What to Look For When Purchasing a New Car Battery
Don’t Get Battered When Choosing a Battery
It’s one battery, but there are so many things to think about when you need to purchase one, you may feel beaten about by all the options to consider. Yet you must have a battery. You need it to start the car and to power your accessories (radio, power door locks, power windows, etc.). You can go it alone, or you can visit AutoStream in Woodstock, Maryland, for professional guidance. One of our ASE certified technicians will give you an honest assessment. Maybe your battery simply needs a charge, or maybe there’s actually another underlying problem (like a bad alternator) that is preventing the battery from charging. Maybe it’s really time to purchase a new battery. We’ll work with you on your different options.
Major Factors to Consider
Here are some factors that take precedence when choosing a new battery.
1. Size
First, make sure the battery you’re considering is the correct size for your car or truck. Though this is not an exhaustive list, common sizes are 34 (most Chryslers), 34/78 (a few Chryslers and some General Motors), 35 (newer Toyotas, Nissans, and Hondas), 65 (larger Fords, Lincolns, and Mercuries), and 75 (most GM’s). The wrong size battery can cause damage to your car.
2. Manufacture Date
You also want to check the date of manufacture on the battery. This is represented by a letter (A-L) for the month, and a digit (last one in year) for the specific year in the most recent decade. For example, C9 denotes a battery produced in March 2019. This matters because you want a reasonably fresh battery (6 months or less) that is not nearing the end of its warranty.
3. Reserve Capacity
Another consideration is the battery’s reserve capacity (RC), which is the amount of time the battery can power your car with minimum voltage without being recharged should the alternator or belt fail. Finally, take note of the cranking amps. Cranking amps (CA) is the available electrical current at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold cranking amps (CCA) denotes the electrical current at 0 degrees. These measures are important for starting the vehicle in cold weather.
The Final Consideration
Perhaps one last consideration is actually the easiest choice you’ll make. Instead of worrying over your battery purchase details yourself, bring your car to AutoStream in Woodstock, Maryland, and let our expert staff take care of it for you.
