Battery For My Car
Battery For My Car
Battery for my car is a question that comes up a lot. The answer depends on a few things.
You’ll want to pick the right battery size for your vehicle. That’s determined by the battery group, which determines the physical dimensions and terminal locations.
Walmart’s store brand Everstart is affordable in the lead-acid variety and fairly well-reviewed. Other options include Optima’s RedTop and YellowTop AGMs.
Size
Car batteries come in different sizes. And although they all perform the same function, different vehicles have different electrical demands, space for a battery, and terminal configuration requirements. For example, a AA battery won’t fit into a space designed for AAA batteries, and a top-mounted terminal battery may not clear the hood in a vehicle that requires a side-mounted terminal battery.
To help make the selection process easier, the Battery Council International (BCI) established group sizes, which provide the physical dimensions of a battery in inches and millimeters. The BCI group size will also include a number that specifies the battery’s terminal position and polarity, which is the location of the positive and negative electrical terminals on the battery.
While the physical size is important, it doesn’t mean that one type of battery will be more powerful than another. Other factors are just as important, such as the battery’s cold cranking amps (CCA) capacity and reserve capacity (RC). If a battery has too little CCA for your vehicle or doesn’t meet its RC requirements, it can still be effective but may not last long, possibly causing an electrical short circuit. And if the battery is too big, it could rattle around in the battery tray or contact the hood and cause damage to the vehicle or the battery.
Type
The first thing you should know is that there are many different car battery technologies, and it’s not easy to figure out which is best for your needs. Wet cell, dry cell, AGM, and flooded technology are just some of the options that car manufacturers offer. Each type has pros and cons that should be considered before choosing one.
Standard flooded batteries, also known as SLI (starting, lighting, and ignition) batteries, use a simple chemical reaction to generate short bursts of energy to start a vehicle’s engine and power accessories. These batteries are usually inexpensive, efficient, and resilient. They may need occasional maintenance by inspecting the terminals for corrosion, and occasionally topping off the liquid electrolyte with distilled water (if they have removable caps).
If you’re looking to upgrade your battery, a good choice is a DieHard Platinum AGM car battery that features stamped grid technology for improved durability and more power. This type of battery is also more resistant to extreme temperatures and car key battery replacement can handle more cold cranking amps than traditional SLI batteries. Before making a purchase, check your owner’s manual or online car battery size charts to make sure the new battery you choose is the correct BCI group size for your vehicle. This ensures that it will fit in the battery box and mount, and provides enough CCA ratings to start your car.
Reputation
Many battery brands are well-known, but choosing the right one is still a major decision for car owners. A bad choice can result in an expensive replacement or prevent your car from running electronic accessories as expected.
A good place to start is by checking the brand’s reputation online and at auto-parts stores. Some batteries are manufactured by a brand that’s known for quality control and customer service, while others are made by a less-reputable manufacturer.
The internal design of the battery is another important consideration. Most lead-acid batteries are a heavy box battery for my car of metal plates suspended in dilute sulfuric acid, but newer AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries use mats of fiberglass that soak up the electrolyte for a lighter, more reliable design that’s not as prone to leakage and damage from vibration.
Batteries with an internal design that is more stable in extreme temperatures are also available, although these tend to be more expensive. Finally, make sure the battery you choose has a solid warranty. The best warranties include a full replacement or pro-rated refund period and a minimum of three years. Keep in mind that some retailers may have specific requirements or limitations for honoring warranties, so it’s a good idea to check with them before buying.
Warranty
Whether your battery will be covered by your car warranty depends on the terms of your bumper-to-bumper coverage. Since batteries are expected to wear out over time, many manufacturers exclude them from their warranties. However, you can buy extended warranties from third-party providers to cover the cost of a replacement.
The best way to determine if your battery has warranty coverage is to look for a date code on the top of it. Most date codes will include a letter and a number, with the letter indicating the month of manufacture and the number indicating the year. For example, a battery with a date code of C3H5F2 will have been manufactured in the month of July, 2013.
Most warranties offer free replacements if the battery fails due to manufacturer defects. However, most warranties have exclusions for certain circumstances that may cause a battery to fail, such as external damage or improper charging. If you are unsure about the coverage terms of your battery, consult your owner’s manual or an in-store fit guide.
Choosing the right battery for your vehicle is easier than you think. Using a tool such as the Battery Council International’s BCI Group Size Guide will help you find a battery that matches your vehicle’s terminal locations and size. You can also take your old battery to an Advance Auto Parts store for free testing and installation*.