A car has a considerable number of things that it requires, and sure enough, batteries are indeed the most important ones to check out!
Still, when it comes to the batteries there’s confusion on whether the battery is compatible with your car or not, and that’s because of some factors and numbers written on your car’s manual.
How to buy a battery for your car is the main aim of this article in which I will include some of the main things you need to consider! Let’s get started!
How to Buy a Battery for Your Car? – Things to Consider
Buying the right battery for your car isn’t the easiest thing to do, and when it comes to the fact on choosing the perfect fit, there are surely some important things to consider!
Those important things include the battery group size, battery cell type, cold cranking amps (CCA), battery reserve capacity, battery applications, and battery voltage.
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Battery Group Size
The battery group size refers to the physical size of a car battery in terms of height, width, and length, as well as the polarity of the battery you have in front of you; meaning the positive and negative battery posts.
In every battery for a car, you will find the group based on your car’s model, engine, and year as well. In the battery, you can find the group size on top of the manual, meanwhile, in your car, you can also find it in the car manual.
The most common battery group sizes include sizes 75, 65, 35, 34, and 34/78, but still, as said above, it all depends on the manual of the battery and the car itself.
Battery Type
Another super important thing related to car batteries and something you should always have in mind when trying to purchase new batteries is the types you choose.
Car batteries come differently and they include Lead Acid batteries, VRLA batteries, Lithium-Ion batteries, Sodium-Ion Batteries, and Solid-State Batteries.
- Lead Acid Batteries – lead acid batteries work with a liquid component, and it is an electrolyte!
- VRLA Batteries – VRLA refers to valve-regulated lead acid, and it is a battery that is perfect to use in smaller places. Also, they are known to be the safest batteries for your car.
- Lithium–Ion Batteries – these batteries are the most famous types, and they are mostly used in electric-powered vehicles.
- Sodium–Ion Batteries – sodium-ion batteries are the new product in the battery market, and they are rechargeable (very similar to lithium-ion batteries).
- Solid-State Batteries – hence the name, these batteries work with solid electrodes and electrolytes.
Cold Cranking Amps
Cold Cranking Amps, in the written form shown as CCA, is a rating in car batteries that show the ability to start a vehicle during cold temperatures.
Any type of vehicle shows a specific amount of amperage to start during the cold weather and the battery should always fit properly that amount. The amperage of the vehicle should be combined with the amperage of the battery.
Also Read: Is It Possible To Drive With A Bad Catalytic Converter?
Battery Reserve Capacity
The battery reserve capacity is most commonly found as RC, in most batteries, and the purpose is to tell the standing power of a specific battery type.
Once again, it is related to the owner’s manual, and if it fits and it is the precise reserve capacity for your car, it can be used immediately.
In terms of testing the reserve capacity, the point is to have a 12V battery, and when the car is running, the voltage shouldn’t go under 10.5V. 10.5V of a battery tells that your car can start again when turned on. It also refers to the amount of time through which a battery can run.
Other Things to Know –Maintaining the Car Batteries
After choosing the right fit for your car and having in front of you the best battery that will do all the functions properly, maintaining a car battery is also an important thing to have in mind!
The first and most important thing in this part I think is the recyclability of the battery you have taken out! So, remember! If you are replacing a battery, recycle the old one.
In terms of maintaining the new battery you will be using, there are a few things to know so that you can make a routine in this part.
Buy New Batteries
An important fact to consider is that the moment you decide to purchase a new battery, make sure it is not used!
You need completely fresh batteries that are full of strength!
Testing Batteries
There is nothing better than testing the batteries of your car at least six months apart, and if you cannot do so, you can test them after 12 months of use.
Most car batteries are known to last three to five years, but still, you as an owner should test them repeatedly.
Check the Warranties
As said above, car batteries typically last for some specific time (3-5 years), but still, something that has an important role here is the warranty that the manufacturer provides you with!
Also Read: Is It Possible To Start Jumpstart a Car With a Bad Alternator?
Final Words
So, besides the engine of your vehicle, the car batteries are some of the most important parts of vehicles, in general, as they are responsible for many functions, starting from just turning on the car.
Anyways, car batteries will not always fit any car, and the important thing here is that you should always check your vehicle first and then choose the battery it needs.
Luckily enough there are a few ways how you can find the perfect battery for your car, yet again, the most important things to know are the ones I mentioned in this article.
I hope you liked what you read and now you can understand better about choosing the right battery for your car!