One of the most essential components of any vehicle is the battery. Although it is a small component, when the battery goes dead or doesn’t have the power to start the vehicle it can be very problematic.
Most people don’t even think about auto batteries until they have a problem. There is nothing that is as unnerving as getting into the car, turning the key and hearing nothing but that clicking sound or a slow “whirr, whirr, whirr.”
The simple thing to do is to have your vehicle battery tested on an annual basis. This is a free test at many battery store locations or through your garage or mechanic and can provide information on the ability of the battery to hold a charge and provide the power needed to start the vehicle.
Failing to Start
While it may be natural to assume auto batteries are the culprit if a vehicle won’t start, this is often not the case. Problems with an alternator, an electrical short or even the charging system in the vehicle may be the issue.
Always have the battery tested before deciding if a replacement is necessary. If you have a routine battery test, you will also have a good idea when the typical end of the life cycle will be for an existing battery, which is also important information to know.
Replacing a Battery
If you purchased a vehicle new from a dealership, you can safely replace auto batteries with similar batteries. These batteries are the correct size to power the vehicle and to also sit correctly in the battery tray. The connectors that hold the battery in place will be designed for that specific battery.
With a used vehicle, it is likely that the correct battery is in the vehicle, but never take this for granted. Your battery store will be able to provide you with information on the auto batteries that will fit your vehicle as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
What to Consider
There are two different factors to consider for any replacement car battery. Cold cranking amps are the power the battery provides to start a vehicle at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. In cold climates, this is a critical factor to consider and the better the cold cranking amps the easier the vehicle will start even at temperatures below 0 degrees.
The second factor to consider is the reserve capacity. This is the time or ability the battery has to deliver the required amount of amperage before it goes dead. This also extends the duration of time battery will operate if the vehicle is not on. This becomes an important consideration if drivers forget to turn off the lights or like listening to the radio when working on the car.
If you are in the market for auto batteries, let our helpful staff at Business Name help you get the right battery for your vehicle. Drop into our stores or see us online at website domain. You can also follow them on Twitter.
