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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