A typical automobile has many thousands of moving parts. Most of them will never cause you any trouble over the lifetime of your vehicle, but some appear to be front and centre when it comes to the potential for breakdown. Perhaps the most maligned individual part on your car is its battery. So what do you need to bear in mind when it comes to batteries so that you can reduce your automotive frustration?
When to Start Looking
The battery manufacturers, like the companies that make most other components on your car, will build in an element of redundancy to their product. In other words, the battery is only going to last for a certain number of years before it will fail. If you understand that all good things (including batteries) come to an end, it pays to be on the lookout for your replacement before anything breaks down.
Battery Age
Generally, it's not a good idea to try and buy a used battery of any kind or one that's been sitting around unused for a number of months. The batteries can, after all, degrade as the clock ticks even if they're not actually in use. One little-known fact is that most batteries will have the date of manufacture stamped on the casing. It won't be obvious as it will usually be represented by one letter and one number. A single letter represents the month, starting with A and a single digit will represent the year. This will help you to check the actual age of the battery you're about to buy or the age of the one you may need to replace.
Choosing the Right One
You also need to be sure that the battery you're getting is the right one for your car. Have a look at the 'cold cranking amps' figure in particular. The higher this number is the more power that particular battery is able to generate to start your car in the most difficult and coldest conditions. Some high-performance vehicles need more, but there's no point in you paying a lot more for one of these batteries if you just have a conventional small car.
When buying online you need to exercise caution. Many sites will suggest that you buy a battery that is more powerful than you actually need. While you may think this is erring on the safe side, you may be paying more than you need to.
Where to Turn
If you feel it is time for you to replace your battery, it's best for you to drive along to your local auto shop to get the perfect battery for your car at the best price.
Share30 November 2016
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