The battery is one of the essential components of a car. And thanks to it, you can experience a smooth and hiccup-free ride. However, just like everything else, it has its time limit.
If the battery won’t charge, is damaged or worn out, maybe it’s time to change it. If the thought of buying a car battery scares you, don’t worry. Many people have no idea how to choose the best one for their vehicle. There are so many brands available on the market, that when they have to make a decision, they feel overwhelmed.
This is where online rankings of the best car batteries comes’ to the rescue. And if you are the type of person who doesn’t trust those rankings, here is a must-have list of what to take into consideration while looking for the perfect car battery.
Size of the battery
Unsurprisingly, car batteries come in a range of sizes. Just as you have small, medium and large cars, you also have different groups of batteries that are indicated by its length, width and height. If you want to find out which group your car battery belongs (or belonged) to check the manual that came with the car. Also, if you know the make, year and model of your vehicle, you can just google it. If you don’t have any of these things, then a visit to the car mechanic might be inevitable.
Wrongly chosen size of a battery might result in spilling of battery fluid, loose-fitting or damage.
The climate in your area
Some people don’t realize that the weather also has an impact on how your car battery will perform. Only in summer of 2018, there have been 1.8 million battery-related service calls. Always choose a battery that will be appropriate for the weather in your area. Usually, batteries designed for cold-weather are labelled as “N” (North), while for hot-weather they are marked as “S” (South).
Remember also, that if you live in a warmer climate, you should start checking your battery annually after two years, and in a colder climate after four years.
Price of the battery
Generally, the prices of the batteries could be divided into either low, medium or high. If you can, it would be better to buy the medium or high price one as it will probably last you longer than its cheaper counterparts. On average, a car battery should last around 5 to 6 years; however, the lower the price of the battery is, the lower the chances of it surviving that long.
Maintenance of the battery
Most batteries these days are maintenance-free; however, some still require to be filled with acid periodically. A battery that is not maintenance-free needs to be serviced every six months. It might not seem like a problem now, but to avoid any complications or nuisances in the future, you will do better by investing in a maintenance-free car battery.
Battery’s CCA
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) is a rating that tells you how much power your engine will need to start in cold weather. Higher CCA rating means better starting power of the battery. People who live in a cold climate need good CCA more than people living in a place where there is a warm climate.
Also, when changing your battery remember that it has to have the same or higher CCA rating. If it doesn’t, it might result in your car not working as good as it did before.
Conclusion
The battery is essential if you want your car to work and perform well. But just as everything, it also has a time frame and after it passes the battery needs to be changed. Usually, you have to change it every few years, so it’s normal that some people have no idea which one they should buy. Even the most experienced drivers happen to have that problem.
The checklist above should help you with making the right choice. And if you already have your eyes set on a specific battery, don’t forget to check the reviews about it available on the internet, before making the final purchase.