Guide for Buying an Automotive Battery

Every time sit in the driver's seat and switch the ignition key to "on," a big blast of electrical current surges strongly through your car engine. If this doesn't happen, your engine will not turn over. In other words, you need a new battery.

Your automotive battery provides this essential power for starting the car. In addition, it offers power for door locks, lights, music, and other accessories. Once you start the engine, the alternator will take over, but without a working battery, a car is dead.

Picking Your Power

You can purchase a new car battery at any automotive supply store, or you may opt to order one through a mechanic or car dealership service department.

Expect to pay anything from $50 to $200 in the US for a new automotive battery. Quality and capacity vary dramatically. Cheap batteries may prove to be no bargain at all, as they may not last long. Also, installation and re-installation costs may quickly cancel out any initial price savings.

Most brand-name batteries are made by three major companies. Delphi produces AC Delco and most of WalMart and Sam's Club's Everstart batteries. Exide batteries are sold with Exide, Napa, and Champion brand names. Johnson Controls manufactures Sears DieHard, AutoZone DuraLast, Interstate, Ford Motorcroft, and more.

Automotive batteries are sold directly to consumers for do-it-yourself installation, as well as through automotive service centers and repair shops. Prices vary dramatically, so a little research can save the consumer a considerable amount of cash.

Do-it-yourselfers can reduce their costs, but they will have to find a suitable service for disposing of their old batteries legally and responsibly. Many automotive supply stores actually pay cash or provide discounts for customers who turn in old batteries.

Vehicle warranties may cover the cost of battery replacement for a predetermined time period. Checking the owner's manual can pay off.

Gaging Group Size

Group size refers to the overall volume of the battery, as well as the location of its positive and negative terminals. Owner's manuals usually indicate the group size required by automobile models. Automotive dealers, service centers, and supply retailers generally offer reference guides, which will also list which group sizes correspond to each automobile make and model. Some batteries will be labels with combination numbers, making them suitable for a variety of automobiles.

Comparing Cold-Cranking Amps

Cold-Cranking Amps (CA) refers to a battery's ability to operate in cold weather. In such conditions, automotive engine oil tends to be thicker, which makes ignition more difficult. A battery's CCA rating indicates how much electrical power it can provide to a car's starter motor at zero degrees (F).

Counting Cranking Amps

Another battery measure, known as cranking amps (CA) determines the battery's power-provision at 32 degrees (F), or the freezing point.

Reviewing Reserve Capacity

The reserve capacity indicates how long your car can run on the battery, if the alternator ceases to work. This is usually listed in minutes.

Addressing Additional Issues

Each new battery will be marked with a date code. This designates the month and year in which the battery was manufactured. A more recent date indicates a fresher battery, which is desirable.

Of course, installing a used battery is never a good idea. This can even be quite dangerous!

Battery warranties may vary. These can be an important consideration, especially if a free replacement is offered during the first few months. Sometimes a new battery may prove faulty within a short time after installation. A warranty will take care of this. Some suppliers offer 60-month warranties, which are ideal.

Online shopping comparison services are available, which can help consumers to determine the pros and cons of the many battery choices. Publications such as Consumer Reports and automotive industry magazines often print helpful feature articles on batteries and other car components.

As the consumer, you have more power of choice, if you select a new automotive battery before the old one is dead. If your battery is stone-cold dead, then you may have fewer options. Once you are stranded, you will be at the mercy of the automotive repair shop to which the tow truck takes you.

Batteries contain dangerous chemicals. Do not discard your old one in the trash or recycling bin. Instead, take your used battery to an approved battery collection facility. Most automotive shops will accept old ones for safe disposal.

Testing Your Battery

When you take your car for routine oil changes and maintenance, be sure to ask the mechanic to do a load-test on your battery. This will indicate whether your battery is able to hold an electrical charge sufficiently. Failure to hold a charge is a major sign that your battery is losing its useful life.

Some newer batteries do have devices on them that indicate the level of charge the battery still holds.

Your automotive battery will probably need to be replaced every four years, depending on its frequency and length of use.