The Ultimate Guide to Buying a New Car Battery

We’ve all been there when our car won’t start, and the culprit is the battery. The car battery is the heart of the car, and nothing works when it goes bad. You turn the ignition and instead of the roar of the engine you hear clicks or the pitiful sound of the car trying to start and can’t.

It’s time to buy a new car battery, but what kind do you need and how do you find out? We’ll examine the best car battery to choose from and the different types available. You’ll know exactly which one you need when you visit the car parts store.

Choose The New Car Battery Size

A battery needs to fit correctly in the battery compartment whether it’s a top post or side post battery. If the car isn’t the right size, then it can move in the car and become disconnected or cause damage. The owner’s manual should provide information on the correct battery size.

There are many battery brands. The type of battery is the same for most brands and specific auto parts stores carry their own brand and a few others. Choose the brand you’re comfortable with since the brand makes little difference.

Age Makes a Difference

When choosing batteries, the older a battery is the lower the overall lifespan. A battery has a unique method of detailing the age using a special code. It is a code featuring a letter followed by a number.

The letter signifies the month with A being January and so on. The number represents the year with 0 beings 2020, etc. The numbers revert to zero every 10 years.

For example, a battery manufactured in March of 2021, would have a code of C1. A good battery is less than 6 months old.

Cheapest Isn’t the Best

Inexpensive batteries tend to have a lower life span and be weaker than more expensive batteries. You’ll save money initially, but in the long run quality batteries win out. You’ll spend more on regular replacements with cheap batteries.

Higher quality batteries have a higher reserve capacity and cold cranking amp ratings. The better the reserve capacity and cold-crank ratings, the more expensive they tend to be.

Deep Cycle or Regular

A regular batter provides short bursts of electricity to the car, but a deep cycle battery maintains a constant flow of electricity. Many electrical and hybrid cars use deep cycle batteries. A regular battery uses this short burst to crank the engine and the alternator recharges the battery.

A deep cycle battery uses less power constantly and can power a car without a motor.

Choose the Right Battery

A new car battery isn’t inexpensive, so pick the one that is best for your car. The owner’s manual is invaluable in choosing the right type of battery for your car or you can ask attendants at the auto parts store.

Once you know this, it’s a matter of price and performance. If you want to learn more about the different types of car batteries, then please explore our site.

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