Buying a new battery for your car isn’t as simple as picking up a package of AA batteries at your local mega-mart. Almost, but not quite. For one thing, car batteries weigh a lot more!
Older style batteries required a fair amount of routine maintenance, including regularly checking and adding water to the battery. Adding water helped create acid in the battery and allowed electricity to be generated when the acid reacting with the metals contained in the battery. These days, however, batteries are sealed, making them safer and more reliable. You no longer have to check battery water levels, so ease of use and maintenance shouldn’t be a consideration when buying a new car battery.
Car batteries tend to vary in two ways. The first of these is their voltage, which an expression of the ability of the battery to produce electricity. Your car manufacturer has already determined the voltage needed in your car – car batteries typically come in either 12 volt or 24 volt versions. Your car uses the power from the battery to start the engine; after that, the battery is recharged by the alternator as the engine runs. Using a battery with the incorrect voltage for your car can lead to serious problems when it comes to starting your car.
The second variation in batteries is how they are configured, primarily in terms of the size and placement of the terminals. The battery must fit into its allotted space in your car and there must be access to fasten it securely into its place. The battery is usually held in place by a battery housing and fastened in place using clamps with nuts and bolts. Fortunately, figuring out which style battery your car needs is pretty simple – just look at the configuration of the battery you’re replacing and match that as closely as possible.
In addition, batteries almost always come with a warranty. In fact, the first thing you need to know when you have a battery that needs replacement is whether or not your existing battery is still under warranty. If a battery fails soon after purchase, it will generally be replaced at no cost to you. Or, if it fails during its expected period of operation – for example, you bought a “10 year battery” and it dies after only 3 years – you’ll receive a credit toward the purchase of a new battery. Usually, the cost of the battery is amortized over the period of time for which it was designed to last. Even if your existing battery is no longer under warranty, you can still usually receive a “core credit” for the components that can be recycled from your old battery.
So why would you choose one battery over another? Mainly, service. Some mega-marts that sell batteries may not install them for you, and may charge a fee to dispose of your old battery after you go to the trouble of bringing it back in. Other locations – like most parts shops, for example – may offer free installation and give you a credit for your old battery. Unless you’re willing to do the cumbersome job of installing the battery yourself and carting your old battery to a disposal site, the few dollars you save at the mega-mart may not be worth it after all.
