let it go too long and you should start saving money for a new engine.

#2 – Puddle Of Gas

Have you ever noticed a small puddle of gas underneath your car and wondered what had caused it? Your first instinct might be to push it out of your mind, but consider what can happen. First, the gas is probably coming from a leaking fuel line in your vehicle. A fuel leak is obviously a fire hazard, especially while driving. Don’t panic; your car isn’t going to explode into a 65-mph ball of fire on the highway. But, if a fire develops (and it can do so easily because of your engine’s combustion process), your car will sustain major damage. Fix the leak if you see a puddle.

#3 – Puddle Of Coolant

Your vehicle shouldn’t be leaking coolant, either. If you see a small pool of it, it’s likely that there’s a leak in water pump. Now, before you say, “No problem, coolant is cheap. I’ll buy more,” think about what happens to your engine when there’s no coolant: it overheats. If you’ve ever driven past a stranded motorist with billowing white smoke coming from under his hood, you’ll realize that an overheated engine is bad. But, it get worse; the head gasket can blow. If it does, find your credit card. You’ll need it. Of course, you can avoid the problem altogether by fixing the water pump when you discover coolant leaking.

Watch For Signs Of Trouble

You already know that most of the problems that can occur under the hood are avoidable (for awhile, at least). The key is taking action when you notice them. A lot of times, car parts manifest signs that something is wrong (for example, a small pool of gas). When you notice the signs (they’re usually obvious), take your vehicle to a mechanic to have it checked. You can save thousands of dollars over the long haul and preserve the life of your car.

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What Are CCBs?

The acronym stands for “ceramic composite brakes.” It’s a relatively new technology that was used exclusively in racing cars until a few years ago. Drivers who compete in the Indy 500 and other high-profile racing events require better braking systems than those used in conventional vehicles. They have to be lighter, able to withstand intense heat, and perform better. It wasn’t until 2008 that Porsche released their Boxster S fully equipped with them. It was the first car that “normal” drivers could buy a car (assuming they had over $60,000 to spend) with the special ceramic composite brakes. Below, we’ll explore how they’re made and whether they’re worth investing in.

How They’re Made

One of the reasons why CCBs are expensive (which we’ll get into below) is because of the process used to build them. As you may know, your car’s brakes use discs and rotors. The material used to produce the CCB discs is a mixture of carbon fibers and a silicon-based resin. Once it has been molded, the discs are exposed to temperatures exceeding 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit in order to transform the resin into a diamond hard material called silicon carbide. Then, the rotor is bolted to the disc.

Are They Worth Having?

To give you an idea regarding the level of investment required, the Boxster S noted above costs just north of $55,000 without the special ceramic composite brakes. If you add the CCBs, you’ll pay another $8,000. If you’re driving a Ford Escort, spending an extra $8,000 for special brakes may not be the perfect decision. However, if you’re driving a performance car, CCBs offer a few advantages.

First, as noted above, they’re lighter (a little over 30 pounds lighter). That helps deliver a smoother ride with more efficiency. You may not notice it (after all, it’s only 30 pounds), but it does make a difference. Second, they tend to last longer. Automakers like Porsche have even claimed that you’ll never need to replace your CCBs, assuming you’re not participating in the Indy 500. Third, they’re extremely heat-resistant. If you’ve read my previous column on how heat impacts the effectiveness of your brakes, you’ll understand why this is a major benefit.

So, are they worth the money? It depends on your budget and how you drive. If you own a Bugatti, an extra $8,000 won’t mean much to you. In that case, get them. If you do a lot of your driving on steep hills, the heat resistance of ceramic composite brake systems will come in especially handy. Also, keep in mind that it’s entirely possible that the “mass market” automakers (Toyota, Honda, etc.) are already designing more affordable CCBs. In the end, waiting patiently may be the best solution.

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